I've focused this next contribution on "emotional" songs. Now. mind you, most people who know me will consider me one of the least emotional individuals they've met. However, against females singing through electrostats, I have no defense.
Here's a list of 10 such songs.
Karrin Allyson – What’s New. This comes from the disc, Ballads, which is a homage to the album of the same title by John Coltrane. Karyn holds you in her spell with her soulful, raspy vocals. What I especially like about her singing is that she pays attention to the meaning of the lyrics. When you hear her sing the line “I haven't changed, I still love you so” it feels like she has stuck a stiletto in your heart. And while you sit there bleeding, the sax and rhythm section enter to offer their condolences.
Cheryl Bentyne – The Very Thought of You. This is from “Among Friends,” a DVD-Audio recording by AIX, which means it’s state-of-the-art for that medium. (The reverse side has a really good dvd-v presentation, too.) Cheryl, one of the two female singers of The Manhattan Transfer, treats this song with her typical restraint, which nonetheless is enough to grip you. Halfway through the piece you are treated to a moving guitar solo by Grant Geissman.
Diana Krall – Why Should I Care? From the cd/sacd, When I Look in Your Eyes.This was the song that introduced me to DK, and it happened serendipitously. When I watch a film at home through MLs, I normally sit through all the credits, just to listen to the music. DK sings this at the end of Clint Eastwood’s True Crime, and good ol’ Clint is one of the songwriers. Sometimes DK may be faulted for merely talking through some of her songs and not stretching herself and really reaching deep down. But not on this one.
Alison Krauss - It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference, from the album Forget About It. Doesn’t it annoy you when someone describes a song, or a piece of art, as “beautiful”? Surely there must be better ways to describe something, right? Well, this song is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Allison’s translucent vocals and the affecting country-style rhythm section perfectly convey this piercing Todd Rundgren song. Did I say it’s beautiful?
Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (from Unplugged). I like this version much better than the one that’s received tons of airplay. While not as sad as the other songs here, it does penetrate in a different, more urgent way, with Alicia’s trademark burning vocals. Additional delights here are her powerful hammering of the lower registers of the grand piano with her left hand and the treatment given by the recording engineers of her four backup singers, who are fully dimensional.
Norah Jones – The Nearness of You. This tune might be out of place in her debut cd. But the way she sings it, she’s made it her own and in the process, attentive listener, she has made you hers.
Lani Hall – Time Will Tell. This comes from the Hello It’s Me lp, which was not released on cd. Those who are familiar with Ms. Hall know that she was part of Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66. This album is on my personal desert-island list. What more can I say?
Radka Toneff – The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, from Fairytales. Radka is another young singer who left the world too early. She did leave us with this musical and audio treasure (it’s also a treasure in fiscal terms). Her enigmatic singing style is a perfect match for the enigmatic lyrics of songwriter Jimmy Webb.
Jane Monheit – Comecar de Novo. It’s supposed to be about the end of a love affair. I wouldn’t know as it’s in Portuguese. No matter, the universal language of love is strong enough to wrench the feelings that lurk in the depths of your soul. The playing of the orchestra that accompanies her on this piece is appropriately lush and poignant; the sax that ends it is understated. The cd is entitled Into the Sun. In the Live at the Rainbow Room dvd version, there’s a moment when Jane arches her back and projects her voice upward with full force. For a second, the sound of her unmiked voice floats to you from the rafters, illuminating the acoustic space of the Rainbow Room. Absolutely spectacular.
Rickie Lee Jones – I’ll Be Seeing You. RLJ’s plaintive and vulnerable singing style is well-suited to this piece from her Pop, Pop album. If you first hear this on a so-so system you might skip it, like I first did. That would be a mistake. To hear her every inflection, that is to say, to hear it on MLs, is to be devastated. When Rickie finishes with, "I'll be looking at the moon but I'll be seeing you” – well, if by that time if you aren’t yet a total wreck, you surely will be.
