[Pisces]

"More" is a song that demands passion. I think it was originally intended as a bossa nova.

Darin sleepwalks through it. Very stacatto. Such a disappointment.

"Definitive" means you take a song, and the earth moves. During the singing of it, some sort of crescendo, or cataclysm occurs, such that by the end, listeners have been moved---they've been struck.

I know definitive.

Bobby Darin's "More" is not it.

His "Beyond The Sea"....yes yes yes. His "Mack the Knife"......of course. You felt the earth move, after listening to those.

But, not More. He had a problem on that one.

[Ronald Sarbo]

Maybe not the definitive one but Bobby's version of "Easy Living" is right up there with the best of them.

[Ronald Sarbo]

In his just published auto-bio "There's No Such Word As Can't" David recalls that the song should have been released as a single but that it was too long and excising the verse was too difficult an edit.

As an aside David worked for many years as a Drug Counselor for the VA. He helped many Vets overcome their addiction.

[Edwin]

In the earlly 80's, Bob Jones was playing David Allyn's "Folks Who
Live on the Hill" on WNEW without the verse! Sacrilege. They castrated the recording. I called the station and complained. Apparently so had others. They put the verse back.

David Allyn's autobiography is most worthwhile. He wrote it himself, it's not ghosted.

Ed Spiegel

The song is "At Last". Etta James. Whatta ya think about that? Is that the definitive version? Great song. Did anyone do it better than her? I'm open to opinions.

[George Lyons]

Nobody Does It Better.

And what a great song, George.

Originally posted by Richie G
The song is "At Last". Etta James. Whatta ya think about that? Is that the definitive version? Great song. Did anyone do it better than her? I'm open to opinions.

Great one, Richie G! One of my many, many, many favorite songs!
I've got various versions of that song in my music collection - The Temptations, Celine Dion, Ben E. King, Gladys Knight and Cyndi Lauper; nice versions by each and every one of them in their own right.
But it is decisively and exclusively Etta's song, and Etta's solely - she sings it as though she's singing it personally right to you.

Perhaps the worst version I've ever heard of it was when I had the radio on in my car one day, and on came Michael Bolton's screeching and shredded version; the radio station was probably never changed so quickly before or since.

Etta's is the one. I have a friend here in Baltimore named Ethel Ennis, who's been singing for years, and in fact, she and I have collaborated on a few songs. She's terrific. I've never heard her sing that song, but I'll bet she does the second best version of it.

I've never heard Gladys Knight do it either, but I'll bet she does it great. What an excellent song.

[C.R.E.]

Etta James version of At Last is the definitive.

What about "Baby, It's Cold Outside"? I like Lou Rawls and Dianne Reeves version....

[Library Bob]

Satch and Ella.

So there, Maxele. I DO have taste, after all!

[Jake]

Bang, Bang - Nancy Sinatra

I Remember You - Diana Krall

Moondance - Michael Buble

St. Louis Woman - Peter Cincotti

Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Waters of March - Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim

Lost April - Nat King Cole

Ebb Tide - Frank Sinatra

Someone to Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Sammy Davis Jr.

When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole

Baby it's Cold Outside - Dean Martin

On Broadway - Nancy Sinatra

You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra

The Girl from Ipanema - Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto with Stan Getz and Tom Jobim (I'll be killed for this)

S' Wonderful - Diana Krall

[Library Bob]

Where or When - FS (The '58 version)
Call Me - Peggy Lee
Day By Day - The Four Freshmen
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold or Timi Yuro
The much-debated More - John Gary
This Is All I Ask - Jimmy Durante
The Girl From Ipanema - FS and ACJ
O Holy Night - Andy Williams
White Christmas - Der Bingle

[Gregory]

Originally posted by George Lyons
Nobody Does It Better.

Oh, I totally agree with that.

BTW, that's quite a list, Jake. Ebb Tide? I haven't heard that song in years. Thinking of it brings back memories.

[Pisces]

Originally posted by Library Bob
Where or When - FS (The '58 version)
Call Me - Peggy Lee
Day By Day - The Four Freshmen
Make the World Go Away - Eddy Arnold or Timi Yuro
The much-debated More - John Gary
This Is All I Ask - Jimmy Durante
The Girl From Ipanema - FS and ACJ
O Holy Night - Andy Williams
White Christmas - Der Bingle

You are so in trouble:
"Call Me" is Nancy Sinatra off the You Go-Go Girl album.
And, "Day By Day" belongs to Frank, off the Come Swing With Me album.
Girl From Ipanema = Astrud Gilberto
O Holy Night = Pavorotti, maybe Celine
White Christmas = Michael Bolton

[Pisces]

Originally posted by Jake
Bang, Bang - Nancy Sinatra
I Remember You - Diana Krall
Moondance - Michael Buble
St. Louis Woman - Peter Cincotti
Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Waters of March - Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim
Lost April - Nat King Cole
Ebb Tide - Frank Sinatra
Someone to Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Sammy Davis Jr.
When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole
Baby it's Cold Outside - Dean Martin
On Broadway - Nancy Sinatra
You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra
The Girl from Ipanema - Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto with Stan Getz and Tom Jobim (I'll be killed for this)
S' Wonderful - Diana Krall

Someone to Watch Over Me = Ella (Vocal) and Chris Botti (Instrumental)

....but everything else I agree with.

"What a Wonderful World."--Louis Armstrong

"Comeona My House, my houseacomeon, I'm gonna givea you candy"-Rosie Clooney

"Que Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be"--Doris Day

"You Belong to Me" - Jo Stafford

"Softly, As I Leave You" - Frank Sinatra

[Gregory]

< "Que Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be"--Doris Day >

Great signiture song for Doris Day... Wasn't the written specifically for her in the flm, The Man Who Knew Too Much? The James Stewart/Doris Day version.

[voice1]

Max is running "hat check" at my next party.

You run with the hors d'ouvres.

Some of the "definitives" you guys came up with are just sooooo wrong. I'll handle the music, thank you very much.

[George Lyons]

I LIKE Darin's "More".