Light / Easy Listening Music Genre

Light / Easy Listening Music Genre

Light music as a concept has existed since the 18th–19th centuries – waltzes, salon music, operettas, etc.

Modern easy listening / mood music / pop or estrade music as a distinct commercial genre crystallised after the Second World War.

The first true “mood music” album is often considered to be Paul Weston’s Music for Dreaming, released in May 1945 – specially created to evoke a calm atmosphere for the listener. It was a set of four 78 rpm records (Capitol BD 9) and is regarded as one of the first genuine mood music / easy listening albums.

In the 1950s–1960s the genre flourished with Mantovani, Percy Faith, Bert Kaempfert, Ray Conniff and others.

The American radio format “Beautiful music / Easy listening” became very popular in the 1960s–1970s.

The most significant and best-known orchestras in the world
(arranged in historical order according to founding or the start of their greatest popularity):

Glenn Miller Orchestra
Founded in 1938. Golden period: 1939–1942. (Miller himself disappeared in 1944, but the orchestra under his name still exists.)

Mantovani and His Orchestra
Active since the 1930s, but true international fame and the “cascading strings” style came in the 1950s.

Percy Faith and His Orchestra
Popular from the late 1940s / 1950s (especially the 1950s–1960s).

Ray Conniff Orchestra & Singers
Began in the second half of the 1950s; golden period 1960s–1970s.

Bert Kaempfert Orchestra
Major popularity began with “Wonderland by Night” (1960). Mainly the 1960s.

James Last Orchestra
“Happy Sound” style and enormous success – from the mid-1960s to the 1980s.

Paul Mauriat Orchestra
Main fame in the second half of the 1960s and the 1970s (“Love is Blue”, etc.).

André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra
Orchestra founded in 1987. International fame and massive popularity – from the late 1990s to the present day.

Brief chronological summary
(estrade / pop music big bands and easy listening orchestras)

18th–19th centuries
The tradition of light music takes shape: waltzes, salon music, operettas, works by the Strauss family. Seaside and theatre orchestras become popular in Britain and Europe.

1930s–1940s
Rise of swing and “sweet” big bands.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra (1938–1942) becomes one of the most successful – hits Moonlight Serenade, In the Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo. Miller disappears in 1944, but the orchestra under his name continues.

May 1945
Paul Weston releases the album Music for Dreaming (Capitol), regarded as the first true mood music / easy listening album – music created to set a mood rather than for dancing.

1950s
The genre consolidates.
Mantovani develops the “cascading strings” style and becomes an international star.
Percy Faith achieves huge success (Theme from A Summer Place, etc.).

1960s – the golden age of easy listening
Bert Kaempfert – Wonderland by Night (1960) reaches No. 1 in the USA.
Ray Conniff combines orchestra with choir.
James Last begins the “Happy Sound” and Non-Stop Dancing series (from 1965).
Paul Mauriat – Love is Blue (1968).
The genre dominates the radio formats “Beautiful music” and “Easy listening”.

1970s–1980s
Popularity gradually declines under the influence of rock and disco, but James Last and other orchestras continue to sell millions of records, especially in Europe.

1987 – present day
André Rieu founds the Johann Strauss Orchestra. From the late 1990s it becomes one of the most successful modern light and estrade music orchestras in the world, combining waltzes, pop and classical music.