I have to throw in a picture – in this case, a photo of Dame Scoutie sleeping on her quilt. She’s doing much the same thing as I write this, only she’s in her ‘tunnel’ position. More snow and sleet and ice on the way later today. Will it never end? Don and I are trying to keep it together, but we want OUT!
More from the Playlist. I hope you’re having as much fun with this as I am. I also love that you’re sharing your favorites in the comments. Thank you for that. You remind me of songs that I love and just may want to add to my list. Let’s hit Shuffle.
My Playlist
• Like a Lover – Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66
I have spent literally hours listening to this song over the years. I know I keep saying certain songs are sexy – and they are – but this one, this one is one of the sexiest. A gorgeous arrangement, with a bossa nova beat and gorgeous strings in the background, this song speaks love. Add in the fact that Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66 were so good at this kind of thing and you’ve got a winner. I introduced this song to Don years ago and it’s one of his favorites now.
Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you
Sigh.
• Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin
Love, love, love this song – the American version of La Mer by Charles Trenet. Trenet, by the way, is someone you should also listen to – we have a recording of him singing his songs. Trenet’s original version in French had totally different lyrics. The American lyrics are by Jack Lawrence. Darin’s version is simply fabulous, with a big, brassy arrangement. I also have George Benson’s version around here, which is also great, but Darin’s is the clear winner.
Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waitin’ for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailin’
You’ll be snapping your fingers.
• Expressway to Your Heart – The Soul Survivors
Who knows why, but I love this oldie. The opening “boom, boom, boom-boom-buh-boom boom” draws you in and you can’t help but move to the beat. It came out in 1967, was written by the famed Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
I was wrong, baby, took too long
I got caught in the rush hour
A fellow started to shower
You with love and affection
Now you won’t look in my direction
On the expressway to your heart…
You’ll be dancing before you know it.
• Don’t You Care – The Buckinghams
I’ve always loved this song. I bought the album many moons ago just for this cut. Also from 1967, this was a big hit for the Buckinghams. Sung by lead singer, Dennis Tufano.
If you don’t love me
Why don’t you tell me
Instead of running around
With all the other guys in townCan’t you see
You’re hurting me
Don’t you care, don’t you care
And my favorite part in the bridge:
mmmmm, my, my, my, my baby (with a great guitar riff in the background)
• After the Love Has Gone – Earth, Wind & Fire
Sigh. This is a great song, great harmonies, great arrangement. It has a slower tempo – it’s less of a dance song and more of a love song. My love for this splendid group is undying.
And it modulates to another key smack dab in the middle in the song. The ‘oh, oh, oh’ leads us there.
And oh, after the love has gone
How could you lead me on
and not let me stay around
Oh oh oh after the love has gone
what used to be right is wrong
Can love that’s lost be found
• Free – Deniece Williams
Oh my lord. I love this song. Incidentally, it was produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. You’ll be astounded by what Williams’ voice is capable of – the notes that she hits at the end. Extraordinary. Great arrangement – quintessential Deniece Williams. I’ve been known to listen to this one over and over. I first heard another artist’s cover of this, but I tracked down the original. No surprise – it was Niecy.
Whispering in his ear
My magic potion for love
Telling him, I’m sincere
And there’s nothin’ too good for us.But I want to be free, free, free
And I’ve just got to be me yeah, me me
• You Better Love Me While You May – Jack Jones
I heard this cut on the CD I mentioned yesterday – Closer Than A Kiss: Crooner Classics. I’ve always liked Jack Jones. This song, written by Hugh Martin (who wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) and Timothy Gray for the Broadway musical, High Spirits (the musical version of Blithe Spirit) has been recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Mel Tormé. In this version, Jones is accompanied by a small group of musicians; piano, bass viol, and drums. I can sing Jones singing this in a sophisticated nightclub. This one also modulates to a new key in the middle. Love that kind of thing.
You’d better love me while you may
Tomorrow I may fly away
I want your gentle touch
Your continental touch
Your elemental touch
You want me too
Oh, I know that you do.
• Peg – Steely Dan
We’re Steely Dan lovers in this household. In fact, one of our early conversations while courting was about how much we loved Aja, their brilliant album. Peg, infectious, fun and jazzy, is the kind of song that makes me want to dance and sing along with it.
I’ve seen your picture
Your name in lights above it
This is your big debut
It’s like a dream come true
So, won’t you smile for the camera
I know they’re gonna love it, Peg.
• Charade – Andy Williams
To my mind, Henry Mancini was one of the greatest composers of music for film. When I watch the Oscars nowadays, most, not all, songs that are nominated for Best Song are laughable. Really? Take me back to Mancini, please. This song, from the movie Charade, is simply beautiful. The arrangement, with Andy Williams singing the vocal, has a somewhat French sound, which is fitting since the movie takes place in Paris. It’s one of my favorite movies, by the way, directed by Stanley Donen and starring the incomparable Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Elegant, stylish, sophisticated.
When we played our charade
we were like children posing
Playing at games, acting out names
Guessing the parts we played
• Goin’ Out of My Head – Little Anthony & The Imperials
One of the best pop songs ever. It was recorded in 1964 and since then it has been covered by many, many artists. This version – the original – is still the best. Little Anthony’s voice, filled with raw emotion, takes us right into the heart of the lyrics. A song about a love that is consuming, it touches a chord in anyone who has ever longed for a requited love. Backed by a full orchestra, a sumptuous arrangement, his rendition of this song is gut-wrenching.
Well, I think I’m goin’ out of my head
Yes, I think I’m goin’ out of my head
Over you, over you
I want you to want me, I need you so badly
I can’t think of anything but you.
• Teach Me Tonight – Al Jarreau
A great standard, Teach Me Tonight as covered by Al Jarreau is simply wonderful. I love Al Jarreau – I have many of his CDs and I’ve seen him in concert. He can do things with his voice that are simply amazing. Here he takes us along for the ride as he sings of love until the final build that knocks it out of the park. Great sax solo. Written by Gene DePaul and the great Sammy Cahn.
One thing isn’t very clear, my love
Should the teacher stand so near, my love
Graduation’s almost here, my love
Teach me tonight.
• Since I Fell for You – Lenny Welch
This may be the best of all songs about the heartbreak of love. I’ve used the phrase gut-wrenching before in this series, but this one makes all the others look like small potatoes. Lenny Welch has the kind of voice that has an emotional intensity beyond compare. It’s raw, it’s beautiful, it’s almost too much. He is so gifted. No one – I repeat – no one can sing this song like Lenny Welch. Recorded in 1963.
You made me leave my happy home
You took my love, and now you’ve gone,
Since I fell for you.Love brings such misery and pain
I guess I’ll never be the same
Since I fell for you.
• I’d Sing You – Don Sparks
This is my favorite Don Sparks song. He recorded it several years ago. He doesn’t even sing it anymore, but that doesn’t matter. It kills me, it’s so wonderful. My romantic husband writes beautifully. He’s a poet. In this song, he’s at his best. He arranged and orchestrated it with Garage Band on his Mac and it’s superb. He’ll be embarrassed by this, but I don’t care.
This isn’t what I meant to say
The awkward rhyme, the poor word play
It comes out wrong, it hides the song
I’d sing youEvery fear that holds my tongue
Leaves a passion yet unsung
This lovers moon
Never hears the tune
I’d sing youThere should be a symphony in blue
A choir softly singing out for you
I lose the key
And the melody
I’d sing you
Be still my heart. This man is something else.
• Rainy Night in Georgia – Brook Benton
Has there ever been another song that is so evocative – that so perfectly paints a picture of loneliness, the rain, of being without the one you love? Brook Benton had a gorgeous, deep, resonant voice and it is perfect fit for this song. Accompanied by a full orchestra, guitar and the lonely sound of a harmonica, this song never fails to take me to a different place.
A distant moanin’ of a train
Seems to play
A sad refrain to the night.A rainy night in Georgia
A rainy night in Georgia
It seems like it’s rainin’ all over the world
I feel like it’s rainin’ all over the world.
• Ribbon in the Sky – Stevie Wonder
Simply gorgeous. There’s no one like Stevie Wonder. His gifts are enormous. And he’s a fellow Detroiter, so how could I not love him? This plaintive, beautiful song moves slowly – no hurry – and takes us along on a lovely journey.
If allowed, may I touch your hand?
And if pleased, may I once again?
So that you too will understandThere’s a ribbon in the sky for our love.
• Suspicion – Terry Stafford
This is a real oldie. I love it. I remember listening to it on a little radio in my bedroom when I was a young girl. It got to me even then. Stafford has a deep voice, the song is haunting, it brings back lovely memories. I had to include it on my playlist. Originally written for Elvis Presley, it was covered by Terry Stafford in 1964. Stafford has a vocal quality not unlike Presley’s. I also love the arrangement.
Ev’ry time you kiss me
I’m still not certain that you love me
Ev’ry time you hold me
I’m still not certain that you care.Suspicion torments my heart
Suspicion keeps us apart
Suspicion why torture me?
I hope you’re enjoying the Playlist. I like the challenge of putting into words just why I like these selections, what it is about them that strikes a chord within me. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Happy Tuesday.
Great list!
Thanks, Carolyn Marie!
Oh, Claudia, I just read all three playlists, and they are wonderful! I love your descriptions, both factual and emotional, and that you included snippets of lyrics. We are about the same age, and I too remember a lot of the same songs. But there are many new ones that I will seek out.
Jonathan is a standard in this house on the weekends, but I would love to listen to your show! Maybe you and Don could do podcasts from your home? Like John Pizzarelli and his wife?
Please keep doing these lists!
Thanks for the vote of support, Sylvia! I don’t know – I’m thinking, but just thinking, about podcasts. By the way, I coached John Pizzarelli’s wife, Jessica Molaskey (sp?) several years ago in a musical. This was before she married him – she’s such a lovely person.
They do sound so nice together. As people and as musicians.
Have SO enjoyed these posts, Claudia!! Yesterday I read your Playlist #2 and then we were out and about all day….. but in my head I kept hearing “Aye! Calypso! The places you’ve been to….” so funny. This has been like a walk down memory lane for this girl of the 60’s… since that is when I grew up, and what I am now! :-) Music is a big part of our life here, with a hubs who is a music teacher/ choir director, and BTW, I have to smile at your mention of Bugler’s Holiday,,,, YAY, but I still don’t have too much of an appreciation of “twangy” Country and/ or rap. I do try! I often wonder if some young thing now will have a playlist in 30 or 40 years filled with rap songs, many of which I can’t understand and many I don’t want to understand. And I am pretty sure that sounds exactly like what my Grandmother said back in the mid 60’s when I was attached to my transistor radio. Looking forward to tomorrow!!
I often think I must sound like my parents and grandparents did when I was raving about the Beatles – what goes round, comes round, I guess!
Great songs! My playlist would also include The Moody Blues….Nights in White Satin among others. It’s snowing lightly now…gonna warm up this weekend! ;)
I don’t have them on the playlist, but I have the album and I played it endlessly – in fact, all of their albums, in my college dorm room
“Breathe deep the gathering gloom,
watchlights fade in every room….”
I’m with Donnamae on this..one of my favorites!
Nights in White Satin was the theme of our Senior Prom, if I remember correctly.
I’m loving your Playlists! I too adore Gino Vanelli’s voice…! And Brook Benton can bring me to tears with Rainy Night in Georgia. I wish radio stations that play oldies would break out of their ruts and play more of these wonderful songs…I’d give anything to hear Chris Montez singing ‘Call Me’ once in awhile!
Oh, I loved Call Me – what a great song that was!
I can appreciate Scout wanting to tunnel! Another storm tonite for us too. I am so wanting tulips and daffodils!
This one is bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain – the trifecta! YUCK.
So fun reading your playlists! My daughter was searching for a radio station the other day and got caught by an “oldies” station…late 70’s and early 80’s, and she’s been listening to it regularly while she drives ever since. I was surprised she liked the music because of her age, but I guess more of her dad wore off on her than she thought.
Oh, that’s wonderful! That must make you happy, Wendy.
More great picks! This morning when I woke up, I immediately thought of Chances Are, by Johnny Mathis, which then made me think of Unforgettable, by Nat King Cole, which then made me think of It’s A Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong. Which then made me think, what would we do without music in our lives? Thanks for sharing this very personal playlist with us, Claudia. I’ve enjoyed it, and it’s made me think of the tunes that have been a tapestry in my own life. Which makes me think of Carole King….
I love all of those songs and immediately transported when I hear them. It’s so true, once you remember one, you remember another and another…
I need to listen to Don’s song. I remember most of the rest, but not always the ones with the same artists. Guess I need to listen to them all. It won’t be a hardship.
Well, that song isn’t available – I don’t think he ever put it on his site, though I wish he would!
This is so cool! Sometimes on Friday nights, I crank up YouTube with Otis Redding who is *still* Sitting on the Dock of the Bay; The Beatles (anything prior to the white album); Beach Boys (every single thing they EVER did!!!); Temptations (My Girl!). So many great songs from our era. Thanks for taking the time to bring up the memories!
Mary
Those are all great songs and evoke such strong memories, Mary! Thanks for sharing them!
I’m enjoying your lists so much. I am trawling through as many as I can each day. Thank goodness for the modern world, youtube and immediate access! My favourite from today is Bobby Darin. Did you ever see French Kiss? I can’t remember if I mentioned it in my list of favourite films but it plays on the US-French versions of this song. It would be a good snowed in film to watch. Don’s lyrics are poignant and wry. I would like to read more of them.
Oh, that Bobby Darin. Beyond the Sea is one of my all time favorites.
Great love songs today..Little Anthony..Goin’ Out of My Head..what an amazing voice..
I know! His voice just rips your heart out!
Love your playlists & especially that you included Bobby Darin singing Beyond the Sea!
It’s one of my happy songs, Debbie!
I had to think about some of this! Some of it didn’t come quickly to mind; love that you’re re-introducing some great songs here! Yes, Henri Mancini; hit after hit; genius. I’d forgotten about Jack Jones; another of Mom’s favorites, so I grew up listening to him and he was on TV a lot, too, in the day of variety shows which, at the time, we all seemed to love. Mother would speak of his father, and I can’t recall if his dad was an actor or a singer. But I think Jack Jones grew up in ‘the business’ here in the L.A. scene and one thing I am recalling is that Jack I think has been married a bunch of times! Didn’t he do cruise ships at one point? But I know he has always kept his career going; maybe he’s in Vegas now where so many entertainers wind up. I don’t know anything about Las Vegas; haven’t been there for probably 30 years and I understand I wouldn’t recognize it today but it’s not a big-draw destination for me. I know of people who go very frequently, however.
Steely Dan…yep, Donald Fagan was intriguing and I loved the Aja album; it got a lot of play in my little apartment. Very talented musicians; refreshing arrangements/sound. I also liked Stephen Bishop. I still like Stephen Bishop. I recently bought a CD of his which has the Brazilian sound, of all things.
The Buckinghams. What a memory…yes…so much play on AM radio in 1967; I remember “Kind of a Drag.” You prompted the memory so I looked ’em up and I didn’t even realize they were a Chicago band (when I was a kid, I had stuff stuck all over my bedroom walls about the various musical groups and I thought I knew about The Buckinghams but I guess I didn’t…with my babysitting coins, I’d buy that Tiger Beat magazine or other ones about the groups we heard on the radio and tear out the photo pages of the cutest guys…Mom let me do it for awhile, and then it came time to paint the bedroom…I was gone over Dino, Desi and Billy…). Anyway, I guess The Buckinghams got back together as a band in the 80s and have even had recent albums and tours. Who knew?
Lotsa fun with your playlist, Claudia. Do it again sometime! I feel grateful I grew up in eras of great music; being witness to it as it was happening. Starting with Golden Oldies of the 50s, all the new music of the 60s, the 70s blends of disco yet bands like Eagles on the other side of it…and I also enjoyed music television in the 80s; the start of MTV when Michael Jackson was hot, and Madonna…we hadn’t seen anything like that before. (I listened to Toto a lot, too, in the early 80s; well-known band in the L.A. area; they’re coming out with a new album this month and they say it echoes their Toto IV LP which had the hit, ‘Rosanna’ on it…written for actress Rosanna Arquette although they pronounce her name wrong on the song.) One of my favorite ‘music from the film’ CDs of that time is from “The Big Chill.” It’s also when I rediscovered Jeff Beck after watching ‘Risky Business’ and loving that soundtrack, too.
Hundreds…thousands?…of songs. I can see where a playlist could get overwhelming.
Sorry you’re inundated with the white-cold stuff. I think you’re living through some of the worst of Northeast winters from what I’ve been reading. A historical event. We have gotten a bit of rain here, which is great but, as of last week, the river is nothing…looks like a little irrigation ditch you could jump with your two feet. This is the same river, 40-odd years ago, which took down a massive bridge, so it’s a rather remarkable (not good) development in our continuing drought here in SoCal. Take care and glad at least you are together as a family because if you were alone this winter like you were LAST winter, Claudia, I think you’d have to get out of there.
Jack Jones’ father was Allan Jones, singer/actor – as well as cast member of A Night at the Opera with the Marx Brothers. Don was lucky enough to meet him not long before he died. Jones was visiting a friend of Don’s and he (Jones) ordered chinese food for everyone. Don really liked him a lot – he was a great guy.
Don also knew Stephen Bishop – he’s from San Diego, like Don. They hung out together and played music. Bishop even asked if he could learn one of Don’s songs and he performed it in his early days.
I too, loved Dino, Desi & Billy and I had the Toto album with Rosanna on it. Loved it. Also “Africa” – was that the name of the song?
I tend to forget for a moment that you and Don are linked in and of the entertainment business and would, of course, know a lot of the players…music, movies, stage. I just wish Stephen Bishop had done more albums! (How cool that Don would play with him and that Stephen would sing one of Don’s songs! Sounds like Don should write a book, too, Claudia! You two could write concurrently on dueling computers.) A few months ago, I watched ‘Tootsie’ again and I just swoon over Stephen Bishop’s music in that film. He’s not only a wonderful songwriter and musician, but it’s that smooth voice. I guess my favorite album is the first one I listened to, which was ‘Careless’ (although I like this later bossa nova one I’d previously mentioned) and wasn’t ‘Careless’ also his debut album…probably. This has gotten me to thinking about him now again, and I’ve just discovered he put out a CD of new material a year ago, so I’m going to go track that down…
Yes, the Grammy-grabbing album, Toto IV, included the song ‘Africa’ (love that song) which got a lot of AM airplay on the radio, at least here in SoCal. It’s so sad that Toto’s drummer died, I believe before he was 40 (he was brother to the keyboard player who dated actress Rosanna Arquette…mixed lore on whether or not ‘Rosanna’ was really about her or not, even though I seem to default in my memory/influence to, yes, it was[?]…I’m probably a product of too much media hype). Anyway, yes, the Porcaro brothers. I think it’s Jeff Porcaro who passed…he was a session drummer long before he was in Toto and he played with everybody who’s anybody. I saw the list once (like a resume) and I know it included, coincidentally, Steely Dan. Maybe Boz Scaggs, too. I can’t remember who else. (Boz Scaggs…another guy whose music/voice I liked a lot.)
Thank you for replying to your readers’ replies! It’s all very interesting, including your further insight and input. Here’s a weird one, too: In the last few years when I was reminded again about Stephen Bishop, I was reading about him…he’s kind of elusive…and came across a bit about him…that, at one time, he wasn’t just romantically involved with an actress who was in those ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ movie(s?) – Indiana Jones, whatever, I wasn’t into those films – named Karen Allen (you might know of her from the stage), but that they were in fact MARRIED for a time. Later on in the years, despite occasional acting gigs, she was a knitter and began developing her own yarns; actually owned or owns a textiles company in New England. I looked up her site at the time and there were beautiful, beautiful sweaters and stuff designed by her; expensive. I love to hear stuff like this, though…true Renaissance woman!
love seeing suggestions of great music! thanks, everyone.
the first time I heard “expressway to your heart” was in 1978 (i was 20) on an album by mike finnigan … “black and white”. still have it almost 37 years later (even though I have no stereo on which to play it) … every song is so good and either makes me dance or cry.
I usually don’t care for remakes and covers, but this one I do. he has a great voice, perfect for the old “r+b” of this song and others. and I like the arrangement, all the brass.
ps about another kind of cover … mike finnigan looks fine on the cover of this album! hee hee.
highly recommended! now am off to see if it’s available to download.
kathy
I’ll have to check that guy out, Kathy. Isn’t that song great?
Agree 1000% with your observation about songs in the movies these days. I think there are still great soundtracks being written – John Williams [God bless him, in his 80s and still going strong], Alexandre Desplat, Alan Silvestri, Thomas Newman. I collect a lot of them. But individual songs? Even the ones nominated for Oscars, which you’d think would be better than the average, are completely forgettable lately. Bring back the days when you’d leave a theater unable to get a tune out of your head because it was so lyrical, so memorable. Bring back the days – and the people – who were capable of writing a great melody! End of soapbox – and enjoy your day…
Ah, a great melody – almost impossible to find nowadays, but they’re out there.