Lounge Pop
tagStarted 1954Peak 1957-1966Last big hit still active
Located in 3 routes
Cocktail-hour pop built for stereo hi-fi and the bachelor pad: smooth, breezy arrangements, exotic percussion, vibraphone, whistling and playful 'space-age' orchestral effects, with light vocals or instrumentals. Sophisticated, relaxed and slyly kitschy. Made to fill a room with mood rather than command attention.
History
Emerged in mid-1950s America as stereo records, easy listening and exotica converged into a cocktail-lounge aesthetic showcasing hi-fi gear. Peaking 1957-66, it faded amid rock's dominance, then was rediscovered by a 1990s 'lounge revival' that reissued Esquivel and Denny and reframed the style as cool retro mood music, keeping it active.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lounge_music
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_age_pop
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/lounge-ma0000002551