1150-1126 - Great Vocals
1150. WAGON WHEEL (2013)
Vocalist: Darius Rucker
Writer/Composer: Bob Dylan / Ketch Secor (1973 Dylan) (1998Secor)
1149. BLUUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS (1945)
Vocalist: Jan Peerce / RCA Victor Orch. (Sylvan Levin Cond.)
Writer/Composer: Sandar Harmati / Edward Heyman / Harry Parr-Davies (1934)
He was a celebrated American Opera tenor with a remarkable career that lasted half a century. He was the son of Russian Jewish emigrants from the beginning of the 20th century, and rose above poverty by sheer determination. His powerful tenor voice kept him busy as he sang Opera, Pop and Broadway standards, not afraid to tackle any complex piece and take his musical gifts to recitals, concerts and TV guest appearances. This signature song made #1 on the Pop charts in 1943, unheard of at that time…Noble and Stupendous!
1148. IF YOU LOVE ME (Really Love Me) (1997)
Vocalist: Julie Budd
Writer/Composer: Edith Piaf / M. Monnot / G. Parsons (1950)
American cabaret singer, astonishing voice and great interpreter of Broadway.
1147. CRY FOR HELP (1991)
Vocalist: Rick Astley
Writer/Composer: Rick Astley / Rob Fisher (1990)
A 90s phenomenal hitmaker in dance-pop but also a accomplished singer / songwriter.
1146. ROSE’S TURN “Gypsy”
Vocalist: Bernadette Peters
Writer/Composer:
1145. LONG TALL SALLY (1956)
Vocalist: Little Richard
Writer/Composer: “Bumps” Blackwell / Enotris Johnson / Richard Penniman (1955)
Little Richard’s high=energy early rock and much imitated style, never questioned!
1144. BOULDER TO BIRMINGHAM (1975)
Vocalist: Emmylou Harris
(Pedal Steel Ben Keith pedal steel guitar / Bernie Leadon banjo)
Writer/Composer: Bill Danoff / Emmylou Harris (1975)
It’s a very daunting task to put this Folk / Country legend into a genre of music. She has already appeared 2 times in both Trio albums with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. Why is it such a task? Because her voice is so beautifully haunting! You might say sometimes when she changes key, her soprano echos into the infinity, and sometimes her vocals produce a haunting whisper. Her long career started in the early 1970s, over 50 years ago. She is among the best supreme songwriter / guitarists—this she dedicated to Gram Parsons…Simply Resplendent!
Link # 1 2003 remaster of the 1975 recording. Link # 2 With Mark Knopfler live in the 1980s.
1143. TOO GOOD AT GOODBYES (2017)
Vocalist: Sam Smith
Writer/Composer: James Napier / Tor Hermanson / Sam Smith (2017)
As smooth as silk, his words flow with an appeal to pop, R&B, and soul.
1142. TICKET TO RIDE (1970)
Vocalist: The Carpenters (lead Karen Carpenter)
Writer/Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney (1965)
Their re-invention of this Beatle song is beautiful and a complete knockout.
1141. WALK LIKE A MAN 1963)
Vocalist: The Four Seasons (lead Frankie Valli)
Writer/Composer: Bob Crewe / Bob Gaudio (1963)
What fun to listen to Frankie Valli’s high falsetto with this combo of rock & doo-wop! The early sixties absolutely belonged to this male singing group.
1140. YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE (1973)
Vocalist: Stevie Wonder
Writer/Composer: Stevie Wonder (1973)
His compositions and recordings especially this one, set the standard in the 1970s.
1139. DANNY BOY “Because of Him” (1945)
Vocalist: Deanna Durbin
Writer/Composer: Traditional - adapted by Fred Weatherly (1913)
This underrated vocalist and actress sported a stunning beautiful voice in the 1940s.
1138. LOYAL BRAVE TRUE “Mulan” (2020)
Vocalist: Christina Aguilera
Writer/Composer: Christina Aguilera (2020)
One of the most gifted multi-octave voices of the 21st century. Amazing!
1137. SODADE (1992)
Vocalist: Casaria Evora
Writer/Composer: Armando Zeferino Soares 1950
Her unique voice gives full attention and recognition to island music, especially to Cape Verde Island and her Portuguese roots. Her low, breathy, contralto voice was perfect for island exotica, up-tempo Caribbean sounds, and Folk / Jazz / Pop / romantic nostalgia, this selection is a great example that she sang just as good barefoot…as she did with footwear. She was a singer / songwriter / and exceptional as the Queen of Morna, (Melancholy Nostalgia) songs. Her delivery was amazing, with accolades from all over the world…Very Mesmerizing!
1136. ONLY LOVE (1993)
Vocalist: Wynonna (Judd)
Writer/Composer: Roger Murrah / Marcus Hummon (1992)
Absolute wonderful interpretation of folk and country and western music.
1135. WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME (1952)
Vocalist: Nat King Cole
Writer/Composer: Roy Turk / Fred E. Ahlert (1950)
One of the most recognizable and beautiful male voices of the 20th century.
1134. SAIL ON (1979)
Vocalist: The Commodores (lead Lionel Ritchie)
Writer/Composer: Lionel Ritchie (1979)
Wonderful harmony pop song with R&B and country influences prevailing throughout.
1133. SUGARTIME (1968)
Vocalist: McGuire Sisters
Writer/Composer: Charlie Phillips / Odis Echols (1958)
Their crystal-clear harmonies dominated female singing groups in the 1950’s.
1132. CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE “Papa’s Delicate Condition” (1963)
Vocalist: Jack Jones
Writer/Composer: James Van Heusen / Sammy Cahn (1963)
Like his father Alan Jones, he sang the standards with exquisite grace and beauty.
1131. broadway play
Vocalist: Male vocalist
Writer/Composer:
1130. LOVE’S GONNA LIVE HERE (1963)
Vocalist: Buck Owens & the Buckaroos
Writer/Composer: Buck Owens (1963)
1129. SMILING FACES SOMETIMES (1971)
Vocalist: The Undisputed Truth (lead Joe Harris / w Billie Ray Calvin / Brenda Joyce)
Writer/Composer: Norman Whitfield / Barrett Strong (1971)
This underrated R&B song transcends over and above this extraordinary selection.
1128. RUN FOR THE ROSES (1981)
Vocalist: Dan Fogelberg
Writer/Composer: Dan Fogelberg (1980)
From this American singer / songwriter / guitarist comes his 3rd entry on our list, from the marvelous album, The Innocent Age. This is now a classic song is about, of all things, a racehorse. His gifted artistry gives us lovely story songs, and his beautiful high tenor vocals were the stuff of dreams. He only lived 56 years, but he “left a living legacy” of wonderful moving songs, and a massive fan base in the 1970s/1980s. Many consider this a Folk song, not Soft Rock, but it doesn’t matter. We know this is a touching portrait of the positve side of life…Superb!
Link # 1 Original music video from 1982. Link # 2 Live from the Greetings from the West concert.
1127. NO MORE “I LOVE YOUS” (1988)
Vocalist: Annie Lennox
Writer/Composer: David Freeman / Joseph Hughes (1986)
Strange? Abstract? Astonishing? Beautiful? Yes! Amazing Vocal arrangement.!
1126. GOLDEN YEARS (1976)
Vocalist: David Bowie
Writer/Composer: David Bowie (1975)
Bowie’s unique ethereal vocals stand out in this funky dance/pop selection.
