Joe Williams did a great job on Vermont, but, hey, that's JOE WILLIAMS!
I agree, Fran, that some tunes are better as instrumentals.
As far as expression, just listen to Gato Barberi's version of Europa.
It doesn't get any more expressive than that.
As far as arrangements go, Fran is right about planning and arranging changes using inversions and some other neat "tricks".
You can't do that if you're arranging for the final product to be a vocal over a track, especially if the vocalist is going to vary the style, do retards, etc. That arrangement would need to be "straight ahead".
My favorite way to do "Vermont" is on a nylon string guitar...no band, just those beautiful changes.
Nice thoughtful topic Fran. And U/D, you're right. The tenor was a little sharp on the first line.
Wonderful tune!
Russ
Edited by captain Russ (02/01/14 03:25 PM)