550-526-Great Vocals
550. FOLSOM PRISON BLUES (Live) (1968)
Vocalist: Johnny Cash
Writer/Composer: Johnny Cash (1956)
“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash!” His 3rd entry on our list is a timeless country classic, cementing his stature as one of America’s great Country singer / songwriter / entertainers of the 20th century. Recorded live in California’s Folsom Prison, with all the yelling and applause actually coming from the prisoners, this is one of the most unique, courageous songs ever made. Originally recorded in 1955, it has gained momentum through the years for its authenticity. With his deep, rough, somber bass / baritone voice, he delivers as if it’s the last chance he or the inmates, will ever have for parole, and it proves to be a revelation… A Riveting Performance!
Link # 1 Live from San Quentin 1968. Link # 2 Official audio in 1956.
549. BRING ME SOME WATER
Vocalist: Melissa Etheridge
Writer/Composer: Melissa Etheridge
If there was ever female Rock song expressing pain, anguish, and disdain, this song heads the list. American singer / songwriter Melissa’s 2nd song on our list is a burning flame of a tortured soul and it’s delivered as if she’s already on fire! Her distinctive, rough, gravelly voice is a testament to the far-reaches that female vocalists can express anger, remorse and “insanity, the temporary kind.” She probably represents the 1990s better in the Rock category than any other singer. Remember, “Tonight I feel so weak / But all in love is fair / I turn the other cheek / And I feel the slap and sting of the foul night air.” …Pulsating and Electrifying!
548. BE MY BABY (1963)
Vocalist: The Ronettes (lead Ronnie Spector (Veronica Bennett)
Writer/Composer: Ellie Greenwich / Jeff Barry / Phil Spector
This song is had major identifying feature, the unique, powerful, and distinctive voice of Veronica Bennett (also known as Ronnie Spector) and Producer Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound.’ This American 3-piece girl group became enormously popular in those early 1960s, and Ronnie’s lead vocals became more and more recognized as a great lead voice in R&B / Soul / Pop songs. This number, with even Phil’s big studio production work, including Sonny and Cher’s backing vocals, clearly became a Rock song—Just judge for yourself! Regardless of its label, it SOUNDS like no other song of its era…Celebrated and Sensational!
547. EVERY LITTLE BIT HURTS (1964)
Vocalist: Brenda Holloway
Writer/Composer: Ed Cobb (1964)
Brenda was one of the outstanding artists to grace Motown’s wonderful influence on American music in the 1960s. Many agree she was the most beautiful voice of her era. This Soul / Blues classic is her R&B entry on our list, and it soars as her signature tune, filling a unique place as a beautiful Soul singer who sang at a time when competition was at its strongest—the British invasion of rock bands was in full force. Her voice, captivating and, like Teresa Brewer in the 1950s, she could sing with such pain and emotion, as she does at the beginning of each verse in this song. “Every little bit hurts, / EVERY little bit hurts.” Simply Beyond Compare!
Link # 1 Official audio 1964. Link # 2 Live also 1964)
546. NEXT TO YOU, NEXT TO ME (1990)
Vocalist: Shenandoah (lead Marty Raybon / fiddle Mark O’Connor)
Writer/Composer: Curtis Wright / Robert Ellis Orrall (1990)
From the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Shenandoah was among the best of the Country groups, and this was their signature. This American 5-piece Country band had a wonderful, engaging voice in Marty Raybon and in this selection, a joyful, rousing fiddle between each verse by Mark O’Connor. It’s too exhilarating to resist, a feast for the ears, impossible to ignore—How can we resist that chorus, “Well, there ain’t no place that I’d rather be / Next to you, sittin’ next to me / No, there ain’t no place that I’d rather be / Next to you, next to me.” A Country music selection with a Folk / Bluegrass song flare, this is sheer joy…Irresistibly Terrific and Superb.
545. COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE (1980)
Vocalist: Anne Murray
Writer/Composer: Wayland Holyfield / Bob House (1980)
This Canadian artist with the beautiful, lush, alto voice, could do no wrong from 1970 through the next 4 decades. She was a constant with her smooth Country and Pop hits—she’s considered one of the stellar female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s, and her albums still sell millions each year. She possessed some of the purest sounds in music at a time when male voices completely dominated music. And who can forget this invitation, “Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? / Could you be my partner, every night? / When we’re together, it feels so right / Could I have this dance for the rest of my life.”…A Precious, Beautiful Gem!
Link # 1 Official music video audio 1980. Link # 2 Live performance in 1981.
544. BROKEN WINGS (1985)
Vocalist: Mr. Mister (lead Richard Page)
Writer/Composer: Richard Page / Steve George / John Lang (1985)
Big-haired bands really prevailed in the 1980s but Mr. Mister, an American 4-piece Rock band who came together in the mid-1980s, disbanded in the early 90s, but not before they really made their mark. Their album Welcome to the Real World generated 3 top 10 songs, this song going to #1. Richard Page was a force, with a strong, rich, smooth easy to understand delivery, and his backup support to other 1980s singers and bands did not prevent him from recording this monster hit. He appealed to Rock artists, Pop, and New Wave. Heavy into synthesizer sounds, his voice still really stands out here in one of the best songs of the 80s…Spectacular and Surreal!
Link # 1 Official Music video 1985. Link # 2 Live at the Ritz in 1985.
https://youtu.be/nKhN1t_7PEY?si=zlBXMNBcp9pprkeP
https://youtu.be/XgA4qiW5ncM?si=ev9YBCmPb_ZlRwS
543. A LOVER’S QUESTION (1958)
Vocalist: Clyde McPhatter (bass singer Noah Hopkins / and chorus)
Writer/Composer: Jimmy T. Williams / Brook Benton (1958)
“Does she love me, with all her heart / Should I worry, when we’re apart / It’s a lover’s question, I’d like to know.” This introduction welcomes us to one of the great R&B / Soul / Pop singers of the late 1950s. A leading contributor to the Doo-Wop sound from the 1950s to the early 60s, his sad, crying, high tenor voice was easily recognized as a lead singer in Billy Ward’s Dominoes and his formation of the early Drifters. His death at 39 years was a shock, but his smooth, Gospel-trained, pleasant, appealing delivery lives on as he was superb, easily embraced as a solo artist with this wonderful selection. The production with background singers is spot-on…Tearfully Endearing!
Link # 1 Original recording 1958. Link # 2 Live performance 1959.
542. JOSIE (1977)
Vocalist: Steely Dan (lead Donald Fagan with Michael McDonald / Walter Becker guitar solo / Chuck Rainey bass / Victor Feldman elec. piano / Jim Keltner drums)
Writer/Composer: Walter Becker / Donald Fagan (1977)
By the time this Rock, Pop group released the superb album Aja, Fagan and Becker were headed in a new direction, morphing into a Jazz / Rock ensemble, leaving their previous albums for a more complex, advanced sound. Still using the best of session musicians, they added Michael McDonald to the vocal tracks for a perfect blend of high harmony, adding Larry Carlton on guitar with Becker as lead. The result—beautiful singing, especially on the chorus, and one of the most unique intros ever! In retrospect, their 3rd entry on our list is ear candy from the very beginning. No wonder this group grows in progressively in popularity…Absolutely Mesmerizing!
Link # 1 Official musical recording 1977. Link # 2 Live TV Jazz / Rock Party in 2000.
541. LONELY STREET (1959)
Vocalist: Andy Williams
Writer/Composer: Carl Belew / Kenny Sowder / W. S. Stevenson (1959)
American singer Andy Williams’s 2nd number on our list is a treasure, a Pop song with hints of Country and Blues, a definitive symbolic song about loneliness. His career spawned hits from the 1950s through the 1970s and he was also a TV star—and his recordings sold in the millions. Known as a great crooner, especially for movie themes, his rich smooth, beautiful, tenor voice really shines here, with distinct diction and phrasing. He was a singer rather than an interpreter of song, as Sinatra or Tony Bennett were, yet his understanding of melody was a thing of beauty, and he seemed to work within an almost 3-octave range. Despite the echo…Splendidly Melancholy!
Link # 1 Original recording in 1959. Link # 2 Live TV performance a few years later.
540. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES (1959)
Vocalist: Dinah Washington & chorus
Writer/Composer: Maria Grever (Spanish (1951) / Stanley Adams (English) (1959)
She was one of a kind, interrupted only by her untimely death at 39. How could anyone sound so distinctively good? This Jazz number managed to capture R&B / Soul / Pop / Blues, all in the same song! She had a unique voice unlike any other, as smooth, unique, alluring, yet at the same time, desperately sincere, her “bluesy phrasing” giving us a rich experience. It was said that she never sang the same song alike twice. And that come-hither second verse, “Lord, what a difference a day makes / There’s a rainbow before me / Skies above can’t be stormy / Since that moment of bliss / that thrilling kiss.” Oh, so Stirring and Spellbinding!
539. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (2010)
Vocalist: Bruno Mars
Writer/Composer: Bruno Mars / Philip Lawrence / Ari Levine / Khalil Walton / Khari Cain (2010)
This was the best-selling single of 2010, and he has been on a roll ever since. This debut selection received mixed reviews, but his worldwide acceptance was purely phenomenal, and his voice, a high tenor with 2 to 3 octaves, with a beautiful falsetto, perfect phrasing and crystal-clear lyrics, was a welcome melody extolling the beauty of a woman. This American singer / songwriter has gone on to selling well over 130 million records and his presence, persona and charisma is second to none for R&B / Pop / Dance tunes. Compared often to Michael Jackson, but without all the vocal gymnastics, he is a true superstar…Stunning, Celestial and Authentic!
538. SWEET LOVE (1986)
Vocalist: Anita Baker and chorus
Writer/Composer: Anita Baker / Louis A. Johnson / Gary Bias (1986)
This 3-octave R&B / Soul, contralto, singer hit the big time with this now classic song in the mid-1980s and made huge splash that ran well into the 2000s. She captivated audiences with her unique style of setting the tone for engaging and emotional deliveries and her award-winning performances, helping to change the R&B landscape for other artists. working Jazz and Hip-Hop influences into her repertoire. In this selection she really turns it loose, reveling in her Jazz-influenced songwriting abilities, moving very close to Hip-Hop. Her sincere, passionate, rich presentation is truly jaw-dropping—Listen!…Lofty and Rapturous!
https://youtu.be/Zm0OctArg84?si=2pOoJUF_M-PYqaCq
537. PRETTY LADY “Pacific Overtures” (1989)
Vocalist: Mandy Patinkin
Writer/Composer: Stephen Sondheim (1986)
We return to an American singer / actor, who after at least 5 decades in the musical theater, we may find it difficult to pick from in his extraordinary covers of great Broadway / Theater songs, and it may tax our brains to find a better one than this. For his 2nd selection on our list the choice is a beautiful rendition from the magic pen of Sondheim. He takes us on a celestial journey with his pure, powerful, baritone beginning to his carefully crafted, crystal-clear, tenor trademark of this complex multi-layered song. Some people, even to this day, do not know how gifted his voice is, but this song may change their minds…Poignant and Beguiling!
536. PURE IMAGINATION “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
Vocalist: Gene Wilder / Orchestration by Walter Scharf
Writer/Composer: Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse (1970)
In recent years this selection has gained momentum as one of the great numbers in movie history, both as a whimsical composition of children’s music, and the eternal sweetness of its delivery by actor Gene Wilder. The song serves as a pivotal moment in the film where Willy invites the children into his magical world. It’s performed with such convincing integrity and sincerity—it harkens us adults back to long for the innocence of our childhood. With meaningful lyrics, “If you want to view paradise / Simply look around and view it / Anything you want to do, do it / Want to change the world? / There’s nothing to it.” Simply Dazzling, Captivating!
Link takes you to the song from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971.
535. WINTER (1992)
Vocalist: Tori Amos
Writer/Composer: Tori Amos (1992)
Out of the late 1980s and into the 2020s, Tori Amos has been an enigma of sorts. She has captured the music world’s attention by her amalgam of albums and concerts with her unique vocals and her accompanying piano artistry, captivating Folk, Rock, Pop and Indie everything. This American singer with a 3+ octave, mezzo-soprano voice, has one of the most amazing, distinguished deliveries, and has entertained thousands, just with her piano. This incredible melody from her album, Little Earthquakes, takes on a Folk sound, and she doesn’t disappoint, giving us a stunning, influential, vocal delivery…Intimately Haunting and Surreal!
Link # 1 Official music video 1992. Link # 2 Live performance 1993.
534. PER AMORE (For Love) (1996)
Vocalist: Andrei Bocelli
Writer/Composer: Mariella Nava (1995)
This extraordinary recording from his best-selling album, Romanza, is the stuff of legends. His 3rd entry on our list was released internationally in 1997 as a compilation album, with numerous singles. He rose to fame in the 1990s, never letting his blindness be a handicap. The album went on to sell more that 20 million copies, becoming one of the most successful Italian albums of all time. This Italian Opera tenor and Pop recording star has maintained escalating popularity from the early 1990s through the 2020s, and has recorded duets with many Pop / Rock and Broadway singers…This song, Captivating and Beautiful!
533. MARGARITAVILLE (1977)
Vocalist: Jimmy Buffett
Writer/Composer: Jimmy Buffett (1977)
This amazing well-crafted song about a slacker who is basically drinking himself to death is…a jewel! Once this U.S. Pop song was released, it was embraced by Pop, Rock, Country & Folk—and it took on a life of its own. The song became iconic, anthemic, and spawned perhaps more business-related products than any song in memory. His laid-back, lazy, apathetic delivery was spot-on—it became his Parrot-headed song. Who could resist, “Don’t know the reason / I stayed here all season / Nothing to show but this brand-new tattoo / But it’s a real beauty / A Mexican cutie / And How it got here I haven’t a clue.” …Beloved and Marvelous!
Link # 1 Original recording 1977. Link # 2 Live from Key West 1978.
532. DONDE LIETA USCI “La Boheme” (1951)
Vocalist: Renata Tebaldi
Writer/Composer: Giacomo Puccini (1895)
She was one of the great female sopranos from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1990s, respected by all her peers and, with a Gibraltar of a voice, she sang in numerous Operas, Classical pieces and live concerts. Italian orchestra leader, Arturo Toscanini named her, “Voice of an Angel.” As a lyrical-spinto soprano, she possessed a great expressiveness, great power and vocal clarity, and for the decades after WWII, she was Grand Dame of the N. Y. Metropolitan Opera. She really displays her wonderful vocal performance here with one of the great female arias of all time. Ease back, close your eyes and listen to Mimi…Purely Impeccable!
531. MISS CELIE’S BLUES (Sister) “The Color Purple” (1985)
Vocalist: Margaret Avery (sung byTata Vega)
Writer/Composer: Lionel Ritchie / Quincy Jones / Rod Templeton (1984)
This sensational award-winning song is a real treat—it comprises Blues, Gospel, R&B, Jazz and Soul—and the result is, she transfers us back into those early 1920s in a racially divided South. Margaret Avery sings it with an alluring Bluesy style while it’s really Tata Vega nailing the vocals. Steven Spielberg sets up the scene with artistic flair and we have an extraordinary set piece that goes back over a century. Tata has been one of the busiest background vocalists in the last 30 years, and though uncelebrated, we celebrate this vocal. Her vocal is tantalizing, with perfect delivery, without the modernizing that so many artists display…An Absolute Revelation and Epiphany!
Link features Margaret Avery (Tata Vega) singing from film clip in The Color Purple.
530. YOU COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME (1981)
Vocalist: Sheena Easton
Writer/Composer: Lea Maalfrid (1981)
This Scottish female Pop singer was an export to the world, and many agree she took said world by storm. Her repertoire into the 1990s included Pop, Rock, Soul, and R&B, and her vocal range encompassed 2 to 3 octaves, as she easily exhibits here—watch out for that concluding finale near the song’s end! Tiny in stature (about 5 ft) but huge in vocal power, she was known for her great vocal flexibility, never relying on a scream or histrionics. Her vocals were crystal-clear, breathy, sharp, easy to recognize—she even did duets with many superstars at the time such as Prince and Kenny Rogers. This number is Amazing and Spellbinding!
529. HAVEN’T WE MET? (1974)
Vocalist: Kenny Rankin
Writer/Composer: Kenny Rankin / Ruth Batchelor (1964)
American singer / songwriter, Kenny Rankin, was not a household name, but believe this—everyone in the Jazz world from the late 1960s through the next 30 years knew who he was! What a voice! Some say his high, lilting voice was like a clarinet, with a heartbeat. He often sang with just his acoustic guitar, playing smaller venues, not stadiums. Mel Torme and Peggy Lee loved him. His 30-year career in music was awash in light-hearted compositions, but he sang standards too, crossing over into the Pop / Folk world. His vocals were transformational, turning many Pop / Rock fans to Jazz as an art form…Unique and Exhilarating!
Link # 1 Original recording 1974. Link # 2 Live performance - 1974.
528. CALYPSO (1975)
Vocalist: John Denver
Writer/Composer: John Denver (1975)
The 1970s / 80s were filled with creative singer / songwriters who excelled in successful careers, keeping themselves in the spotlight by concerts, doing TV appearances, and making movies. John Denver’s Folk, Pop and Country songs sold in the millions, and his down-home persona, clever lyrics, and his appealing high tenor vocals reached worldwide fans. He wrote over 200 songs and with this selection, he brought attention to Jacques Cousteau’s Ocean environmental movement. His 2+ octaves contained a beautiful falsetto, and a pleasing vibrato that is easy to the ear as he demonstrates here…Phenomenal and Enchanting!
Link # 1 Original recording 1976. Link # 2 Live performance in Australia 1977.
https://youtu.be/aRnGv9l8UD8?si=k7T5UgmlJGbEGJKa
527. OH SHERRIE (1984)
Vocalist: Steve Perry (Bill Cuomo keyboards)
Writer/Composer: Steve Perry / Craig Krampf / Randy Goodrum / Bill Cuomo (1984)
The astonishing intro, “You shoulda been Gone!’”at the front and back end of this classic song is jaw-dropping, one of the greatest vocal intros ever! American Rock / Pop singer, Steve Perry, makes his 3rd entry on our list (2 with the Rock band Journey)—he doesn’t disappoint! Thanks to Bill Cuomo’s production skills, Perry does something with his voice that very few artists are capable of, a breathy bass sound that takes this song into the stratosphere. This Rock love ballad has become classic, with Steve’s 3+ octaves, soaring high, with a throttling impressive vocal, making its mark on the musical Richter scale…A Stunning and Riveting Tour-de-Force!
Link # 1 Official music video 1984. Link # 2 Live Performance new York City 1994.
526. ELEANOR RIGBY (1966)
Vocalist: The Beatles (lead Paul McCartney)
Writer/Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney (1966)
The Beatles 5th entry on our list is an amazing Rock tune about “All the lonely people / Where do they all come from / All the lonely people / Where do they all belong?” Paul’s visit to a cemetery reminds us of the title of a bleak British film of the 1960s, The Loneliness of a Long-Distance Runner. This Award-winning song takes us on a rare journey of people’s lives who cannot cope with the final disappointment of life’s emptiness. It really marked a departure from the love songs and silliness of their early works. Beautiful harmony runs through the chorus and George Martin’s musical production is extraordinary in Paul’s masterpiece…Incredibly Haunting and Reflective!
