Music, Martinis, And Memories

Jackie Gleason

Perhaps better known as an actor and comedian, Jackie Gleason managed to get through most of the 1950s with another string to his bow, that of an accomplished musician. He produced a series of best selling mood music albums for Capitol Records, with the stated aim to make ‘musical wallpaper that should never be intrusive, but conducive.’

To this end he fashioned a hugely successful catalogue of romantic instrumentals, with each of his first ten albums selling more than a million copies each and the first spending 153 weeks in the Top Ten!

These figures are even more impressive when one appreciates that Jackie could neither read nor write music, instead describing to assistants the tunes he conceived in his head! Music Martinis & Memories was originally released in 1954 and technically is his first 12” album (earlier releases were on the old 10” format) and became his third chart topper.