What's In Your CD Player/iPod/MP3/Computer/Hi Fi, Right Now?
What are you listening to
Think we all should be SINGING IN THE RAIN
Dreadful wash-out at Wimbledon again ?
Angela
Neil Sedaka has a perfectly good voice but his recordings do nothing for me. His song "The Hungry Years" was recorded by Johnny Mathis and it is one of my very favourite JM recordings, easily in my Top 3. However Neil's version leaves me stone cold, even though it is very similarly arranged. Just goes to show how two different singers can communicate in such different ways. I believe Neil Sedaka wanted to be a classical musician and he still says classical music is his first love but he realised he could make a lot more money from popular music. About six years ago I went to a live performance of the BBC2 comedy series "The League of Gentlemen" and they played Neil Sedaka tracks extensively during the warm-up and in the interval, as apparently the League members are big fans of his.
That is true about Neil training to be a classical pianist--he always plays at least one classical piece in his live concerts, and he is extremely talented.
His voice is quite unusual, but because he is singing his own songs he does give them a certain quality that I really like. But also because he writes such good songs , they usually sound great whoever sings them.
His voice is quite unusual, but because he is singing his own songs he does give them a certain quality that I really like. But also because he writes such good songs , they usually sound great whoever sings them.
Mariana
Been listening to "Here Comes Summer" by Jerry Keller. Does anyone else like this track? Don't know anything about the singer but it is a nice summery song, not dissimilar to Nat King Cole's "Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer" but, quite frankly, better sung (I have never been keen on Nat King Cole and don't really understand why Johnny Mathis was so in awe of him, as they seem to me to be completely different kinds of singer).
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Lena & Harry Smith
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I also have the 45 from way back--always loved it--but I never remember hearing him sing anything else !! I made several tapes for the care, of all my old 45s, so heard them many many times !! I had, and listened to a lot of 60's music, as George loved it. Including the Dave Clark Five !!!
I prefer the Nat King Cole song "That Sunday, That summer" [also sung by JM] , but a much gentler song.
I prefer the Nat King Cole song "That Sunday, That summer" [also sung by JM] , but a much gentler song.
Last edited by mariana44 on Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mariana
I've just had a quick look for some Jerry Keller info. and apparently he was known as a "one hit wonder."
"Here Comes Summer" went to No 1 in the U.K. charts in 1959, and No 14 in the Billboard Hot 100.
He was born in Arkansas.
Later he went on to co-write such songs as "A Man and a Woman" which was of course, among others, was recorded by our Matt and Johnny Mathis. He also co wrote "Almost There," a big hit for Andy Williams.
Marian
P.S. There must be another song on the B side of "Here comes Summer," but I'm darned if I can remember it now!!!
"Here Comes Summer" went to No 1 in the U.K. charts in 1959, and No 14 in the Billboard Hot 100.
He was born in Arkansas.
Later he went on to co-write such songs as "A Man and a Woman" which was of course, among others, was recorded by our Matt and Johnny Mathis. He also co wrote "Almost There," a big hit for Andy Williams.
Marian
P.S. There must be another song on the B side of "Here comes Summer," but I'm darned if I can remember it now!!!
Thought Jerry Keller might be a one-hit wonder, and it appears I was right. Mariana, yes, I like JM's recording of "That Sunday, That Summer", though I have only heard the version for the TV programme he did in 1983 and not a studio-recorded version. I perhaps should have said that I like Nat King Cole's songs but not Nat King Cole particularly as a singer: I tend to lump him in with people like Dean Martin, Sinatra, Crosby etc: pleasant enough baritone but with limited technique. Nature Boy is also a fine song of Cole's which of course JM has also sung, among others.
That is the only version of "That Sunday, that summer" by JM.
I quite like Nat King Cole---but there does not seem much mention of him on the Forum, so I guess nobody is that keen on him. JM did cover many of his songs--apart from the TV trubute to Nat King Cole.
I had realised that Jerry Keller was a "One hit Wonder"--but had not realised he was a talented songwriter.
Another one that I connect with him, mainly because I had them on the same tape, a bright and breezy number--again another "one hit wonder" --I believe, is Johnny Tillotson with "Poetry in Motion."
I quite like Nat King Cole---but there does not seem much mention of him on the Forum, so I guess nobody is that keen on him. JM did cover many of his songs--apart from the TV trubute to Nat King Cole.
I had realised that Jerry Keller was a "One hit Wonder"--but had not realised he was a talented songwriter.
Another one that I connect with him, mainly because I had them on the same tape, a bright and breezy number--again another "one hit wonder" --I believe, is Johnny Tillotson with "Poetry in Motion."
Mariana
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Lena & Harry Smith
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That's true Marian, Nat King Cole hasn't been discussed very much on the forum, but like many others too, the opportunity probably just hasn't arisen, but he has always been recognised as one of the finest ever vocalists always named up there with the top crooners such as Sinatra, Crosby Mathis, Dino, Jones Como, in fact regarded by many as better than all of them.
We have a huge amount of his music. a wonderful smooth mellow tone to his voice and perfect diction. Just superb.
We have a huge amount of his music. a wonderful smooth mellow tone to his voice and perfect diction. Just superb.
I guess JM saw a reflection of himself in Nat King Cole as they are both black performers. Of course Matt Monro was sought as a replacement for Nat King Cole by his record company when Nat died in 1965, though I regard Matt as a much superior singer to Nat and, again, not really like him in style at all. I don't like the term "crooner" much either, which is suitable for Nat, Dean Martin and the likes of Bing Crosby etc, but is often wrongly attributed to Matt, and even more so sometimes to Johnny Mathis.
Marian, I see you mentioned that Jerry Keller was a co-writer of "A Man And A Woman"; presumably this is the same song which sometimes goes under its French title "Un Homme et Une Femme". I can honestly say that I DETEST that song, no matter who sings it, JM and Matt included. In fact I find it depressing. I wonder whether Jerry Keller wrote the words or the music? It's completely different in mood to "Here Comes Summer" so maybe he wrote the words.
Marian, I see you mentioned that Jerry Keller was a co-writer of "A Man And A Woman"; presumably this is the same song which sometimes goes under its French title "Un Homme et Une Femme". I can honestly say that I DETEST that song, no matter who sings it, JM and Matt included. In fact I find it depressing. I wonder whether Jerry Keller wrote the words or the music? It's completely different in mood to "Here Comes Summer" so maybe he wrote the words.
Nat King Cole has always been one of Peter's favourite singers.
I tried to find out more info on Jerry Keller, but there's not much.
He wrote soundtrack music for the films "I Saw What You Did" and "Angel in my Pocket", became a vocalist for jingles in the 70s and 80s, and played a cameo role as orchestra music director in "You Light up my Life", a 1977 romantic comedy film.
Marian
I tried to find out more info on Jerry Keller, but there's not much.
He wrote soundtrack music for the films "I Saw What You Did" and "Angel in my Pocket", became a vocalist for jingles in the 70s and 80s, and played a cameo role as orchestra music director in "You Light up my Life", a 1977 romantic comedy film.
Marian