VA - The Easy Way, 60 Classic Hits From The Time When Life Was Easy [2019] (3 x CDs)

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VA - The Easy Way, 60 Classic Hits From The Time When Life Was Easy [2019] (3 x CDs)

Released in 2019, The Easy Way: 60 Classic Hits From The Time When Life Was Easy is a nostalgic journey through timeless music compiled into a 3-CD set. This collection stands as a tribute to an era when melodies were soothing, lyrics told heartfelt stories, and music had the uncanny ability to transport listeners to simpler, happier times.

Spanning genres like jazz, rock, funk, soul, and easy listening, this compilation offers an eclectic array of hits that evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity. From the soul-stirring vocals of Dionne Warwick in "Walk On By" to the poignant introspection of Don McLean's "Vincent", the box set boasts a lineup of legendary artists and iconic tracks. Among the gems are classics like Aretha Franklin's "I Say A Little Prayer", Dusty Springfield's "(They Long To Be) Close To You", and Nat King Cole's "Let There Be Love".

What sets this collection apart is not just its stellar lineup but its ability to encapsulate the mood of its time. Tracks like Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" and Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" reflect themes of hope, love, and introspection, resonating across generations. Additionally, vibrant instrumentals like Henry Mancini's "The Pink Panther Theme" and Percy Faith's "A Summer Place" inject a dose of playful charm.

Packaged in a neatly designed digipak, the compilation has an almost cinematic quality, with every song crafting its unique narrative. Whether it's the swooning ballads of Matt Monro, the jazzy elegance of Nina Simone, or the breezy harmonies of The 5th Dimension, The Easy Way serves as a time capsule, offering a musical escape into the golden age of music.

Perfect for longtime fans or those discovering these classics for the first time, this box set is a celebration of a bygone era where life seemed, indeed, a little easier. The Easy Way excels as a feel-good collection that captures the essence of a simpler time. Its broad appeal and expertly chosen tracks make it a standout choice. (B)

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Track list

CD1

01 Dionne Warwick - Walk on By 2:54

02 Dusty Springfield - (They Long To Be) Close to You 2:29

03 Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer 3:35

04 Jackie DeShannon - What the World Needs Now is Love 3:14

05 5th Dimension - Up, Up and Away 2:38

06 Frankie Vaughan - Music to Watch Girls By 3:06

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

08 Burt Bacharach - Do You Know the Way to San Jose? 2:29

09 Dr. Hook - When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman 2:52

10 B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head 3:01

11 Albert Hammond - It Never Rains in Southern California 3:52

12 Gene Pitney - Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart 5:03

13 Otis Redding - (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay 2:43

14 Temptations - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4:12

15 Matt Monro - You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me 2:43

16 Dean Martin - Sway 2:44

17 Julie London - The Good Life 2:55

18 Wayne Newton - Danke Schoen 2:36

19 Percy Faith & His Orchestra - A Summer Place 2:21

20 Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme 4:42

CD2

01 Sandie Shaw - (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me 2:45

02 Cilla Black - Anyone Who Had a Heart 2:53

03 Petula Clark - Downtown 3:05

04 Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco 2:52

05 Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World 2:18

06 George Shearing - On the Street Where You Live 2:53

07 Matt Monro - From Russia With Love 2:36

08 Dusty Springfield - The Look of Love 3:32

09 Don McLean - Vincent 3:59

10 Mamas & the Papas - Dream a Little Dream of Me 3:14

11 Sandpipers - Cast Your Fate to the Wind 1:46

12 Nico - These Days 3:33

13 Honeybus - I Can’t Let Maggie Go 2:57

14 Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze, Pt. 1 3:08

15 Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 - Chelsea Morning 2:58

16 Chris Montez - Call Me 2:34

17 Tim Hardin - How Can We Hang on to a Dream 2:02

18 Velvet Underground & Nico - Sunday Morning 2:56

19 Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where the Time Goes? 5:10

20 Randy Crawford - One Day I’ll Fly Away 4:58

CD3

01 Frank Sinatra - It Was a Very Good Year 4:28

02 Dean Martin - That’s Amore 3:08

03 Peggy Lee - Fever 3:19

04 Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles 5:47

05 Matt Monro - Born Free 2:48

06 Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife 3:08

07 Julie London - Cry Me a River 2:47

08 Cilla Black - Alfie 2:39

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

10 Gilbert O’Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) 3:39

11 Shirley Horn - Isn’t it a Pity? 5:49

12 Puppini Sisters - Moon River 3:56

13 Al Martino - Spanish Eyes 2:48

14 Nancy Wilson - The Boy From Ipanema 2:14

15 Jack Jones - Wives and Lovers 2:31

16 Brook Benton - A House is Not a Home 3:01

17 Walker Brothers - Make it Easy on Yourself 3:13

18 Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun 3:34

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

20 Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow 3:40

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