Simply Beautiful Songs

She did that song on Stern about 5-6 years ago and it was one of the most stunning performances that I've ever heard. Just amazing.

 

Tremendous song. Old friend of mine brought the roof down at our high school talent show doing that.

There's a great version of it by Paul Young and Maire Brennan of Clannad on his greatest hits album.

 

"Lalena"- Donovan
"As Tears Go By"- Rolling Stones
'Julia"- Beatles
"Abraham, Martin and John"- Dion
"Guenivere"- Crosby Stills Nash
"A Man Needs a Maid"- Neil Young
"Winter Time"- Steve Miller

Excellent thread.

 

Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel

Annie's Song, John Denver (Mocedades also did a Spanish version that's beautiful)

Eres Tu, Mocedades

Greensleeves, various artists

The Boxer, Simon & Garfunkel

She's So High, Tai Bachman

Russian National Anthem

I Will Always Love You, Dolly Parton

Long, Long Time, Linda Ronstadt

 

ditto on the incubus reference for "i love you" tthough i'm partiaol to the radio version.


maneater by hall and oates

talk of the town by the pretenders

you light up my life by debbie boone

always a woman to me by billy joel

turn out the lights by nelly furtado

 

I was thinking about this thread this AM and this song came to mind. Art Garfunkel's voice is simnply amazing.

Clapton's "Heaven" or whatever that song is belongs here too, and Dylan's "Girl from the North Country."
.

 

Love the thread. Going to check out some of these artists I have yet to experience.

After flipping through my iPod here's a few:

Karen Dalton, Something On Your Mind
Tim Buckley, Once I Was

From the land of hosers:
Ron Sexsmith, Thinking Out Loud (one of many Sexsmith songs that would apply);
Patrick Watson, The Great Escape.

Oh yeah, the Springsteen song I could listen to over and over is One Step Up

 

The greatest 4 minutes and 52 seconds of recorded music in history, IMO.

 

Some that haven't been mentioned as I scroll through my iTunes ...

Presence Of The Lord -- Blind Faith (the guitar Clapton plays over the last verse is awe-inspiringly beautiful)
When Will I See You Again -- Three Degrees
Rest In Peace -- Mott The Hoople
I Saw The Light -- Raspberries (different song from the Todd Rundgren hit of the same name)
Joy -- Apollo 100
I'm Still In Love With You -- Al Green
Take It All -- Badfinger
Ce Matin La -- Air
The Ballad Of El Goodo -- Big Star
The Card Cheat -- The Clash
Long As I Can See The Light -- CCR
Think -- Curtis Mayfield
Someone Saved My Life Tonight -- Elton John
All Things Must Pass -- George Harrison
$1000 Wedding -- Gram Parsons
She's Gone -- Hall & Oates
This Guy's In Love With You -- Herb Alpert
Voyage To Atlantis -- Isley Brothers
Mind Games -- John Lennon
Please Stay -- Marvin Gaye
Got To Be There -- Michael Jackson
My Love -- Paul McCartney
Wish You Were Here -- Pink Floyd
Let It Loose -- Rolling Stones
Coming Down Again -- Rolling Stones
As Tears Go By -- Rolling Stones
Just My Imagination -- Temptations
And It Stoned Me -- Van Morrison

From soundtrack land ...
Jill's Theme -- Ennio Morricone (from Once Upon A Time In The West)

 

"Every Night"- Paul McCartney
"Circle Game"- Joni
"It Was a Very Good Year"- Frank Sinatra

Two from a classic early 60s folk/comedy album by the Limeliters called Tonight: In Person would be:

"Far Side of the Hill"
"Seven Daffodils"

....both sung by Glenn Yarbrough and accompanied by understated accoustic guitar. A funny album with great music recorded in 1960.

 

Some outstanding choices so far - but not ONE mention of James Taylor?

Major failure here, good folks:
"Long Ago and Far Away" (Cannot emphasize this one enough ... )
"I Will Follow"
"Music"
"The Water Is Wide"
"If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight"
"People In My Past"
(and ... of course)
"Carolina In My Mind"

Stevie Wonder:
"Ribbon In The Sky"
"Lately"
"Visions"
"Creepin'"

Genesis' "Evidence of Autumn" was criminally underappreciated ... why it was not put on "Duke" is a mystery to this day.

Elton John:
"Skyline Pigeon" (Version from "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player" featuring piano primarily)
"Mona Lisas and Madhatters" (Already mentioned ... for good reason)
"Harmony"
"Your Song"

Simon & Garfunkel has been represented with "The Boxer" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Add "The Only Living Boy in New York" to the list. For Simon solo, try "Still Crazy After All These Years," "Something So Right" and "Hearts and Bones."

 

Certainly the whole song is great, but the piano section of "Layla" counts here.

I'll throw in Elvis's version of "Always On My Mind". He did a tremendous version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in the movie That's The Way It Is.