A rich harvest of MORs

I was asked this question a few days ago. Does anybody still make middle of the road music these days? Music lovers are very familiar with the term, middle of the road or MOR, also synonymous with easy listening. This is the sort of music that only invites listening and is most conducive to daydreaming. No angst. No protests. No jumping around.

And some say also dull with no passion. I say there is passion. How else would you describe the love songs of Frank Sinatra. But it is of the smoldering, long lasting kind. Which must be why people continue to listen to MOR sounds through time after time after time.

So do producers still make them? They do, although they do not drop copies in the stores or online by the millions. The music is always there. It may only make the hit charts on very rare occasions but if you look hard enough, there is always a good number of MOR albums available. Most of them are old recordings but sometimes we get something new, like when Bob Dylan covered Sinatra songs in one entire album.

I came across a few easy listening albums last week and I myself was surprised at what I heard when I played the CDs. I got beautiful relaxing music just right for these downtime days after Christmas. And as Bette Midler sings in Fever, its warmth like a familiar embrace, is such a lovely way to burn. Check these out. And added bonus, all of these are compilation albums which give a lot for the money.

Great Ladies Of Song by Various Artists: This one has the obvious choices. Besame Mucho by Diana Krall; Say You Love Me by Patti Austin; I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Carly Simon; At Last by Aretha Franklin; Fever by Bette Midler; When I Fall In Love by Linda Ronstadt; Nature Boy by Celine Dion; Summertime by Annie Lennox; Secret Love by Mandy Moore; Superstar by Keiko Lee; Walk On By by Cyndi Lauper and many more.

But there are also surprises like the first hit recording of Send In The Clowns by Judy Collins; a gorgeous take on I’m Beginning To See The Light by Kelly Rowland; and Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer singing a medley of Mr. Sandman and Dream A Little Dream Of Me solo.

The Real Frank Sinatra: Because we are in the midst of the Sinatra centennial, it is only right to once more enjoy the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes. That is right, Sinatra was born a hundred years ago last December and the three-disc collection spotlights the Columbia years during which Sinatra was at his most passionate.

Includes I’m A Fool To Want You, Someone To Watch Over Me, I’ve Got A Crush On You, I Only Have Eyes For You, September Song, As Time Goes By, The Nearness Of You, I’ll Be Seeing You, Blue Moon, Night And Day, Embraceable You and many others.

 The Real Ray Conniff: Because the holiday season just passed ably introduced you to the sound of the Ray Conniff Singers from their classic Christmas album. So, it is now time to enjoy their other songs, which sound just as classic and as good. Also a three-disc set, the album compiles recordings from the group’s early years. That means here are the easy listening versions of hits from the ’50s to the ’70s.

From the ultimate interpreter of middle of the road covers The Ray Conniff Singers here are Up Up And Away, Speak Softly Love, The Way We Were, Moon River, The Way You Look Tonight, All By Myself, Love Me Tender, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Gentle On My Mind, It Had To Be You, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, All By Myself and lots more.

30 Stars, 30 Classic Movie Hits featuring Various Artists: Because easy listening sounds mostly originate from the movies, you might want to have a copy of 30 of the most popular all together in the two-disc set. Listen and enjoy those memories: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship from Mannequin; Footloose by Kenny Loggins also from Footloose; Harry Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talking from Midnight Cowboy; I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston from Bodyguard; Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes duet in I’ve Had The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing; Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel from The Graduate, etc. etc.