825-801-Great Vocals
825. SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1983)
Vocalist: Donna Summer
Writer/Composer: Donna Summer / Michael Omartian (1983)
Link - Official music video 1983.
824. YOUNG LOVE (1957)
Vocalist: Sonny James (and chorus)
Writer/Composer: Carole Joyner / Ric Cartey (1956)
823. MAYBE THIS TIME “Cabaret % Glee” (2009)
Vocalist: Kristin Chenoweth
Writer/Composer: John Kander / Fred Ebb (1964)
Kristin cut her teeth on Broadway productions and has been an American singer / actor / performer in plays, concerts and television, but it’s her girlish high-talking, Betty Boop voice that seems to endear her to multitudes of fans. In reality, she has trained for Classical Music, with a coloratura soprano vocal background. Her singing has been described as a distinctive, nasal, astounding, unique and captivating. Result—She has been one of the busiest musical actresses on Broadway for the 21st Century. She is extraordinarily popular with audiences crossing all musical genres. She takes this Liza Minnelli classic to the moon and back…Irresistibly Electrifying!
822. ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME (2013)
Vocalist: Sara Bareilles
Writer/Composer: Sara Bareilles / Ben Folds producer (2012)
Link # 1 Original recording 2013. Link # 2 Live performance at El Rey 2013.
821. LOW DOWN MAN (1998)
Vocalist: Squirrel Nut Zippers (lead Katherine Whalen)
Writer/Composer: James Mathus (1998)
Link # 1 Orinal recording 1998. Link # 2 Live lazy recording 199?
820. I’D HAVE TO BE CRAZY (1976)
Vocalist: Willie Nelson
Writer/Composer: Steve Fromholz (1976)
819. HE (1955)
Vocalist: McGuire Sisters
Writer/Composer: Richard Mullan / Jack Richards (1954)
818. SHAKING THE TREE (1989) (1994)
Vocalist: Youssou N’Dour / Peter Gabriel & chorus
Writer/Composer: Peter Gabriel (1989)
Link # 1 Original recording with Peter Gabriel / Youssou N’Dour Link # 2 Live from Secret World Tour 1994.
817. LITTLE STAR (1958)
Vocalist: The Elegants (lead Vito Picone)
Writer/Composer: Vito Picone / Arthur Venosa (1958)
816. OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING “Oklahoma” (1955)
Vocalist: Gordon MacRae
Writer/Composer: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein III (1943)
Gordon MacRae appeared in two R&H Movie Musicals, and his beautiful baritone delivery was on full display, even from this opening scene as Curly in the movie. He was an American actor / singer / TV star, and his career spanned over 30 years from the late 1940s into the 70s. His dashing good looks, his screen charisma, and his booming voice, complete with perfect pitch and phrasing, with a touch of splendid vibrato. made him one of the leading performers for the American Songbook. We can hardly picture Oklahoma without his presence. Many think he reached the zenith of his career with voice and this, his signature song…Completely Exhilarating!
Link - Opening scene from Oklahoma.
815. HEARTS IN ARMOR (1992)
Vocalist: Trisha Yearwood / w. Don Henley
Writer/Composer: Jude Johnstone (1992)
Link - Link from Trisha Yearwood album, Don Henley blocked live performance.
814. LA BOHEME (1965) (1994)
Vocalist: Charles Aznavour
Writer/Composer: Jacques Plante / Charles Aznavour
Perhaps this was his signature song, his 2nd on our list, but his legend lives on, as long as there’s music. In his 7-decade career he wrote over 1000 songs, made over 50 movies, was the most popular male French (actually Armenian) entertainer in the world, and he navigated the changes of 20th century entertainment and morals by simply enduring and adapting. Considered France’s answer to Frank Sinatra, it was not how loud he sang or how long he could hold a note—it was the use of his stunning, beautiful, quivering vibrato…Simply Indomitable!
Link # 1 in 1964. Link # 2 in 1994.
813. THE TWIST (1960)
Vocalist: Chubby Checker
Writer/Composer: Chubby Checker (1959)
Link # 2 Official music video 1960. Link # 2 Live performance Dick Clark’s American Bandstand 1961.
812. BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1942)
Vocalist: Dinah Shore
Writer/Composer: Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer (1941)
Link #1 Original recording 1942. Link # 2 Live performance 1949.
811. SUNNY CAME HOME (1996)
Vocalist: Shawn Colvin
Writer/Composer: Shawn Colvin (1996)
“Sunny came to her favorite room / Sunny sat down in the kitchen / She opened a book and a box of tools / Sunny came home with a mission.” This opening verse introduces us to the award-winning song by the American singer / songwriter, Shawn Colvin. It is now considered a Folk / Rock classic. From her stellar album, A Few Small Repairs, its iconic mandolin intro takes us into a disturbing world of revenge that follows years of abuse. Her soft, convincing, yet vulnerable, contralto voice is perfect for this very personal, poetic tune…Simply Haunting!
Link # 1 Original Recording with lyrics 1996. Link # 2 Live performance 1997.
810. YOUR SONG (1970)
Vocalist: Elton John
Writer/Composer: Elton John (Bernie Taupin (1970)
Link # 1 Original recording 1970. Link # 2 Live performance 1971.
809. STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Vocalist: Paul Simon
Writer/Composer: Paul Simon
808. WHAT ABOUT LOVE (1985)
Vocalist: Heart (Ann Wilson)
Writer/Composer: Brian Allen / Sharon Allton / Jim Vallance (1985)
Link # 1 Official music video 1985. Link # 2 Live performance Royal Albert Hall, London Phiharmonic.
807. MISTY (1959)
Vocalist: Johnny Mathis
Writer/Composer: Errol Garner / Johnny Burke (1958)
Link # 1 Original recording 1959. Link # 2 Live performance ?
806. DANCING IN THE DARK (1984)
Vocalist: Bruce Springsteen
Writer/Composer: Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Link - It says it all! Original recording, best live video (1984)
805. DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF THEIR SHOES (1987)
Vocalist: Paul Simon / Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Writer/Composer: Paul Simon / Joseph Shabalala (1986)
From his critically acclaimed album, Graceland, comes this Folk / World Music classic, captivating us with beautiful background harmonies as well as wonderful world melodies—a surprising jewel of rich, whimsical, African vocals. And, oh, what joy! Paul’s magnificent venture as a singer / songwriter / producer. gives us peace and harmony with a capella sounds of Joseph Shabalala and his 9-man South African choral group. Now apart from Simon and Garfunkel, he presents to us a world treasure. Paul’s instantly recognizable voice proves he was a leading contender from the 1970s through the 1990s as one of the very best singer / songwriters of the last 40 years of the 20th century, this being just one of his many songs that displays his vocal prowess…Serendipity!
Link # 1 Official music video. Link # 2 Live 1987 African concert, absolutely marvelous.
804. I GOT YOU BABE (1965)
Vocalist: Sonny & Cher
Writer/Composer: Sonny Bobo (1965)
803. JE SUIS MALADE (I Am Sick) (1994)
Vocalist: Lara Fabian
Writer/Composer: Alice Dona / Serge Lama (1973)
This Belgium/Sicilian artist became a sensation in the early 1990s, her serious interpretation of this piece required dramatic theatrics and a moving, powerful voice—and did she ever deliver! She displays all the emotion of a woman whose heartbreak has driven her to mental anguish. She doesn’t use much vibrato in this number, she just belts it out as if she’s dying in pain, letting her lyric soprano, 3 octaves just tear away our heart. She is now recognized as one of the most gifted singer / songwriters of the 21st century…Astonishingly Breathtaking!
802. THE LOOK OF LOVE “Casino Royale” (1967)
Vocalist: Dusty Springfield (Mary O’Brian) (Stan Getz saxophone / Herb Alpert trumpet)
Writer/Composer: Burt Bacharach / Hal David (1967)
Dusty was not just Pop star—she was also an enigmatic Jazz / R&B / Soul / Rock / Folk star. She wanted to be primarily known as a white Soul singer, and she was, with multitudes of hit from the 1960s, (She was lead singer for the Springfields) until the mid 70s. Her 1968 album, Dusty ni Memphis, is considered her signature album. Her mezzo-soprano voice was immediately recognized as a vulnerable, smokey, husky, dynamic sound, completely unique for a British star of that era. That description partially describes her persona and Soul that she put into her music. She recorded for over 30 years and this selection has an emotional Jazz vibe…Marvelouly Aching and Sensational!
Link # 1 Original recording, Casino Royale 1967. Link # 2 Live performance 1969.
801. THIS NEARLY WAS MINE “South Pacific” (1949)
Vocalist: Ezio Pinza
Writer/Composer: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II (1949)
Something remarkable happened in the Broadway Theater in 1949. An Opera singer with a bass / baritone vocal range left the opera, trying out the lead role in South Pacific—and he made it! With his 2nd entry on our list, he presents and demonstrates his rich, larger-than-life, award-winning voice. He was not the handsome leading man type, he possessed a rugged, working man’s look, but it didn’t matter—It was his booming baritone Voice! He delivered heartfelt ballads of love and heartbreak, with authority and a sincere certainty, yet with a vulnerability, convincing all that he was capable of bringing happiness or heartbreak into a relationship, as this song clearly shows…An absolute Gem, a Tour-de-Force!
Link - Straight from the Broadway Play, remastered.
