John Simkin (Arias of Giacomo Puccini)

Jonas Kaufmann, Donna non vidi mai (Manon Lescaut – 1893)

Anna Netrebko, Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi (La Bohème - 1894)

Andrea Bocelli, Che Gelida Manina (La Bohème - 1894)

Nadine Sierra, Quando Men Vo (La Bohème - 1894)

Angela Gheorghiu, Vissi D'Arte (Tosca - 1900)

Placido Domingo, Recondita Armonia (Tosca - 1900)

Huang Ying, Un Bel Di (Madama Butterfly - 1904)

Placido Domingo, Ch'ella Mi Creda (La Fanciulla Del West - 1910)

Montserrat Caballé, O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi - 1918)

Andrea Bocelli, Nessun Dorma (Turandot - 1924)

Roberto Alagna, E Lucevan le Stelle (Turandot - 1924)

Joan Sutherland, In Questa Reggia (Turandot - 1924)

Simon Henderson (Classical Music and the Cinema)

A Room with a View ("O Mio Babbino Caro", Puccini)

2001: A Space Odyssey ("The Blue Danube Waltz", Johann Strauss)

Manhattan ("Rhapsody in Blue", George Gershwin)

Apocalypse Now ("Ride of the Valkyries", Wagner)

Death in Venice ("Adagietto", Symphony No. 5, Mahler):

Amadeus ("The Requiem in D Minor", Mozart):

The King’s Speech ("7th Symphony, 2nd Movement", Beethoven):

The Godfather: Part III ("Cavelleria Rusticana Intermezzo", Mascagni)

Fantasia ("Night on Bald Mountain", Mussorgsky)

Melancholia ("Prelude, Tristan & Isolde", Wagner)

Platoon ("Adagio for Strings", Samuel Barber)

Brief Encounter ("Piano Concerto No. 2" Sergei Rachmaninoff)

John Simkin (Songs from Musicals)

Adele Addison, Summertime, written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for Porgy and Bess (1935)

Frank Sinatra, Just One of Those Things, written by Cole Porter, for the musical Jubilee (1935)

Paul Robeson, Ol' Man River, written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, for Show Boat (1936)

Frank Sinatra, My Funny Valentine, written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, for the musical Babes in Arms (1937)

Judy Garland, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, written by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen for Wizard of Oz (1939)

Judy Collins, Younger than Springtime, written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for South Pacific (1949)

Gene Kelly, Singing in the Rain, written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, in the film Singing in the Rain (1952)

Barbara Cook, Losing My Mind, written by Stephen Sondheim for the musical Follies (1971)

Barbara Cook, Send in the Clowns written by Stephen Sondheim for the musical A Little Night Music (1973)

Sammy Davis Jr., Something Coming, written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the musical West Side Story (1957)

Ketty Lester, Where is Love?, written by Lionel Bart for Oliver (1960)

Anne Hathaway, I Dreamed a Dream, written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil for Les Miserables (1980)

Simon Henderson (Songs from Musicals)

Judy Garland, The Man That Got Away, written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for A Star is Born (1954)

Philip Quast, Stars, written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil for Les Miserables (1985)

Catherine Zeta Jones et al, Cell Block Tango, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Chicago (1975):

Danielle Licari (dubbing for Catherine Deneuve) and Jose Bartel (dubbing for Nino Castelnuvo), Devant Le Garage, written by Michel Legrand for Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964)

Bill Shirley (dubbing for Jeremy Brett), On The Street Where you Live, written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner for My Fair Lady (1964)

Chaim Topol, Norma Crane et al, Sunrise Sunset, written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick for Fiddler on the Roof (1964)

Lena Horne, Stormy Weather, written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for Stormy Weather (1943):

Shani Wallis, As Long As He Needs Me, written by Lionel Bart for Oliver (1968)

Betty Wand (dubbing for Rita Moreno) and Marni Nixon (dubbing for Natalie Wood), A Boy Like That/I Have a Love written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim for the musical West Side Story (1961)

Rachelle Ann Go and Lea Salonga, The Movie in My Mind, written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil for Miss Saigon (1989)

Carl Anderson, Heaven on Their Minds, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Liza Minnelli, Maybe This Time, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Cabaret (1972):

Edward Peckham (American Rhythm & Blues)

Louis Jordan, Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens (1948)

Johnny Otis, Willie and the Hand Jive (1958)

Thurston Harris, One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer (1957)

Fats Domino, The Fat Man (1949)

Etta James, I'd Rather Go Blind (1967)

Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats, Rocket 88 (1951)

Big Mama Thornton, Hound Dog (1952)

Rufus Thomas, Walking The Dog (1963)

Bo Diddley, Cops and Robbers (1956)

Bobby Womack & The Valentinos, It's All Over Now (1964)

John Simkin (American Soul in the 1960s)

Barrett Strong, Money (1960)

Arthur Alexander, You Better Move On (1961)

Mary Wells Two Lovers (1962)

Chuck Jackson, Any Day Now (1962)

Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come (1964)

Stevie Wonder, Fingertips (1964)

Marvin Gaye, Can I Get a Witness) (1965)

Gene McDaniels, Walk With A Winner (1965)

Gladys Knight, The Look of Love (1967)

Aretha Franklin, I Say a Little Prayer (1967)

Simon Henderson (Soul Music in the 1960s-1970s)

Barbara Lewis, Hello Stranger (1963)

Brenton Wood, Gimme Little Sign (1967)

Jackie Wilson, Higher and Higher (1967)

Martha & The Vandellas, Nowhere to Run (1965)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Tracks of My Tears (1965)

The Temptations, Papa was a Rolling Stone (1972)

Bill Withers, Ain’t No Sunshine (1971)

The Stylistics, You Make Me Feel Brand New (1974)

Billy Paul, Me & Mrs Jones (1972)

George Michael, You Have Been Loved (1997)

Chris Childs (American Soul Music: 1960s-1970s)

Junior Walker and the All Stars: (I’m A) Road Runner (1966 Tamla Motown)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Tracks of my Tears (1965 Tamla Motown)

Judy Clay & William Bell: Private Number (1968 Stax)

Sam and Dave: Soul Man (1967 Stax)

Otis Redding: Try a Little Tenderness (1966 Stax)

Aretha Franklin: Chain of Fools (1967 Atlantic)

Percy Sledge: At the Dark End of the Street (1967 Atlantic)

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Midnight train to Georgia (1973 Buddah)

Sam Cooke: Touch the Hem of his Garment (1956 Specialty)

Martha and the Vandellas: Dancing in the Street (1964 Tamla Motown)

Colin Woodward (Soul Music)

Aretha Franklin, Freeway of Love (1985)

Otis Redding, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay (1967)

Otis Redding, A Change is Gonna Come (1965)

Al Green, Tired of Being Alone (1971)

Nina Simone, To be Young Gifted and Black (1958)

Nina Simone, Why the King of Love is Dead (1968)

Wilson Pickett, In the Midnight Hour (1965)

Luther Vandross, Dance with my Father (2003)

Gladys Knight and the Pips, Midnight Train to Georgia (1973)

Dusty Springfield, Son of a Preacher Man (1969)

Shelia Day: (Bill Withers)

Bill Withers: Ain't No Sunshine (1971)

Bill Withers: Lean On Me (1971)

Bill Withers: Grandma's Hands (1971)

Bill Withers: Let Me Be The One That You Lean On (1972)

Bill Withers: I Can't Write Left Handed (1973)

Bill Withers: Make Love To Your Mind (1975)

Bill Withers: Paint Your Pretty Picture (1975)

Bill Withers: Lovely Day (1977)

Bill Withers: Just The Two of Us (1980)

Bill Withers: I Want to Spend The Night (1981)

Steve Carleysmith (Soul Music)

Aretha Franklin, You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman (1968)

Al Green, Let’s Stay Together (1972)

Marvin Gaye, I Want You (1976)

Marvin Gaye, I Heard it Through the Grapevine (1968)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Tracks of my Tears (1965)

The Temptations, Get Ready (1966)

Sam and Dave: Soul Man (1967)

Otis Redding, Try A Little Tenderness (1966)

Stevie Wonder, Living for the City (1973)

Curtis Mayfield, Move On Up (1970)

John Simkin (Back-up singers on Soul Records)

Gloria Jones, Tainted Love (1964)

Patti Austin, The Family Tree (1969)

Merry Clayton, Gimme Shelter (1970)

Claudia Lennear, What I Did Wrong (1973)

Táta Vega, Get It Up for Love (1979)

Darlene Love, A Change is Going to Come (1988)

Lisa Fischer, How Can I Ease the Pain (1991)

Susaye Greene, Free (1991)

Mable John, No Matter How She Done It (2010)

Judith Hill, Feeling Good (2013)

Eddie Walker (Irish Folk Music)

Enya: How Can I Keep From Singing: Shepherd Moons (1991)

Lankum, The Old Man From Over The Sea (2014)

Cara Dillon, There Were Roses: Sweet Liberty (2003)

Loreena MacKennitt, The Death Of Queen Jane (2010)

Dolores Keane, Never Be The Sun (1993)

Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill, Is Fada Liom Uaim I (1996)

Moya Brennan, Show Me: Two Horizons (2003)

Anuna, Scarborough Fair (2012)

Julie Fowlis, An t-Aparan Goroid 's an t-Aparan Ur (2017)

Mary Black, The Thorn On The Rose (1991)

Peter Larwood (Album-Oriented Rock)

Rory Gallagher, Laundromat (1971)  

AC-DC, Highway to Hell (1979)

Boston, Don't Look Back (1978)

Cream, Badge (1969)

Led Zeppelin, Heartbreaker (1969)  

Ten Years After, Working on the Road (1970)

Allman Brothers, Ramblin' Man (1973)   

The Who, Magic Bus (1968)

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gimme Back My Bullets (1976)

Joe Bonamassa, Bridge to Better Days (2006)

John Rawlings (Favourite Albums)

The Crickets, The Chirping Crickets (1957)

Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin (1963)

The Beatles, Revolver (1966)

Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant (1967)

Joan Baez, Any Day Now (1968)

Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over Troubled Waters (1970)

Leonard Cohen, Songs of Love and Hate (1971)

EmmyLou Harris, Luxury Liner (1976)

Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Dancer with Bruised Knees (1977)

Talking Heads, Little Creatures (1985)

Chris Childs (American West Coast: 1960)

The Byrds, Eight Miles High (1966)

Country Joe & the Fish, I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag (1967)

Jefferson Airplane, White Rabbit (1967)

Buffalo Springfield, For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound) (1967)

The Doors, Light My Fire (1967)

Captain Beefheart, Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do (1967)

Love, Alone Again Or (1967)

Canned Heat, Going Up The Country (1968)

Big Brother and The Holding Company, Piece of My Heart (1968)

Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Cinnamon Girl (1969)

Steve Carleysmith

KT Tunstall, Suddenly I See (2005)

Adele, Hometown Glory (2008)

Laura Veirs, Ether Sings (2004)

Clare Teal, That's the Way It Is (2001) .

Badly Drawn Boy, The Hour of Bewilderbeast (2000)

The Coral, I Remember When (2002)

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Shostakovich Cello Concerto No 1 (2016)

Jess Gillam, Darius Milhaud - Scaramouche (2018)

The White Stripes, Seven Nation Army (2002)

Laura Marling, Ghosts (2008)

Chris Childs

The Killers: All These Things I’ve Done (2004)

Kings Of Leon: Sex on Fire (2008)

Bastille: The Currents (2016)

The Lumineers: Ophelia (2016)

Beth Hart: Bad Woman Blues (2019)

Thunder & Rain: Sweet Child Of Mine (2018)

Tedeschi Trucks: Calling Out To You (2013)

Lake Street Dive: Bad Self Portraits (2014)

Hatful of Rain: Scarlet Ribbon (2014)

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: I Need Never Get Old (2015)

Simon Henderson

Shakira, Whenever, Wherever (2001):

Christina Aguilera, Beautiful (2002):

Katie Melua, The Closest Thing to Crazy (2003)

Corinne Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On (2006)

Gnarls Barkley, Crazy (2006)

Coldplay, Viva La Vida (2008)

Lily Allen, Not Fair (2009):

Pharrell Williams, Happy (2013)

Clean Bandit, Baby (2018):

Billy Eilish, Bad Guy (2019)

Helen Logan

Razorlight, America (2006)

Zutons, Tired of Hanging Around (2006)

Amy Winehouse, Wake up Alone (2006)

Paolo Nutini, New Shoes (2010)

Montserrat Cabbalé, Montserrat Cabbalé Tosca Vissi D’Arte (2013)

Kraftwerk, Various (2014)

Mica Levi, Soundtrack of Under The Skin (2014)

Adele, Hello (2015)

Gerry O ’Bierne, Goldenhair (2019)

Hayden James, Nowhere to Go (2019)

David Simkin

Alberto Iglesias, Hable Con Ella (Talk To Her) (2002)

Gilad Atzmon & Orient House, Dal'ouna on the Return (2003)

Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Seven Days of Falling (2003)

Beth Hart, Leave the Light On (2003)

Joanna Newsom, Swansea (2004)

Editors, An End Has A Start.(2007)

Feist, I Feel it All (2007)

Vampire Weekend, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (2008)

The Unthanks, Here's the Tender Coming (2009)

The Mummers, March of the Dawn (2009)

Janelle Monae, Tightrope (2010)

Amstel Quartet, Guillermo Lago - Sarajevo (2011)

Laura Mvula, Jump Right Out (2013)

Colin Woodward

Jack Savoretti, Candlelight (2008)

Stereophonics, Graffiti on the Train (2013)

The Killers, Human (2008)

Jessie Buckley, Glasgow (2019)

Grace Petrie, Singing Truth to Power (2018)

Eva Cassidy, Fields of Gold (2000)

Coldplay, Yellow (2000)

Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars (2006)

Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance (2000)

Martyn Joseph, Nye – Song for the NHS (2015)

Eddie Walker

Le Vent Du Nord - Le Dragon de Chimay (2012)

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage - Hidden Things (2019)

John Boden - Roll Alabama (2011)

Silje Nergaard - Be Still My Heart (2020)

Skerryvore - Live Forever (2017)

Avery Sunshine - Blessing Me (2010)

Richard Durrant -  Bach on the Ukelele (2018)

Clare Teal - He Was Beautiful (2011)

Hatful Of Rain - These Streets (2014)

Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker - Anyone But Me (2013)

John Simkin

Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star (2005)

Paul Anka - Eye of the Tiger (2005)

Editors - Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors (2007)

Show of Hands - Arrogance Ignorance And Greed (2009)

Bat for Lashes - Daniel (2009)

Donald Fagan - Weather in My Head (2012)

Jon Allen - Night and Day (2014)

Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa, I'd Rather Go Blind (2015)

Jan Garbarek - Parce Mihi Domine (2015)

Arun Ghosh - Snakebite with Bacchus (2017)

Melody Gardot, Who Will Comfort Me (2017)

Edward Peckham

Robert Ellis - Chemical Plant (2015)

Rufus Wainwright - One Man Guy (2001)

Thea Gilmore - Glistening Bay (2011)

Grinderman - Palaces of Montezuma (2011)

Justin Timberlake, Gabe Witcher, Marcus Mumford & Chris Eldridge - The Auld Triangle (2013)

Beyonce - I'd Rather Go Blind (2008)

Eric Church - Drink In My Hand (2011)

Fleet Foxes - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (2008)

Ghostface Killah - Starks Reality (2015)

Chris Childs: Playing for Change

This is something that I thought might interest members of the Musical Memories Group, although I realise some of you are aware of it already. I was going to produce a “Playing For Change Top Ten” but I don’t want to pre-empt any of the current discussion on the future direction of the group.

I don’t usually like cover versions of songs performed by a multitude of different artists, so I was a bit sceptical when I first came across this project but I find the music produced by Playing For Change quite joyous and I also enjoy the videos. So this is just a bit of fun - something to lift the spirits (well it does mine) during the "easing" of lockdown.
Sorry! It is another list! But it’s a chance to see musicians from around the world interpreting well-known songs and you can dip into it from time to time, as and when you like, as I do. You don’t have to produce your own list or respond with an appraisal of the choices. The thing I have enjoyed doing is exploring the wide variety of other videos produced by this organisation.

If you’re interested, here is a bit of background. Otherwise just skip to the tracks: Playing For Change is a multimedia music project, co-founded in 2002 by American music engineer/producer Mark Johnson and film producer philanthropist Whitney Kroenke. To quote the Playing For Change website: "It is a movement whose mission is to “inspire and connect the world through music... it is born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. Our primary focus is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos we call Songs Around The World.”

Producers Johnson and Enzo Buono travelled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal.the Middle East and Ireland. Using mobile recording equipment, they recorded local musicians performing the same song, interpreted in their own style. Quite how they were able to synchronise all the different performances I don’t know.

Over 1,000 musicians in over 50 countries have been recorded. Some of the more famous artists who have participated in the project include Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Bono, Taj Mahal, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, Dr John, Toots Hibbert (from Toots & the Maytalls), Keb' Mo', Los Lobos, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Robert Plant, John Densmore, David Crosby, Chad Smith (from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers), The Doobie Brothers, Warren Haynes: not to mention some of my favourite regular “characters” Grandpa Elliot, Washboard Chaz from New Orleans and Roberto Luti, an Italian guitarist.

A documentary film has been produced “A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians “ that apparently won the Audience Award at the Woodstock Film Festival in September 2018 but I haven’t tracked this down yet.

A separate non-profit organization – The Playing For Change Foundation – has been established and this builds music and art schools for children around the world. To quote them, “Through these efforts we aim to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.”

The Music: My two favourite tracks are:

Gimme Shelter – featuring Taj Mahal https

The Weight – featuring Robbie Robertson & Ringo Star

And a range of other songs I like (there are plenty more):

All Along the Watchtower (Featuring Lakota Singers & Dancers)

Walking Blues - featuring Keb' Mo'

Chan Chan - Playing for Change

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - featuring Roger Ridley. It was listening to Roger busking in Santa Monica that inspired Mark Johnson to set up Playing For Change. Sadly Roger died in 2005.

Higher Ground - Playing for Change

Honky Tonk Women - Playing for Change

One Love - Playing for Change

Bring it on Home To Me - featuring Roger Ridley again

Simon Henderson: Songs in a Foreign Language

1. Song Around the World - La Bamba :

2. Tito Puente - Salsa Y Sabor

3. Zaida Reyte - Lagrimas Negras

4. Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan

5. Santana, featuring Mana - Corazon Espinado

6. Nossa - Mas Que Nada

7. Rebekah Del Rio - Llorando

8. Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata

9. Bjork - Um Akkeri

10. Hetty & The Jazzato Band, Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano

David Simkin: Brazilian Singers & Songwriters

Aldir Blanc - Me dá a Penúltima

Nana Caymmi - Resposta Ao Tempo

Elis Regina - Águas de Março

Elis Regina - Por Toda a Minha Vida

Caetano Veloso - Cucurrucucu Paloma

Milton Nascimento.- Ponta De Areia

Simon Henderson: Ennio Morricone

1. A Fistful of Dollars (1965) from the Sergio Leone film of the same name, performed by The Danish National Symphony Orchestra. A lot of his earlier soundtracks are very playful, making use of a number of offbeat instruments. This performance brings out the fun in the music (note the gallows humour).

2. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (The Ecstasy of Gold, 1966) from another of Leone’s ‘Spaghetti Westerns’. In this scene, the ‘ugly’ man is frantically searching for the gold hidden in the grave of a man called Arch Stanton.

3. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), another scene from a Leone film. The newly widowed Claudia Cardinale arrives in Flagstone, a frontier town changed by the arrival of the railway.

4. Chi Mai (1971), a popular piece of music from the film ‘Maddalena’ directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Morricone is the conductor.

5. Once Upon a Time in America (1984), perhaps my favourite film and Leone’s last. Morricone is again the conductor.

6. The Mission (Gabriel’s Oboe, 1986), from the film directed by Roland Joffe.

7. The Untouchables (1987), the opening credits scene from a film directed by Brian De Palma:

8. Cinema Paradiso (1989), the final scene from Giueseppe Tornatore’s film. Salvatore inherits a film reel from his old friend, the projectionist at the Cinema Paradiso where he used to work as a boy. In this reel, the projectionist has put together all the scenes he was forced to cut out by the Church censors:

9. The Hateful Eight (2015), from the film directed by Quentin Tarantino. He received his only Oscar for this composition, though he did get an Honorary Award in 2007 “for his magnificent and multi-faceted contribution to the art of film music”:

10. Theme of Ali (1966) was composed for Gillo Pontecorvo's great political film The Battle of Algiers. The piece I have selected represents the character 'Ali la Pointe', a petty criminal who is politically radicalized while in prison.