“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