Frank Sinatra: Nice 'n' Easy

Frank Sinatra: Nice 'n' Easy

Album #19 - July 1960

Episode date - February 28, 2024

The Top 500 of The Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    “Nice ‘n’ Easy” was immensely popular upon its release, and deservedly so. The title song is a breezy, pleasant pop tune that provided not only the album’s title but also the theme for all that follows it.

    Despite this, the title track stands out like a sore thumb, sitting awkwardly before the incredibly lush ballad arrangements that make up the bulk of the record. Anybody familiar with Sinatra during the Capitol years would recognize that he had a propensity for formulating theme albums, and these songs fit comfortably at a midpoint between the contrite sadness of “In the Wee Small Hours” and the unbridled joy of “Swingin’ Lovers.” Strangely, it is also a walk down memory lane, with nine of the subsequent eleven songs extracted from the ‘Great American Songbook’ dating from 1928-1940 (“Mam’selle” and “Dream” are the ‘contemporary’ exceptions, dating from 1947 and 1944, respectively).

    Sinatra and brilliant arranger Nelson Riddle compiled an album that oozes contentment by looking back over their shoulders and expressing satisfaction with what they see. By grabbing at bits that express a mellow, relaxed manner, everything old is new again.

    Featured tracks are:

    Nice 'n' Easy

    That Old Feeling

    How Deep Is the Ocean

    I've Got a Crush on You

    You Go to My Head

    Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)

    Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)

    (I Got A Woman Crazy For Me) She's Funny That Way

    Try a Little Tenderness

    Embraceable You

    Mam'selle

    Dream

    July 1960 - Billboard Charted #1

     

    Related Shows

    Al Green: I'm Still In Love With You

    Al Green: I'm Still In Love With You

    Album #203 - October 1972

      0:00
      0:00
      Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

      Stevie Wonder: Talking Book

      Album #202 - October 1972

        0:00
        0:00
        YES - Close to the Edge

        YES - Close to the Edge

        Album #201 - September 1972

          0:00
          0:00
          Harry Nilsson: Son of Schmilsson

          Harry Nilsson: Son of Schmilsson

          Album 200 - July 1972

            0:00
            0:00
            Van Morrison: Saint Dominic's Preview

            Van Morrison: Saint Dominic's Preview

            Album #199 - July 1972

              0:00
              0:00
              Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

              Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

              Album #198 - July 1972

                0:00
                0:00
                Aretha Franklin

                Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace - Part 2

                Album #197 - June 1972

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Aretha Franklin -  Amazing Grace

                  Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace - Part 1

                  Album #197 - June 1972

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Alice Cooper - School's Out

                    Alice Cooper: School's Out

                    Album #196 - June 1972

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street

                      The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street - Part 2

                      Album #195 - May 1972

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street

                        The Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street - Part 1

                        Album #195 - May 1972

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Stehen Stills and Manassas

                          Stephen Stills and Manassas: Manassas - Part 2

                          Album #194 - April 1972

                            0:00
                            0:00