Perry Como: "Dream Along With Me"

Released in 1957,

this LP is one of dozens recorded by Perry Como

over the course of his 60+ year career.

Read more about Perry Como HERE.

Janis Ian: "Between the Lines"

Released in 1975,

this was Janis Ian's seventh (7th) studio LP.

Probably best known for her hit song, "At Seventeen,"

Janis Ian has a lovely folk style that is captivating.

Read more about Janis Ian HERE.

Photography: Peter Cunningham

Carole King: "Writer"

Released in 1970,

this was Carole King's debut LP.

Read more about Carole King and her brilliant career HERE.

Cover Photograph: Guy Webster

Liner Photographs: Tom Neuwirth

Layout and Design: Rod Dyer / Paul Bruhwhiler

Barbra Streisand: "A Happening in Central Park"

Released in 1967,

this was recorded live in New York City's

world-famous Central Park.

Barbra Streisand is a rare talent.

She is on the very short list of people who have won

Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards

(though her Tony is a "Special" Tony; i.e., non-competitive)

Read more about her astonishing life and career HERE.

Photos: NY Times

Andre Kostelanetz: "The Very Thought of You"

Released in 1956,

this is something like his thirty-second (32nd) LP,

which was less than halfway into his eventual catalog.

Considered by many to be a primary force in the origins of "Easy Listening."

Read more about Andre Kostelanetz HERE.

Dino Martinelli: "A Treasury of Rudolf Friml"

Released in 1961,

this is another of Dino Martinelli's entries

into the pantheon of mood music history and lore.

Read more about Rudolf Friml HERE.

Jim Croce: "I Got A Name"

Released in late 1973,

a few months after Jim Croce died in a plane crash,

this was his fifth (5th) and last studio LP.

Read more about Jim Croce HERE.

Various: "Dixieland at Carnegie Hall"

Released in 1958,

this is a dynamite recording of some of the best

jazz musicians who gave birth to rhythms

and chord progressions that still give us

goosebumps and make us want to dance.

Read more about Jimmy McPartland HERE.

Read more about Wild Bill Davison HERE.

The Norman Luboff Choir: "Moments to Remember"

Released in 1960,

this collection of tunes piled on to

the growing library of Norman Luboff Choir

recordings, very popular among fans

of mood music/easy listening.

Read more about The Norman Luboff Choir HERE.

"...the excitement of today's music..."

Midnight String Quartet: "Spanish Rhapsodies for Young Lovers"

Released in 1967,

close on the heels of the relative success of their first LP,

"Rhapsodies for Young Lovers,"

this easy listening record also quickly gained

attention and popularity.

Read more about the Midnight String Quartet HERE.

Gino Vannelli: "Nightwalker"

Released in 1981,

this was Gino Vannelli's seventh (7th) studio LP.

Read more about Gino Vannelli HERE.

Art Direction: Ria Lewerke-Shapiro

Photography: Mark Hanauer

Paul Weston: "Music for Dreaming"

Released in 1959,

this LP joined the swollen ranks of 

highly popular "mood music."

Read more about Paul Weston HERE. 

Michael Jackson: "Thriller"

Released in 1982,

this was Michael Jackson's sixth (6th) studio LP.

This is one of the most successful albums of all time,

most awarded, most discussed, most listened to.

The ground-breaking video for the title song

came early in the history of full-production "music videos,"

and it remains among the most stunningly brilliant videos ever produced.

Read more about the LP HERE.

Read more about Michael Jackson HERE.

James Gang: "Bang"

Released in 1973,

this was James Gang's sixth (6th) studio LP.

James Gang was one of the most notorious bands

EVER

for personnel changes.

Usually no more than three or four at a time,

during their first ten years they had nearly

twenty different band members.

After their first ten years (1966-76)

they broke up

until 1996 when Joe Walsh, Dale Peters, and Jimmy Fox

reunited to resurrect the fabulous sounds of the

James Gang.

Read more about James Gang HERE.

Cover Design: David Larkham

Photography: Ed Caraeff

Tony Mottola: "The Tony Touch"

Released in 1969,

this is one of more than sixty recordings featuring Tony Mottola's

inimitable guitar stylings.

Read more about Tony Mottola HERE.

Alabama: "Mountain Music"

Released in 1982,

this was Alabama's third (3rd) studio LP.

The title song was a huge hit for them,

their sixth number one song;

and this is their most successful album.

Read more about Alabama HERE.

Photography: David LeBon and Norman Seeff

Andy Williams: "My Fair Lady"

Released in 1964,

this Andy Williams' fifteenth (15th) studio LP.

Read more about Andy Williams HERE.

Cover Photo: Bob Cato

Nu Shooz: "Poolside"

Released in 1986,

this was Nu Shooz' third (3rd) studio LP.

This was also their most successful recording,

with two hit singles charting in the Top 40 in the US, Canada, and UK.

Read more about Nu Shooz HERE.