Shawn Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 I think the word "vehicle" was invented for Neil Diamond..... I HEFF NO SON!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 I heard Andy Williams doing "On The Street Where You Live" on the radio last weekend, and it was superb. I'm amazed by Andy Williams sometimes. Now, I'll admit he did record some schlock from time to time, but there are also some jaw-dropping performances, IMO. With pipes like that, all he had to do was find that right combination of great song, great arrangement, and the right feeling. Jim, I don't know if you're already familiar with it, but if not, check out his version of "Maria" sometime. Wear headphones, if possible- you'll get a better sense of the dynamics that way... and you won't blow out any windows. Yeah, I hear you. That type of singing is an art unto itself, and Williams could do it quite well when whatever the neccessary mojos were in place. Looking at his records in the used bins, I'm inclined to say that he recorded more than "some" schlock, , but if there's a CD compilation of him doing all standards, or something similar, I could probably be persuaded to consider buying it. The whole thing about that kind of singing is to entirely serve the song, not personalize it into a vehicle (OOOPS, inadvertant Neil Diamond reference ), which is of course the direct opposite esthetic of jazz, blues, etc., and the interpretive techniques involved are pretty involved. I'm particularly struck by how these type of singers "unfold" their vibrato on held tones, and how they do they do the same on sustained vowel sounds. It's something that it's real easy to overlook until you notice it, and then it's easy to notice how artlesslt a lot of singers don't do it. And that's when the ones who do do it begin to stick out and shine. To return, hopefully back to some sense of relevance to this thread, it's been checking out that tpe of singing that has gotten me to thinking of "songs" and "songwriters" in what I suppose you could call more "classical" terms. It's just another dimension to music, that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacman Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 here's a few that didn't get mentioned: Leiber & Stoller Jackson Browne James Brown Randy Newman Warren Zevon Ashford & Simpson Norman Whitfield Maurice White Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 (edited) Damn, I thought I'd get to be the first to mention Chuck Berry. Oh, well. I wouldn't be surprised if someone's already mentioned Goffin/King too. How about--- Buddy Holly Lowman Pauling Argent/White (The Zombies) Brian Eno Sly Stone (and to Leiber/Stoller, Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards, Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, Bacharach, and Becker/Fagen....and others.) Edited August 5, 2004 by BruceH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Difford and Tilbrook Another enjoyable English songwriting duo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 And let's not forget Otis Blackwell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny E Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Some that I don't think were mentioned: Curtis Mayfield David Bowie Elton John/Bernie Maupin Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter And especially Smokey Robinson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Curtis Mayfield Funny you mention him, I just bought the Superfly soundtrack, and it is absolutely killin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 (edited) Good that Curtis Mayfield was finally mentioned! How about Isaac Hayes? I'm also surprised that nobody has mentioned Carol King or James Taylor. This is also Merle Haggard. I actually think that Dolly Parton writes fine songs. In Russia, there is Vladimir Vysotsky R Kelly or Babyface, anyone? Edited December 16, 2005 by John L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 did anyone mention Jagger/Richards - and Bud Powell, for my money one of the greatest jazz composers - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Have I overlooked it -- not one mention of Joni Mitchell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Serge Gainsbourg. For anyone not familiar, check this site: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/1489/...ourg/serge.html Brownie, I nearly picked up a used CD of Gainsbourg's early jazz recordings not too long ago... may head back to the shop and see if it's still there. Any recommendations in that area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Have I overlooked it -- not one mention of Joni Mitchell? You've overlooked it. John L, James Taylor was mentioned (twice, I believe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Serge Gainsbourg. For anyone not familiar, check this site: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/1489/...ourg/serge.html Brownie, I nearly picked up a used CD of Gainsbourg's early jazz recordings not too long ago... may head back to the shop and see if it's still there. Any recommendations in that area? Myself, I have "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin," which is really good. There is another comp titled "Couleur Café", which partly covers the same titles. But "..Ravin" has "black trombone" and "Elaeudanla Teiteia", which are among my personal favourites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 There is another comp titled "Couleur Café", which partly covers the same titles. But "..Ravin" has "black trombone" and "Elaeudanla Teiteia", which are among my personal favourites. I think "Couleur Cafe" was the one that I saw. I'll keep an eye out for it and the other one that you mention, couw. Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 17, 2005 Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 Serge Gainsbourg. For anyone not familiar, check this site: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/1489/...ourg/serge.html Brownie, I nearly picked up a used CD of Gainsbourg's early jazz recordings not too long ago... may head back to the shop and see if it's still there. Any recommendations in that area? GOM, bear in mind that although Gainsbourg knew his jazz very thoroughly (some favorites of his were Monk, Jimmy Smith, Jackie McLean among others) he did not record any strictly jazz albums. In addition to what couw already recommended, I would suggest you check 'Confidentiel' (with backing by Elek Bacsik on guitar and Michel Gaudry on bass) and 'Gainsbourg Percussions', also some jazzy soundtracks (with very nice trumpet playing by Roger Guérin) on several items in the 3-CD anthology 'Le Cinéma de Gainsbourg' that came out this year from Universal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted December 17, 2005 Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 Jimmy Webb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted December 17, 2005 Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 My vote goes to Roger Miller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 17, 2005 Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 In re-reviewing this topic, I'd have to agree with Jim's initial assertion of Jobim. I think it would also make the discussion more precise if you broke it up by field, jazz, rock, etc. and also looked at who crossed boundaries. While Lennon/McCartney are giants in rock, their songs haven't been done too much in other areas I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted December 18, 2005 Report Share Posted December 18, 2005 Already mentioned: Chuck, Leiber and Stoller, Smokey, Goffin/King. How about Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman? And Hank Williams has been gone for over 50 years, but not much more than that. More recently: Dan Hicks, John Sebastian, Jesse Winchester, and Jake Jacobs are personal favorites. Merle Haggard is still at it. Apologies if anyone has mentioned them and I missed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Pomea Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 (edited) If you had said 60 years instead of 50, I would say Hank Williams. An amazing body of work! And he got his inspiration from real life and the funny books! Edited December 20, 2005 by It Should be You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 (edited) Already mentioned: Chuck, Leiber and Stoller, Smokey, Goffin/King. How about Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman? And Hank Williams has been gone for over 50 years, but not much more than that. More recently: Dan Hicks, John Sebastian, Jesse Winchester, and Jake Jacobs are personal favorites. Merle Haggard is still at it. Apologies if anyone has mentioned them and I missed it. Nice to see these pop and country writers mentioned. I can't believe that more people haven't mentioned Brian Wilson! Up there in quality, if not number of cover versions, with Lennon/McCartney and Stevie Wonder. Of late, I've been partial to the songwriting of Fountains of Wayne and Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, etc.) Both write songs that could stand up quite well on their own apart from their originator's renditions; in Merritt's case, perhaps stand up even better. Edited December 20, 2005 by Kalo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Of late, I've been partial to the songwriting of Fountains of Wayne and Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, etc.) Both write songs that could stand up quite well on their own apart from their originator's renditions; in Merritt's case, perhaps stand up even better. I only know some of Merritt's work but he sure is impressive. He has been known to write a few songs about love.* Agree too about Hank Sr. rating high, even if he just misses the cutoff. I was just spinning a couple of live shows of his last night. *For those who don't know, his group put out a 3 disc set called "69 Love Songs." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Dryden Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Duke Ellington Johnny Mandel (name someone else still living writing memorable standards) Dave Brubeck Sorry, but I can't think of any rock or pop stars that I would include on my list, even if were increased to 25 names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Serge Gainsbourg. For anyone not familiar, check this site: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/1489/...ourg/serge.html Brownie, I nearly picked up a used CD of Gainsbourg's early jazz recordings not too long ago... may head back to the shop and see if it's still there. Any recommendations in that area? GOM, bear in mind that although Gainsbourg knew his jazz very thoroughly (some favorites of his were Monk, Jimmy Smith, Jackie McLean among others) he did not record any strictly jazz albums. In addition to what couw already recommended, I would suggest you check 'Confidentiel' (with backing by Elek Bacsik on guitar and Michel Gaudry on bass) and 'Gainsbourg Percussions', also some jazzy soundtracks (with very nice trumpet playing by Roger Guérin) on several items in the 3-CD anthology 'Le Cinéma de Gainsbourg' that came out this year from Universal. I've been listening to DU JAZZ DANS LE RAVIN, and speaking of Jackie McLean, who is the saxophonist on track #16, "Quand mon 6:35 me fait les yeux doux"? Sure sounds like a Jackie acolyte.. no wonder SG used him. It originally appeared on GAINSBOURG PERCUSSIONS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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