William Ruhlmann reviewed the album for
Allmusic and wrote that the arrangements "never get too lively or somber" and felt the casual, mid-tempo pieces were an assertion by Riddle of his stature with the popularity of
Billy May and
Gordon Jenkins. Ruhlmann felt the album was a precursor to Riddle's arrangements on
Frank Sinatra's 1960 album Nice 'n' Easy as an "easygoing collection of small tonal joys".[1]
Gramophone magazine described The Joy of Living as an "outstanding Riddle collection" upon its 1998 reissue.[3]
Single
Capitol Records released the title track "The Joy of Living" as a 45 rpm
single, backed with a Nelson Riddle composition, "Somethin' Special."[4]
William Ruhlmann reviewed the album for
Allmusic and wrote that the arrangements "never get too lively or somber" and felt the casual, mid-tempo pieces were an assertion by Riddle of his stature with the popularity of
Billy May and
Gordon Jenkins. Ruhlmann felt the album was a precursor to Riddle's arrangements on
Frank Sinatra's 1960 album Nice 'n' Easy as an "easygoing collection of small tonal joys".[1]
Gramophone magazine described The Joy of Living as an "outstanding Riddle collection" upon its 1998 reissue.[3]
Single
Capitol Records released the title track "The Joy of Living" as a 45 rpm
single, backed with a Nelson Riddle composition, "Somethin' Special."[4]