The Joy of Living (album)
The Joy of Living is the sixth studio album by American composer and arranger Nelson Riddle, released in 1959.[1][2] 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] Capitol Records released the title track "The Joy of Living" as a 45 rpm single, backed with a Nelson Riddle composition, "Somethin' Special.