Vocal Lounge

History

As mid-century lounge culture matured, a vocal branch emerged that kept standards and pop material intimate, stylish, and slightly conspiratorial rather than formally “sung out”; Julie London, Peggy Lee, Blossom Dearie, Keely Smith, Dean Martin, and Eartha Kitt helped define that mode, and their records later became essential source material for neo-lounge and retro-boutique soundtracks.

Defining artists

• Julie LondonSpotifyYouTube
• Peggy LeeSpotifyYouTube
• Blossom DearieSpotifyYouTube
• Keely SmithSpotifyYouTube
• Dean MartinSpotifyYouTube
• Eartha KittSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Cry Me a River — Julie LondonSpotifyYouTube
• Fever — Peggy LeeSpotifyYouTube
• Manhattan — Blossom DearieSpotifyYouTube
• I Wish You Love — Keely SmithSpotifyYouTube
• Sway — Dean MartinSpotifyYouTube
• C'est Si Bon — Eartha KittSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Wikipedia, “Lounge music”
• Museum of Broadcast Communications, “Easy Listening/Beautiful Music Format”
• The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Music, “Other mainstreams: light music and easy listening, 1920–70.”