One of Substack's most popular & respected writers, Andy of the engaging "The Vinyl Room," hops over the velvet rope line, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, as we continue our romp through a legend's catalog!
This was soooo good. Your research and storytelling skills never fail to amaze me. Thank you, first and foremost, for your kindness and generosity. It was a lot of fun to contribute my POV!
I loved how you started with the Grammys (and appropriately mentioned the producers who set the stage were clearly men! 🤣). It was also very interesting to read about the songwriters. Isn’t it heartbreaking that Linda died so soon.
Glad you chose the Dodge version — that was, funnily enough, one of my top contenders, but went for Seeling as there was more to comment on from a vocal technique POV.
In any case, I love how different these covers are from each other — one quite technical, the other one packed with raw emotions — so readers can choose! Or take both, why not?
Thank you, Andy! It's a treat to share our talents "onstage"!
Knowing what a lyrical "right-hand-gal" Linda was to my hero, Thom Bell, makes me appreciate, and miss, what she brought to the sumptuous Philly Internat'l catalog! And, everything I've read about her asserts that she was a true sweetheart, to boot.
Here's what I love: Both our cover dood choices were chosen strictly by their sound, their interpretations....their performances.
Only AFTER we chose them, and I researched each's history/life/career, did I (and we ALL) discover what amazing life stories these guys have to get to this point....not of fame, which can be fleeting and hollow, but of fulfilling their lives, and finding the ways they can be their best selves! What a treasure of surprises! Let's do this again!😉
I'd forgotten that this song was from "The Greatest!" While not many people remember that movie (I don't think I ever saw it) this is an example of a song that far outperformed its original reason for existence.
Keen observation, Dan! And a great point! In the 8 years since the Benson S/T debut (and Houston's smash version), there were 7 covers. So, as the writers, Masser and Creed kept seeing returns on their art. But, its life was certainly lengthened after Whitney's cover hit virtually every ear on the planet! And, how cool Masser got to produce it (coupled with the sadness of Linda passing before it hit #1)! The yin'n'yang of the record biz!
Thank you so much from me too, Nadine! Brad did a fantastic job at telling the story of the song like no one else can, and then putting our points of view together as one consolidated piece. Stay tuned for more! Thanks again
Thanks so much, Nadine! Andy's a valuable part of the success of our new Houston adventure! Please check out our #1 edition, linked in the above article! We've got another coming by the end of October....another of her songs, with a couple of our newly-discovered dude covers! See ya then!--Brad
Yep, Andy and I will keep the series going! He's such a tremendous asset for everything about what we're doing with her catalogue! You're right about that Masser vid....being unedited, you get a peek at what an absolute chore the whole ordeal can be! All the stops and starts, and "don't say this" and "don't say that"s!
Indeed, David. I love both Masser's and Dodge's stories of following your dream, and daring to take that scary step into the unknown...but, if that's where you end up finding the merging of your obvious talent and the musical thing you love to do....nothing can beat it!
I'm beginning to guess that's a story played out over many an actor, singer, and/or musician: Acknowledging your talent, but, then, displaying your talent to one, then a dozen, then a hundred people.....THAT can sometimes be the dauntingly scary part!
This was soooo good. Your research and storytelling skills never fail to amaze me. Thank you, first and foremost, for your kindness and generosity. It was a lot of fun to contribute my POV!
I loved how you started with the Grammys (and appropriately mentioned the producers who set the stage were clearly men! 🤣). It was also very interesting to read about the songwriters. Isn’t it heartbreaking that Linda died so soon.
Glad you chose the Dodge version — that was, funnily enough, one of my top contenders, but went for Seeling as there was more to comment on from a vocal technique POV.
In any case, I love how different these covers are from each other — one quite technical, the other one packed with raw emotions — so readers can choose! Or take both, why not?
Amazing work, as always. Thank you again.
Thank you, Andy! It's a treat to share our talents "onstage"!
Knowing what a lyrical "right-hand-gal" Linda was to my hero, Thom Bell, makes me appreciate, and miss, what she brought to the sumptuous Philly Internat'l catalog! And, everything I've read about her asserts that she was a true sweetheart, to boot.
Here's what I love: Both our cover dood choices were chosen strictly by their sound, their interpretations....their performances.
Only AFTER we chose them, and I researched each's history/life/career, did I (and we ALL) discover what amazing life stories these guys have to get to this point....not of fame, which can be fleeting and hollow, but of fulfilling their lives, and finding the ways they can be their best selves! What a treasure of surprises! Let's do this again!😉
The treat and pleasure are all mine!
I think you have to have kindness in your heart to write the lyrics to Greatest Love of All. Such a powerful, inspirational message.
Yes, it was such a nice surprise (and a funny coincidence) to read about our two gentlemen’s lives and their determination to carry on.
Let’s definitely do this again!!
You're on!😁👍
I'd forgotten that this song was from "The Greatest!" While not many people remember that movie (I don't think I ever saw it) this is an example of a song that far outperformed its original reason for existence.
Keen observation, Dan! And a great point! In the 8 years since the Benson S/T debut (and Houston's smash version), there were 7 covers. So, as the writers, Masser and Creed kept seeing returns on their art. But, its life was certainly lengthened after Whitney's cover hit virtually every ear on the planet! And, how cool Masser got to produce it (coupled with the sadness of Linda passing before it hit #1)! The yin'n'yang of the record biz!
Thanks for this! Loved seeing all the different cover versions of this song and learning about the various artists.
Thank you so much from me too, Nadine! Brad did a fantastic job at telling the story of the song like no one else can, and then putting our points of view together as one consolidated piece. Stay tuned for more! Thanks again
Thanks so much, Nadine! Andy's a valuable part of the success of our new Houston adventure! Please check out our #1 edition, linked in the above article! We've got another coming by the end of October....another of her songs, with a couple of our newly-discovered dude covers! See ya then!--Brad
Hope you keep going with this inspiring series, as I'm loving revisiting Miss Whitney's hits and hearing men also covering these very tricky songs.
The Michael Masser video was such a find, such great observations on creativity.
Yep, Andy and I will keep the series going! He's such a tremendous asset for everything about what we're doing with her catalogue! You're right about that Masser vid....being unedited, you get a peek at what an absolute chore the whole ordeal can be! All the stops and starts, and "don't say this" and "don't say that"s!
RIP Linda Creed and Michael Masser- their songs have engaged me like few others.
Indeed, David. I love both Masser's and Dodge's stories of following your dream, and daring to take that scary step into the unknown...but, if that's where you end up finding the merging of your obvious talent and the musical thing you love to do....nothing can beat it!
I'm beginning to guess that's a story played out over many an actor, singer, and/or musician: Acknowledging your talent, but, then, displaying your talent to one, then a dozen, then a hundred people.....THAT can sometimes be the dauntingly scary part!