Discuss your favorite mellow/easy-listening music.
The Alan Parsons Project had some gems.
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Discuss your favorite mellow/easy-listening music.
The Alan Parsons Project had some gems.
by Anonymous | reply 138 | May 3, 2024 6:45 AM |
Enya - I play it in the background when I'm cleaning house or just trying to relax.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | February 17, 2024 1:01 AM |
Anything by the Cowboy Junkies. River Waltz is my favorite. Plus the video has Megan and her teef. Pre Mad Men
by Anonymous | reply 2 | February 17, 2024 1:06 AM |
One of my favorites from the Great Expectations movie soundtrack.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | February 17, 2024 1:18 AM |
Lana Del Rey's version of "Blue Velvet" just came up on a playlist I was listening to. I can never take this song seriously, because I first heard the original version in a toilet roll advert starring Hyacinth Bucket. Which is a highly effective way of stripping all the glamour from a song.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | February 17, 2024 1:04 PM |
Talk Talk - After The Flood
Darlings of the new romantic and new wave scene took a hard turn towards the avant-garde later in their career which even led to their label suing them. I love the pop era of Talk Talk but I’m an even bigger fan of what came later. I think this is one of the most beautiful and soothing songs ever performed by a pop group .
by Anonymous | reply 5 | February 17, 2024 1:40 PM |
Johnny Hartman lowers my blood pressure by 20%.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | February 17, 2024 1:50 PM |
I apologize in advance that I'll be posting a fair amount in this thread. I'm very much into the mellower side of music, be it vintage/classic pop, indie and new music, or everything in between.
I actually posted a stand alone thread a while back on this YouTube clip and others like it. This is *very* mellow, more in the Muzak category, but there's some really beautiful instrumental stuff in here, and this is great to put on for an hour or so if you need background music while working.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | February 17, 2024 1:55 PM |
Vashti Bunyan.
She first started recorded sixty years ago.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | February 17, 2024 2:11 PM |
"The Nightfly" by Donald Fagen.
My car is old enough to have a CD. It's on regular rotation.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | February 17, 2024 3:03 PM |
Shirley Horn is hardcore mellow.
But she gets Jacques Brel.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | February 17, 2024 3:04 PM |
Good choice, r15!
This might be my favorite "mellow" Horn, but there are oh so many to choose from:
by Anonymous | reply 16 | February 17, 2024 3:06 PM |
My favorite track from one of my favorite Pink Floyd albums:
by Anonymous | reply 17 | February 17, 2024 3:07 PM |
R15, I suspect we’ve crossed paths here before. I am also a huge Shirley Horn fan. I love all of her work from the mid-sixties to her final album, an exquisite record full of reflection at the end of life with longing, joy and sorrow amidst the mellowness.
Have you ever listened to Andy Bey? He’s now in his mid-eighties and recording sporadically. He’s also gay. AND MELLOW.
Here he is covering Nick Drake (at r10).
by Anonymous | reply 20 | February 17, 2024 3:30 PM |
I love Shirley Horn too....and this is THE definitive Shirley for me.
I don't think there will be a day when I hear this and am not weeping by the end. It is truly lovely. I really want this to be played at my funeral.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | February 17, 2024 6:11 PM |
Actually, THIS might be my favorite Shirley Horn track. But it's really impossible to choose only one.
by Anonymous | reply 25 | February 17, 2024 6:14 PM |
R26, you may have heard Donna Summer’s recording of Nether Lands. I discovered it here on DL.
I don’t count it as mellow, though. More majestic.
When Donna Summer learned that Fogelberg’s widow was putting together a tribute album, Summer got in touch saying that she’d always loved Nether Lands, which brought her back to a point in her own life where she was facing a fork in the road.
Fogelberg’s widow was thrilled but sheepishly told her that there was no money to re-record the orchestration in Summer’s key.
Donna Summer told her not to sweat; she’d be fine with the original orchestral track.
It’s a gorgeous song, and DS does it and Dan Fogelberg justice.
by Anonymous | reply 27 | February 17, 2024 6:35 PM |
R27 yes! It is very sweeping and majestic.
I am the poster who has posted Donna's version here several times. It makes me cry every time I hear it....mostly because she recorded that about 8 or 9 months before she died.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | February 17, 2024 6:37 PM |
R25's post reminds me of this, of course.
I loved that early 80s vibe of Sade, Everything But the Girl, Alison Moyet, Style Council.......the jazz inflected pop.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | February 17, 2024 6:39 PM |
You probably introduced me to it, in which case, FANK YOU!
by Anonymous | reply 31 | February 17, 2024 6:39 PM |
R31 *hat tip*
by Anonymous | reply 32 | February 17, 2024 6:40 PM |
Everything But The Girl's first album was beautifully mellow (as are a number of songs after it).
by Anonymous | reply 33 | February 17, 2024 6:41 PM |
Sammy Davis dims the razzle dazzle on his lovely 1966 record with Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | February 17, 2024 6:41 PM |
Another song I've posted in other threads......beautiful and haunting.
Another one that makes me cry.
MARY!
by Anonymous | reply 35 | February 17, 2024 6:42 PM |
Late in her life, Peggy Lee dug up her own old chestnut from the 50s, The Folks Who Live on the Hill, flipping it from the anticipatory musings of a young woman to a nostalgic look back from an old lady.
It’s slow and unhurried, with the measured calm of old-age wisdom, looking back with a bit of longing, but more with a sense of fulfillment.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | February 17, 2024 6:53 PM |
Cassandra Wilson. Most anything from her, but I’ve always enjoyed this cover of Jimmy Webb’s evocative Wichita Lineman.
by Anonymous | reply 37 | February 17, 2024 7:01 PM |
R37 Really enjoy some of her music, too. New Moon Daughter is the one for me.
This cover of Neil Young's Harvest Moon is gorgeous, both this live version and as recorded.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | February 17, 2024 7:08 PM |
k.d. has a permanent spot on my mellow music list, with Ingenue at the top.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | February 17, 2024 7:11 PM |
Lana Del Rey is generally very mellow, I especially love the “Honeymoon” and “Chemtrails” albums. Also love listening to Enya’s mellow vibes, and artists like Vangelis, Carbon Based Lifeforms (kind of trippy ambient grooves), Brian Eno, Cocteau Twins’ “Four Calendar Cafe” and “Blue Bell knoll”, some Pink Floyd
by Anonymous | reply 40 | February 17, 2024 7:14 PM |
This album is also on my mellow playlist. A few upbeat songs but generally a nice mellow vibe - this is the one I always listen to on a plane to chill me out.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | February 17, 2024 7:17 PM |
The Innocence Mission has been a favorite of mine for 35+ years.
They started as a major label band with a similar sound to the Sundays and Mazzy Star. They've become a little more folk since being on their own label.
This is a good example of their sound - Sufjan did a cover of this one.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | February 17, 2024 7:19 PM |
R39, agreed.
k.d. lang’s Drag record is full-on mellow - and it’s a concept album centered around smoking cigarettes!
by Anonymous | reply 43 | February 17, 2024 7:20 PM |
R43 Love that one, along with Ingenue and Hymns of the 49th Parallel.
I mean I love numerous other songs of hers as well, but those three are pretty perfect albums, beginning to end.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | February 17, 2024 7:24 PM |
This may be the finest thing she's ever done, at least from a technical standpoint.
Hairs stand on end, every time. Goosebumps.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | February 17, 2024 7:26 PM |
I remember an eldergay, a dear friend and mentor to me in my 20s, turned me on to Liz Story.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | February 17, 2024 8:06 PM |
Judee Sill - intense, beautiful, otherworldly.
Documentary on her life and music coming this year.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | February 17, 2024 8:12 PM |
I love the High Llamas - they have an array of music and some is more fast-paced and upbeat, but for fans of a more Bacharach mellow vibe, they're one of my go-to artists.
by Anonymous | reply 50 | February 17, 2024 8:18 PM |
Ditto for the Aluminum Group, gorgeous music made by two gorgeous gay brothers.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | February 17, 2024 8:19 PM |
Sufjan Stevens’ new album, Javelin, is wonderful.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | February 17, 2024 9:50 PM |
by Anonymous | reply 57 | February 17, 2024 10:31 PM |
by Anonymous | reply 64 | February 17, 2024 11:42 PM |
Most of Joni's catalog is mellow and has some beautiful songs.
If you're tired of the ones everyone knows, dig deeper, there's a lot to love.
by Anonymous | reply 68 | February 18, 2024 12:10 AM |
El Condor Pasa. Simon and Garfunkle.
by Anonymous | reply 70 | February 18, 2024 12:16 AM |
Miracles, by Jefferson Star Ship.
by Anonymous | reply 71 | February 18, 2024 12:17 AM |
Not sure if classical music counts but I really like Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnaulds, who are more in the contemporary classical genre.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | February 18, 2024 12:56 AM |
I find this heavenly, and Roo Panes is handsome as fuck.
by Anonymous | reply 74 | February 19, 2024 8:32 PM |
All of Cleo Sol's albums are wonderful. Start with "Mother" - it's the most special.
Her band, SAULT, with partner Inflo is completely different and often wild!
by Anonymous | reply 75 | February 20, 2024 12:13 AM |
This is an utterly gorgeous song. The artist is a woman who (beautifully) plays an instrument despite a severe disability/deformity.
The song always makes me cry.
by Anonymous | reply 77 | February 21, 2024 6:05 PM |
I'm so tired of waiting in restaurants
Reading the critics and comics alone
With a waiter with a face made for currency
Like a coin in ancient Rome
by Anonymous | reply 80 | April 19, 2024 12:14 AM |
Almost anything involving Henry Mancini
by Anonymous | reply 83 | April 19, 2024 4:32 AM |
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
by Anonymous | reply 85 | April 19, 2024 5:28 AM |
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded is 'Yellow Roses On Her Gown' by Johnny Mathis, released as a single in May, 1976. I first heard this song when I was 12 (gave my mother the album 'I Only Have Eyes For You' by Mathis for Mother's Day - she loved Mathis), and I watched my mother cry her eyes out when this song played. It took me years to understand this and appreciate this - and for the past 30+ years, I now cry every time I hear this. Absolutely beautiful.
It wasn't a hit on pop radio, but became a hit with his fans - and he would sing this at every concert for many years, bringing the audience to tears.
by Anonymous | reply 89 | April 20, 2024 2:24 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 90 | April 20, 2024 6:18 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 91 | April 20, 2024 6:20 AM |
We can't have a mellow thread without this chart-topper from ONJ !
by Anonymous | reply 92 | April 20, 2024 3:47 PM |
Suavecito by Malo is in my top 15 list. One of the members was Carlos Santana’s brother who died fairly recently.
by Anonymous | reply 95 | April 20, 2024 4:00 PM |
Cocteau Twins has long been one of my favourite bands. Their most mellow album is Four Calendar Cafe and it beautifully showcases Liz Frasier’s peerless voice.
by Anonymous | reply 97 | April 21, 2024 9:31 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 98 | April 22, 2024 8:56 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 101 | April 22, 2024 9:07 AM |
Thank you to everyone who has posted on this thread, I love mellow music so finding this thread has been a real delight.
I have spent the past few hours listening to all of the music and artists posted on here, and have added most of them to my Spotify playlists. Some of the artists I’d never heard of, and some I have but never really listened to their music. I am looking forward to playing these albums in the coming weeks.
by Anonymous | reply 104 | April 22, 2024 3:30 PM |
Donna Summer's "Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby" from 1987. Should've been released as a single. One of her most beautiful love songs ever.
by Anonymous | reply 105 | April 22, 2024 3:44 PM |
For me, this is one of the best feel good songs ever. It reminds me of sunshine and a stress-free life. I don’t know why but it just does.
by Anonymous | reply 106 | April 22, 2024 5:35 PM |
I lost track of the man who played this for me, but the time always comes back when I listen.
by Anonymous | reply 117 | April 23, 2024 4:30 AM |
I used to listen to that song on a loop on summer walks, R116. So beautiful.
by Anonymous | reply 118 | April 23, 2024 9:17 PM |
Club Des Belugas has become my new favorite listen.
by Anonymous | reply 120 | April 23, 2024 10:21 PM |
Perhaps the most danceable mellow tune on here...
by Anonymous | reply 125 | April 27, 2024 10:16 PM |
How about some Roberta Flack? This is a live version and the recorded version is probably more mellow
by Anonymous | reply 126 | April 28, 2024 12:21 AM |
Whoops
by Anonymous | reply 127 | April 28, 2024 3:42 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 133 | April 29, 2024 4:35 AM |
This reminds me of an old Partridge Family tune done in the 90s =
by Anonymous | reply 135 | May 3, 2024 6:38 AM |
by Anonymous | reply 136 | May 3, 2024 6:39 AM |
Ozzy Osborne!!!!!
by Anonymous | reply 138 | May 3, 2024 6:45 AM |
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