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This American female pop vocalist (in a super-popular band in the late 1960s - early 1970s) recorded prior to auto-tune and prior to digital over-writing.

She ended up marrying Herb Alpert - of Tijuana Brass fame (who owned her bandleader's record label). They are still married to this day - nearly fifty years...

The point of posting this song (along with the fact that - again - it's all analog-recorded with no pitch repair technology) is that the song features "bare-nekid" vocal intervals (over-and-over-and-over) which would reveal the flaws in nearly all currently-active pop vocalists (as well - likely - as with most "classical" vocalists). ...and - when she did move the pitch - it was always with purpose.



The somewhat unusual thing about this song is that Lani Hall sang the entire song "solo"; this band featured TWO female vocalists, who - typically - sang in unison (but sounded BETTER when ONLY Lani Hall was singing).



Natalie Cole covered the same song - very well - later, but (again) - digital era.





This was Lani Hall (15 years later), but - again - this was about four years into the digital age:
(interesting, though, how she overdubbed herself - as she often did with Brazil 66...but - well - Herb Alpert produced both, I believe.

Lani Hall.

That Brazil 66 track is

Good post, Joe. Hall is a good singer.

I have heard some singers use a slow and very wide vibrato, so wide it is unpleasant to hear. But, as they move their vibrato below and above the desired pitch they are bound to be in tune part of the time. Sigh.

Ace

I REALLY like Cole's version as well...but (just like all of the amazing/perfect tuba solo c.d.'s out there) you just don't know what you're listening to, when something is digitally recorded.

I've always loved this tune, but I grew up with this version, also pre-digital processing. This is a great group; fantastic intonation, and lots of recordings to explore!



All that said, I prefer the Mendes (first) video Joe posted.

An excuse to post a favorite.

I really like the McRae recording (great pitch!), because it sounds like about all they did was record her voice (no effects) and transfer it to the record press.

re: various recording of "So Many Stars"

I wish there were still bossa-nova gigs.

It was TONS of work (and tons of at-home practice) to be a no-piano-on-the-gig guitarist on those gigs, but it was easy-schmeazy to be the bass player.

...and - dang it - it's really good music.

Also, it's REALLY fun to improvise solos WITHOUT having to "swing" the eighth notes.

the later "Latin" bands: just too noisy for me...and - with that many people on the bandstand - it was usually either a freebie or "gas money".

bloke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:29 pm I really like the McRae recording (great pitch!), because it sounds like about all they did was record her voice (no effects) and transfer it to the record press.

She's WAY over in the left channel for me (or right, depending on how you hooked up your speakers.) Very odd choice for the engineer, who usually puts the feature in the mid pan.

UncleBeer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:41 pm

bloke wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:29 pm I really like the McRae recording (great pitch!), because it sounds like about all they did was record her voice (no effects) and transfer it to the record press.

She's WAY over in the left channel for me (or right, depending on how you hooked up your speakers.) Very odd choice for the engineer, who usually puts the feature in the mid pan.

' didn't bother to use earphones (should have)...just laptop-ing...

On the way home from work today;

https://youtu.be/utZwCMT0ufY

I’m through with love.

Dinah Washington.

This one always earns my respect. Solid. No pitch reference. No digital training wheels or crutches. Just polished skill. (1961)

Wow...That was amazing...almost a "Big Noise" sort of version of BTB (and without the beguine).

' funny...All the really amazing versions of that tune (on youtube) are NOT beguines.

The one version that is easily found that actually IS a beguine is a pitchy/schmaltzy guy in Amsterdam singing it.

SDJr.

the elephant wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:41 pm This one always earns my respect. Solid. No pitch reference. No digital training wheels or crutches. Just polished skill. (1961)

Amazing performer in multiple fields.

Three Valves wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:11 pm On the way home from work today;

https://youtu.be/utZwCMT0ufY

I’m through with love.

Dinah Washington.

I like the way that she occasionally hinted at what the first pitch of the next phrase was going to be.