I love Mancini. This one is really the closest to a perfect overview of his popular faire, including the original soundtrack songs, from the BEST chorus ever: 'Days of Wine and Roses', 'Charade', 'Dear Heart', 'The Sweetheart Tree'(the BEST part of the film "The Great Race"), & 'Two for the Road'. This IS the freshest sound of the early 60s.

The father of 'cocktail-lounge piano', this Brit is easily the best of it, popularizing the piano/vibraphone combo that became synonymous with this sound. This IS the 'definitive' cocktail hour for him. Several pieces offer the popular latin touch of the day and others are taken from his collaborations with the top jazz singers of the day.

Coltrane released a few 'ballads' albums in the early 60s, taking a step back from his modern jazz following that he had popularized in the 50s. I actually prefer his 60s releases, that offer proof of what may be the sweetest 'singing' ever to come from a sax. This offers much of the best of these albums, along with 'Ballads', listed below.

I found this on npr.org, under the 'Basic Jazz Library', some years ago, where radio excerpts of jazz programs can be downloaded. This is not only THE reunion of the famous Nat King Cole Trio, but the 'King' @ his jazziest. All are great here, but my favs include 'Blame It on My Youth', 'The Lonely One', and 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head'.

This is the kind of cool bongo that would be found in a martini lounge, offered by greats Jack Costanzo, Les Baxter, et al. One of the most energetic and fun albums I own.

First, either locate this in a used CD store(as I did, for $13) or just get 'Best of Les Baxter', which is only missing 'Never on Sunday'. Either of these offer the best of Baxter's non-exotica 'chorus ala Conniff'/space age bachelor pad sound, which is my fav Baxter style. Although the Conniff style may seem somewhat cheesy, this would be the BEST of the type.

At the end of the classic lounge period, Getz plays some of the best of Bacharach-and soft lounge was never as cool(although the CD 'Wave' by Antonio Jobim sounds pretty close). Getz's interpretation of 'The Look of Love' gives my goosebumps goosebumps.

Vaughan, one of THE greatest jazz singers ever(Ella Fitzgerald stated that Vaughan was THE best), has an inexhaustible amount of releases out there, but this one, along with the VERY lounge 'Sarah Sings Soulfully'(a mid-60s live set and easily one of her greatest recordings) are the 2 that fit in best here. Where this one is quite calm, the latter is more energetic(& possibly better).

Npr.org never steered me wrong in my early days of collecting jazz CDs. Recorded @ the peak of classic lounge, this is Ms.Wilson's best album of this style. Like Washington, she offers flexibility in music genre, as well. Adderley's chops play a mean sax, only making this one of the most perfect jazz collaborations.

An early remastering of this cabaret singer's 'Best of...', this one sounds pretty darn good, including both the Single and Stereo versions of her famous James Bond 'Goldfinger', as well as the openers to the films "Diamonds are Forever" and "Moonraker". However, several of her songs here, from both musicals and films, are just as solid.

As I mentioned above, I am not an 'exotica' lounge lover-and Denny, although easily the most popular candidate of this genre, is a bit of a novelty act. However, this compilation only takes from his best work. Fair warning, though, that this is the one album on this list that I haven't actually heard in its entirety. So, don't just take my word for it.