K SPECIAL VA - Music to Watch Girls By, The Complete Collection, 25th Anniversary Special Edition [2024] (9xCDs)

K SPECIAL

VA - Music to Watch Girls By, The Complete Collection, 25th Anniversary Special Edition [2024] (9xCDs)

In celebration of 25 years since the initial release (1999) of the first of these excellent compilations, here are all four volumes presented together for the very first time in a special 9CD box set.

This easy listening compilation was a surprise hit in the UK, leading to a follow up release More Music to Watch Girls By within a few months, and a third in 2000, which saw a brief resurgence in the pop chart career of Andy Williams. It’s not hard to understand why. The music is laid back cool and performed by artists who can sing. I had this in the car permanently over the summer of 1999, before the dog when I still had the convertible, and there was nothing better than putting the top down, cranking the sound up and drive around feeling like a sophisticated grown up. Give me a headscarf and call me Ms Kelly.

Along with the aforementioned Williams, the likes of Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Dusty Springfield, Perry Como, Doris Day, Dean Martin, Petula Clark, Nat King Cole, Pat Boone and Mel Torme appear. For me, the highlights are in those tracks which I am pleased to have here as I don’t, or didn’t, have them elsewhere - Dusty’s “Wishin’ and Hopin’”, Como’s “Magic Moments”, Clark’s “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” and “Downtown” (one of the ultimate driving-bopping-singing-at-the-top-of-lungs songs), Doris Day’s “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”. In the main, the music comes from the sixties and is by the artist most closely associated with the song in question, with the odd exception, such as “She” being performed by Peter Skellern rather than by Charles Aznavor and being from a later period.

As with any compilation, there are tracks that pass me by, either because the song doesn’t touch me or the artist is no one that I want to wallow in. Some, I just don’t like much - Buddy Greco’s version of “The Lady Is a Tramp” is way too enforced ‘cool’ for me. And I have always had a quibble with the compilers. On the cover, they use a representation of what appears to be a scene from the original Ocean’s 11. Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford and Hank Ansara are clearly recognisable. Now this being a music collection, putting Frank on the cover seems to me to be a strong indication that he is on the cd. He’s not and I feel ever so slightly cheated as a result. But it is a CD that’s had a lot of play in this abode and you can’t say much fairer than that. And it is proof that just scoring by way of tracks liked/total tracks x 5 can mislead. This is getting a full star upgrade for the pleasure it has given.

I remember that at the time of its release in 1999, this collection of easy listening pop hits was quite the money spinner for Columbia Records, featuring as it did a bunch of 50s and 60s pop tunes largely by solo crooners of both genders that had been used in successful advertising campaigns.

Of course, these days such a compilation would be tweaked to become a Spotify or Apple Music playlist, but to be honest not much would be lost. This is music to be played in the background while you're doing something else. Not that you'll be disappointed if you give any of the (ulp!) 37 songs your undivided attention, as they're all sumptuously arranged and recorded, and still sound sonically beautiful, despite all of them now being half a century old.

What is notable is how these days, the sequencing would be very definitely rejigged to de-emphasise songs where the lyrical content has dated particularly badly, such as Vic Damone "On the Street Where You Live" - a stalker anthem by today's standards, and of course the opening track which gives this collection its name, which effectively gives men of all ages licence to perv, as its "what makes the world go 'round". Yikes!

So yeah, the 37 songs that make up this collection have dated and are very much of their time, but if you are looking for a collection of tunes from the golden age of manufactured easy listening pop, then you could do worse than picking up this compilation on the cheap second hand.

Like its predecessor, this “Immaculate Collection, 40 Easy Listening Classics - The Definition of Cool” (or so says the back cover) is a summertime, lay-back-and-think-of-champagne experience. And Sinatra at least makes an appearance (with his daughter) this time, even if the cover gives way from Rat Pack to McQueen, Monroe and Hepburn A not K. That’s appropriate as film themes are more noticeably represented this time, for example “Born Free”, “Alfie”, “Casino Royale” and “From Russia with Love”. Oh, and a famous Guinness advert.

In addition to the stalwarts of the original release, Cilla Black, B.J. Thomas, Jack Jones, Pérez Prado, Peggy Lee and Dinah Washington make appearances among others. And two classic one hit wonders - “Windmills of Your Mind” by Noel Harrison and the ever unintelligible but truly wondrous “MacArthur Park” by the late Richard Harris. You may hate it but you certainly know it! I’ll even bet you never leave your cake out in the rain.

Pending the facility to add the track list, which will tell you nearly as much as you need to know, gems include “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” by Sounds Orchestral, a joyous instrumental, Jack Jones’ “Wives and Lovers” which I’ve always had a fondness for despite my card-carrying feminist propensities which should make me vomit at the sentiments therein, Petula Clark with “I Can’t Live Without Your Love”, an exuberant performance that you don’t hear very often these days, “Peaceful” by Georgie Fame who should have been a megastar.

There are some bummers, tracks that are just wallpaper. Doris Day sounds like she is on Prozac on “Our Day Will Come” and I find myself shouting at her to pick up the tempo. But they are few and far between (after Doris comes Scott Walker about whom never a bad word may be said by anyone who wants to continue breathing) and there are a few oh so sixties but oh so happy poppy ones to make up - “The 'In' Crowd” by Dobie Gray, Harpers Bizzare’s version of “The 59th Street Bridge Song”, “Windy” by the Association.

All very groovy.

Inigo Montoya: Rate Your Music.

For the 20th anniversary in 2019 a fourth volume was released containing 75 tracks, many of which featured on the original three sets, plus a smattering of exclusive tracks which were new to this compilation.

Overall, there are 196 tracks of some of the very best easy listening records released during the 50s and 60s heyday.

Enjoy!

K

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Track lists

Music to Watch Girls By - Volume 1 (2CD) (1999)

CD01

01 Andy Williams - Music to Watch Girls By 2:35

02 The 5th Dimension - Up, Up and Away 2:38

03 Tony Bennett - The Good Life 2:15

04 Al Martino - Spanish Eyes 2:46

05 Percy Faith and his Orchestra - Theme from 'A Summer Place' 2:23

06 Vic Damone - On the Street Where You Live 2:42

07 Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea 2:53

08 Johnny Mathis - A Certain Smile 2:47

09 Dionne Warwick - Valley of the Dolls 3:37

10 Scott Walker - Joanna 3:51

11 Dusty Springfield - Wishin' and Hopin' 2:54

12 Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman 3:03

13 Danny Williams - Moon River 2:35

14 John Barry and his Orchestra - The Girl with the Sun in Her Hair 2:53

15 Perry Como - Magic Moments 2:40

16 Julie London - Fly Me to the Moon 2:33

17 Doris Day - Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps 2:32

18 Vic Damone - Almost Like Being in Love 2:48

19 Petula Clark - Don't Sleep in the Subway 2:55

CD02

01 Dean Martin - That's Amore (That's Love) 3:07

02 Petula Clark - Downtown 3:06

03 Doris Day - Move Over Darling 2:35

04 Pat Boone - Love Letters in the Sand 2:14

05 Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra - A Swingin' Safari 3:07

06 Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' 2:42

07 Bobby Vinton - Blue Velvet 2:49

08 Vic Damone - It Had to Be You 3:33

09 Louis Armstrong - Mack the Knife 3:22

10 Mel Tormé - Blue Moon 3:42

11 Buddy Greco - The Lady Is a Tramp 3:36

12 Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano 2:31

13 Anthony Newley - Do You Mind 2:21

14 Peter Skellern - She 3:11

15 Billy Eckstine - No One But You 3:09

16 Brook Benton - Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread) 2:29

17 Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town 2:24

18 Nat King Cole - Let There Be Love 2:45

19 Andy Williams - Can't Take My Eyes Off You 3:10

More Music to Watch Girls By - Volume 2 (2CD) (1999)

CD01

01 Andy Williams - Can't Help Falling in Love 3:15

02 Tony Bennett - The Best Is Yet to Come 2:29

03 Ray Conniff his Orchestra and Chorus - 'S Wonderful! 2:27

04 Frank & Nancy Sinatra - Somethin' Stupid 2:42

05 Dusty Springfield - The Look of Love 3:33

06 Matt Monro - Born Free 2:47

07 Cilla Black - Alfie 2:39

08 Sounds Orchestral - Cast Your Fate to the Wind 3:13

09 B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head 3:03

10 Dean Martin - Memories Are Made of This 2:15

11 Glen Campbell - By the Time I Get to Phoenix 2:45

12 Dionne Warwick - Anyone Who Had a Heart 3:09

13 Jack Jones - Wives and Lovers 2:29

14 Petula Clark - I Couldn't Live Without Your Love 2:57

15 Floyd Cramer - On the Rebound 2:11

16 Doris Day - Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) 2:05

17 Georgie Fame - Peaceful 2:33

18 Jackie Trent - Where Are You Now (My Love) 2:47

19 Johnny Mathis - Wonderful! Wonderful! 2:50

20 Andy Williams - Almost There 2:57

CD02

01 Rosemary Clooney with Pérez Prado y Su Orquesta - Sway 2:22

02 Bobby Darin and his Orchestra - Theme from 'Come September' 2:37

03 Chris Montez - The More I See You 2:41

04 Dobie Gray - The 'In' Crowd 2:50

05 Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby 2:43

06 The Jet Set - Casino Royale 2:37

07 Doris Day - Our Day Will Come 2:42

08 Scott Walker - If You Go Away 4:57

09 Peggy Lee - Fever 3:18

10 Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco 2:51

11 Dinah Washington - What a Difference a Day Makes 2:30

12 Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra and The Ray Charles Singers - Catch a Falling Star 2:28

13 Noel Harrison - The Windmills of Your Mind 2:21

14 Louis Armstrong Orchestra & Choir - What a Wonderful World 2:19

15 Pérez Prado - Guaglione 2:25

16 Harpers Bizarre - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 2:32

17 The Association - Windy 2:56

18 The 5th Dimension - Stoned Soul Picnic 3:27

19 John Barry and his Orchestra - From Russia with Love 2:37

20 Richard Harris - MacArthur Park 7:24

Music to Watch Girls By - Volume 3 (2CD) (2000)

CD01

01 Tom Jones - What's New Pussycat? 2:06

02 Dean Martin feat. Gus Levine Orchestra - Volare 3:00

03 Pérez Prado - Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White 2:27

04 Louis Prima - Just a Gigolo 4:44

05 Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife 3:07

06 Tony Bennett - Stranger in Paradise 3:05

07 The Sandpipers - Guantanamera 3:11

08 Scott Walker - The Windows of the World 4:23

09 Henry Mancini and his Orchestra - Moon River 2:43

10 Dinah Washington - Unforgettable 2:43

11 Dusty Springfield - I'll Try Anything 2:29

12 Andy Williams - Spooky 3:15

13 Johnny Mathis - The Twelfth of Never 2:29

14 Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer 3:33

15 Nat King Cole - Smile 2:53

16 Sandie Shaw - (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me 2:39

17 Petula Clark - My Love 2:46

18 Duane Eddy - Because They're Young 1:58

19 Dinah Washington - Mad About the Boy 2:46

20 Floyd Cramer - Last Date 2:28

21 The Beach Boys - God Only Knows 2:50

22 Perry Como - It's Impossible 3:15

CD02

01 Horst Jankowski - A Walk in the Black Forest 2:52

02 Andy Williams - House of Bamboo 2:08

03 Dionne Warwick - I'll Never Fall in Love Again 2:45

04 Cilla Black - You're My World 2:59

05 Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - Je t'aime... moi non plus 4:23

06 Burt Bacharach - Trains and Boats and Planes 2:45

07 Tony Bennett - The Shadow of Your Smile 3:39

08 Doris Day - Secret Love 3:42

09 Andy Williams - Speak Softly Love 3:02

10 Vic Damone - (When Your Heart's on Fire) Smoke Gets in Your Eyes 3:51

11 Johnny Mathis - Misty 3:34

12 Keith West - Excerpt from 'A Teenage Opera' 4:30

13 The Association - Never My Love 3:10

14 Harpers Bizarre - Anything Goes 2:02

15 Mama Cass Elliot - Dream a Little Dream 3:10

16 Paul Mauriat - Love Is Blue 2:35

17 Anthony Newley - What Kind of Fool Am I? 3:13

18 Rosemary Clooney - Hey There 3:00

19 José Feliciano - Light My Fire 3:35

20 Petula Clark - This Is My Song 3:15

21 Tom Jones - Help Yourself 2:51

Music to Watch Girls By (3CD) (2019)

CD01

01 Andy Williams - Music to Watch Girls By 2:31

02 Julie London - Fly Me to the Moon 2:32

03 Jack Jones - Wives and Lovers 2:30

04 Tony Bennett - The Good Life 2:15

05 Percy Faith and his Orchestra - Theme from 'A Summer Place' 2:21

06 Louis Armstrong Orchestra & Choir - What a Wonderful World 2:17

07 Henry Mancini and his Orchestra - Moon River 2:43

08 Astrud Gilberto feat. Stan Getz and João Gilberto - The Girl from Ipanema 3:39

09 The 5th Dimension - Up, Up and Away 2:36

10 Ray Conniff his Orchestra and Chorus - 'S Wonderful! 2:26

11 Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas 2:21

12 Dean Martin feat. Gus Levine Orchestra - Volare 2:59

13 Vic Damone - On the Street Where You Live 2:43

14 Nat King Cole - Let There Be Love 2:44

15 John Barry and his Orchestra - The Girl with the Sun in Her Hair 2:54

16 Bobby Vinton - Blue Velvet 2:49

17 Roy Orbison - In Dreams 2:49

18 Dusty Springfield - The Windmills of Your Mind (Mono Version) 3:51

19 Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now Is Love 3:13

20 Burt Bacharach - Anyone Who Had a Heart 3:00

21 Acker Bilk - Stranger on the Shore 2:55

22 The Platters - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes 2:38

23 Johnny Mathis - Misty 3:34

24 Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles 5:42

25 Nina Simone - Wild Is the Wind 6:57

CD02

01 Horst Jankowski - A Walk in the Black Forest 2:50

02 Scott Walker - Jackie 3:20

03 Tom Jones - She's a Lady 2:53

04 Al Martino - Spanish Eyes 2:45

05 Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - Je t'aime... moi non plus 4:22

06 Dave Brubeck - Three to Get Ready 5:22

07 Dusty Springfield - The Look of Love (Mono Version) 3:29

08 Mama Cass Elliot - Dream a Little Dream of Me 3:14

09 Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love 2:59

10 Ray Conniff his Orchestra and Chorus - Chanson D'Amour (Love Song) 2:44

11 Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star 2:17

12 Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me 2:30

13 Skeeter Davis - The End of the World 2:37

14 Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman 3:06

15 Jacky - White Horses 2:20

16 John Barry and his Orchestra - Born Free 2:47

17 Mel Tormé - That's All 3:51

18 Perry Como - It's Impossible 3:15

19 Mantovani and his Orchestra - Games That Lovers Play 2:08

20 Patsy Cline and the Jordanaires - Sweet Dreams (of You) 2:34

21 Connie Francis - Where the Boys Are 2:38

22 Brenda Lee - I Want to Be Wanted 3:04

23 Ketty Lester - Love Letters 2:40

24 Peggy Lee - I'm a Woman 2:09

25 Etta James feat. Riley Hampton Orchestra - I Just Want to Make Love to You 3:07

CD03

01 Henry Mancini and his Orchestra - Baby Elephant Walk 2:43

02 Doris Day - Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps  2:32

03 Andy Williams - Can't Take My Eyes Off You 3:12

04 Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra and The Ray Charles Singers - Catch a Falling Star 2:30

05 Engelbert Humperdinck - Winter World of Love  3:18

06 Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra - A Swingin' Safari  3:07

07 Dean Martin - That's Amore (That's Love)  3:07

08 Rosemary Clooney with Pérez Prado y Su Orquesta - Sway 2:22

09 The Johnston Brothers - Hernando's Hideaway 2:31

10 The Sandpipers - Guantanamera 3:14

11 Stan Getz & João Gilberto feat. Antonio Carlos Jobim - Desafinado 4:13

12 Miles Davis - So What  9:23

13 Brigitte Bardot - Moi Je Joue 1:39

14 Peggy March - I Wish I Were a Princess 2:13

15 Burt Bacharach - Trains and Boats and Planes 2:47

16 Aretha Franklin - Walk on By  2:47

17 Nat King Cole - When I Fall In Love  3:10

18 Johnny Mathis - A Certain Smile 2:47

19 Bobby Goldsboro - Honey  3:56

20 Glenn Campbell & Bobby Gentry - All I Have to Do Is Dream 2:33

21 Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love 2:54

22 Sarah Vaughan - Summertime 2:52

23 Ella Fitzgerald - The Lady Is a Tramp 3:21

24 Dinah Washington - What a Difference a Day Makes  2:29

25 Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow 2:47

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