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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Crooners on vinyl: the golden age of the intimate voice

When the microphone reinvented popular song

Crooning was born at the tail end of the 1920s, when the electric microphone revolutionised vocal performance. Gone were the days when a singer had to project to fill a hall: the microphone now allowed a murmur, a whisper, a velvet caress. Bing Crosby was the absolute pioneer, imposing this hushed, conversational style that won over an entire America through the burgeoning radio networks. Through the 1940s and 1950s, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin carried crooning to its zenith, somewhere between orchestral jazz and refined pop.

Landmark albums and the labels that made history

No crooner vinyl collection can overlook Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours (Capitol, 1955), widely considered the first concept album, nor Songs for Swingin' Lovers!, which defined the Rat Pack's suave swing. For Nat King Cole, Love Is the Thing (Capitol, 1957) remains a pinnacle of hushed sensuality, while Tony Bennett's I Left My Heart in San Francisco (Columbia, 1962) embodies the genre's enduring appeal. The Capitol, Columbia, Reprise and Verve labels built legendary catalogues: an original mono pressing of Only the Lonely (Sinatra, 1958) on the Capitol 'rainbow label' remains a holy grail for collectors, as do the early Verve pressings of Mel Tormé. With Vinyles.com, you can compare offers from multiple retailers in a snap to track down these treasures, from the original LP to the most carefully remastered audiophile repress.

Frequently asked questions

What sets a crooner apart from a jazz singer or a traditional pop vocalist?

A crooner is defined by an intimate vocal technique made possible by electrical amplification: a velvet tone, conversational phrasing, and a masterful command of nuance and breath. Unlike a music-hall or opera singer who must project, the crooner draws the listener into an almost tactile space of closeness. The line with jazz singing is blurry: many crooners, Sinatra, Cole, Tormé, excel on both sides.

Which crooner vinyl pressings are most coveted by collectors?

The Capitol 'rainbow label' pressings from the 1950s (Sinatra, Cole) and their dedicated mono editions are the most prized for their sonic warmth. Reprise 'Living Stereo' records from the 1960s offer a remarkable balance. Verve editions by Mel Tormé and Columbia 'Six-Eye' pressings by Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis are also highly sought-after treasures. The sleeve condition and the country of pressing both strongly affect market value.

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No, Vinyles.com is an independent price comparator: we aggregate listings from several partner retailers and redirect you to the seller of your choice to complete your purchase. The terms of sale, shipping conditions, and the exact condition of each record are therefore set by the third-party merchant, not by Vinyles.com.