Best vocal performances

Best pure vocal performances was a topic that came up for discussion somewhere, so here's my list:
  • The Marvin Gaye version of the Star Spangled Banner
  • The Ray Charles version of "America the Beautiful
  • Aretha Franklin "Call Me" - I love the vocal control, and the dynamics are incredible. My favourite, but any number of Aretha performances could be right up there...
  • I still think Ronnie's performance on the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" is a thing of beauty - no vocal gymnastics, but her voice sounds to be like the voice of a woman whose heart is close to bursting with love.
  • Al Green's version of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" - good Lord. "Funny How Time Slips Away" also kills me everytime.
  • Ray Charles' version of "You Don't Know Me" - one song that I think gets covered really well, with many differing nuances... Ray Charles singing country - what a marriage...
  • Donny Hathaway "Someday We'll All Be Free" and "The Ghetto"
  • Solomon Burke "Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)" and "I Really Don't Want To Know"
  • Gladys Knight and the Pips "Midnight Train to Georgia"
  • Elliott Smith "Miss Misery"
  • Barry White "Just the Way You Are"
  • Alison Krauss "Baby Now That I Found You"

Comments

7-8 said…
Yeh, and how about "Moonlight on Vermont" by Captain Beefheart?
Anonymous said…
Wow. I never knew our tastes in music were so similar!!!

Damnit, I'm in Barcelona right now, and have no access to Al and Aretha and Ray... and now you've got me thinking about them.

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