Isn't it just? And his breath control in the quietest parts is outstanding - the mark of excellence in any singer. Barbara Streisand is another with similar ability... :)
I searched for a different version, curious. The song writer didn't like any other versions than his cut of it in 1957 (I think that was the date) Most versions are much slower than what he intended it to be. I searched iTunes and didn't like any other version than the one by Flack ... not Elvis, Peter Paul & Mary (their blend was interesting), nor Diana Ross. I YouTubed Alfie Boe and he does a nice job... but I like the soul Robert Flack gives to it.
1957 is right. The song goes back further than most folk might think. The songwriter Ewan McColl wrote it for his wife, folk-singer Peggy Seeger. YouTube lists her singing it to hewr own guitar accompaniment - but the recording isn't a patch on the version linked here.
Time was, I could do the same thing as Streisand...There were two of us in our chorus who always outlasted the rest in a 'who can hold a note longest' exercise. Those were the days. :)
So when the rest of the chorus had gone home, there you were, the two of you, alone on the stage, slowly turning blue in the face, neither of you prepared to give up . . ?
Doc, it wasn't a competition- just a fact, that in warm up exercises for the voice, we both had more 'puff', which lasted longer than the others! LOL On stage, the arm waver lady chooses when her chorus stops singing. :)
Thank you for stopping by. To make life easier for you I have turned off the new indecipherable and time-wasting verification words. Would you care to "feedback" to Blogger and complain about them, like I did?
Lovely song, but for me Alfie Boe HERE is how I'd like it sung to me!
ReplyDeleteNow that's really a superb rendering, Penelope. I like the full orchestra backing. The location is the City Halls, in the Candleriggs in Glasgow.
DeleteIsn't it just? And his breath control in the quietest parts is outstanding - the mark of excellence in any singer. Barbara Streisand is another with similar ability... :)
DeleteA Streisdand story. Asked in interview how she held her notes so long she replied "Because I want to hold them so long."
DeleteI searched for a different version, curious. The song writer didn't like any other versions than his cut of it in 1957 (I think that was the date) Most versions are much slower than what he intended it to be. I searched iTunes and didn't like any other version than the one by Flack ... not Elvis, Peter Paul & Mary (their blend was interesting), nor Diana Ross. I YouTubed Alfie Boe and he does a nice job... but I like the soul Robert Flack gives to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, very interesting!
1957 is right. The song goes back further than most folk might think. The songwriter Ewan McColl wrote it for his wife, folk-singer Peggy Seeger. YouTube lists her singing it to hewr own guitar accompaniment - but the recording isn't a patch on the version linked here.
DeleteTime was, I could do the same thing as Streisand...There were two of us in our chorus who always outlasted the rest in a 'who can hold a note longest' exercise. Those were the days. :)
ReplyDeleteSo when the rest of the chorus had gone home, there you were, the two of you, alone on the stage, slowly turning blue in the face, neither of you prepared to give up . . ?
DeleteDoc, it wasn't a competition- just a fact, that in warm up exercises for the voice, we both had more 'puff', which lasted longer than the others! LOL
ReplyDeleteOn stage, the arm waver lady chooses when her chorus stops singing. :)