975-951-Great Vocals
975. THE GREAT PRETENDER (1956)
Vocalist: The Platters (Lead vocal Tony Williams / Plas Johnson saxophone)
Writer/Composer: Buck Ram (1955)
In retrospect, very few singing groups (4 males, 1 female) since the Rock & Roll tsunami hit pop culture in those mid-1950s, had the game changing effect as the Platters. They took R&B / Soul / Rock / Doo-Wop and Pop by storm, giving us hit after hit from 1954 through the early1960s. This amalgam of smooth Blues was immediately unique and recognizable, riding the amazing voice of Tony Williams as one of the most gifted tenor vocalists of the 20th century. They became synonymous as trendsetters, even being featured in Rock & Roll movies of that era. They went on to become the best-selling vocal group of the 1950s, with 4 songs hitting #1. With their 4th song on our list, let yourself be moved by Tony’s sensational phrasing, breath-control, and his persona…Stunning and Electrifying!
Link # 1 Original recording 1955. Link # 2 Live performance 1959.
974. SHE THINKS I STILL CARE (1962)
Vocalist: George Jones and chorus
Writer/Composer: Dickey Lee / Steve Duffy (1961)
At first George was ‘underwhelmed’ with the song—had too many “Just Becauses” in the verses—he later loved it! His Country music career has been 50 years of ups and downs, but this song cemented his Country image—the rest is history. His later volatile marriage to Country star Tammy Wynette, his trouble lifestyle with drugs and alcohol still didn’t slow him down, he was Country, despite his ‘no show’ reputation for concerts. His voice represents the ‘common man’ and his vocals are baritone, tentative, but memorable. His 1st and last verse, “Just because I asked a friend about her / Just because I spoke her name somewhere / Just because I rang her number by mistake today / She thinks I still care.” are great questions! In Country music, his voice was described as a “steel guitar string.”…Celebrated!
Link #1 Original recording 1962. Link #2 Live performance Grand Ole Opry 1962.
973. I WRITE THE SONGS (1976)
Vocalist: Barry Manilow
Writer/Composer: Bruce Johnston (1975)
This singer / songwriter rode enormous popularity into the 1970s and 80s. From singing commercials to sold-out concerts, his 2nd song on our list is one of his best vocals, reaching #1 on the Pop charts and the 1977 Grammy as Song of the Year. Written by Beach Boy, Bruce Johnston, the intro with Barry’s piano and the explosion of strings and horns, is a magnificent offering of how sensitive and talented musicians had to be—MUSICIANS and SINGERS had to know how to play music, and sometimes whole orchestras! This beautiful ballad gives the credit to God, “I’ve been alive forever / and I wrote the very first song / I put the words and melodies together / I am music and I write the songs,” and consequently, it became a worldwide hit…A Stunning Pop performance!
Orignal recording 1976. Live performance at rhe BBC in London 1978.
972. SEPTEMBER “Four Last Songs” (1965)
Vocalist: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Writer/Composer: Richard Strauss (1948)
According to Classical Opera music scholars and fans alike, she possessed one of the most beautiful lyric soprano voices of the 20th century. One musical authority wrote this selection “was so heavenly, so beautiful that it goes against the grain just to analyze it.” So stunning was her voice that it seemed to drift in from another geographical location, perhaps the heavens, and consequently, she was the foremost of the German Opera stars, even though she is now considered an Austro-Polish performer. World War II slowed her down a bit, but unfortunately, not without some controversy, at that time the Third Reich was on the move, and most great singers and entertainers were being displaced, uncertain of where they would end up—but she came through it all…Lofty, Awesome and Stupendous!
971. WHITE RABBIT (1967)
Vocalist: Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick lead)
Writer/Composer: Grace Slick (1967)
In the midst of the great British musical “invasion,” one of America’s answers to that juggernaut was this 5-piece Rock band with an iconic, larger-than-life, female vocalist. Grace Slick’s mezzo-soprano vocals carried so much vibrato that you would have thought it was artificially enhanced, but it really displays her power. She proved that atWoodstock, in front of 4 to 500,000 at that venue, one of the largest in music history. Notice how she starts subdued and builds toward its colossal ending. It kept her in a class by herself as the ‘Queen of Rock’ for a while, as she took Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland story to where it had never been, as the psychedelic answer to how mind-altering drugs could affect us—she insisted the White Rabbit was another way to satisfy your curiosity…A Thunderous Spectacle!
Link # 1 Official lyric video 1967. Link # 2 Live performance at Woodstock 1969.
970. BAD TIME (To Be in Love) (1975)
Vocalist: Grand Funk Railroad (lead Mark Farner)
Writer/Composer: Mark Farner (1974)
This foot-stomping Rock and Roll in the mid-1970s, and Mark Farmer’s voice made him more than a frontman, he was an iconic vocalist whose dynamic, versatile, baritone voice was well known and prevalent for over 40 years. The GFR was an American 5-piece band with numerous hits and this was their 2nd entry on our list. Mark was a gifted guitarist / singer / songwriter, whose powerful vocal presence had just enough vibrato to be special. The band also tapped into special harmony with their wide variety of song selections, drawing Rock / Blues / Funk and Dance crowds, with originals and covers. The intro, “I’m in love with a girl that I’m talking about / I’m in love with the girl that I can’t live without / I’m in love but I sure picked a bad time…To be in love, to be in love.” …Spot on and Amazing!
Link # 1 Official remastered recording 1975. Link # 2 Live performance, late 1970s?
969. I REMEMBER IT WELL “Gigi” (1958)
Vocalist: Maurice Chevalier / Hermoine Gingold
Writer/Composer: Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe (1958)
One of the cleverest duets of argumentative misunderstandings in movie history! Reminiscing in their older years, they deliver the lyrics with sophisticated panache. Maurice Chevalier was a wonderful, beloved French singer / actor / composer, who excelled in the 1920s through the 1960s. Hermoine Gingold was an English actress who specialized in authoritative women with a sharp tongue and eccentric personality. Together, the pairing was perfect for the Musical film Gigi. The clever lyrics of this delightful tune shows why, “We met at 9 / We met at 8 / I was on time / No, you were late / Ah, yes, I remember it well / We dined with friends / We dined alone / A tenor sang / A baritone / Ah, yes, I remember it well.” Maurice, calm, debonaire, confident. Hermoine—quick, cool, confident, Sophisticated!
Link - Straight from the movie, Gigi…Wonderful!
968. WHISKEY LULLABY (2003)
Vocalist: Brad Paisley / Alison Krauss
Writer/Composer: Brad Paisley (2002)
I know—oh no! Another Country song about drinking? Wait, it’s also a song about the futility and effect of war, accompanied by an extraordinarily powerful video. Brad has been one of Country’s most consistent hitmakers of the 21st Century, at one stretch he rode 10 straight songs to #1 on the Country charts. He’s gifted with a 2.5+ octave, smooth, baritone that twangs when he wants to, sing vibrato in his falsetto. As an American singer / guitarist / songwriter, he’s been more than busy, and his pairing up with Alison on this track was a work of art. Her ethereal 3-4 octave, soprano voice blends beautifully with his on the chorus and the “La-la-la-la-las,”—her 4th listed vocal. This is one of the best duets ever in Country music that deals with human emotions—brace yourself…Sad and Shattering!
Link # 1 Official music video (Extended version) 2003. Link # 2 Live performance at The Tracking Room 2008.
967. SHENANDOAH (2005)
Vocalist: Sissel Kirkjebo / (Paddy Malony violin / Kalle Moraeus flute)
Writer/Composer: Traditional (Early 1800s) / updated Frederic Hand, (1990s?)
Our Norwegian singer takes this over 200-year-old traditional Folk song, updates it by modern songwriters, and presents it so longingly, so lovingly, that its beauty brings us to an overwhelming sense of emotion. Especially the finale, “Oh Shenandoah, I love your darling / Away you rolling river, / Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter / But when I’m bound to go / Cross the wide Missouri.” Her 4th entry listed is real beauty, a song so lovely with poignant melody, it stays long in the mind and heart after its delivery. Her ethereal soprano is stunning, her stage presence never disappoints, as one of the most successful crossover artists in the world from 1990 through the 2010s. Paddy’s angelic violin and Kalle’s exotic flute only contributes to its overwhelming sense of love of Homeland…Captivating, and Beloved!
966. WHEN the BLUE of NIGHT (Meets the Gold of the Day) “Big Broadcast of 1932” (1932)
Vocalist: Bing Crosby
Writer/Composer: Roy Turk / Fred E. Ahlert (1931)
This early number in Crosby’s career proves he was more than just America’s most famous singer, and more than just a crooner, he sang as one of the most beautiful male Pop voices of the 20th century. This selection from a now obscure movie, is a modern-day marvel and discovery. With his 6th selection on our list, we really go back in time with his silky ‘smooooth’ baritone and his lazy, relaxed, distinct delivery, plus one of the best examples of Bing’s whistling skills. This remarkable recording came straight from the Musical Film, and marked Bing’s turning point in history, amidst the Great Depression, when folks saved up nickels and dimes to escape reality, and when '“talkies” were only 3 years old. He became a Movie Star as well as a Pop singer. An Unbelievably, Enduringly Romantic Song!
Link # 1 Rerecording in 1940 with Trio. Link # 2 Original recording 1932.
https://youtu.be/DwlYWt9quyM?si=JQbTB94Gz-vzb7U6
965. On the ACHESON, TOPEKA and the SANTA FE “The Harvey Girls” (1946)
Vocalist: Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm) / Cyd Charrise / Ben Carter / MGM Chorus
Writer/Composer: Harry Warren / Johnny Mercer (1945)
This world-famous production number of this Oscar-winning song showcases of one of America’s great ensembles, but especially Judy Garland’s magnificent vocal performance. It was a treasured Pop hit, strait from the Movie, giving the Post-War years a great showstopper, plus a great chorus. Her 4th song on our list became a beloved tune from Johnny Mercer’s idea of the railway line’s rhythmic sound, and as delivered by Judy in her prime, as one of the most popular musical stars in the world as the quintessential role of “America’s Sweetheart.” Her versatile, powerful, expressive contralto really shines here, some say mezzo-alto, but any way you slice it, the 1940s were her best. Too bad her lifestyle cut her entertainment years down to only about a 25-year career…A Stunning, Sensational Number!
Link - Musical clip from The Harvey Girls 1946.
964. IF I CAN DREAM (1968)
Vocalist: Elvis Presley & Chorus
Writer/Composer: Walter Earl Brown (1968)
Many consider his 8th song listed as his greatest vocal achievement, a sensational song written as a buffer against social and political oppression. Recorded shortly after Martin Luther King’s and Robert Kennedy’s death, the writer wrote it specifically for Elvis, even though manager Colonel Tom Parker insisted, “It’s not an Elvis type song.” Presley sang it with such conviction, emotion and grit that some of his backup singers shed tears when he recorded it. With lines like, “There must be peace and understanding sometime / Strong winds that will blow away the doubt and fear / If I can dream of a warmer sun / Where love keeps shining on everyone / Then why, oh why, oh why won’t that sun appear.” It appealed to Pop / Rock / R&B / Soul / Gospel audiences everywhere…Moving and Inspirational!
Link # 1 Official audio recording 1968. Link # 2 Live from Las Vegas in 1968 Comeback Special.
963. CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION (1969)
Vocalist: Tommy James (Thomas Gregory Jackson) & the Shondells
Writer/Composer: Eddie Gray / Mike Vale / Tommy James (1968)
This marvelous song at first wasn’t easily understood, with their run as an American 5-piece Soft-Rock / Psychedelic Pop band of the late 1960s. Like many of the psychedelic songs appealing to the theme of peace and love, this one featured the mystery in its title—what exactly was “Crystal Blue Persuasion?” Lead singer / songwriter / musician, Tommy James, explains he got the idea from the 19th chapter of Revelation while reading in the Bible. His vocals were clean, crisp and crystal-clear, with excellent phrasing, blending together with exceptional harmony. As the song wraps, “Maybe tomorrow / When he looks down / On every green field (ooh, ooh) / And every town / All of his children / And every nation / There be peace and good and brotherhood / Crystal blue persuasion.” A Beautiful Message!
Link # 1 Original recording 1969. Link # 2 Live performance 1970.
962. IS IT A CRIME (1986)
Vocalist: Sade
Writer/Composer: Thomas Hale / Sade Adu / Stuart Matthewman (1985)
Sade knows without doubt how to put Jazz into Soul and Soul into Jazz, as she proves here about longing for someone who doesn’t deserve her. Whew, what a singer! Her 4th song on our list is in the form of a question. She fears it must be a crime to love someone as she does. This British / Nigerian singer / songwriter is at it again, giving us sounds, notes and mystery, and everything in between, as she displays her unique, alluring, breathy contralto, and as one music critic stated, full of “a slight ache, but not agony.” Her smooth, rich vibrato is always stunning, and in this piece, she keeps asking what’s repeated in the chorus, “Is it a crime/ / Is it a crime / That I still want you? And I want you to want me too.” She appeals to Pop / R&B / Soul and Latino genres—An Absolute Citadel of Smooth Jazz
Link # 1 Original recording 1985. Link # 2 Live performance San Diego 1986.
961. RAIN, RAIN, BEAUTIFUL RAIN (2016)
Vocalist: Ladysmith Black Mambaso
Writer/Composer: Joseph Shabalala
When you hear their music, can there be any doubt how South African rhythmic melodies can be synchronized in ACAPELLA with such pitch-perfect harmonies? This 9-man choral group is known for their blended vocal harmonies instead of their being instrumentalists. The demand for their vocals transcends Pop / Folk / R&B and Soul, even Folk / Pop artist, Paul Simon, has recorded with them. Their award-winning songs are joyous, resplendent and universally accepted and praised. They simply have to be experienced instead of just heard…Absolutely Fabulous and Fantastic!
960. LOVE LETTERS (1962)
Vocalist: Ketty Lester (Reynoyda Frierson)
Writer/Composer: Edward Hayman / Victor Young (1945)
This romantic standard, dating back to the WWII years, gave her a chance to deliver low, flowing, contralto tones, and display how Jazz, Gospel and Soul influenced her singing. The song was originally a vocal in 1945 by Dick Haymes, but Ketty’s sultry, alluring, heartfelt version appealed to almost all audiences, Jazz / Pop / R&B / Gospel and Soul. She was a singer and actress—this by far was her biggest hit, going deep into the top 10 in 1962. Most of her later years was spent on TV acting and in some movie roles. With her velvety voice, she purrs, “I memorize every line / And I kiss the name that you sign / And darling, then I read again right from the start / Love letter straight from your heart.” She bends those notes in exactly the right places, and she does it with flare…Cool and Captivating!
Link - Original recording - Live 1962.
959. INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL “Sweet and Low-Down” (1944)
Vocalist: The Ink Spots (lead Bill Kenney / featuring Ella Fitzgerald)
Writer/Composer: Allan Roberts / Doris Fisher (1944)
Wonderful indeed is this vocal arrangement as it still astonishes those who love great vocals, and this song has just enough musical accompaniment to be considered Jazz. There was plenty of pain and disappointment in the WWII years, but Ella’s heavenly voice fits in perfectly with Bill Kenney’s smooth tenor falsetto—it is a wonder to behold! This paring brings attention to the wondrous acceptance of Jazz into the American musical landscape, sung by gifted black artists who helped develop it, as it began to infiltrate every sort of music—R&B / Soul / Pop / Blues, even Gospel. The song went to #1 on the Pop charts, did the same of the R&B charts. It’s Ella’s 6th song on our list, and Bill Kenny’s 2nd as an Ink Spot. Truly one of the great duets of the 20th Century…Sparkling and Surreal!
Link - Great audio recording featuring The Ink Spots and Ella 1944,
958. DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL (1987)
Vocalist: Whitney Houston
Writer/Composer: Michael Masser / Will Jennings (1987)
It’s hard to listen to this gem of an R&B / Soul / Pop classic about love and impending loss without thinking about Whitney’s untimely death at 48 years, but her convincing, heart-rending delivery shows the love, emotional power and expressiveness in her voice. From the 1980s through the 1990s, she may have been the touchstone that competing artists at the time were trying to reach. She really puts her heart and 3 to 4 octave, mezzo-soprano vocals, really on full display here, showcasing her almost operatic ability to present her emotive, full-measured vibrato, with stamina, control, seemingly with little effort. Her 3rd listed song was a worldwide smash from her 2nd album,Whitney. It was considered for Song of the Year—takes to it to celestial heights. The song lives on!...Beyond Compare!
Link # 1 Original recording 1987. Link # 2 Live performance 1989?
957. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW (1972)
Vocalist: Johnny Nash / The Fabulous Five backup)
Writer/Composer: Johnny Nash (1972)
His smiling positive energy and self-discovery make this delightful song one of the best in dealing with hope, recovery, and great expectation. How can we forget, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone / I can see all obstacles in my way / Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind / It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) / Sun-shiny day.” Encompassing a natural Caribbean Reggai vibe. and embracing R&B / Soul / Pop / Jazz, this #1 song appealed to everyone, and its positive message still endures, thanks to Johnny’s glorious, effervescent tenor voice. His amazing phrasing, full of clarity, and convincing sincerity make this #1 one of the best of the decade. He excels as an American singer / songwriter and his 1960s / 70s recording career / legacy only seems to get better…Cheery and High-spirited!
Link # 1 Original recording 1972. Link # 2 Live performance on The Midnight Special 1973.
956. INDEPENDANCE DAY (1993)
Vocalist: Martina McBride & chorus
Writer/Composer: Gretchen Peters
Is it about the holiday? Is it about political awakening and readiness? No, not that either—it’s about spousal-abuse, as experienced and told through the eyes of a child. It ends with the house burning down on July 4th, with the husband inside. It’s tragic, full of judgment, yet justifiably redemptive. It’s Martina’s signature song! This American, Country singer / songwriter / musician, takes this song to the mainstream in a breakout performance displaying her soprano 2+ octave voice that helped popularize female Country music in the 1990s. She delivers with power, conviction, and sincerity, stretching her genre beyond nasal sounds—to one of the strongest voices in Country, with abilities like holding onto the note with vibrato. This song is a clear demonstration of this…Stirring with High Voltage!
Link # 1 Original recording 1993. Link # 2 Live performance with Pat Benatar at CMT Crossroads 2003.
955. NIGHT (1960)
Vocalist: Jackie Wilson
Writer/Composer: Camile Saint-Saens (1876) / Herbert L. Miller / John Lehmann (1960)
Legendary R&B singer, Jackie Wilson, took the bull by the horns with this modern adaptation from Saint-Saens Opera of Samson and Delilah, of 1876. The song soared into the heavens, to the surprise of the record-buying public, and became his biggest hit, a 2-sided hit with Doggin’ Around on the “B” side. None, especially his fans, ever expected an Operatic piece to be re-invented by one of the most sensational R&B / Soul / Blues singers ever, turning it into a Pop classic that still holds up to this very day. He takes his full-throated, power-packed, tenor voice and spreads it out over 3 to 4 octaves, and brings the house down. The last verse, “Once more I feel your kisses / Once more I know what bliss is / Come dawn, my darling, you’re gone / But you come back / Into my arms each NIGHT!”…Stupendous!
Link # 1 Original recording 1960. Link # 2 Live performance on Ed Sullivan Show 1960.
954. HURT (2006)
Vocalist: Christina Aguilera / and chorus
Writer/Composer: Christina Aguilera / Linda Perry / Mark Ronson (2006)
The critical mixed reviews of this powerful Pop performance were really undeserved—the stunning vocal delivery here in this live performance was one of the greatest of the 21st Century! She has an amazing reach of 4 octaves within her soprano voice—her live performances receive raves and applause. Her 2nd listed song is about losing a father is a heartbreaker, and not appealing to everyone’s taste, she nails the theatrics, the showmanship and the versatility within her vocal range. She appeals to Pop / R&B / Soul and pure Blues audiences, and she is a master of vocal gymnastics, but this amazing piece is subdued, perhaps contributing to its beautiful outro, “I’m sorry for blaming you / For everything I just couldn’t do / And I’ve hurt myself / By hurting you.” …Absolutely Breathtaking!
Link # 1 Official music video 2006. Link # 2 Live performance 2007.
953. EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES “Gypsy” (1959)
Vocalist: Ethel Merman (Ethel Agnes Zimmerman)
Writer/Composer: Jule Styne / Stephen Sondheim (1959)
As one of the most recognized voices in the 20th century, she excelled in a Broadway showstopper such as this. Whether you think her natural, amplified vocals were beautiful or not, she was a force—she sang it like she believed it! Her well-known, respected legacy insisted that you listen, and this American singer / actress was Broadway royalty over 50 years, becoming the undisputed “First Lady of Musical Comedy.” She was lead in Musicals such as Anything Goes, Gypsy, and Annie, Get Your Gun, and oddly, she didn’t look co-stars in the eyes, she peered toward the audience. Her 15 roles on Broadway made her a legend and, with occasional comedy appearances in movies, she knew how to maximize her storied career. Never one to slow down, she lived long after her passing…A Tour-de-Force!
Link # 1 Original performance - Broadway 1959. Link # 2 Live performance, President Kenndy Inaugural Ball 1961.
952. HARVEST MOON (1992)
Vocalist: Neil Young
Writer/Composer: Neil Young
Neil young at his most mellow, with subtle samples from the musical instruments, in an engaging song about hope and love, becoming more of a classic each day. What a wonderful trip for this outstanding Folk / Rocker and singer / songwriter. Some singers, blessed with a distinctive, emotional authenticity in their delivery, are not known for a beautiful voice, but are known by the certainty of their unique sound—Neil is one of those vocalists. From its opening verse, “Come a little bit closer / Hear what I have to say / Just like children sleepin’ / We could dream this night away,” this wonderful gentle song captures our heart. This Folk number was spot-on in attracting Soft Rock, Pop, and Country fans, and it’s ours for the asking…Marvelous, Radiant and Adorable!
951. SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT (1991)
Vocalist: Bonnie Raitt & chorus
Writer/Composer: Shirley Eikhard (1985)
Bonnie’s 4th song on our list is a marvel, a clever song about gossip, or is it hopeful romance? It would become a Grammy Award-winning Soft Rock classic, completely smothered in Blues / Pop and R&B. Her contralto 2+ octave vocal was perfect for her Bluesy delivery, and she performs it with class, pizzazz and confidence, with extraordinary accompaniment as one of the very best slide guitarists that ever played or sang. She captivates here with one of her best recordings, with her textured, experienced voice, from the chorus, “Laugh just a little too loud / (A little too loud) / Stand just a little to close (too close) / We stare just a little too long / Maybe they’re seeing something we don’t, darling,” Whether listening, or live in concert, she shines…Gratifyingly Exceptional and Gleeful!
Link # 1 Original music video 1991. Link # 2 Live performance 1994.
