A crooner is a singer who uses a soft, intimate vocal style made possible by the electric microphone in the late 1920s. The style blends jazz, popular song and big orchestras. Bing Crosby was one of its pioneers, and Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett became its best-known voices.

Which Frank Sinatra album should I buy on vinyl?

Start with the Capitol years: "In the Wee Small Hours" if you love ballads, "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" if you prefer swing. Both are reissued regularly. A compilation covering his Capitol or Reprise years then gives a good overview of his career.

Mono or stereo for classic crooner albums?

For albums recorded before 1958, mono is the original version and is often what fans recommend. For the late 1950s and the 1960s both versions exist and the choice is mostly a matter of taste. Some early stereo mixes place the voice hard to one side, which can sound odd.

Who are the modern crooners worth hearing on vinyl?

Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr., Jamie Cullum and Josh Groban carry on the crooner tradition with standards and original songs. Tony Bennett also recorded with Lady Gaga in the 2010s. Their albums are widely available on vinyl, usually in recent editions that are easy to find.

Crooners

Crooner music immediately evokes the hushed elegance and seduction of an era when the voice was paramount. In clubs and on the radio in the 40s and 50s, these charismatic singers imposed their refined style, blending romance and sophistication.

Legends like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin marked the golden age of this genre, while contemporary artists like Michael Bublé perpetuate its legacy. Each performer brings their own nuance: intimate softness, catchy swing, or nonchalant charm.

More than just a style, crooning is a way of inhabiting the song, of conveying restrained emotion. It is a tradition that continues to captivate listeners seeking warmth and delicacy.

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2026-11-20

Crooner Vinyl Records: Sinatra, Nat King Cole and the Great Voices

Why crooner records sound right on vinyl

Crooner vinyl records make historical sense: crooning grew up with the electric microphone, which let singers sing softly, almost in the listener's ear, and it peaked just as the LP took over. The great albums by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole were built as full records with a mood held from start to finish. This selection covers the classic voices, from Bing Crosby to Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and Peggy Lee, along with modern heirs such as Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Jamie Cullum and Josh Groban.

Essential crooner albums

For Frank Sinatra, the 1950s Capitol years are among the most sought after: "In the Wee Small Hours" (1955) for late-night ballads, "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" (1956) for swing with Nelson Riddle's arrangements. Nat King Cole's "Love Is the Thing" (1957) is a benchmark orchestral record, and Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (1962) a Columbia classic. Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis also left Christmas albums that come back as reissues every winter. Among later records, Tony Bennett's "Cheek to Cheek" (2014) with Lady Gaga introduced the style to a younger audience.

Original pressings or reissues?

Many 1950s albums were first issued in mono: the stereo LP only reached the market in 1958. For those records the original mono mix is often the one fans prefer, and several recent reissues offer it. Used copies on Capitol, Columbia, Reprise or Verve are still fairly affordable, but check groove wear, since many were played on heavy vintage tonearms. For regular listening, a recent reissue on new vinyl avoids crackle. Check the jacket or sticker to see whether it was mastered from the original tapes or from a digital source.