1000-976-Great Vocals
1000. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)
Vocalist: B. J. Thomas
Writer/Composer: Hal David / Burt Bacharach (1969)
The video clip from the movie with the bicycle scene is a joy to behold. This happy tune and its youthful delivery almost make it inspirational.
999.
Vocalist:
Writer/Composer:
998. INDEPENDENCE DAY (1994)
Vocalist: Martina McBride
Writer/Composer: Gretchen Peters (1993)
Amazing indeed how sometimes politicians adopt songs as patriotic when it’s really about abused women. They need to LISTEN! Martina knocks it out of the park with this anthemic song.
997. SIXTEEN TONS (1956)
Vocalist: Tennessee Ernie Ford
Writer/Composer: Merle Travis (1947
Written as a country & western song, this coal-mining self-identity song suits Ford’s full baritone delivery and it went straight to the top of the charts amid the beginning of the rock revolution.
996. HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS (1988)
Vocalist: Richard Marx
Writer/Composer: Richard Marx
One of the really outstanding vocalists of the 1980s, this rock / pop singer held his own as his power ballad clearly shows, solidifying his enormous popularity.
995. RUM AND COCA COLA (1945)
Vocalist: Andrews Sisters
Writer/Composer: Morey Amsterdam / Lionel Belasco (1943)
One of the biggest hits of the 1940s, their playful harmonies soar, but not without controversy in its time. Some stations refused to play it, could it be promoting overdrinking and spending it on the working ladies in Trinidad?
994. FIX YOU (2005)
Vocalist: Coldplay (lead Chris Martin)
Writer/Composer: Chris Martin / Jonny Buckland / Guy Berryman / Will Champion
Chris Martin’s crystal-clear delivery of this romantic ballad floats beautifully, right into a slow crescendo with full band participation. Beautiful!
993. NEVER NEVER LAND “Peter Pan” (1954)
Vocalist: Mary Martin
Writer/Composer: Carolyn Leigh / Betty Comden / Adolph Green (1953)
992. I DON’T WANT TO WAIT (1996)
Vocalist: Paula Cole
Writer/Composer: Paula Cole (1996)
This meaningful composition is a great look at self-examination as we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes as our fathers and their fathers. She sings it with conviction and eager expectation. A classic in songwriting and melody.
991. SEPTEMBER SONG “Knickerbocker Holiday” (1961)
Vocalist: Frank Sinatra
Writer/Composer: Kurt Weill / Maxwell Anderson (1938)
In one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and covered by numerous artists, no one delivers this message of looking back with regret at the unfinished portions of our lives any better than Sinatra. Stunning and beautiful!
990. WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN (1986)
Vocalist: Sierra Boggess
Writer/Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Richard Stilgoe / Charles Hart (1986)
Her heavenly soprano voice fully captures the beauty and interpretation of Broadway musicals. She can bring tears to the listeners when performing. Beautiful!
989. TILL THERE WAS YOU “The Music Man”
Vocalist: Barbara Cook
Writer/Composer:
988. WHISKEY LULLABY (2005?
Vocalist: Brad Paisley / Alison Krouse
Writer/Composer:
987. I’M in LOVE WITH a WONDERFUL GUY “South Pacific” (1956)
Vocalist: Mitzi Gaynor
Writer/Composer: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II
This is one of R & H’s great songs from the movie, and Mitzi Gaynor does it with a superb and surprising delivery of this delightful song.
986. EL PERDON (The Forgiveness) (2016)
Vocalist: Diana Navarro
Writer/Composer: Carlos Vera / Diana Navarro / Inaki Garcia / Paco Salazar (2016)
This surprising entry proves that some of the best vocals come from obscure foreign (Spanish) artists with magnificent voices. She conveys multi-musical styles such as Pop, Latino, Folk and Flamenco, and has complete control over soprano voice of 3 + octaves, her phrasing, and displays heartbreak as well anyone in this 21st century. Her incredible voice is known for its penchant for being intensely moving. Cry if you want to, this is nothing short of remarkable! She’s slowly becoming a World Music Phenomenon…Elegant and Shattering!
Music video with English lyrics.
985. BUSTED (1963)
Vocalist: Ray Charles
Writer/Composer: Harlan Howard (1963)
Singing for the workers in the field and those of little means, Ray combines blues with soul, he’s losing, and he knows it! “Cotton is down to a quarter a pound, and I’m busted.”
984. TAKE ME TO THE RIVER (1995)
Vocalist: Annie Lennox
Writer/Composer: Al Green / Mabon “Teenie” Hodges (1973)
Al Green’s masterpiece is re-invented here, and Annie takes the vocals to the MOON and back in this searing delivery where the “River” is destination.
983. SHINING STAR (1980)
Vocalist: The Manhattans (lead Gerald Austin)
Writer/Composer: Barbara Moor / Gerald Austin (1980)
The impeccable harmony in this R & B group classic is a template on how a song can and should be delivered. Absolute split-second timing! Great!
982. I APOLOGIZE (1951)
Vocalist: Billy Eckstein
Writer/Composer: Al Hoffman / Al Goodhart / Ed Nelson
In the 40s and the 50s Billy’s velvety baritone voice was the touchstone of vocal jazz delivery. His signature song shows perfect jazz interpretation.
981. LOVE IS ALIVE (1976)
Vocalist: Gary Wright
Writer/Composer: Gary Wright (1976)
An underrated rock classic! Wright sings with a truly remarkable unique delivery as well writes and produces. He’s not only a Dream Weaver, he’s also an accomplished musician.
980. CHAIN OF FOOLS (1967)
Vocalist: Aretha Franklin
Writer/Composer: Don Covay (1953)
Very few artists can have more than one signature song, but Aretha proves she can have many! Joe South’s guitar intro gets you ready for gospel-inged rock and roll / R & B amazing thrill ride.
979. HELPLESSLY HOPING (1969)
Vocalist: Crosby, Stills & Nash
Writer/Composer: Stephen Stills (1969)
Their acapella harmony, with lone guitar, makes this one of the most imitated Folk group offerings in music. Very few can match the sheer beauty of their blended voices. This American Folk / Rock group with their 4th entry on our list, solidifies CCN as the pinnacle of perfect, uncanny and unique harmony, distinctively recognizable as different from anyone else. David Crosby’s amazing high harmony is evident even in previous groups he was in, such as The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. This album cut from their debut is…Astonishing!
Link # 1 The B side of their first hit, Marrakesh Express. Link # 2 Live from Woodstock on August 15, 1969.
978. SONG OF INDIA (1953)
Vocalist: Mario Lanza / RCA Victor Orch. (Constatine Collinicos Cond.)
Writer/Composer: Rimsky-Korsakoff / adapted by Johnny Mercer
This song continues to soar with the passage of time. Why? Because of one of the most poignantly beautiful, remarkable Opera / Pop singers of all time. He takes this newer reworking of an older classic standard to new a celestial form of mysterious beauty—what a shame that he only lived 38 years, neglecting his heart health the last years of his life. This astounding recording proves his body of work from 8 musical films and recordings is a testament to his importance as a vocal artist. Pavarotti, Domingo—all loved him…A Crowning Achievement!
977. ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK A HEART (1962)
Vocalist: Gene Pitney
Writer/Composer: Hal David / Burt Bacharach (1962)
One of the most distinctly unique voices in the 1960s. He rode the charts and wrote many hits for others…but he stands alone on his voice, all by himself!
976. BIG YELLOW TAXI (1970)
Vocalist: Joni Mitchell
Writer/Composer: Joni Mitchell (1970)
I can’t imagine how Joni can cross all boundaries with her 5th entry on our list, demonstrating her superb blend of Folk, Pop, and Jazz, but she does it here with reckless abandon. She is truly unique, (not like everybody else) in every musical category! Her jubilant, acrobatic, soprano voice is on full display here. Her long, storied career is a magnificent tapestry of creative, poetic songwriting and delivery. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” A wake-up call for oncoming environmental issues…A Clear, High-Spirited Message.
Link # 1 Original 1970 recording. Link # 2 Early live performance in 1970.
