What is MOR? The appeal of an easy-listening, comfortable music genre

Night SideHenry Mancini

Night Side

This piece, included on the soundtrack of the 1962 film Hatari!, is an instrumental work by Henry Mancini.

Although it scores an adventure film set in Africa, it exudes a sophisticated mood that blends jazz and lounge music.

The ensemble of brass and woodwinds, understated percussion, and a mellow melody create a sound that feels as comfortable as being in a nighttime cocktail bar.

The contrasting elements—the African savanna at night and a refined jazz sound—are beautifully harmonized, setting the scene for a relaxed, grown-up atmosphere.

It’s a perfect track for a night drive or a quiet weekend evening.

Fly Me To The MoonMantovani

Fly Me To The Moon

From the dawn of stereo recording, Mantovani captivated music lovers around the world with his refined orchestral sound.

This performance, featured on his 1964 album “The Incomparable Mantovani,” is a vocal-free orchestral reconstruction of a jazz standard composed by Bart Howard.

It’s distinguished by the “cascading strings”—a waterfall-like string ensemble—that elegantly conveys the romantic world of the original.

Created in collaboration with arranger Ronald Binge, this sound was also used at the time for demonstrating audio equipment.

It’s a perfect track for a relaxing evening or when you want pleasant background music.

Warwick AvenueDaffy

Duffy – Warwick Avenue

While the 60s-tinged phrases and wistful, nostalgic sound are striking, she is a captivating singer whose voice carries a bittersweet nuance—slightly tremulous yet steady at its core—that is neither simply powerful nor purely soulful, and she radiates a uniquely compelling presence.

HeavenBryan Adams

Bryan Adams – Heaven (Official Music Video)

It’s no exaggeration to say he was a central figure in the mainstream of ’80s American rock.

The kind of melody that sticks in your head after a single listen is this song’s greatest allure.

Though it’s a classic love ballad—slick, sugary lyrics sung wistfully with a husky voice—there’s a difference between adding flashy sonic embellishments and having a synesthetic ability to “color” sounds.

The drum touch on this track alone feels a bit off, but it’s an undeniable fact that no one surpasses mix engineer Bob Clearmountain, whose exquisite sense of balance and high-level technique dramatically elevated the baseline for orthodox ’80s rock sound.

Steppin’OutJoe Jackson

Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out

A stylish number whose flowing piano and bass evoke the feeling of riding in a car through city lights at night.

Its engaging melodic structure shines with an arrangement that blends waltz time and four-beat, making classic rock accessible to a wide audience and easy to cover.

It’s a beautiful acoustic piece with outstanding pop sensibility, a lively melody, and a simple, refined arrangement.

Rainy Days and MondaysPaul Williams

RAINY DAY’S AND MONDAY’S BY PAUL WILLIAMS W/ LYRICS

Though the lyrics, which sing of anxiety and melancholy, aren’t flashy, the chorus melody is striking in this ballad number.

He also self-covered the song in 1974 on Here Comes Inspiration, and his vocal timbre and distinctive delivery feel uniquely personal.

With Karen Carpenter’s vocals versus his, even with the same song, many pieces take on a different character as works, giving them a deep, multifaceted appeal.

We’re All AloneRITA COOLIDGE

We’re All Alone – Rita Coolidge

This is a cover of a track from Boz Scaggs’s studio album Silk Degrees.

While her gospel-honed vocal technique shines through, she isn’t a singer who trades solely on vocal power; her appeal lies in a gentle voice and robust expressive ability—a natural, burnished, ‘smoky’ quality befitting a seasoned female singer.

The DrifterRoger Nichols

Roger Nichols – The Drifter

This song is an early work by the golden duo of Roger Nichols and Paul Williams.

He also self-covered it with Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends, the group he formed as a musician with his close friends, the McLeod siblings.

Beyond the catchy piano performance, it features sweet arrangements with strings and horns, and the vocal arrangement truly shines—it’s a wonderful track.

I’m Not In Love10cc

I’M NOT IN LOVE – 10cc

Nowadays we have ordinary effects units, but back then they used techniques like multitracking and tape loops to achieve sampling-like effects (a naturally overdriven tone).

It’s a work that reveals their uncompromising professionalism as musicians, with an enduring, never-tiresome, universal sound.

By adding their signature touch to high-quality pop enhanced with rich choruses and vocal effects, they successfully layered in a solid rock flavor.

Love Is BluePaul Mauriat

Love Is Blue / The Olive Necklace — Paul Mauriat

This piece, characterized by a pop yet wistfully flowing melody line, is inspired by Paul Mauriat’s sentimental and romantic instrumental arrangement featuring the harpsichord.

Its soothing, familiar, and calming sound makes for a déjà vu-like BGM that helps you spend time in peace.