Looking Back at Torch

Clockwise from Top Left: Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Sarah Vaughan

As I have been a bit busy as of late with my niece's wedding, I thought I would revisit this post from about three years ago, for it is all about love, and some magnificent ladies who can sing pretty darned well. The original post was titles 'Torch', and posted on June 21, 2011.

We are back in that smokey club, listening to the ladies sing the blues about love and loss, and matters of the heart. They stand in a simple spotlight, where you can see the smoke wafting through the air. In the background, you hear the tinkling of glasses being raised, drunk from, and collected by the wait staff. There is a whisper that stays steady in the room. But when the really good torch singer comes out, a hush will fall over the room. She will dictate the feeling of the room, be it sadness, hurt, or desire. That never changes. A clear example of the power of the lady in charge is Sarah Vaughan. With her legendary jazz stylings, she delivers a light sweetness to Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington's "The Nearness of You". There is just a hint of longing, just enough to keep it interesting.



Born Virginia Patterson Hensley, if she wasn't one of the great torch singers of all time, then she would have been the perfect source of material for many a song. From her struggle in the music business because she didn't fit the standard of feminine beauty in the day, to dying in a tragic plane crash at the age of 30, Patsy Cline used her gorgeous voice to garner the success and respect due her talent. Her "Walking After Midnight" added just the right amount of strength to temper the plaintiff quality a lesser singer might fall victim to that trap.



The French knew here as "The Sparrow," or, en Francais, "Piaf." She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Paris. She has long been regarded as France's greatest popular singer of all time. One reason was the sheer emotion she would bring to the songs, especially the ballads. Take, for instance, "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" can be translated as "No, I'm not sorry for anything." The song is sung in French, composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. It is most famously sung by the one and only Sparrow, Édith Piaf.



In 1964, Dame Shirley Bassey sang a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd'. She was the first to record "Who Can I Turn To?", although it would later be a hit in the United States by Tony Bennett. She also performed the Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray song, "You'd Better Love Me".



When it comes to torch singers, it is tough to deny Judy Garland is up there with the best of them. When she was just 14, she filmed her first song for the movies, "You Made Me Love You". She didn't stop singing until she passed away 33 years later. Many of her great songs were about love - either looking for it, or having just lost it. She added her own touch of melancholia to Charlie Chaplin's "Smile".



Bartender, I'll have another round.

Dame Shirley Bassey • Let Me Sing and I'm Happy/Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

The beautiful and talented Dame Shirley Bassey sings two great songs by some of the greatest songwriters ever. First she sings "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy", written by the brilliant Irving Berlin, and then she follows it up with "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Leo Robin. The songs were recorded as part of her variety program, The Shirley Bassey Show. The first episodes appeared on the BBC in 1976, including the episode which featured the performances below.

Have a great Saturday!

The Torch Just Keeps On Coming

Clockwise from Top Left: Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Sarah Vaughan

We are back in that smokey club, listening to the ladies sing the blues about love and loss, and matters of the heart. They stand in a simple spotlight, where you can see the smoke wafting through the air. In the background, you hear the tinkling of glasses being raised, drunk from, and collected by the wait staff. There is a whisper that stays steady in the room. But when the really good torch singer comes out, a hush will fall over the room. She will dictate the feeling of the room, be it sadness, hurt, or desire. That never changes. A clear example of the power of the lady in charge is Sarah Vaughan. With her legendary jazz styling, she delivers a light sweetness to Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington's "The Nearness of You". There is just a hint of longing, just enough to keep it interesting.



Born Virginia Patterson Hensley, if she wasn't one of the great torch singers of all time, then she would have been the perfect source of material for many a song. From her struggle in the music business because she didn't fit the standard of feminine beauty in the day, to dying in a tragic plane crash at the age of 30, Patsy Cline used her gorgeous voice to garner the success and respect due her talent. Her "Walking After Midnight" added just the right amount of strength to temper the plaintiff quality a lesser singer might fall victim to that trap.



The French knew here as "The Sparrow," or, en Francais, "Piaf." She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Paris. She has long been regarded as France's greatest popular singer of all time. One reason was the sheer emotion she would bring to the songs, especially the ballads. Take, for instance, "Je Ne Regrette Rien" can be translated as "No, I'm not sorry for anything." The song is sung in French, composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. It is most famously sung by the one and only Sparrow, Édith Piaf.



In 1964, Dame Shirley Bassey sang a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd'. She was the first to record "Who Can I Turn To?", although it would later be a hit in the US by Tony Bennett. She also performed the Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray song, "You'd Better Love Me".



When it comes to torch singers, it is tough to deny Judy Garland is up there with the best of them. When she was just 14, she filmed her first song for the movies, "You Made Me Love You". She didn't stop singing until she passed away 33 years later. Many of her great songs were about love - either looking for it, or having just lost it. She added her own touch of melancholia to Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" here.



Bartender, I'll have another round.

Golden Songs From The Silver Screen

Clockwise: Doris Day; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ella Fitzgerald, and Binnie Hale.

Well, I have to admit I was wondering what to post about, and I came across an old recording by one of my favorites, Michael Feinstein, 'Romance On Film/Romance On Broadway', which featured some amazing songs that might be best known because of a spectacular and memorable performance on stage or on screen. Since many of these were older songs, I went about looking for some amazing recordings to show off what great songs they are. The first of those is a popular song written in 1945 by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It has appeared in several films, perfect for fixing the mood of a scene. I picked a song recorded in 1965 by the great Doris Day. When she sings "The More I See You", it is impossible not to feel deeply what love can be.

Next up, I have picked a song introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1960 film 'High Time'. "The Second Time Around" has lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen, a great duo indeed. For this great song, I picked the always amazing Dame Shirley Bassey, with a rendition she recorded for the 1962 album, 'Lets Face The Music'. The great singer was accompanied by the great Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra

I don't know if this post would be able to go without this song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It was written for the 1931 Broadway musical 'Everybody's Welcome' and originally sung by Frances Williams. But perhaps it is best known by a version sung by a character in a 1942 movie. Club singer Sam (Dooley Wilson) sings the song in the movie 'Casablanca'. Yes, we are talking about the great song "As Time Goes By". Now, it has been recorded by a multitude of artists, but after I looked around, I decided to go with a version by Binnie Hale in 1932. There is just such charm on the recording made by this stsar of the British stage.

And, last but most certainly not least, I decided to go with a song written in 1932 by the great songwriting team of Rodgers & Hart. "Isn't It Romantic" was introduced by Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier in the Paramount film 'Love Me Tonight'. I decided to go with a lush version recorded in 1957 by the brilliant Ella Fitzgerald recorded. It is my pleasure to share with you the great Ella singing "Isn't It Romantic".

Have a great weekend!

Music of the Oscars 2013

Left to right: Barbra Streisand; Adele Adkins; and Dame Shirley Bassey.

When I saw the picture above on Facebook (thanks, Casey Stratton!), I knew I wanted to do a post. But then there was the tricky issue of finding a YouTube link that wasn't either crappy or would stay up long enough. So I went to Daily Motion, and found what I needed. But first, I have a confession. I did not watch the Oscar telecast. I was watching hockey for a while, and then tuned in to watch 'The Walking Dead' on AMC. And then 'Talking Dead', with The Nerdist, aka Chris Hardwick. I did follow on Twitter, which told me who won, what worked, and what didn't. But I figured I could find the musical performances that interested me later. But as I documented earlier, it wasn't as easy as I thought. With all the build-up and the Twitter twaddlings, there were three performances that I craved to see, and that pictures said it all for me. The women whose music I love, and all three have been on this blog before. It is Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. In those three ladies, there is such a wealth of talent, it is scarey. I shall begin with the newest of the three, the exquisite Adele, who came on to sing the theme song of the latest Bond movie, 'Skyfall'. It is a wonderful song, and she sings it beautifully. After listening to the video, I was slightly disappointed, but not really by Adele, but but the sound mixer for the show. Adele was on the the entire song, but the chorus was mostly lost, overpowered by the band. But still, I will take a badly mixed Adele over so many other artists, so here is Adele singing "Skyfall".

And the second singer from the United Kingdom to make me happy would be the always brilliant Dame Shirley Bassey. I am old enough to remember the original recording of her Bond themes on the radio, and knowing they were something special. And certainly aware that she was special as well. What I didn't realize until this week was that Dame Shirley was the only person in the Bond series to sing theme songs to three different movies. There is no doubt I remember the themes to 1971's Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever, as well as the 1979 effort, 'Moonraker'. And while I was a bit young to remember the original release of the 1964 theme, I certainly heard it for years to come, as it was something amazing. And forty-nine years after the original release, Dame Shirley returned to sings the theme to 'Goldfinger', and made it special once again, at the age of seventy-six. Enjoy listening to, and watching, as Dame Shirley Bassey sings "Goldfinger".

And last but not least, there is the magnificent Barbra Streisand, a singer I have adored for as long as I can remember. Indeed, I remember being a teenager and buying her albums, including the early ones with some spectacular music from the Great American Songbook. I wasn't sure what she was going to sing, but if I gave it any thought, it was a no-brainer that she would be offering a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch. Once the 'In Memoriam' video rolled, Streisand came out singing one of the many amazing songs written by Hamlisch, sung by Streisand as the theme of the movie 'The Way We Were', starring Streisand and the stunning Robert Redford. The song was released in 1973, making this the 40th anniversary. Like Dame Shirley, Barbra was looking and sounding great. Please enjoy the clip of Barbra Streisand singing "The Way We Were", just a few months shy of her seventy-first birthday.

Happy Times in 1930

Clockwise: Florence Welch; Ruth Etting; Dame Shirley Bassey; and Annette Hanshaw.

Just when I think I am running out of ideas, another one pops into my head. I thought I'd take a look at songs that were on the charts in 1930, but not necessarily the top of the charts, nor necessarily by by original singers. Is that vague enough? I didn't mean it to me, but when I found this first video, I knew I was on the right track. "My Baby Just Cares For Me" was written by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was written for the 1930 movie version of the 1928 Broadway musical, 'Whoopee!', starring Eddie Canter. Some 30 years later, it became a trademark song of the great Nina Simone. But I have to admit, when I found this version by the gorgeous Florence Welch, I was a bit on the giddy level. So here is Florence singing "My Baby Just Cares For Me" for a New Years celebration with the brilliant Jools Holland.

"Ten Cents A Dance" was written by legendary team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1930 Florenz Ziegfeld musical, 'Simple Simon'. In fact, it was written for Lee Morse, a singer of note in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. However, Morse battled her demons, and was fired from the show in the out-of-town tryout in Boston, and replaced by Ruth Etting. She was already a successful singer, and added "Ten Cents A Dance" to the list of her hit songs. Etting's career was cut short when her gangster ex-husband shot her new boyfriend, and the headlines featured the story everywhere. Later, Doris Day would play her in the movie 'Love Me Or Leave Me', and James Cagney played the gangster Moe Snyder.

Singer Al Jolson had a big hit with the Irving Berlin song "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy" in 1930, but I found another version that I loved. Sure, there were countless very talented singers who recorded the song, but this live performance by the great Dame Shirley Bassey just hit me as something special. I think one of my favorite things about Bassey is her ability to offer something special and new in every song she sings. So enjoy Dame Shirley's take on Berlin's "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy".

The next song wsa written in 1929 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen, and recorded by Leo Reisman & His Orchestra. The recording was featured in the 1930 movie musical, 'Chasing Rainbows', as part of a grand finale that took the black and white film to technicolor. As a matter of fact, the song was featured in 15 movies by the end of 1932. The song became a big hit, and was used as a theme song for Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential campaign in 1932. I chose a version recorded by the great Annette Hanshaw in 1930, capturing the way the song was originally heard by so very many, as an uptempo fun song. Over 30 years in the future, the song would be slowed down and delivered by a young singer to breath new life into the song. That singer was, of course, Barbra Streisand. But here is the perennial flapper, Annette Hanshaw, singing "Happy Days Are Here Again".

Have a great weekend!

"Love" On A Saturday Night

Clockwise: Dianne Reeves; Reba McEntire; Rosemary Clooney; Dusty Springfield; Dame Shirley Bassey; and what is love without a kiss?

I think that love must be the greatest muse to musicians, for it seems there are more songs written about love, be it love lost, love found, or the search for both, than any other topic. So my inspiration for tonight is is not only songs about love, for that would be too easy. I wanted songs that mentioned love in the title, sung by some of the great voices from both today, and yesterday. And I will begin with a voice still very much active, singing some of the great songs with a new and imaginative flair. Listen as Denver resident Dianne Reeves sings the great song by George and Ira Gershwin, "The Man I Love". Yes, the song might have been performed by others, but few deliver it quite like Ms. Reeves.



Next up, we have a song written by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes, and Louis Prima in the 1940s, but given new life by Country superstar Reba McEntire. The song could be found on Reba's 1988 album, Reba. Released as a single, "Sunday Kind Of Love" went to #5 on the Country charts. Here is Reba singing the great song made famous by Etta James.



I have to say that on my list of favorite singers, you can always find the amazing Rosemary Clooney. Her voice had such depth, and a beautiful timbre. Listen as she takes on the George and Ira Gershwin classic, "Our Love Is Here To Stay". The song, first written for the 1938 film, The Goldwyn Follies. George passed away before the release of the movie and the song, but it certainly took on a life of it's own. Enjoy Rosie's take on the classic.



Dame Shirley Bassey is a wonder to me, to be sure. I had to include her, for she has sung many of the classics, and I just love her voice. So I thought I would choose her singing "Et Maintenant", written in 1961 by composer Gilbert Bécaud and lyricist Pierre Delanoë. It is better known to the English speaking world as "What Now My Love", having been translated by Carl Sigman. I love it when she goes all big and sings behind the hands on the song!



And, finally, I wanted to include the gorgeous Dusty Springfield. Her talent was lost too us far too soon, when cancer took her at age 59. Thankfully, she left many recordings, and appearances on television. I love her version of a song by Léo Chauliac & Charles Trenet, first recorded by Trenet in 1942. In 1957, "Que Reste t'il de Nos Amours?" was translated to English by Albert A. Beach and sung by Keely Smith. It became known by the English Title, "I Wish You Love". Here is Dusty singing a great song perfectly.



Enjoy your Saturday night!

Time For The Blues

Clockwise: Nina Simone; Dame Shirley Bassey; Billie Holiday; and Ella Fitzgerald.

Well, since time we get to set the clocks ahead, and lose and hour oa sleep to Daylights Savings Time, I thought "time" would be a perfect theme for the post this evening. I went into my iTunes, typed in the word "time" and see what songs came up. Then I shot over to YouTube, and went to work. So the first entry is from the amazing Nina Simone Just In Time. The classic song had music written by Jule Styne and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green in 1956. Simone had a style all her own, and it is truly in evidence here.



In our second entry by the amazing Jules Styne, Time After Time was written by Sammy Cahn and Styne in 1947. It first was sung by a great Frank Sinatra in the movie It Happened In Brooklyn. But here, I have a clip of Dame Shirley Bassey singing, with that gorgeous, rich voice of hers.



Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye a song with lyrics and music by Cole Porter. It was introduced in 1944 in Billy Rose's musical revue, Seven Lively Arts. It has been sung by some of the greats in music, from Chet Baker to Tony Bennett to Annie Lennox. Here, I think Ella Fitzgerald gives an amazing performance on the song.



As Time Goes is a song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It became most famous in 1942 when it was sung by the Dooley Wilson, playing Sam the piano player, in the movie Casablanca. I have always been amazed by the version given by Billie Holiday on the song.



Hope you've enjoyed your time here tonight. And remember, Spring forward, and Fall back. Set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed!

Dame Shirley Bassey Sings Broadway

Earlier this week, the amazing Dame Shirley Bassey celebrated a birthday. She was born on January 8, 1937, and found fame in the 1950s, singing with a beautiful instrument. By the 1960s, she was best known for singing some of the great movie theme songs out there, from the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). The supple and rich tone of her voice, coupled with a true exuberance, was often amazing, and never disappointing.



She has often been referred to as the most successful female vocalist in the UK for the 20th century, and some would argue she was the tops for all times. And it would be hard to argue with that, as she has sustained a career for over six decades, and shows no signs of of lessening the glow of her talent. "For services to entertainment", Bassey was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 31 December 1999 by Queen Elizabeth II. She was awarded France's top honor, the Legion d'Honneur, to signify her popularity and importance in the culture of France.

But all that can take a back seat to what brought such accolades, the voice. Here is a collection of songs Bassey has performed that had their start in a Broadway musical, starting with a little number from a Broadway musical I first saw while on a trip the London back in the 1970s. A Chorus Line opened on Broadway in 1975 to much acclaim. And a great deal of that was given to Marvin Hamlisch, who composed the music with lyricist Edward Kleban. Here is Dame Shirley singing Kiss Today Goodbye from A Chorus Line.



With music by the immortal Jule Styne, and lyrics by the brilliant Bob Merrill, how could a show go wrong? Based on the life and love of singer/comedienne Fanny Brice, Funny Girl opened to rave reviews in 1964. Oh, yes, it had a little-known performer playing Fanny, a Miss Barbra Streisand. And here is Dame Shirley to sing People from Funny Girl.



Well, what can be said about any show that has music and lyrics by the incomparable Stephen Sondheim? Other than to say this song seems just perfect for Bassey, sitting in a luscious spot in her register, and her history certainly adding a layer or two of depth and pain. Dame Shirley sings Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music.



Bassey can do more than just nail a ballad, that is for sure. In 1966, a little music with musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon, opened on Broadway to stellar reviews. It was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, and starred Fosse's wife, Gwen Verdon. The show about working girls in Times Square offers Dame Shirley an opportunity to have a bit of fun when she sings the delicious Hey Big Spender from Sweet Charity.

Torch Circa 1967

Clockwise: Lena Horne; Barbra Streisand; Aretha Franklin; and Dame Shirley Bassey.

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to post tonight, so I cruised through YouTube, hoping to find a spark. I came across one video, then another. Both from 1967. The light went off, and here you have it. Four performances from 1967, by some of the strongest singers of the time. So break out the tissues, and pour your drink. I will start with the amazing and glorious Miss Lena Horne. With her beautiful voice and elegant style, she could sing anything. So here she sings Someday My Prince Will Come, from Walt Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarves, the 1937 animated feature. It was written by Larry Morey and Frank Churchill, and given new spark by Miss Horne.



Aretha Franklin was tearing up the charts in the 1960s, and this year was no exception. She went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and two weeks at #1 on the Hot Rhythm N' Blues Singles chart with her stunning Baby I Love You.



In 1967, Barbra Streisand was on her way to becoming the superstar we now know her to be. The following year, her first film, Funny Girl, will be released. She had some success on Broadway, and with records, but was still staking her claim on fame. So when she planned a live concert to be recorded in Central Park, some might have scoffed. Well, they shouldn't have. It was a big success, both live and when televised. Here she puts her own delectable spin on the classic, Cry Me A River.



The next song was originally written in French. Et Maintenant was written in 1961 by composer Gilbert Bécaud and lyricist Pierre Delanoë, Later the lyrics were translated by Carl Sigman. It was covered by many, as the song is an incredible anthem for the broken heart. Certainly the great Dame Shirley Bassey knew that, and delivered it will all the heartache one could stand. Here she is, singing What Now My Love?

Torch

Clockwise from Top Left: Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Sarah Vaughan

We are back in that smokey club, listening to the ladies sing the blues about love and loss, and matters of the heart. They stand in a simple spotlight, where you can see the smoke wafting through the air. In the background, you hear the tinkling of glasses being raised, drunk from, and collected by the wait staff. There is a whisper that stays steady in the room. But when the really good torch singer comes out, a hush will fall over the room. She will dictate the feeling of the room, be it sadness, hurt, or desire. That never changes. A clear example of the power of the lady in charge is Sarah Vaughan. With her legendary jazz stylings, she delivers a light sweetness to Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington's "The Nearness of You". There is just a hint of longing, just enough to keep it interesting.



Born Virginia Patterson Hensley, if she wasn't one of the great torch singers of all time, then she would have been the perfect source of material for many a song. From her struggle in the music business because she didn't fit the standard of feminine beauty in the day, to dying in a tragic plane crash at the age of 30, Patsy Cline used her gorgeous voice to garner the success and respect due her talent. Her "Walking After Midnight" added just the right amount of strength to temper the plaintiff quality a lesser singer might fall victim to that trap.



The French knew here as "The Sparrow," or, en Francais, "Piaf." She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Paris. She has long been regarded as France's greatest popular singer of all time. One reason was the sheer emotion she would bring to the songs, especially the ballads. Take, for instance, "Je Ne Regrette Rien" can be translated as "No, I'm not sorry for anything." The song is sung in French, composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. It is most famously sung by the one and only Sparrow, Édith Piaf.



In 1964, Dame Shirley Bassey sang a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd'. She was the first to record Who Can I Turn To?, although it would later be a hit in the US by Tony Bennett. She also performed the Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray song, "You'd Better Love Me".



When it comes to torch singers, it is tough to deny Judy Garland is up there with the best of them. When she was just 14, she filmed her first song for the movies, "You Made Me Love You". She didn't stop singing until she passed away 33 years later. Many of her great songs were about love - either looking for it, or having just lost it. She added her own touch of melancholia to Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" here.



Bartender, I'll have another round.