850-826-Great Vocals
850. ORINOCO FLOWS (SAIL AWAY) (1988)
Vocalist: Enya (Maire Brennan)
Writer/Composer: Enya (Eithne Ni Bhraonain) / Roma Ryan (1988)
Irish singer / songwriter Enya is known for her albums rather than her hits, but this crossover New Age / Celtic / Folk / Pop song was a total surprise, going worldwide to #1 in several countries. Her vocals here are priceless, with her trademark synthesizer producing ‘pizzacato’ chords so catchy that it was accessable to all genres of music, thus, its global cross-generation appeal. The layering in the studio of her ethereal voice is a marvel to behold—almost everyone loves this song! Her 3rd song on our list is a vocal treat…A Melodious Treasure!
Link from official music video 1988.
849. BABY, (YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES) (1960)
Vocalist: Brook Benton / Dinah Washington
Writer/Composer: Clyde Otis / Murray Stein (1959)
848. NO OTHER LOVE “Me and Juliet” (1953)
Vocalist: Perry Como
Writer/Composer: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II (1953)
If Rock & Roll hadn’t exploded in the 1956 / 57 era, Perry Como would have sold more records than anyone and claimed his Pop star status as the biggest name in music. This song by the R&H writing partnership was a smash, and considered one of Como’s best vocals, a tribute to the wonderful Pop productions of that day. He was ubiquitous on jukeboxes, radio and TV, his presence was everywhere, and his flexible, lovable, mellow baritone and his relaxed attitude with that cardigan sweater made him everyone’s favorite houseguest and crooner in the 1950s & 60s. He really stretches his wings here with his 3rd entry, holding his notes, displaying what the 1950s were all about…Noble Excellence!
Link # 1 Original 1953 recording, # 1 song. Link # 2 Live collaboration from Me & Juliete musical 1953.
847. I’M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS “Oh, Look!” (1972)
Vocalist: Julie Budd (Edith Erdman)
Writer/Composer: Joseph McCarthy / Harry Carroll (adapted from Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu (1917)
In the early 1970s a young voice appeared that was a jaw-dropping phenomena, Julie Budd. She was an actress, she specialized in Showtunes, Theater songs and concert selections from the Great American Songbook. She was a Pop / Jazz vocalist, often compared to Streisand, with a power-packed voice, completely capable of 3+ octaves. She was only 16 when she opened for Sinatra at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Her career spans 6 decades with cabaret shows, symphonies, and a voice that still records classics that are described as spectacular, lush, pure and amazing. Some describe her as having the biggest voice of an unknown star. This is an example…Listen…Remarkably Superb!
Link - Live from one of her first TV appearances at 16 years old.
846. DON’T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE (1977)
Vocalist: Crystal Gayle (Brenda Gayle Webb)
Writer/Composer: Richard Leigh (1977)
Link # 1 Original recording 1977. Link # 2 Live performance on The Midnight Special 1977.
845. DI PROVENZA IL MAR “La Traviata” (1971)
Vocalist: Sherill Milnes (James Levine cond.)
Writer/Composer: Giuseppi Verdi (1853)
America’s Sherill Milnes is one of the most distinctive baritone voices of 20th century in Classical Opera, and his presence, power, and rugged good looks from 1965 through 1997, as one of the busiest male voices in multitudes of classical performances. Verdi’s cherished Opera ran the table of human emotions, “love, envy, jealousy, loyalty, hatred,” and he encompassed them all. His rich high baritone brought long applause and accolades, and he was not afraid to challenge the more complex roles…Simply Legendary!
844. STONED SOUL PICNIC (1968)
Vocalist: The 5th Dimension (lead Marilyn McCoo)
Writer/Composer: Laura Nyro (1968)
843. I BELIEVE (1953)
Vocalist: Frankie Laine (Paul Weston’s orch.)
Writer/Composer: Irwin Drake / Irvin Graham / Jimmy Shirl / Al Stillman (1953)
842. PLEASE MR. PLEASE (1975)
Vocalist: Olivia Newton-John
Writer/Composer: Bruce Welsh / John Rostill (1974)
Link # 1 Original recording 1975. Link # 2 Live performance 1977.
841. TALK IT OVER (1989)
Vocalist: Grayson Hugh
Writer/Composer: Grayson Hugh / Sandy Linzer / Irwin Levine (1988)
Link # 1 Original recording 1989. Link # 2 Live on BBC’s the Wogan Show 1989.
840. LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT (1954)
Vocalist: Kitty Kallen (Jack Pleis orch.)
Writer/Composer: Edith Lindman / Carl Stutz ((1953)
Link # 1 Original recording with lyrics 1954. Link # 2 Live clip from Perry Como show c. 1957.
839. TUPELO HONEY (1972)
Vocalist: Van Morrison
Writer/Composer: Van Morrison (1971)
Link # 1 Official audio with lyrics 1972. Link # 2 Live in Montreaux, Switzerland 1995.
838. MY MAN “Funny Girl” (1969)
Vocalist: Barbra Streisand
Writer/Composer: Maurice Yvain / Jacques/Charles / Albert Willemetz (1921) / Channing Pollock (1968)
Some showstoppers are unforgettable, impossible to ignore, or performed with such heart and soul that it retraces its steps into your mind so deeply that you could repeat the experiences over and over. My Man wraps all those sensations and feelings into a finale of finales! She does it again with her 8th entry on our list, one with such spectacular acting within all the emotions—she begins with whimpering tears, raises the bar with confidence and determination, raises it again growling in triumph, and realistically and softly lowering the bar again, counting on her love to rescue her from those depths of depression. Fanny Brice invented it in 1921, Barbra perfects it…Truly a Legendary Performance!
Link # 1 Movie clip at the conclusion of the film Funny Girl 1968. Link # 2 Live performance in 1969.
837. FELL ON BLACK DAYS (1994)
Vocalist: Soundgarden (Chris Cornell)
Writer/Composer: Chris Cornell (1994)
Link # 1 Live music video.
836. WITH PEN IN HAND (1969)
Vocalist: Vikki Carr
Writer/Composer: Bobby Goldsboro (1969)
Link # 1 Original recording 1969. Link # 2 Live tearful performance c. 1972.
835. MY MOTHER TOLD ME (2020)
Vocalist: Voiceplay (5 man acapella group / featuring Jose Rosario Jr.)
(Geoff Castellucci bass / Layne Stein (Percussion) baritone / Eli Stein tenor # 1 / Jessie Nunn III baritone / Cesar De La Rosa tenor # 2)
Writer/Composer: Traditional Norse Poem / modern lyrics Egil Skallagrimsson (???)
This American 5-man a cappella group has slowly risen to the public’s attention with incredible harmonies with a wide variety of musical choices including this Folk / Pop traditional piece. Known for “re-imaging Pop music with nothing but their voices,” as this selection clearly demonstrates, all 5 of it’s members sing verses on their own, and it seems the glue that holds it all together is the unbelivable vocal range of bass singer, Castellucci. Born from a Viking tale dating back to the 9th century, this stunning number is…Simply Astonishing!
834. THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO (1964)
Vocalist: The Temptations
Writer/Composer: Smokey Robinson / Bobby Rogers (1964)
Link # 1 Original recording 1965. Link # 2 Live performance 1965.
833. HARPER VALLEY PTA (1968)
Vocalist: Jeannie C. Riley
Writer/Composer: Tom T. Hall (1968)
Link # 1 Official audio with lyrics 1968. Link # 2 Official music video 1968.
832. CAROLINA IN THE PINES (1975)
Vocalist: Michael Martin Murphy
Writer/Composer: Michael Martin Murphy (1975)
Link # 1 Original recording 1975. Link # 2 Live performance with Rio Grand Band.
831. (You Don’t Know) HOW GLAD I AM (1964)
Vocalist: Nancy Wilson
Writer/Composer: Jimmy Williams / Larry Harrison (1964)
Link # 1 Original recording 1964. Link # 2 Live performance 1964)
830. JE T’AIME (I Love You) (1996)
Vocalist: Lara Fabian
Writer/Composer: Lara Fabian / Rick Allison (1995)
The Artistry really comes through again in her 2nd entry on our list, a powerful anthem sbout unrequited love, a Pop song in French that resonates with even the most jaded listener. A live audience picks up the lyrics as she struggles with the number, having lost recently a loved one of her own. Though she resides in Canada, she can sing in 5 languages fluently, and she sings with such Soul, she makes this Pop number international, just by overwhelming the audience with power and feeling. She now sells in the millions…Powerful and Celestial!
829. LIVING IN THE PAST (1969)
Vocalist: Ian Anderson
Writer/Composer: Ian Anderson / Terry Ellis (1969)
Link # 1 official recording as a single 1969. Live Performance 1969.
828. AFRICA (1982)
Vocalist: Toto (David Paich / Jeff Porcaro)
Writer/Composer: David Paich / Jeff Porcaro (1982)
Link # 1 Official music audio 1982. Link # 2 Live performance 1983.
827. BIG BAD HANDSOME MAN (2009)
Vocalist: Imelda May
Writer/Composer: Imelda May (2009)
Link # 1 Live performance 2009. Link # 2 Original recording 2009.
826. YOUNG AT HEART “Young at Heart” (1954)
Vocalist: Frank Sinatra
Writer/Composer: Johnny Richards / Carolyn Leigh (1953)
How can we resist what everyone in life wants? Frank’s conclusion, “And if you should survive to a hundred and five / Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive / And here is the best part / You’ll have a head start / If you are among the very young at heart.” We are captivated by those promising words with one of the most positive love songs ever written. His voice captures every nuance, every gleeful smile that he must of had by just singing this wonderful song. This Pop / Jazz classic made life in the 1950s more serene and bearable, when we were all poorer and had less distractions. We can’t imagine anyone else singing this except Sinatra. His 6th song listed is a shiny gem among classics…Marvelous!
Link - Original recording from Young at Heart - 1954.
