Rich harvest of adult contemporary music

One of the most notable developments in the field of popular music in 2003 was the massive resurgence of interest in adult contemporary music. Not that this kind of easy listening fare was ever absent among the usual album releases. Pop ballads are never in want of a following. This year though, saw the arrival of some of the best and most successful albums of the genre. Younger buyers have obviously discovered the quiet charm of leisurely music and established artists like Barbra Streisand, former rockers like Rod Stewart and newcomers like Michael Bublé now compete on the same level as rock and R&B artists for slots in the hit charts.

Here then are the easy listening titles that I believe made the greatest impact on listeners this year. Listen to them and I am sure that you too will agree that no music lover should be without these albums. And take note, most of the songs included are standards lifted from movie soundtracks. This only goes to show that people, no matter how old and no matter where from, are suckers for sentimental tunes that evoke their treasured memories.

The Movie Album by Barbra Streisand: This is the perfect companion to Streisand’s The Broadway Album of two decades ago. Here too is the ultimate combination, a beautiful voice singing beautiful songs. And Barbra is in top form throughout with pared- down vocals that prove she still scores even without all those nasal embellishments.

You will find songs to daydream with like Smile and Moon River, to fall in love with I’m in the Mood for Love and But Beautiful, to be broken-hearted with, Wild is the Wind and How Do You Keep the Music Playing? or just to slow dance with as in Emily and The Second Time Around. Other cuts included are More in Love with You, Calling You, Goodbye for Now and a rousing You’re Gonna Hear from Me.

As Time Goes By, The Great American Songbook II by Rod Stewart: This is Stewart’s second collection of standards by American composers from way, way, way back, and it is even better than the first. This means that the first one was so successful, they had to come up with Vol. II pronto! And Stewart was just too glad to oblige the request for him to do more of the songs he obviously loves a lot. Strange as it may seem, the British rocker’s hoarse song styling makes you want to take a spin on the dance floor with somebody in top hat and tails. Absolutely delicious. Watch out for Vol. III.

Included are Time After Time, I’m in the Mood for Love, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, a duet with Cher, who should also do her own standards collection one of these days, ’Till There Was You, Until the Real Thing Comes Along, Where or When, Smile, My Heart Stood Still, Someone to Watch Over Me, As Time Goes By, a duet with Queen Latifah, I Only Have Eyes for You, Crazy She Calls Me and Our Love is Here to Stay.

At Last by Cyndi Lauper: Rod’s got competition with pop music’s favorite kook, who it turns out also has a natural flair for nostalgia. The heart of a torch singer beats inside her. She’s so unusual and she goes through a really wide range of oldies here. From Edith Piaf, La Vie en Rose, to Santa Esmeralda, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, from Jacques Brel, If You Go Away to the Miracles’ You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me."Why, she even has a duet with one of the greatest interpreters of classic ballads, Tony Bennett in Makin’ Whoopee.

The other songs in the album are At Last, Walk on By, Stay, Unchained Melody, Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do), My Baby Just Cares for Me, Hymn to Love and On the Sunny Side of the Street.

For more easy listening sounds, check out too, Closer by Josh Groban with his version of Broken Vow, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook by Bette Midler with a lovely Tenderly, Michael Buble by Bublé, of course with the romantic The Way You Look Tonight and Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross, which contains the Grammy nominated title cut.