I really enjoy those Yacht Rock videos, but I very much disagree with their notion of smooth. I don’t think Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, or Steely Dan sound smooth at all. The singing is just too thin and nasal for true smoothness. I don’t mean that as a racial dog whistle, I think that Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald can be pretty smooth at times.
So, what in your mind, are the smoothest songs of all time? I’d like to expand the definition to include stuff beyond the obvious 70s and early 80s choices, though now that I like at my list most of the songs are 70s or early 80s.
On twitter, many people felt that Girl From Ipanema is the smoothest song of all time, and I certainly agree that Stan Getz performs the smoothest sax solo of all time in that song. I’m going to leave smooth songs in the jazz genre out of my list though because I don’t think the best jazz sounds all that smooth, in general.
Here are my smoothest songs of all time (in order):
1. Too Hot — Kool and the Gang
2. Breezin’ — George Benson
3. I Can’t Help It — Michael Jackson
4. Do For Love — Bobby Caldwell
5. Smooth Operator — Sade
6. Footsteps in the Dark — Isley Brothers
7. You Belong To Me — Carly Simon with Michael McDonald
8. I Can’t Go For That — Hall & Oates
9. Regulate — Warren G.
10. Tie: Low Down — Boz Scaggs and Way of the World — EWF
What are yours?
Update: I couldn’t decide which Lou Rawls to go with. You’ll Never Find is the one that got the most radio play but I think that Lady Love and Groovy People are actually smoother.
jeffreyw
You tease!
Doug!
@jeffreyw:
Rob Thomas’ voice and Santana’s guitar are decidedly unsmooth though.
MP
Easy by the Commodores and Your Latest Trick by Dire Straits.
Doug!
@MP:
I totally forgot about Easy. That might be my favorite smooth song.
maurinsky
The Races by The Bird and the Bee
Icarus by The Staves
Major Major Major Major
I can’t imagine anybody would think that calling Donald Fagen’s singing “smooth and nasal” could be a racial dog-whistle.
Immanentize
Smooth Sailin’, Leon Bridges.
Oatler.
Have you seen the Yacht Rock series on Youtube?
Mel
“Being With You” – Smokey Robinson
Doug!
@Oatler.:
Yeah, I love it.
MP
It gets a little edgy once he cranks it up, but you might be able to squeeze Sunny by Bobby Hebb in the category, too.
Doug!
@MP:
That’s a good one too.
rikyrah
A House is Not a Home-Luther
Silk Superman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOlSg7JiK0&list=PL9WpdK-gK8-UqzxiTX1k2Io83wsoOgj1Q
The Freeze Band. The first track is some super smooth shit.
Doobies x Dan. Get your yacht on.
Major Major Major Major
Not Desafinado?
p.a.
Rev. Al Green, Let’s Stay Together
Villago Delenda Est
“Something”? The Beatles?
Villago Delenda Est
@MP: Easy, like Sunday morning!
JCJ
Peaches and Herb Reunited?
tinare
Can’t Get Enough of Your Love — Barry White
Let’s Get it On — Marvin Gaye
Villago Delenda Est
I dunno, Doug. Deacon Blues is pretty smooth.
eclare
I happen to think Aja by Steely Dan is pretty smooth…..
rikyrah
Sweet Love-Anita Baker
rp
Cruisin’
russell
brooks benton, ‘rainy night in georgia’. not happy, but smooth.
oldster
“Baby let’s cruise…” by Smokey Robinson.
Plus every other damn ballad by Smokey Robinson, including the ones released by his imitator John Legend (e.g. “Slow Dance”).
In other news–DougJ, you know your “Centrist Disruptor” parody account claimed another victim today?
MomSense
@p.a.:
Definitely one of the all time great smooth songs.
Jacel
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Doug!
@eclare:
I’ll grant aja, but I’m not sure about Deacon Blues, as much as I like it.
Doug!
@oldster:
Yeah, that amazed me
JDM
Well, Lou Rawls is just Mr. Smooth. Should be his nickname, like Velvet Fog.
ruemara
I like “Smooth” by Rob Thomas so suck it. I guess nothing really strikes me as smooth. What do I know? I think “Closer” is a great romantic song.
No Drought No More
Groovin’ (On A Sunday Afternoon) by the Young Rascals..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA4N5BNMjew
Major Major Major Major
@Doug!: Link?
guachi
“Ride like the Wind” by Christopher Cross had Michael McDonald on backing vocals. It’s the first contemporary song I remember hearing on the radio (born in 1974) that I would call “smooth”.
Smoothest Hall & Oates song would probably be “I Can’t go for That” and I think its smoothness is a reason in was a rare #1 R&B song by white artists. You’ve got it on your list, and I’m fairly certain there is nothing else Hall & Oates has that’s close.
Does Enya count as smooth?
Tom65
Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right
Because marimba solo.
Kay
My 14 year old plays the guitar a lot- he practices a lot- one would think he would get better – but it’s fun to watch him “find” all this music. He’s like “this is Johnny Cash” then he looks at you, all smug.
Everyone knows these songs. He’s literally the last person to find out about them. I don’t have the heart to say it to him but someone will here shortly, I’m sure.
NCSteve
Smokey Robinson, “Cruisin.”
mai naem mobile
Anything by Barry White.
cmorenc
I’m not into “smooth” music at all, most especially the excruciatingly awful “smooth jazz”, which amounts to jazz stripped of all its soul and musicality. Most especially Kenny G *UGH!*
Miss Bianca
@No Drought No More: Seconded.
cleek
Cowboy Junkies – Blue Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ6EGsZdxpE
Erykah Badu – Window Seat (if you start watching the video, you can tell where it’s going to eventually end up. so… careful, if at work)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVp47f5YZg
Sade – everything she ever did
JGabriel
@No Drought No More: Seconded. Was just about to link that one (Groovin’) myself.
guachi
“Smooth Operator” is definitely smooth. It’s probably the best of the sophisti-pop bunch of songs from the ’80s. What else of that subgenre might fit?
“Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson?
“The Look of Love” by ABC?
mai naem mobile
The Stylistics Stone In Love With You and You Make Me Feel Brand New
low-tech cyclist
Gerry Rafferty, “Baker Street” and “Right Down the Line.”
George Harrison, “I’d Have You Anytime.”
Petorado
Classic smooth – Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Etta James
Anything Sade ever did (In Another Time, for example)
Earth, Wind, and Fire
Lauren Hill does some smooth
Maxi Priest does a smooth take on reggae
Jessie Ware
Alison Krauss is pretty smooth on the Bluegrass side
There’s a lot of smooth in the Chill genre, like this Digby Jones song
Van Morrison even has some smooth tunes like Moondance and Into the Mystic
oldster
@Major Major Major Major:
Here’s the link to DougJ’s latest victim:
https://twitter.com/pluralistberry/status/892420312335364096
piratedan
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize – Englebert Humperdinck
When Will I see you again – The Three Degrees
prostratedragon
Grant Green, “Lazy Afternoon”. Along with the rest of that Street of Dreams album. And pretty much everything else Grant Green ever recorded.
Not to mention the rest of the ACJobim songbook, basically. Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On and, depending on the occasion, I Want You. The Dr. Buzzard album.
I once attended a yacht-like event where the background music was extended Dionne Warwick’s Bacharach collection. It seemed to work.
And get me a seat on the “Cruisin'” bandwagon.
Major Major Major Major
@oldster: Ah, I was hoping it was another case of him suckering a Villager…
JGabriel
All Night Long – Lionel Richie
Tracks of my Tears– Smokey Robinson
True – Spandau Ballet
Laura
@Villago Delenda Est: that’s the first song I could think of too! Here’s my favorite version for your listening pleasure: https://youtu.be/vPzDTfIb0DU
I’ll add Boz Scaggs Tupelo Honey and Van Morrison Into the Mystic.
raven
Nouvelle Vague – Dance With Me
Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
Anything by Bryan Ferry in the 80s. Most stuff by Pink Martini.
Matt McIrvin
@guachi: Ever see SCTV’s parody video for “Ride Like The Wind”? It’s all about Michael McDonald (played by Rick Moranis, I think) racing to the studio to sing his one line.
janeform
If Only for One Night — Luther Vandross
raven
Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Spaceship Orion
tinare
Sittin on the Dock of the Bay — Otis Redding
oldster
@No Drought No More:
Groovin–good call!
In a slightly different vein–I’m very partial to Chris Montez’ recording of Tony Hatch’s tune “Call Me”. Not only a smooth set of chord-changes by “The British Burt Bacharach,” but also a good example of a “Party in the Studio” production number–one like Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up,” or a couple of Beatles tunes, where there’s a lot of random noise in the background that makes it sound like a party is going on back there.
raven
Why Can’t I Be Satisfied? by: The Amazing Rhythm Aces
raven
Why Can’t I be. Aces
tinare
Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
Sandia Blanca
“Moody Richard” by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks (or if you prefer, “I Scare Myself” by the same artists).
raven
Bullshit ass WP won’t publish Amazing Rhytmn Aces Satisfied.
RobertB
I’m not a particular fan of jazz or fusion, but Aja goes to the desert island with me. There’s not a bad track on that album.
cleek
OT: but her emails!
raven
Dire Straits – Fade to Black
oldgold
Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
raven
Pretenders Private Life
Adrian A Lesher
Grover Washington, Can You Dig It. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJ9nzRl5bc
Wave, as performed by Joao Gilberto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RCnbOzCj1I (Original by Jobim)
Viva La Funk, Joe Sample. (Funky, but very smoothly done) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpu3D98cENE
Canto de Ossanha as performed by Daude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLF6cAryrYg (original by Vinicius de Morais, Baden Powell)
Miki
Pretty much anything by Michael Franks (e.g., Meet me in the Deerpark)
Sandia Blanca
Also “Ridgetop” by Jesse Colin Young.
raven
Where To Now St. Peter? – Elton John
JGabriel
Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
Eye Know – De la Soul
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) – Talking Heads
raven
The Delfonics – La-La Means I Love You
Shell
Judy Collins, “I’ll Be Seeing You”
Mnemosyne
@ruemara:
If by “romantic” you mean “fucking,” the sure. ?
Back in the early internet days, I heard someone complaining that the song was about rape, because apparently any song about sex that’s not sunshine and daisies must be about rape. Also, people are morons.
dexwood
Warm Ways – Christine McVie/Fleetwood Mac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubVRwsV1H6o
oldgold
Mr. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On/ What’s Happening Brother
In addition, it might be the best video of all time! Low tech, but it is riveting and delivers an emotional wallop.
LAO
Southern Cross by CSN.
raven
Jefferson Airplane – Share A Little Joke
raven
@LAO: ding@LAO: ding
MJS
Strawberry Letter 23, Brothers Johnson.
JGabriel
It’s Just The Motion – Richard & Linda Thompson
Drift Away – Dobie Gray
Summer’s Cauldron / Grass – XTC
tybee
Blue Bayou
janeform
Codex — Radiohead
eclare
@raven: Tumbleweed Connection is a great album, and pretty much the only Elton John I like. <a href=”http://”>Come Down in Time is also pretty smooth.
Link works, format just screwed up.
Felonius Monk
Close Your Eyes by The Five Keys (1955)
JGabriel
@MJS: @MJS:
Ooh, good call. Added the link for you.
TomatoQueen
almost anything by Miss Peggy Lee, “Why Don’t You Do Right,” “Fever”, and “Is That All There Is”, in particular.
GxB
@Doug!: Aja? – Maybe in parts but the ending is a bit off the hook (in a good way). Now “The Fez” is more SD’s style of shlock smooth. I made a reference to it a few weeks back but nobody got it :(
PaulWartenberg
Going to California – Led Zeppelin
raven
@eclare: Yep and not all that many youngin’s have even heard of it, Madman is a nice addition to the TC CD.
Johnnybuck
One on One by Hall and Oates
dexwood
@raven:
“You ask me for advice I say use the door…”
One of my favorite lines in a song. A great tune.
Major Major Major Major
@Mnemosyne:
You don’t say!
raven
@JGabriel: Motion is a great fishing song!
A Heart Needs a Home is killer too.
Tongues talk fire and
Eyes cry rivers
Indian givers
Hearts of stone
Paper ships and
Painted faces
The worlds no place when
Youre on your own
A heart needs a home
raven
@dexwood: STOP!
oldgold
Isaac Hayes – Walk On By
Pappy G
Wes Montgomery – “Bumpin On Sunset”
Roxy Music – “Avalon”
MJS
@JGabriel: Thanks!
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
I know! Who’d’a thunk such things happened back in Ye Olden Days of the 1990s? It was a more innocent time …
condorcet runner-up
spooky – dusty springfield
all i need – AIR
cleek
America – Ventura Highway
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
“Careful Whisper” – WHAM!
“Rising to the Top” – Keni Burke
Anything by Barry White
“Playa Hater” – Notorious B.I.G.
“Ice Cream” – Raekwon
“Camay” – Ghostface Killah
“Summer Song” – John Klemmer
“Wildlife” – Tony Williams Lifetime
“Last Hope’s Gone” – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band
“I Hear Voices” – The Dells
“Stronjay” – O.C.
Bill
Father Figure – George Michael
James Powell
Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire
More songs than I want to link by Reverend Al Green, but Let’s Stay Together is just one example of how very smooth he can be.
NobodySpecial
Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai. Most of his stuff is super and smooth, though.
Sober, Childish Gambino. The music might be a bit rougher, but the vocals are so damn smooth.
Of course, Smooth Operator is still number one in my heart.
GxB
@MJS: Ah! There’s a good one. I started taking it apart and found the underlying chords were actually quite sophisticated. It has me longing for the old days when musicians played instruments and understood theory. Another offering: Mazzy Star – Fade into You. Just gorgeous.
Doug!
@MJS:
That’s a great one.
ThresherK
@JGabriel: I’m celebrating the 30th anniversary of Skylarking, amidst all the media pieces fixated.on music in 1967.
—
Some of the three-part singing by Birtles, Shorrock, and Goble in LRB hits the smooth spot for me.
misterpuff
@tinare: Marvin Gaye was the Master….also,and, Sexual Healing.
But Boz Scaggs …not bad for a white boy.
Patricia Kayden
“Turn Your Lights Down Low” — Bob Marley
“Pata Pata” — Mariam Makeba
Suzanne
Smooth songs? It’s cheesy to the extreme, but I occasionally get “Cool Night” by Paul Davis stuck in my head, and that is definitely very smooth. Also Sade’s “No Ordinary Love”.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@Doug!: On a related note: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6kky3k-MVk
His Quik’s Groove series also counts, in particular “Quik’s Groove III.” As does most of his discography – he joins Snoop Dogg, Big Daddy Kane, & Lord Finesse as one of those rappers who makes reading the phone book sound enticing.
Bill
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): The “Whisper” is “Careless.”
Mnemosyne
@GxB:
Heh. That reminds me of an interview I heard with Nile Rodgers where he was talking about listening to cover bands doing songs by Chic and thinking, “Really? That’s what you hear when you listen to our songs?”
I have his autobiography but I haven’t read it yet. His story of tricking Diana Ross into singing “I’m Coming Out” even though she was anti-gay was hilarious.
Mike in DC
Kokomo, Beach Boys.
Unless surf-derived music does not qualify as yacht rock. Pretty sure they owned yachts by then.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@Bill: Dammit.
Would also add “Baker Street” and Miles Davis’ “Lonely Fire.”
Suzanne
“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak. “Breathe Again” by Toni Braxton. “Bleedin’ Love” by Leona Lewis. “Just Another Day” by Jon Secada.
Spikester
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Midnight In Harlem
canuckistani
My choice is Cole Porter’s Easy to Love, as performed by the great Ella Fitzgerald. It’s like audio silk.
DesertFriar
My Girl – The Temptations
Come Tomorrow – Manfred Mann
Walk Away Renee – 4 Tops
Boston & St. John – Great Big Sea
prostratedragon
Heard “Bumpin’ on Sunset” this week, had forgot how good it was. One of the first jazz pieces that really clicked for me. From around the same time:
Gene Ammons, “Jungle Soul”, and the whole album if you can find it. I like to sing along.
One that was actually used in a yacht scene in Blake Edwards’s’ Mr. Lucky tv show:
Henry Mancini, “Lujon”
AnotherBruce
Marvin Gaye again “Trouble Man”
Dan
Summer by War.
JGabriel
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Dreamsome – Shelby Lynne
We Float – PJ Harvey
Applejinx
If you like Hall & Oates ‘I Can’t Go For That’, it’s worth hearing this magical cover…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJiCUdLBxuI
beth
Just Once – James Ingram
The Moar You Know
@Mnemosyne: I don’t say this lightly. I play music. Nile Rodgers is one of those very few guys who’s from another planet, musically. Such a great songwriter and musician (how dare he be good at both!). One of the all time greats and very few people even know who he is.
Mnemosyne
@The Moar You Know:
You can get his autobiography on Amazon for not too much. It came out 3 or 4 years ago.
Nicole
Any playlist that includes both Sade and Hall & Oates is a fine playlist. I love both “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” and “One on One,” but I would also argue for their first big hit, “She’s Gone.”
We went to see Hall & Oates in June. Soooooo gooooooood.
Tony J
Most anything by Portishead.
Uncle Ebeneezer
Speaking of Smooth…Meet Gregory Porter. Saw him at Playboy Jazz Festival and he absolutely brought the house down. His stuff also gets funky and traditional jazzy, but it’s always smooth. May favorite is at 49 mins, but the whole concert is great.
Adrian A Lesher
@James Powell: Roberta Flack’s version of Let’s Stay Together is also very smooth, and emotionally powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT-mnAVxVXc
Burnspbesq
The lyrics of the smoothest song of all time consist of one word, repeared three times.
“Mercy, mercy, mercy.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.
Pappy G
Cripes, how did I forget ’bout this one.
Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us”
Alcana Bent
Terence Trent D’Arby – Sign Your Name
ruemara
@Mnemosyne: They could use some sex that is take no prisoners.
Mai.naem.mobile
Take My Breath Away from Top Gun. I can’t stand the song because it was so overplayed but it’s a smooth song.
Burnspbesq
@Miki:
Diana Krall’s cover of “Popsicle Toes” is smooth as glass and sexy as hell.
Adrian A Lesher
There’s also Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqZc7ZQURMs and Hugh Masekela’s “Grazin’ in the Grass” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKcGCObEb28.
Steeplejack
@Doug!:
Smooth Lou Rawls: “A Natural Man.”
Adrian A Lesher
Also anything by Brazilian pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-E7Y7BkuY
Doug!
@Pappy G:
Love that one.
NeenerNeener
Stanley Jordan’s Flying Home.
Chet
So much good stuff in this thread. I’m upset that I’m on a bus and can’t listen along.
Many of my favorite smooth artists have been added, though not always with their smoothest tracks. For instance, I think Sade’s best is “Sweetest Taboo'” Kool & the Gang are my pick for smoothest instrumental with “Summer Madness.”
I didn’t notice if anyone nominated “I’ll be around” by the Spinners. That’s gotta be on the board.
Steeplejack
Sixties smooth:
The Classics IV, “Stormy.”
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, “Chove Chuva (Constant Rain).”
Doug!
@beth:
Brilliant.
I forgot all about him and and also about Jeffrey Osborne.
Steeplejack
Pieces of a Dream, “Warm Weather.”
Lisa Stansfield, “All Around the World.” Maybe a little too much beat for ultimate smoothness, but Lisa keeps it smooth with her vocal.
Steeplejack
Bobby Womack, “Harry Hippie.”
Steeplejack
(Real) smooth jazz:
Billie Holiday, “Fine and Mellow.”
Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, “Bird of Paradise.”
Rachel in Portland
Billy Paul, “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Frank Ocean, “Thinkin’ Bout You.” Usher, “U got it bad.” I could do this all day.
Steeplejack
Donny Hathaway, “The Ghetto.”
Steeplejack
@Kay:
LOL. I hope you are keeping these notes and present them to him in a little volume when he’s all grown up.
Steeplejack
El Chicano, “Suavecito.”
William De Vaughn, “Be Thankful for What You Got.”
War, “All Day Music.”
Steeplejack
The Style Council, “My Ever Changing Moods.”
Steeplejack
Matt Bianco, “Whose Side Are You On.”
J R in WV
OK, I read maybe a dozen comments and I just gotta say whut?
No Norah Jones? No Sarah McClothlin? No Emmy Lou Harris or Linda Ronstadt? Or even Trio, cause they’re all smooth? No … I’m so bad on names… I hear that’s a diagnosis now! Lucinda Williams?
No Sammy Davis Jr.??? That guy could sing like any singer you want to list, and sound better than they did.
Anyway, there’s some smooth singers. I prefer instrumental music, mostly. But some of the blues singers could do it like pouring molasses.
Steeplejack
The Dramatics, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.”
Burnspbesq
@Steeplejack:
Malo es mas suave.
Steeplejack
@Steeplejack:
Thwarted by FYWP!
The Dramatics, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.”
Steeplejack
Can old country be smooth? Maybe, if it’s got a little Western swing in it. Faron Young, “She Went a Little Bit Farther.”
Steeplejack
@Burnspbesq:
¡Ay de mí! El Chicano, “Viva Tirado.”
Doug!
@Steeplejack:
I think it can, yes
Steeplejack
@AnotherBruce:
That’s a great one!
Steeplejack
Smooth and evil: René Marie, “Weekend.”
crshark
The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing
Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr. – Two of Us
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
sheila in nc
@guachi:
Joe Jackson’s “Steppin Out” is one of my all time favorite songs. I smile every time it comes on the radio. I wouldn’t put it in the really smooth category — the beat underneath has too much drive — but it just sails me away on a sea of possibilities. “And in a yellow taxi turns to me, and smiles, ‘We’ll be there in just a while'”…
smintheus
One of the smoothest songs of all time, an unforgettable record, is Peggy Lee’s Where or When. It’s like she’s almost not singing at all, just inhabiting your mind.
Another easily overlooked smooth song is Luis Bonfa’s Samba de Orfeu from Black Orpheus.
A smooth number from Lou Rawls that isn’t well known is his recording of It’s an uphill climb to the bottom
smintheus
@TomatoQueen: Do you know Lee’s recording of “Sweet Happy Life”? English lyrics set to “Samba de Orfeu”, very smooth recording.
Steeplejack
@prostratedragon:
“Lujon” is excellent! Going in my Ultralounge mix.
Steeplejack
@Chet:
I hope you come back and see this. If you love “Summer Madness” (as I do too), you’ll also love this LeBron James Nike ad.
zhena gogolia
@mai naem mobile:
Swoon!
zhena gogolia
@Chet:
yeah, I have to bookmark this thread. It might be as soothing as the WaPo comment section.
Greg
Mondo Bongo: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Killing Me Softly with HIs Song: Fugees
Honey Whiskey: Nothing But Thieves
zhena gogolia
@Steeplejack:
In case you check back, this just showed up on my YouTube page — pubescent BeeGees in 1963 doing some heavenly harmonizing on Blowin in the Wind. You’ll like it.
beth
@smintheus: Certainly agree on the Peggy Lee tune – it was my wedding song.
O/T – There’s a post for you Doug – best wedding songs. I really wanted “Can’t Buy Me Love” but it was too fast for the groom.
Steeplejack
@zhena gogolia:
Just saw it. Cool!
Uncle Ebeneezer
@Oatler.: What are you gonna do Sarah, smile??
smintheus
@beth: sweet!
Mnemosyne
@beth:
I still feel slightly regretful that I didn’t go along with my groom’s preference: “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Yes, the AC/DC song. It woulda been a crowd pleaser.
Nikkoboy
Sabor A Mi. El Chicano
Mike G
@guachi:
“Sara Smile” and “She’s Gone” are pretty smooth.
Just about anything by Enya qualifies.
Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music have several candidates. The entire Avalon album, especially the title track.
John Fremont
@Doug!:
Reminiscing- Little River Band
She’s Mine -Steve Perry
Lee Hartmann
good grief. Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, and Steely Dan in the same sentence?
please. one of these is definitely not like the other two, whatever you like. Steely Dan was always about the lyrics with non-major chords. Please.
Lee Hartmann
DougJ, I realize you were talking about videos, but good grief.
When I lived in the Boston area, many Saturday (or Sunday?) mornings, the DJ for WBUR, James Isaacs, who played a wide variety of things, but a lot of soft jazz, would play (without comment) “I got the news”. A tune that XCross and Loggins would never have written in a million years, with tasty piano work by Victor Feldman. And if anyone were listening closely, it would not have been on the radio waves.
Again, different strokes for different folks, but my goodness. I thought better of you given your quotes of Spinal Tap, but perhaps I have misjudged your sense of snark and lack of taste.
Bonnie
From the 70’s, the one song I remember being very smooth was “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc. I thought a little known Elton John song called, “The One” was smooth. Someone mentioned Dire Straits; and, I find their song “Skateaway” to be one of the smoothest they every recorded. However, I am the only person I know who is even familiar with the song. As a very old woman, I have always found Al Martino’s “Spanish Eyes” to be really smooth listening; and, any ballad sung by Elvis was so smooth, I still melt listening to them. I also think the 40’s was the decade of smooth with all those wonderful big bands and elegant singers. One more singer I thought was smooth was Dinah Washington. You haven’t lived until you hear “What a Diff’ence a Day Makes” by Dinah. And, her version of “Unforgettable” is equal to Nat King Cole’s version–yet Nat can certainly be called the “king” of smooth.
DougJ
@Bonnie:
Not in love is a good one
DougJ
@Lee Hartmann:
I love steely Dan, I just don’t think the singing is smooth.
Jay Noble
Late as usual but;
Johnny Mathis – Gina, What Will My Mary Say? and O Holy Night.
Boz Scaggs – Look What You’ve Done to Me
Johnny Rivers – Swayin’ to the Music (Slow Dancin), Do You Wanna Dance?
Aaron Neville w/Linda Ronstadt – Don’t Know Much
JustRuss
@DougJ: I think Steely Dan’s Chain Lightning qualifies, even the vocals.
J R in WV
And now, much too late, I remember another I meant to add: most things by Patsy Cline, another master with a career cut short by a tragic airplane crash. “Crazy” just for one…..
Imagine if she had lived long enough to learn from the Fab Four