Jackie Gleason
Not only was he one of the finest comedians America has ever produced, Jackie Gleason applied his prodigious talents to music as well. With a strong jazz roots background (leaning toward mesmerized idolatry when dealing with good trumpet players), Gleason developed a chart-topping series of mood music albums in the '50s, citing his reason for their existence: "Every time I ever watched Clark Gable do a love scene in the movies, I'd hear this really pretty music, real romantic, come up behind him and help set the mood. So I'm figuring that if Clark Gable needs that kinda help, then a guy in Canarsie has gotta be dyin' for somethin' like this!"
Gleason began making films in the '40s, but he rose to stardom in the early '50s, thanks to the late '40s/early '50s television series The Honeymooners and Cavalcade of Stars. His television stardom led to a contract with Capitol Records, which released his first album, Music for Lovers Only, in 1953. As a musician, Gleason favored lush, dramatically orchestrated instrumentals, patterned after the mood music of Paul Weston. Gleason wasn't a trained musician, but he was responsible for the musical direction of his records; when he did write a piece, he would dictate to someone who could read and write music.
Music for Lovers Only was a surprise hit, selling over 500,000 copies. Every subsequent Gleason album was a major hit, reaching the Top Ten and selling a large number of copies. Gleason continued to release albums into the '60s, but his popularity dipped dramatically after 1957. After that year, he was no longer able to make it into the Top 15, even though his records continued to appear in the lower regions of the charts. Gleason's records have continued to be popular cult items and have come to be regarded as definitive mood music albums.
© Cub Koda & Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Opiate d'amour (Stereo Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Jackie Gleason's Lover's Portfolio
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on 1 Jan 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Dream of Lilac Time
Pop - Released by Hardbeats on 20 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Drifting and Dreaming
Mantovani, Tipica Orchestra, Billy Vaughn, Jackie Gleason, Ray Conniff
Pop - Released by Hit that Record on 1 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Christmas Songs
Christmas Music - Released by Divitiae on 5 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music To Change Her Mind (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by RevOla on 15 Oct 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Music To Remember Her
Jazz - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on 1 Feb 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Instrumental Favorites
Pop - Released by EMI Music Special Markets on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Merry Christmas!
Christmas Music - Released by Poppydisc on 16 Dec 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Champagne, Candlelight and Kisses
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Jazz Lounge
Lounge - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Torch with the Blue Flame
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lover's Portfolio
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 4 Feb 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
There's No Business Like Show Business with Jackie Gleason, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Past Hereos on 21 Oct 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Music for the Love Hours (Original Album Plus Bonus Tracks)
Pop - Released by Easy Listening Classics on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jackie Gleason Presents: Lonesome Echo (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by RevOla on 15 Oct 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo