Despite the conscious kitsch in effect with the title, the Andy Williams compilation In the Lounge With... collects some of his breeziest pop crossovers during the late '60s, whether Brazilian or Broadway or folk or the stray rock cover. Unlike most jazz-era vocalists (those who had debuted in the '40s or '50s), Williams had no trouble crossing over. He gave the material the proper amount of respect -- never too much nor too little -- and his choices for recording and arrangements were quite good (evinced here by "Windy," "Spooky," "Up, Up and Away," "Sunny," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head,"). Obviously, this is going to be musical furniture for many a hipster or wannabe, but don't discount the power of Andy Williams' style and finesse. The same talents of easy elegance that brought "Canadian Sunset" to the charts are the same that appear on "Pretty Butterfly."
© John Bush /TiVo