Matt Monro Forum

Hi guys and Richard!

What do you think is the best and most difficult note that Matt has sung?

I have just listened to Maria (Spanish Version) again and have to say that last "Maria" at the end gives me goosebumps with the pitch change in the middle. Wow.

Others that come to mind:

From Russia With Love: The "From Love" bit at the end.
One Voice: From Live In Australia the note at the end sounds so high and it just soars.
Hava Nagila: I think this song showcases Matt's range. He does this song so well.
Spanish Eyes: I know it's quite popular here that the last note is probably the most impressive note Matt has sung.

I still think it's Maria (Spanish Version) for me.

What do you think?

Alex.

Hi Alex---I am sure we had a thread on this theme before--I think it ewas Paul who started it, but I cannot remember when.

I am pretty sure that Maria was mentioned.

I have mentioned Matts last note on Maria many times, and yes it does give me goosebumps ............Maria (English version) is my favourite Matt song

We have had this subject before...........somewhere ...................two other songs with long held final notes are Hello Young Lovers and Time After Time

.............but Spanish Eyes is different kettle of fish, as it has divided many people, especially that last note, as some of us including me, think that last note sounds out of tune, but Richard has proved otherwise

Spanish Eyes would have been the most difficult to sing as the note is not supported by the orchestra at all.

Maria (in both languages) is beautiful. I loathe West Side Story as a musical, it does even less for me than an Lloyd Webber musical (who's music I also can't stand i'm afraid) but Matt's recording is incredible. The session tape reveals that the Orchestra almost burst into spontaneous applause. I say almost as there is a chorus of ooh's & ah's that gets abruptly cut off when the tape was stopped, which is as close as you'll get to a round of applause from died in the wool heard it all session men!

Rmoore wrote: The session tape reveals that the Orchestra almost burst into spontaneous applause. I say almost as there is a chorus of ooh's & ah's that gets abruptly cut off when the tape was stopped, which is as close as you'll get to a round of applause from died in the wool heard it all session men!

Would love to have heard that Richard ................Matt did deserve it for that final note alone

Yes Maria for me is very impressive, but then almost all of Matts catalogue has very interesting and impressive vocal control never mind note holding!

Very interested to hear about the uncut session tapes Richard.
Is there any plans to issue these out takes where conversations etc are heard before and after a recording?
That would make a very special insight to the magic of the recording studio sessions!

Hi Rob,

We've snuck the odd bit of session 'talk' out on the Words & Music edition of the Hoagy Carmichael Sessions where we've used a take of By The Way that initially breaks down but that's as far as we've got.

At the moment since the Warner buy out we've pretty much been frozen out so there aren't any plans for anything else at the moment. The one project Michele and I did for them (The Definitive) was mastered and completely finished 11 months ago and is still waiting a release date. Our favourite projects (Singles, Rare & Rarer) have been deleted along with the majority of Matt's catalogue and despite it being 30 years since we lost Matt next February they don't seem interested in doing anything with Matt at the moment.

It's a waste when you have done a piece of work that it is going to be left sitting there (plus existing albums being deleted). If only there was some way to get Matt's work back out there.

Matt has been so well served in terms of new releases over the last 10-15 years that we were somewhat spoiled. I hope Matt doesn't now join the many other artists whose work is not released or promoted and who then through the years are forgotten.

Usually money talks and unless Matt becomes very popular again then they will just sit there gathering dust!
All very wrong!