Tag Archives: Diana Krall

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 10

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 10A

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another of my great musical loves, Otis Redding, left us with two fabulous Christmas songs before his death 57 years ago on December 10, 1967. I like to feature both tracks every year because, well, it is Otis Redding and two, because this man’s immense talent is just too incredible not to indulge in.

The first one was written by Irving Berlin and the most famous recording of it by Bing Crosby remains the best selling song of all time. Redding’s achingly impassioned vocal is the complete antithesis of Crosby’s signature crooner style, but the level of soul Redding offers makes his version an absolutely stunning event.

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Otis Redding circa 1967. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

For another take on this holiday staple, I am including a fabulous female version courtesy of Mrs. Elvis Costello, an incredible singer & performer in her own right.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The second holiday track dates back to 1947. Redding recorded it sometime between 1966 & 1967 and it was released posthumously in 1968. It is another outstanding performance showcasing his vocal range & passion for a great song.

As if his own talent were not enough to make this song stand on its own, the fact that he and my constant, Bruce Springsteen, chose to record the same Christmas song shows their similar taste in music. In fact, he occasionally covers “Sweet Soul Music” as an encore at his legendary concerts, a song written by Redding & Arthur Conley, who originally recorded it in 1967. I was lucky enough to be present at one of The Boss’ show where he sang that track & that moment stands as one of the top highlights from all of the Bruce concerts I have attended over the years. I love both versions of this Christmas song so much I listen to them all year round. And I make no apologies for that.

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Bruce Springsteen in a 2023 portrait from his website. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Otis Redding: “White Christmas” (1967, written by Irving Berlin).

Diana Krall featuring the The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: “White Christmas” (2005, written by Irving Berlin).

Otis Redding: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1968, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

Bruce Springsteen: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1986, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 15

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 15

A beautiful rustic Christmas tree inside an old food tin featured in Country Living Magazine. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s pick is one of my favorite Christmas songs but I hardly hear it during the holiday season which absolutely baffles me. My favorite version of it was recorded by the transcendent Anthony Dominick Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett. We lost this beautiful man earlier this year, but thanks to a career spanning 70 years, we will thankfully never be without his legacy or his voice. 

In addition to his numerous mainstream recordings, he released a few holiday albums as well. I love them all but today’s song is from 2008’s A Swingin’ Christmas (Featuring The Count Basie Big Band). However, anything by this legend should be on your playlist if you consider yourself to be a music connoisseur. And for a female take on this classic, the best one I have found is by Rosemary Clooney, of course.  

“It’s that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say
Merry Christmas“.

Tony Bennett 1
Tony 2
tony 3
Tony 4
Tony Diana
Tony Rosemary

1. Tony Bennett in his early career days circa late 1950’s, early 1960’s. 2. Bennett circa 2000. 3. With Frank Sinatra sometime in the 1970’s. 4. With Amy Winehouse for their collaboration on 2011’s Duets II. 5. With Diana Krall for their 2018 album. 6. Bennett and Clooney in 1950 (this photo by CBS via Getty Images). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Tony Bennett: “The Christmas Waltz” (2008, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

Rosemary Clooney: ”The Christmas Waltz” (1996, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 9

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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Charlie Brown and his sage friend, Linus, and that tree in a scene from the iconic “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. (United Feature Syndicate. Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s song is my favorite from the holiday special I love most. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered 58 years ago on December 9, 1965. The Peanuts comic strip may have ended on February 13, 2000, but thanks to the beautiful, talented and unbelievably creative man who brought us the characters-Charles M. Schulz-and his collaboration with Bill Melendez, Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi nearly 60 decades ago, we will always have this sweet and affecting special to celebrate the season every year with some of the best friends many of us have ever known.

For a bit of a twist, I have provided the original song from the special plus his and her covers which are not only absolutely fabulous, but they will add the perfect soundtrack to any holiday event, from a party to a solo night binge watching Christmas movies at home.

“Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there“.

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a charlie brown christmas 2
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Three adorable scenes from the iconic 1965 TV special. (United Feature Syndicate. Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Vince Guaraldi Trio: “Christmas Time Is Here” (1965, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

Diana Krall: “Christmas Time Is Here” (1998, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

Barry Manilow: “Christmas Time Is Here” (2007, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: July 24, 2023

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another triple play edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last Friday we lost the man arguably considered to be the greatest crooner who ever was. And yes, even the Chairman Of The Board-Frank Sinatra-called Tony Bennett “the best singer in the business”. Anthony Dominick Benedetto died July 21, 2023 at the age of 96. A native New Yorker born in Astoria, Queens on August 3, 1926, Bennett was probably the greatest champion for the Great American Songbook and many of the most iconic jazz tunes in history. He sang & recorded with everyone from Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Count Basie, Paul McCartney, Elton John, James Taylor, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Bono and countless others. Bennett’s death closes out one of the longest, most prolific, most important & most beautiful chapters of American music we will ever see again. Thank you, Tony, for every single note.

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Tony Bennett circa 1950. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The woman Bennett considered the greatest singer he ever heard held her last U.S. concert 55 years ago on July 20, 1968. Judy Garland headlined the show, held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which also featured Count Basie and Jackie Wilson. She performed about 20 songs, leaving everyone in attendance clamoring for more.

Judy

Judy Garland circa 1947. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This month also marks the 75th birthday for Yusuf Islam f/k/a Cat Stevens. Born Steven Demetre Georgiou on July 21, 1948 in London, England, he began his professional musical career in 1967 with the release of his debut album, Matthew and Son. Aside from a 17 year respite between 1978 and 1995 while he devoted himself to religion and his family, Islam’s career spans over five decades. He remains one of the most beloved and inspirational artists of the 1970’s.

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Yusuf Islam in 2014 at his Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Brooklyn, NY (picture by me).

Tony Bennett: “When Will The Bells Ring For Me” (1990, written by Charles DeForest).

Judy Garland: “Over The Rainbow” (1939, written by Harold Arlen and Edgar Yipsel “Yip” Harburg).

Yusuf Islam f/k/a Cat Stevens: “Trouble” (1970, written by Cat Stevens n/k/a Yusuf Islam).

Stay safe and well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2022: Day 7

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music, Christmas by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 7 2022

A sweet vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

There is no denying that George Clooney is a huge movie star & celebrity. But he was not the first member of his family to achieve stardom. His aunt, the transcendent and beautiful Rosemary Clooney, defined musical excellence as a vocalist first as part of a duo with her sister, Betty, in 1945 and then as a professional singer recording music in 1947.

Her own TV show and movies followed (including 1954’s “White Christmas” also starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen) and numerous hits and albums leading to her place as the premier “girl singer” for six decades. Her influence & reverence shine through fans like Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Krall and many others. But Clooney described her role rather succinctly in her second biography, Girl Singer: “I’d call myself a sweet singer with a big band sensibility”. The rest of us described her with one word: great.

“Rosie” as she was affectionatelt dubbed, married three times, twice to actor José Ferrer with whom she had five children: actor Miguel Ferrer (1955-2017), Maria, Gabriel, Monsita, and Rafael. Today’s song is from Clooney’s 1996 Christmas album, named for her most famous & well known movie. But anything this woman sings is perfection, making her holiday music one of the best parts of this season.

“Frosted window panes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree
Santa’s on his way“. 

Rosemary Clooney circa 1954. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)


Rosemary Clooney: “Christmas Waltz” (1996, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2018: Day 20

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Hi, Everybody!!!  Welcome back to the countdown.

I follow a lot of unbelievably talented & creative women on Instagram, and since their pictures are so beautiful, I wanted to share a few with you.

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Courtesy of Julie @ Little Farmstead 

If you like simple rustic farmhouse elegance, then you need to visit Julie’s Instagram page, @littlefarmstead.  Her neutral palette is punctuated with natural elements and lots of texture.  She also shares life on her farm with her beautiful family.  If all that were not enough, this year they added a few baby doll sheep to all the fun.  And yes, they are as adorable as they sound.  Visit her IG page to see them & the rest of her pretty pictures.  Thanks, Julie, for letting me share your picture!!!

Now to today’s song.

Remember when we were kids and we had to wait ALL YEAR to watch the Christmas specials-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and my all time favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas?  Once a year was never enough for me.  I hummed the music all year long, danced the same dance as all the characters did when no one was looking and replayed the ice skating scene over and over again in my head in the middle of the summer when winter seemed years away.

Over the years I bought the corresponding book, the DVD and the music CD.  I probably watch the special on average once a month and I never tire of it.  When I am having a bad day and cannot adult another second more, I climb into bed, get under my covers and escape into that beautiful world of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the rest of the gang.  And after 30 minutes in the safest most perfect world I have ever known, all becomes a little easier in the one I have to live in.  And I make no apologies for that.

Here is my favorite song from this heartfelt special along with a few covers that deserve honorable mentions.

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The Peanuts by way of the Vince Guaraldi Trio:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1965).

Anita Baker:  “Christmas Time Is Here” (2005).

Shawn Colvin:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1998).

Diana Krall:  “Christmastime Is Here” (2005).

Kenny Loggins:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1998).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Christmas Song Countdown Day 5

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Hello, Vixens!!!  Welcome back to the Christmas Song countdown.

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Today’s song has the ability to transport me back to the warmest part of my childhood with the very first note.  And that is no easy feat.  I grew up much faster than I should have because that was my road to walk, but once you see happily ever after end in a horribly final way, you never believe in fairy tales again.

But these childhood friends of mine were my safe place, where I was kept out of harm’s way in a world with kids who did not see me differently because I no longer had the innocence of a child.  In fact, they did not even seem to notice.  They kept me in their world, no questions asked.  That was the part of my childhood I needed to hold on to most of all.  You do not forget friends like that.

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Copyright:  Charles M. Schultz

My friends, the Peanuts, already recorded this song to perfection.  But many other singers have covered this song since then, and this artist’s version is by far the solid second.  Between the combination of her beautiful voice and Diana Krall’s sublime piano accompaniment, this cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Sarah McLachlan:  Christmas Time Is Here.

PS:  Anita Baker’s jazzy, soulful version is also a worthy contender.  It definitely deserves a listen.

PSS:  The first song of the countdown was Joni Mitchell’s “River” (read that here) with an honorable mention to Sarah Mclachlan’s version.  Michael commented on that post that Robert Downey, Jr. did a “hauntingly beautiful” version of River when he was on “Ally McBeal”.   I love Robert Downey, Jr. and thought I saw every single “AB” episode when he was on it, but somehow that episode eluded me.  I listened to RDJ’s version today and Michael described it perfectly. It is hauntingly beautiful.  So, of course, I could not keep a gem like that to myself.  You can listen to it here.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you   🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

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Courtesy of:  Captainwalt.com