975-951-Great Vocals
975. KISS OF FIRE (1952)
Vocalist: Georgia Gibbs
Writer/Composer: Lester Allen / Robert Hill (1952)
Very few pop singers of the 50s could match her power and presentation. She empowered jazz and pop with her versatile vocal style. Check out her “Rock and Roll Waltz.”
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973. I WRITE THE SONGS (1976)
Vocalist: Barry Manilow
Writer/Composer: Bruce Johnston (1975)
This singer/songwriter rode enormous popularity in the 70s and 80s. From singing commercials to sold-out concerts, this remains one of his best vocals.
972. SEPTEMBER “Four Last Songs” (1965)
Vocalist: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Writer/Composer: Richard Strauss (1948)
Considered by 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 to analyze it.” Her voice was so stunning that it seemed to drift from the heavens, and consequently, she was the foremost of German Opera stars, but she is considered an Austro-Polish performer. World War II slowed her down a bit, but not without some controversy…Lofty, Awesome and Stupendous!
971. WAITING FOR THE WORLD TO CHANGE (2006)
Vocalist: John Mayer
Writer/Composer: John Mayer (2005)
This singer / songwriter, usually accompanied with his guitar, sings with lyrical and emotional beauty and has been a fixture through the 2000s and 2010s.
*970. BAD TIME (To Be in Love) (1975)
Vocalist: Grand Funk Railroad (lead Mark Farmer)
Writer/Composer: Mark Farmer (1974)
This was foot-stomping rock and roll in the mid-1970s, and Mark Farmer’s voice made him more than a frontman, he was a force! It was solidified in this offering.
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. Wonderful!
968. FOR THE GOOD TIMES (1970)
Vocalist: Ray Price
Writer/Composer: Kris Kristofferson (1968)
Ray Price’s country hit crossed over into pop and became a love ballad standard for it’s time. Goodbye never sounded so sweet, sad and sentimental.
967. SHENANDOAH (2005)
Vocalist: Sissel Kirkjebo (Paddy Malony violin / Kalle Moraeus flute)
Writer/Composer: Traditional (Early 1800s)
She takes this over 200-year old, traditional song, updated by multiple songwriters, and presents it so longingly, so lovingly, that its beauty in delivery brings us to an overwhelming sense of captivating emotion. Her 4th entry listed is a beauty, a song lovely with poignant melody, it stays long in the mind after its delivery. Her sparkling soprano is stunning, her stage presence never disappoints, contributing to her being one of the most successful crossover in the world from 1990 through the 2010s…Celestial and Clearly 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)
Crosby’s early in his career proves here he was more than just America’s most famous singer, and more than a crooner, he sang with one of the most beautiful male voinces of the 20th century. Unbelievably romantic!
965. The ACHESON, TOPEKA and the SANTA FE “The Harvey Girls” (1946)
Vocalist: Judy Garland / Cyd Charrise / Ben Carter
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.
964. IF I CAN DREAM (1968)
Vocalist: Elvis Presley
Writer/Composer: Walter Earl Brown (1968)
Many consider this as Presley’s greatest achievement within his vocal range, and he proves he can grab your heartstrings with these inspiring words in this sensational song, written as a buffer against social and political assasinations.
963. FELL ON BLACK DAYS (1994)
Vocalist: Soundgarden (lead Chris Cornell)
Writer/Composer: Chris Cornell (1994)
Frontman Chris Cornell brings this rock/grunge offering to cult status because of his extraordinary presence and performance of this song and the effects of depression. His multi-octave voice had few equals before his untimely death.
962. IS IT A CRIME (1986)
Vocalist: Sade
Writer/Composer: Thomas Hale / Sade Adu / Stuart Matthewman (1986)
Sade knows without doubt how to put soul into jazz as she proves here about longing for someone who doesn’t deserve her. Whew, what a singer.
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 harmonies instead of being instrumentalists, and the demand for their vocals transcends Pop / Folk / R&B and Soul, even 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 Fantastic!
960. LOVE LETTERS (1962)
Vocalist: Ketty Lester
Writer/Composer: Edward Hayman / Victor Young (1945)
This romantic pop standard from the past gave her a chance to deliver in low flowing tones how much gospel, soul and jazz influenced her singing. Amazing presentation.
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)
It is wonderful indeed that this vocal arrangement still astonishing those who love great voices, and with very little musical accompaniment. There was plenty of pain and disappointment in WWII years, but Ella’s heavenly voice fits Bill Kenney’s smooth falsetto like a glove.
958. DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL (1987)
Vocalist: Whitney Houston
Writer/Composer: Michael Masser (1987)
It’s hard to listen to this gem of an R&B pop classic about love and loss without thinking about Whitney’s untimely death, but her convincing delivery here shows the love and expressiveness in her voice. The song lives on!
957. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW (1972)
Vocalist: Johnny Nash
Writer/Composer: Johnny Nash (1972)
His great positive energy and self-discovery here make this delightful song one of the best in dealing with hope and great expectation. Great, what a happy song!
956. FOOL # 1 (1961)
Vocalist: Brenda Lee
Writer/Composer: Katheryn R. Fulton (1961)
A consistant hitmaker in the late 50s and the 60s, she begins slow and low, and then stretches her voice to swing for the stands. Another Brenda Lee standout!
955. 80’s LADIES (1988)
Vocalist: K.T. Oslin
Writer/Composer: K.T. Oslin (1988)
No other singer/songwriter female in country music ever had a voice as sultry and alluring as K.T. She sings and mourns with her girlfriends here. A great example of a reminiscing song to reminisce by.
954. JUST THE TWO OF US (1981)
Vocalist: Grover Washington (sax) / Bill Withers
Writer/Composer: Bill Withers / Ralph MacDonald / Ralph Salter
Bill Withers lends his distinctive style and great R&B voice here to Grover’s amazing saxophone…and the rest is musical history. Great!
953. EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES “Gypsy” (1959)
Vocalist: Ethel Merman
Writer/Composer: Jule Styne / Stephen Sondheim (1959)
Her voice is one of the most recognized in the 20th century, especially from a Broadway showstopper like this. Sing it like you believe it, girl!!!
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 a hopefully engaging song, 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 certainty of their unique sound, Neil is one of those vocalists. This Folk number was spot-on in attracting Soft Rock, Pop, and Country fans, and it’s ours for the asking…Marvelously Jubilant!
951. THESE DREAMS (1986)
Vocalist: Heart (lead Nancy Wilson)
Writer/Composer: Bernie Taupin / Martin Page (1985)
Nancy or Ann could easily take center-stage with the vocals and these hard rocking female artists prove they can slow it down when dedicating this song to a close friend who recently died. A beautiful melody and delivery!
