The Golden Age of Easy Listening

Easy Listening music emerged in the mid-20th century as a sophisticated and romantic orchestral genre, appealing to both younger and older generations. This music genre was characterized by artists such as Paul Weston, Mantovani, Percy Faith, Ray Conniff, Serge Gainsbourg, Bert Kaempfert, Herb Albert, Sergio Mendes, and James Last, who brought a revitalizing mix of styles and forms to the music.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2024
Publisher: Sonicbond Publishing

The mid-20th century witnessed the emergence of a novel genre of big band/orchestral music known as Easy Listening, which quickly gained global popularity. Similar to its contemporary counterpart, rock 'n' roll, it swept the world, infusing romance and elegance into a society ravaged by war. While a new generation embraced a wild and sensuous lifestyle, their elders yearned for a world grounded in civilized values. Easy Listening music provided them with precisely that.

In his comprehensive book, The Golden Era of Easy Listening Music, Derek Taylor delves into the origins and evolution of Easy Listening, tracing its journey from an unexpected beginning with an American army general to its eventual integration into mainstream popular music in the 21st century. The author provides a detailed description and historical context of the giants and innovators of Easy Listening music, encompassing a diverse range of artists such as Paul Weston, Mantovani, Percy Faith, Ray Conniff, Serge Gainsbourg, Bert Kaempfert, Acker Bilk, Herb Albert, Sergio Mendes, and James Last, among many others. These Easy Listening giants hailed from various corners of the globe, introducing a revitalizing blend of styles and forms to the music throughout the decades. Their contributions have not been forgotten, and their music continues to be rediscovered and cherished by both the streaming generation of today and the generation of 78 RPM shellac and high fidelity vinyl during its golden era.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 209 x 149 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789522853