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.

Dino Martinelli: "Glorious Italy!"

Released in 1958,

this is one of several LPs Dino Martinelli,

with his orchestra and chorus,

contributed to the amazingly popular

easy listening genre.

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.

George Benson: "Livin' Inside Your Love"

Released in 1979,

this was George Benson's seventeenth (17th) studio LP.

Reminder: if you haven't listened to some George Benson lately,

you need to correct that egregious lapse in musical judgement.

Read more about George Benson HERE.

Art Direction: John Cabalka

Photography: Tom Bert

Design: Brad Kanawyer

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.