50-26-Great Vocals
50. CRAZY ARMS (1956)
Vocalist: Ray Price / (Van Howard harmony in chorus)
Writer/Composer: Ralph Mooney / Charles Seals (1955)
Ray became enormously popular in the 1950s—this song made him a household name. Respected as one of the best voices in American Country music, this huge breakout hit launched a career that spanned over 50 years. That career yielded hits such as For the Good Times and City Lights. His smooth, strong, baritone delivery, with a surprising touch of bravado, won fans over, opening up doors for many others, especially with the use of backup singers such as Van Howard’s high harmony. “Now, blue ain’t the word for the way that I feel / And the storm’s brewing in this heart of mine / This ain’t no crazy dream, I know that it’s real / You’re someone else’s love, you’re not mine.” This Country classic has endured and became one of the best Honky-Tonk, Jukebox classics of all time…Simply Phenomenal!
Link #1 Original recording 1956. Link #2 Live performance 1956.
49. I DREAMED A DREAM “Les Miserables” (2009)
Vocalist: Susan Boyle
Writer/Composer: Claud Michel Schonberg / Alain Boublil (1985)
A musical event happened on England’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. This Scottish middle-aged, unassuming lady took on this difficult romantic ballad from Le Miz…and took the world by storm! Perhaps introducing this number to a larger audience than ever before, even her idol, Elaine Paige, was amazed. It opened a career that subsequently sold millions of albums. Many believe her unexpected debut is one of the greatest surprises in music competition history. Multitudes of great singers have performed this song, but Susan’s pitch, pacing and power is a joy to behold! When she gracefully hits the bridge of the song, “But the tigers come at night / With their voices soft as thunder / As they tear your hopes apart / And they turn your dream to sha-aa-aaa-AAAME!” …A Sensational Tour-de-force!
Link - A clip from Britian’s Got Talent 2009.
48. WIDE OPEN SPACES (1998)
Vocalist: The Dixie Chicks (lead Natalie Maines) - Martie McGuire / Emily Strayer
Writer/Composer: Susan Gibson (1993)
The 3-girl harmony says it all. These girls can really SING! These American multi-talented ladies play their own musical instruments, and their live concerts, all sellouts, appealed to Country / Folk and Pop. Enormously popular from 1998 on, lead singer Natalie Maine’s catchy, twangy, nasal vocals are perfect for Country / Folk music, and their choice of material is ideal for them as they excel in female anthems of independence, attitude, even revenge. They embody freedom and liberation, sometimes at their own risks. “She needs wide open spaces / Room to make her big mistakes / She needs new faces / She knows the high stakes.” They embrace each song with open arms, and this one is without a doubt, one of their best. …A Complete Joy Ride…Wow!
Link #1 Official video or original recording 1997. Link #2 Live performance
47. TOP OF THE WORLD (1973)
Vocalist: Carpenters (lead Karen Carpenter) / Richard Carpenter
Writer/Composer: Richard Carpenter / John Bettis (1972)
Blessed with a rich 3-octave contralto voice, very few female American Pop stars could compare with her stunning pure vocal clarity. An accomplished drummer in brother Richard’s band (he played keyboard's), they sang and produced some of the best Pop music of the 1970’s before her sad, untimely death at 32 years of age. Singing with confidence and assurance, her influence on other singers, male and female, is legendary. This wonderful upbeat selection exalts the joy, happiness and spirituality in true love. The chorus is perfect for sing-a-longs, “I’m on the top of the world, lookin’ down on creation / And the only explanation I can find / Is the love that I’ve found, ever since you’ve been around / You love put me at the top of the world.” Their crystal-clear harmony here is…Absolutely Wonderful!
Link #1 Original recording 1973.
46. PIECE OF MY HEART (1968)
Vocalist: Big Brother & the Holding Company (lead Janis Joplin)
Writer/Co mposer: Bert Berns / Jerry Ragavoy (1968)
In an era in which males dominated Rock music, the late 1960s to early 70s, she was the only female to hold her own with her electrifying performances. Combining “Dem Kosmic Blues” with hardcore Rock was her gift to the masses—she became an overnight sensation with this raw, wild, blues-riddled performance. This iconic American singer sang with attitude, gusto, and defiance, and even though she died at 27 years, there has never been anyone before or after with her gritty sound and howling wail. Her short career was punctuated with hits like, Cry Baby, Summertime, Mercedes Benz and Me and Bobby McGee. She performed each song as if she was set on fire with abrasive emotion, reinventing to fit her 3-octave mezzo-soprano vocals. Not known for her subtlety, this song was Shocking, and Jaw-dropping!
Link #1 Original recording 1968. Link #2 Live performance 1968.
45. MY PRAYER (1956)
Vocalist: The Platters (lead Tony Williams)
Writer/Composer: George Boulanger / Jimmy Kennedy (1956)
The Platters, perhaps the most popular singing group of the 1950s and early 60s, were an American 4-man, 1-woman singing group who chose brilliant material to record. They set the standard for R&B, Soul, Pop and early Rock. Tony Williams, arguably one of the most gifted vocalists of the 20th century, sends this amazing vocal performance far into the heavens with his soaring vocals. With power and passion, or with silky smooth delivery, he was a true marvel. From the opening words, “When the twilight is gone, and no songbirds are singing,” he has us hooked—it’s as if he draws from inspiration to fuel his larger-than-life voice, adding texture and meaning far more than the Pop singers of the day. Modern-day first-time reaction stops listeners in their tracks. Spectacular and Astounding!
Link #1 Original recording 1956. Link #2 Audio with pictures 1956.
44. ALBATROSS (1967)
Vocalist: Judy Collins / music Joshua Rifkin
Writer/Composer: Judy Collins (1967)
The soft sweetness of her voice allowed this American Folk singer to craft and sing beautiful melodies which covered Folk, Pop and even Broadway productions. This selection cut from her critically hailed album, Wildflowers, is a shining example of how combining her poetic songwriting, and with Joshua Rifkin’s sublime music arrangements, firmly captivate our senses. She sings with great sensitivity, with flowing poignancy and crystal-clear expressions resulting in sone of the most poetic, beautiful vocals ever presented and recorded. The piece sounds as if it’s from a village fair from some Arthurian legend, almost a commentary from earlier centuries, but it resonates deep in expressions of beauty…Just let the words and music flow. Absolutely Sublime and Enchanting!
Link - From Judy’s 1967 album, Wildflowers 1967.
43. MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000)
Vocalist: Soggy Bottom Boys (Dan Tymanski & friends of Union Station)
Writer/Composer: Dick Burnett / Emery Arthur (1913 / 1926 / 2000)
Taken from the enormously popular movie and turning its soundtrack into one of the best-selling albums in modern times, this vocal selection is one of pure mirth and joy. Very few songs fill us with such delight. With great crystal-clear harmonies and reaching far back into the Great Depression with Country, Bluegrass and Folk roots, this hilarious but meaningful selection is sure to rouse exhilaration, humor and infectious sing-along rhythm every time you hear it. Tyminski and friends really nail it, and it is a joy to behold! The soundtrack of this film started a whole new revolutionary interest in Country / Bluegrass / Folk “Whooee!”
Link - Famous movie clip from O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
42. IN DREAMS (2016)
Vocalist: Sissel Krykjebo
Writer/Composer: Roy Orbison (1963)
Since the early 1990s this Norwegian artist has become a touchstone by which to judge vocal beauty, hence, music critics drop their jaws in disbelief at the ease of her flowing delivery. Perhaps gifted with one of the most beautiful voices on planet Earth, she doesn’t just hit 4 octaves, she sings equally well in all four, seemingly without effort, not relying on vocal gymnastics. Crossing all genres, from Pop to Folk, from Operatic to Inspirational, she takes this Roy Orbison Soft Rock classic, re-invents it and takes it into the great beyond. This covering of the recording is live in concert. and yes, she’s the same one who hums the theme of Titanic within the movie. Notice the purity and clarity within her vocal. Is she an angel in disguise—No, it’s just Sissel!…Eloquent and Elegant!
Link - Live performance in 2016.
41. AT LAST “Sun Valley Serenade” (1961)
Vocalist: Etta James
Writer/Composer: Harry Warren / Mack Gordon (1941)
If a R&B / Soul / Blues singer ever owned a signature song, this is it! This multi-talented artist has continued to grow in popularity with each passing generation. From the subtle love songs to hard-edged Blues, she could knock it out of the park with her powerful, even abrasive delivery. In recent years people have appreciated even more her versatility and unique voice, and this Blues / Jazz sample is an absolute classic. Her magnetic style and delivery make you hang on to every syllable. Who hasn’t been swayed by the string intro and, “At last, my love has come along / My lonely days are over / And life is like a song / Ooh yeah, yeah.” What a song about discovering your only true love! This love ballad is always a challenge for any singer—What a feast for the ears!…Simply Superb!
Link #1 Original recording 1960.
https://youtu.be/DtR0HLpH-pw?si=ma0i9Awflr4r0Dql
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40. PLEDGING MY LOVE (1957)
Vocalist: Roy Hamilton (Vocal & Narration) Neil Hefti arranger
Writer/Composer: Ferdinand “Fats” Washington / Don D. Robey (1954)
R&B / Blues / Pop never sounded better than this tender, romantic, promising vocal by Roy Hamilton. It was not a massive hit, it’s timing was obscured by the Rock and Roll domination of the 1956-1959 era. He was one of the most unheralded, extraordinary singers of the 20th Century, trained in Gospel, surfacing classically from the American Songbook with You’ll Never Walk Alone in 1954, but surprised everyone when he showed he could Rock with the best of them, Don’t Let Go in 1959. His enigmatic voice was superb, warm, powerful, and in this case, with a touch of sobbing. He also personified Soul in his amazing delivery, “My heart’s at your command, dear / To keep love and to hold / Making you happy is my desire, dear / Keeping you as my goal.” and he only lived 40 years…Purely Unparalled!
Link - Original recording 1957.
39. HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY (1980)
Vocalist: George Jones
Writer/Composer: Bobby Braddock / Curley Putnam (1980)
He said he didn’t like this song when he recorded it, but this is a heartbreak song of a man who only stopped grieving the loss of the love because of…well, he DIED! It is still considered by many as the greatest country song of all time. This American Country singer had a 60-year career and his distinct baritone to tenor sound represent real Country, in every nuance, every emotion, every loss. Like it or not, it’s one of the saddest songs of all time, and he makes us feel it in every in every pore of our skin, in every note. The last verse before the final chorus says it all. "You know, she came to see him one last time(ooh) / Ah, we all wondered if she would (ooh) / And it kept runnin’ through my mind (ooh) / This time he’s over her for good.”…A Shattering, Heartbreaking Farewell!
Link #1 Original recording 1980. Link #2 Live performance Grand Ole Opry 1980.
38. BLUE MOON “Words and Music” (1949)
Vocalist: Mel Torme
Writer/Composer: Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart (1947)
The “Velvet fog” is a master of many trades—singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, actor, and drummer, and certainly one of the most respected Jazz artists of all time. This American singer displays the eloquent, smooth delivery of his impeccable voice, along with its mellow timbre make him one of the best entertainers of the century, and many believe his vocals are closer to the sound of a musical instrument than any of his male contemporaries. His musical career began in 1943 with his quintet the Mel-Tones and soon he was in movie musicals and having hits of his own such as Too Close for Comfort and What Is this Thing Called Love? His version of this classic is unforgettable, ridiculously awe-inspiring and smoother than silk, on into the 1990s…This signature song is Extraordinary in its Clarity!
Link - Original recording 1949.
37. SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES (1969)
Vocalist: Crosby, Stills & Nash / lead Stephen Stills (David Crosby / Stephen Stills / Graham Nash)
Writer/Composer: Stephen Stills (for Judy Collins) (1969)
Very few Folk/Rock singer / songwriters have ever captured perfect harmonies as well as CSN. This farewell to former girlfriend Judy Collins, is an absolute delight in every musical sense. Their pitch-perfect harmony is stunning, precise and breath-taking in its precision in this remarkable classic. This is a suite in the since of being three songs in one, each one a remarkable surprise to the ears and our senses. David Crosby’s high-pitched harmony is now legendary, the glue that sort of holds the song together. This introductory album is one if the best ever made, spawning hits such as Marrakesh Express, Wooden Ships and Helplessly Hoping. And the supporting instrumental, acoustic accompaniment is…well…relax and really LISTEN!…Truly Unparalleled Harmony…Mind-blowing…Stunning!
Link #1 Original recording 1969. Link #2 Live performance at Woodstock 1969.
36. BRING HIM HOME “Les Miserables” (2010)
Vocalist: Alfie Boe
Writer/Composer: Claud Michel Schonberg / Alain Boublil (1985)
This beautiful prayer of Jean Valjean from “Les Miserables” has been recorded and interpreted by numerous singers, from Pop to Operatic, but Boe’s London original cast performance here is a marvel indeed. His beautiful, soft and sensitive tenor voice is heartfelt, humble and most convincingly, touching. Some songs, if executed properly bring tears, not necessarily because of their sadness, but because of their sudden, unexpected beauty. This is one of those songs. Its conclusion is a marvel, “You can take / You can give / Let him be / Let him live / If I die, let me die / Let him live / Bring him home / Bring him home ? Bring him home.” It’s a perfect example of his gift to the music world—Author Victor Hugo would be proud…Heart-wrenching and Amazing!
Link - From the London Musical play Les Miserables, 2010.
35. SPEAK LOW (1993)
Vocalist: Diane Schuur
Writer/Composer: Kurt Weill / Ogden Nash (1942)
Diane, or “Deedles,” is truly one of the great American interpreters of jazz standards, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, her blindness is not a handicap as her crystal clear, perfectly phrased, pure vocals clearly display. Her bold and expressive delivery radiates a quality of playfulness, passion and even convincing ownership in all her recordings, in some cases she completely reinvents the classics. She is respected by all her contemporaries, and this song is living proof why. Her repertoire of songs includes singers such as B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Vince Gill and Jose Feliciano. She attracts those collaborators like a magnet. Just listen and study her pacing and tone here…You won’t be disappointed…Astonishingly Splendid!
Link - Original recording 1993.
34. AS TIME GOES BY “Casablanca” (1942)
Vocalist: Dooley Wilson
Writer/Composer: Herman Hupfield (1931)
Very few songs in the 20th century have been so identified with a romantic film as this one. This Jazz standard has manifested itself as either a relationship on the rocks, or as a wonderful memory that we wish we could relive. Crossing all boundaries in music culture, Jazz / Pop / Soul / R&B / Show Tunes, it simply redefines time and space in a microcosm of what everyone knew a Rick’s Place, where memories not only meet, but flood into reality. Regardless, Dooley’s Soulful delivery stays with us long after listening, as it has throughout the years, a landmark and a permanent fixture in Jazz and Pop culture. As Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) said to Sam (Dooley Wilson), “Play it once, Sam. For old times’ sake.” …In one of the century’s most iconic movie moments, it’s Beyond Compare!
Link - Original recording film clip from Casablanca, 1942.
33. O FORTUNA “Carmina Burana” (1967)
Vocalist: Atlanta Symphony Orch. & Chorus (Robert Shaw conductor)
Writer/Composer: Carl Orff
This 24-movement cantata from composer Carl Orff has become an anthem for the expectation connected to impending disaster. The extraordinary vocal chorus delivers this Classical piece in a step-by-step fashion—toward a terrifying and ecstatic, explosion conclusion. Translated from Medieval poems to modern Latin, the piece literally means O Fate, and it’s been used in multitudes of movies and major cultural events. Its rousing chorus remind us that we also love great voices united in great numbers. Oh, but the beauty of its beginning and its inevitable crescendo is beyond description—truly an Exhilarating Experience! Wow! Spectacular!
Link # 1 Original Music video from writer composer Carl Orff. Link # 2 Live performance conducted by Andrei Rieu and chorus.
32. VISIONS OF LOVE (1990)
Vocalist: Mariah Carey
Writer/Composer: Mariah Carey / Ben Margolies (1989)
This vocal performance introduced multi-talented Mariah to the world as a major player in R&B / Soul / Pop music. Known for her 5-octave vocal range, she has become one of the most successful musical artists of all time, with 19 #1 singles from 1990 on, and she has sold over 200 million albums. Some even consider her the greatest female singer / songwriter of the last century. To many that’s debatable, but it cannot be denied, her voice becomes a unique musical instrument whenever she wants it to. Her diva status is often imitated but seldom equaled. Proof? When she hits the last verse in this song, remind yourself you’re not imagining a fantasy, it’s one of the greatest moments in modern music—her whistle note is astounding, perhaps unequaled in modern times…Simply Stunning and Legendary!
Link - Official music video from her intro album Mariah Carey 1990.
31. STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (1971)
Vocalist: Led Zeppelin (lead Robert Plant) / Jimmy Page guitar / John Paul Jones bass & Keyboards / John Bonham drums
Writer/Composer: Jimmy Page / Robert Plant (1971)
This Rock classic, acknowledged as the English Rock band Led Zeppelin’s masterpiece, is led by Robert Plant’s signature high voice. He takes the song through three phases, starting with a mystical Mid-Eastern acoustic motif, then the electric composite, finally followed by an extraordinary guitar solo by Jimmy Page along with Plant’s searing vocals. Not a big hit when released in the 1970s, it has risen in popularity and is now widely known as one of the most beloved and requested Rock songs of all time, encompassing Folk and Blues music. After filling stadiums in concert, selling multi-millions of albums, they are considered a flash point in Hard Rock / Heavy Metal. Considered by many as the greatest Rock song. “There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold…” A Legendary, Jaw-dropping, Tour Di Force!
Link - Original recording 1971.
30. DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE “Funny Girl” (1968)
Vocalist: Barbra Streisand
Writer/Composer: Jule Styne / Bob Merrill (1964)
This classic number, one of the greatest production numbers ever filmed and recorded, could also serve as one of the first female music videos. As one of the most successful vocalists of the 20th century, her soprano 3+octave voice is instantly recognized from the early 1960s through the 2010s. She won the respect from a music industry that for years had been over-dominated and saturated by male performers. Multi-talented in every sense of the word, she sang, wrote songs, acted, and produced. The scene, straight from the movie, Funny Girl, lives long in our memory, and her vocal delivery is simply one of the best ever presented on the screen. The finale is unforgettable and her ability to hold that last note, simply Stunning and Legendary. She belts this showstopper right out of the park!… Sensational!
Link - Film clip from Funny Girl 1968.
29. PURPLE RAIN “Purple Rain” (1984)
Vocalist: Prince (Rogers Nelson) & the Revolution
Writer/Composer: Prince (Rogers Nelson) 1984)
As one of the premier hitmakers of the 1980s and 90s, Prince’s output of his music compositions seemed endless—hundreds of his songs were never published. He was a multi-talented musician / producer / songwriter, and exceptional guitar player—he soars into outer space here reaching a falsetto crescendo by the end of the song as few singers ever could or would. Already embraced by legions of fans as one of the greatest of R&B / Soul / Funk / Rock singers, the studio production of this song is astonishing, his delivery of this Rock / R & B classic is nothing short of a masterpiece. The song is a journey, and what a trip! He pleads with Soul, squeals with Gospel dynamics and shows incredible versatility as a recording genius. Here he displays dazzling moments of deep emotion…Absolutely Astounding!
Link - Film clip from the film Purple Rain 1984.
28. GEORGIA ON MY MIND (1960)
Vocalist: Ray Charles and Chorus
Writer/Composer: Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell (1930)
If SOUL is what you look for, you need not look any further. Ray’s eloquent and aching voice, delivered with such a rich, unmistakable hoarseness, had enormous influence from the late 1950s on—on all Soul / R&B singers who followed. The singing career of this American singer / songwriter / institution covers over a half century, covering Soul / R&B / Rock / Country Blues / Jazz and Gospel. His venture into Country Blues in the early 1960s was a stroke of genius and his stellar piano playing is remarkable. His larger-than-life, big, baritone voice is instantly recognizable the world over, and his blindness never handicapped his work as a vocal artist. Simply one of the most influential vocal artists who ever lived. Looking back, it doesn’t matter if the song is about a girl, or a state…it’s a Natural Wonder!
Link - Original recording 1960.
27. BACAROLLE “Tales of Hoffman” (1991)
Vocalist: Montserrat Caballe / Shirley Verrett (New Philharmonic Orch. / Anton Guadagno cond.)
Writer/Composer: Jacques Offenbach / completed by Jules Barber (1880)
This Classical folk song, sung by a gondolier in Offenbach’s Opera, is beyond beautiful! With the orchestra almost whispering with emotional chirps and birdlike sounds, the emerging vocal performances here are a stunning example of a magnificent rhapsody with the blending voices of Caballe and Verrett. We are stunned at Montserrat’s 2nd selection on our list. Please check out the effect of this number when Guido’s wife discovers her husband may still be alive in the concentration camp in this extraordinary scene from the film, Life Is Beautiful. The melody certainly captures our heart—and it simply cannot be denied, even if Opera is not your “cup of tea,” it is one of the most stirring and emotionally performed duets in Classical music history…A Stunning and Captivating operatic experience!
Link #1 Original recording 1991. Link #2 Scene - Life Is Beautiful - The power of music 1991.
26. AND SO IT GOES (1990)
Vocalist: Billy Joel
Writer/Composer: Billy Joel (1983)
Billy Joel is one of the superb singer / songwriters of the 20th century! He proves it here with a masterpiece of delivery and authorship. This could very well be one the most authentic songs about heartbreak ever written, and he sings it with such sadness and pathos, you feel it must be from real experience. His piano only serves to accent the pain, as if each note is a teardrop, caused from the loss of love. It’s touching nature seems to fill all with a sense of regret, wishing we could turn back time and relive, or re-love, those nostalgic wonderful moments in a relationship. “And every time I’ve held a rose / It seems I only felt the thorns / And so it goes, and so it goes / And so will you, soon, I suppose.” Oh, what poetry! Poignant and bLinkeautiful—be warned—tears may flow…Heartfelt and Emotional!
Link - Official music video of original recording.
