John Raitt - Soliloquy (1952)

Here is the one and only John Raitt at the General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein singing "Soliloquy", the song he made legendary for the Richard Rodger and Oscar Hammerstein II classic and my personal favorite "Carousel".
I do urge you if you liked this video please take the time to watch "If I Loved You" with Mr. Raitt and Jan Clayton the original cast members.
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No intention on copyright infringement.

[@Dweezil1996]

Behold folks, it will NEVER get better than John. He had the perfect balance of charisma, vocal power/perfection, humor, tenderness and physicality. Hasn't been touched to this day.

[@richardgornalle4536]

John Raitt had one superb voice. He sang this great song brilliantly.

[@jeanniehubbard3765]

I had forgotten how terrific John Raitt was. What a joy to hear him again

[@mjlesq]

This is perfection.If you don't feel something, when he ends this song, you must be dead.

[@jamesholden4571]

It is absolutely thrilling every time I listen to it.

[@gerrygibson7188]

8 7:52 ​@@jamesholden4571

[@allenjones3130]

Superb vocalism by Mr. Raitt on what has to be the most vocally and dramatically demanding monologue in the history of musical theatre!

[@swissarmytenor]

If there is something to dispute over, it is NOT that Raitt was born to sing! Such good placement. What always impressed me was that Raitt sounded like the character - not like someone who was "singing". Like a natural extension of the character rather than someone trying to perform.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Yes, Raitt (and Gordon MacRae in the 1956 film) did sing, emote the character. Whereas Frank Sinatra's sound studio cover of Soliloquy inaptly sounds too crooned. The song has sentimental passages, but is not meant to schmalz; that belies its underlying ontological ferocity.

[@joep8787]

Wow! He didn't spare the horses on that one! It's as if he's saying to all the future Billy Bigelows "Match that if you can!"

[@lesleyheller2271]

What an incredible voice, intelligently used; handsome, masculine, and a superb performer. I grew up hearing the original Broadway cast recording with John Raitt. I am a violinist in the Met Orchestra, and he is as good as any I’ve heard there. Remember, Broadway musicals were NOT miked - you had to have a real voice!

[@wylldflower5628]

I really miss those days!! I miss no autotune also - I think you lose a richness and, I don’t know how to explain this right, but a lot of color of a voice is missing! Voices still sound individual, but a bit vanilla too. Maybe someone else can say it better!?

[@crazyorganist1609]

You needed power to blast above the orchestra, especially in Rodgers and Hammerstein. R&His extremely difficult to sung properly. I'm only a trained organist and accompanist but I've seen a lot of professionals struggling with their music

[@feelthejoy]

By the 40s they were mic’ed, just not body mics

[@jeanniehubbard3765]

bring back musicals; Rodgers& Hart& Hammerstein; Porter; Berlin etc. etc. etc !

[@dennett73mk]

Yes he owned this song, has never been done better by anyone since. Different yes, but certainly not better. This is the song to learn by heart and practice if you have any desire to become an accomplished performer.

[@Samantha-xp8cn]

This is one of my favorite performances of all time, especially that last minute of the song... it gives me chills and makes me a little misty-eyed, every time. John Raitt was one of the best!!

[@lisaleotta7373]

Great performance vocals tops

[@mortalclown3812]

Bonnie was my neighbor and her dad used to climb and trim her trees. One of my favorite sights in my whole life. ❤

[@tuppencepetey]

I've been a Bonnie Raitt fan since 1973 and only discovered today that this man is her father. Great talent obviously runs in the family!

[@n1kk1dog]

I had no idea!

[@danielyoung5137]

She once mentioned whenever she was backstage she’d get together with the stage hands and they’d teach her how to play poker.

[@njmezzo]

This totally blew me away. He has one of the greatest tenor voices I've ever heard! If he were around today, he'd be a star at the MET, let alone the musical theatre stage. He doesn't have to "do" much: he just IS Billy Bigelow in his attitude and makes his effects with his pronunciation. A lesson in acting and singing to every student of musical theatre - or opera! Thank you so much for this clip.

[@feelthejoy]

He was a huge star in his day. Btw he’s Bonnie Raitts father. Also he’s not really a tenor, this is considered a baritone/baritenor role - although it certainly sits up in range a lot

[@dlanodrelda]

his strength as a singer and as an actor and the power of the story make this very operatic-like. the blend of this talent will never be seen again.

[@notjustplainJane]

Can I please like this video 900 times? Ah so good

[@rupert2591]

Oh my goodness me...I'm from jolly England and that just blew me away. What an incredible voice and superb interpretation. Where has this guy been all my life? I'm going to go off and Google him...I need more!!!

[@jbut1208]

This guy is a true “singer of renown”! He had an excellent tenor voice! What a pity he made so few movies!

[@lennon1252]

One word..... GREATNESS!

[@mpslaw98040]

John Raitt sang for my father in 1960 in Seattle at the Green Lake Aqua Theatre. He may have been 55 or 60 then but what a voice and he was the real guy. Sat around my father playing piano at my in laws place on a relaxing day and he sang and sang and sang just for the hell of it. Memories.....No microphones or amplification either. Michel Stern

[@ritapacitti9599]

Beautiful story.

[@martingiannini1439]

That last minute shows why he's still remembered as a legend. That B Flat comes out of him just effortlessly. He puts other pros to shame. Stud.

[@louisaraitt2830]

Leave it up to the Raitts!

[@JoyceC777]

I agree!

[@trevorarmbuster2173]

Yes, ineed, but I like Nathan Gunn's darker, more dramatic performance even better. Gunn is as fine an actor as he is a singer. He captured the tough-tender essence of Billy' scharacter and exposed his vulnerbility with heartbreaking intensity. But THIS is great.

[@ronwilliams4490]

Funny story is that Mr. Raitt asked Mr. Hammerstein how he liked the big end note and Mr. Hammerstein told him he prefers it the way he wrote it. He wasn’t happy.

[@margueriterezoagli240]

@@ronwilliams4490 I would suspect that it was Mr. Rodgers who reprimanded him. Hammerstein wrote the lyrics and Mr Rodgers wrote the music. It is rumored that he told several actors to please sing the note that I have written and not the note that you think it should be. John Davidson was set to play prince charming in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella but was fired because he did not sing the notes as classically written but put a modern jazz spin on them. Stuart Damon replaced him.

[@Chriswren9]

Ok Ladies and gentlemen, on this matter of Raitt being a Tenor or a Baritone. I just watched an interview with Raitt where he called himself a "high Lyric Baritone" which is an operatic term. I've heard Baritones hit high B Sherrill Milnes (on his recording of Verdi's Rigoletto). Point is you can be a baritone with high notes. Hell, that's what a baritone is! It's the middle ground between Tenor and Bass and anything is admissible! So Raitt was a Baritone!

[@selimsa803]

I remember reading Placido Domingo saying of Sherrill Milnes "Nobody loves a high note like a baritone."

[@KajiVocals]

His timbre and the way he sings are both extremely tenor-like + tessitura itself. I honestly think he was a tenor.

[@ralphficker167]

Oh I think he was clearly a tenor, but with a baritone's virility.

[@CwjrB3]

He was a spinto tenor. Which is why he had a baritonal beef to his voice. But was certainly a tenor. Baritones can sing as high as tenors but certainly don’t sound like tenors when they sing them. Any true baritone anyhow.

[@wylldflower5628]

Or, an baritone with a wide range? (I’ve not checked, though he certainly has power in his upper range!) I liked him as a child watching Saturday TV, and I love his daughter’s music even more! 😊

[@peacenikkie]

I am so thrilled to find this posted. It has been my favorite song from "Carousel" since I was a young girl. My Dad (as Chief Sound Technician for CBS at the time), worked with John Raitt in live radio and TV. He thought much of him as a singer with a magnificent voice and respected him as a performer and a person of integrity. Thank you so much for this rare video! ~0:-)

[@darkenergyhotep5793]

Bad ASS John Raitt. to end on a high Bflat damn!!! powerful! Bravo !!

[@AuntieMamie]

Mr Hunt-thank you so much for this privilege. Mr Raitt was born for that role. Mr MacCrae did the film justice but I always regretted they didn’t use Broadway stars all the time. What humility this man has despite the parts he was deprived from. He is an icon, American treasure and legendary in my opinion. I think he may have been behind the fame of the soliloquy. Just guessing.

[@roslynaronson8791]

My favorite. My idol of my teen years. Remembering you, John Raitt...thank you for the beautiful singing and acting.

[@asheaffer1616]

I love his performance so much, and it's mad all the sweeter to think that in 1952 little BONNIE Raitt was only THREE YEARS OLD!

[@vallieblaze]

My father died a week ago Sunday. He was a fan of John Raitt and when I was a child he used to sing the second half of this song about having a daughter to me.. I can hear him singing along with a pretty good voice. Just hearing this song brings back such wonderful memories of how much he loved me, I will come back and listen to it oftern.

[@n1kk1dog]

My father used to sing this to me when I was young. I grew up with musicals playing all the time. My dad has been gone now for many years and every time I hear this I just cry, like right now.

[@daniell1725]

Your father is very proud of you looking down with God from Heaven. Stay strong and God bless ❤️

[@ThomasBias]

Did he end on a high B-flat? Not half bad!

[@christianrockr08]

man, when I was watching this I was all like "this is really nice. He's a good singer. Great voice, better than that other version I saw-OH MY GOODNESS THAT LAST NOTE!" I'd never heard it done that way before. I love this performance :)

[@janetmcguffey1394]

always the best Bill Bigelow....As a 10 year old I would listen to the LP of the original cast.....when he gets upset.."won't be dragged up in slums with alot of bums like me!! ..I would cry ever time and yell out "you're NOT A BUM,!!" It moved me so much..

[@rnhealer6044]

Wow that was great! I haven't heard the great John Raitt sing that song in 45 years. I'd forgotten how terrific his voice was. Thanks for posting this.

[@Dreamzville]

Thanks for posting these, Seth...Carousel is my personal fave as well. My husband played Billy Bigelow in a local production, with orchestra, and it was a blast. :)

[@tippypc]

His last note still sends chills down my spine.

[@MilestheSquirrel]

Wow. Just wow.

[@savidugeevaratne686]

Found u

[@gregglange8991]

After 75 years and dozens of wonderful productions of the great Carousel, there is nothing to invoke the pathos of the story that can touch John Raitt singing Soliloquy. I often wonder if Jan Clayton and the rest of the troupe would stand in the wings and simply weep at the ending, even having heard it many times. A gift for the ages.

[@josephreddy5084]

I have watched this dozens and dozens of times. The strings at the beginning are iconic and begin a tragic story..when John Raitt hits the last high e its astounding..and I've seen it later on in 1957 TV special he just got better. I think that the original version he didn't go that high but compared to all he is totally in a class alone. Out standings consistent lasting and absolutely unacknowledged. What a leading man..

[@Dougknowspaper]

I have always loved Gordon McCrae's version of this wonderful song, but John Raitt's finale is just superb. Oh to have a voice like that!

[@RvrGrl80]

Damn. He was incredible. Thanks for posting.

[@HandwhistlerBen]

Fabulous! An Amazing voice!

[@vivianalperin5555]

Gave me chills. I grew up listening to him in "Carousel," but I never saw him perform it. Simply unbelievable.

[@oldgypsytap]

Little did we know....those who were able to see and hear this truly awesome performer, how spoiled we were. John Raitt and one or two of his contemporaries set the bar for what was expected of musical artists. REAL artists. This clip is spectacular...grainy video and imperfect sound notwithstanding. It's /his beauty moved me to tears. What a gift he was..... Also the greatness of the material. must be acknowledged. Thank you Seth Hunt for posting.

[@mmiller2802]

Awesome! One of the best voices ever. My father always loved John Raitt.

[@marcmitchel25]

Certainly agree with all the well-deserved praise, and neither does it hurt that this is the best ink that ever flowed from R&H's many creative pens.

[@gailwilliams2678]

Someone may have mentioned this already, but I believe R &H wrote this for Raitt. It's brilliant, and he's perfect!

[@jamesholden4571]

How many people can say that they have performed for one of their heroes? I can, it was 1992 in Malibu, and the Raitt clan (John and Bonnie included) were in the audience for A Christmas Carol. It was a great thrill. John has always been one of my primary vocal models, and his Soliloquy is a primary reason.

[@detectivefiction3701]

This is great to see/hear! But I don't understand why people here are obsessing over whether Raitt was a tenor or a baritone. Those vocal categories are not all that strictly drawn in Broadway musical theatre, anyway. (For the record, I'm guessing he was a baritone with the brighter vocal *color* of a tenor.)

[@gailwilliams2678]

High baritone. I love this!

[@2mising]

Some of the greatest tenors in opera were "baritones" - Bergonzi, Domingo, dare I say Caruso ? To quote Dennis O'Neil " Most high baritones are really lazy tenors" What does it matter if you get a great performance.

[@roop46b]

Obviously baritone !!

[@phrispirit]

Sorry, he was a tenor and a damn good one! Just listen to the low notes. BTW I LOVE this man!!

[@Radiatoron88]

Now THAT is giving it all you've got!

[@sushicourier]

That last note is incredible!

[@nancypo1]

Wow, he blew that out of the water. In the film version I always loved Gordon MacRae, though he was cuter too :) But what a voice!

[@esalomon1820]

breathtaking. I've been in love with him since I was a little girl, and must have worn out the grooves on the original cast album I played it so much. brilliant

[@theblueangel28]

this piece always makes me feel like i have to faint when its over!! just so incredible, im totally spent

[@breezingby2611]

John Raitt is simply amazing. I’ve seen a few other soliloquys and none even come close to the indescribable beauty of his

[@Hyramess]

WONDERFUL! But so was GORDON MACRAE in the movie version, and latterly during a Live from Lincoln Center broadcast with the New York Philharmonic, NATHAN GUNN performed this role with stirring, stunning aplomb. Each Billy has been magnificent in his own unique way. I love them all. Did Raitt ever sing opera? He certainly could have given the chance. The role was written for a lyric baritone, but Raitt has vocal qualities almost like an heroic tenor. Did Howard Keel get the chance to sing Billy?

[@anthonysimpsonanygoround8749]

Howard Keel replaced John Raitt afterwards in the original Broadway cast, and there still exist some production photos but no filmed footage as far as I know. Stephen Douglass ( known mostly for “Damn Yankees” ) performed the role of Billy in 1950 in the London cast of “Carousel”.

[@steph36uk]

yes the Solioquy was written especially for John Raitt in 1945, Rodgers & Hammerstein in fact presented the song to him all concertinaed , and when he opened it it all spilled out on the floor as it was such a long song. They knew what John's voice was capable of like they did of all the performers who indroduced their songs in their shows

[@dubonetducon]

OMFG!!! Never before!! Never again!! Definitive!!!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Debatably in a tie with Gordon MacRae.

[@judyprebell7223]

What a voice! I grew up listening to John Raitt!

[@mwoldin]

I have this song with great, great pleasure -- and by Raitt, too. But this one is Mount Rushmore, the Eiffel Tower, the great Pyramid. Thank you!

[@hollowichigo1023]

Omg he's killin it

[@carolvogelman5261]

Was this an audition tape? He starts a bit uneasy but every damn time I hear this, I am in tears! I start detached but he sucks me in to his world with him;. He was a guest on KCRW in the 1980's he was on my program Castaway's Choice and he was very dear, charmingly self involved but noticed us & enjoyed sharing his recordings with us! Very devoted to his delightful daughter!

[@fredbloggs6080]

Audition Tape? This was 1952. Raitt originated the role on Broadway in 1945.

[@DorisDayFanatic]

He is amazing! Loved him in the Pajama Game.

[@ritapacitti9599]

Me,too!

[@carolrebeccareiss8968]

​@@ritapacitti9599Absolutely. Cannot ever forget Pajama Game. Everyone was great, but he made it even greater.

[@sarahwoolley79]

I saw Hadley Fraser in The Pajama Game several years ago. He is another incredible baritenor who I would pay to watch singing the phone book! Such an underrated singer X

[@2CalaLilly]

Wow! The Soliloquy is one of the greatest songs ever written, and John Raitt's performance of is is stunning.

[@jakethewoz]

That is such an amazing vocal exercise. And that Bb at the end?! Is that even mixed? It sounds so natural! What a voice.

[@jerrysumner4923]

I love John Raitt’s voice, more a tenor than a baritone. Saw a concert of his in the 70’s, and met him. His version of Soliloquy is my favorite. He was the first Billy so perhaps was written with him in mind?

[@FilmDoctor42]

Absolutely fabulous.

[@rosacotton]

Fantastic. Gave me chills. Thank you for posting!

[@jeanniehubbard3765]

My God he sang constantly for8 minutes

[@swissarmytenor]

Milnes's quote was, "High notes are one thing, tessitura is another. To live in that part of the voice, and then sing high notes on top of that, is something I've never been able to do, without having been trained to do. So while I have fun with a high Ab, A-natural, Bb, whatever, I am not a tenor and do not plan to explore that part of the repertoire anymore." You could tell that it was a question he had answered many times :^)

[@godrilla5549]

Man I enjoy the tune, I love the carousel vinyl.

[@Chriswren9]

You know George Abbott (while working with him on Pajama game) Called him the most consistent actor he had ever worked with, so he had a record for being "on" all the time. This man worked!

[@peduzzi89]

This whole thing up until the coda is a whole step higher than the version that everyone else sings. Normally in the transition to the coda there is are two descents of a half step in the orchestra, but in this version they're whole steps so the coda is the same key that everyone else sings.

[@Chriswren9]

Couldn't tell ya But I know Mr. MacRae did have it keyed up by one key from the published music at the time of the film. BUT Mr. Raitt most likely keyed it up as well.

[@drsvs]

Magnificent!

[@troupermcgee]

That man was a monster. He killed it every damn day.

[@swissarmytenor]

Funny thing about Raitt - as he aged, his voice lightened in quality. Comparing his 1945 original cast recording to this video , and then especially to his 1965 (I believe that's the year) is very, very interesting. Most often, a voice darkens as it ages.

[@bjp2969]

Absolutely breathtaking!

[@masquerader13]

Fantastic!!

[@organboi]

This is different around the 5 minute mark. Additional music and words are added. I wonder why.

[@swissarmytenor]

Yes, tessitura is "a" main factor (in addition to others). And because of all these, Raitt was a tenor - moreso the older he got. Did you notice that this performance is a full step higher than the original key he sang it in, originally (up until "I gotta get ready..." when he went back to the original key). He wanted a higher tessitura. Remember that it works both ways - I contend that he wasn't a baritone with high notes, but a tenor who was comfortable singing somewhat lower.

[@aedb15t]

Someone else, in our current day, is Anthony Warlow. He can be whatever he wants to be. Depending on the repertoire and song he can change where he turns through his passagio and this absolutely blows me away. He can keep an open throat up to an Ab or maybe an A. I can keep an open throat up to a G. Anthony can also add the weight into the voice and turn through the normal baritone Bb/B - E/F passagio. It blows me away.

[@popertop]

They wrote it FOR him? Man, too good.

[@christianlibrul]

He started out as a lyric tenor with operatic technique, but eventually relaxed into the world's best Irish tenor. Listen to his later work.

[@bobkosovsky1370]

Of course Raitt is superb, but I'm particularly happy that the few measures that Rodgers later deleted are in this performance.

[@gaspo35]

@aedb15t Well said...some people on youtube don't understand how the voice works...I've been trying to explain what you just wrote to people for years and they dont get it...its nice to know someone knows what they are talking about

[@swissarmytenor]

Raitt was a tenor. Sound/quality of his voice, along with his range clearly identify this. When he toured in the mid-60's in "Carousel" he ended "The Highest Judge of All" with a high C.

[@songbirdforjesus2381]

Wow, would love to have heard that

[@RPenta]

@stevevandien or Gordon McRae--but I agree withyou 100%--let's get real; Jackman is a handsome charismatic movie star so he is very popular in the role but he cannot hang with the men you mentioned.

[@roninjoey]

God, I wish I could get in a time machine and go back to see this.

[@jazzshowroom2877]

He had to substitute lyrics for the words "bastard", "virgin", and "hell". But its still just as good, just as stirring. Raitt is terrific.

[@christinedaae87]

i love this song!!! xxx

[@swissarmytenor]

Oh, I know. There are just so many things about his voice that not only indicate "tenor", but alos indicate he's not a baritone. That said, he can sing whatever he wants as long as he can sing it. :^) The one thing there is no argument on is that his was a fantastic instrument.

[@PhantomDawg594]

He has the most unreal voice. Like. How is that possible?

[@allenjones3130]

Rest in peace, John Raitt.

[@Juliaflo]

This is the REAL deal.

[@jackiemcmeekin6551]

What a great voice!

[@swissarmytenor]

There used to be another live performance of "Soliloquy" sung by Raitt on KZbin. It was a television performance, maybe done a couple of years after this one. It was a great performance. Wish it was still up.

[@stevevandien310]

For 40-something years, I've thought Raitt was a high dramatic baritone. Lately, after listening repeatedly to many Raitt recordings, I've concluded that he was a tenor with decently baritonal low notes.

[@65minimom]

Steve VanDien Bari tenor is classification they use for opera

[@Chriswren9]

"Thats how it's done" indeed~!

[@sprinter846]

One of the best singing I heard Raitt do was on an LP (on Columbia.) of selections from "Show Boat" with the peerless Barbara Cook. also featuring William Warfield. I would love to hear that again, as, I'm certain would you. Let me know if anyone finds it.

[@Bruthole]

John Raitt was cast specifically for his acting btw...they didn't want a singer. Just throwing that out there.

[@BruceTheSillyGoose]

an emotional whipsaw. an acid test for any actor who dares.

[@Dulcimerea]

Trivia note: the original line was "I don't give a damn what he does". Not "darn". Dammit. Apparently it was censored for this broadcast version.

[@Caio0_057]

It was sensored in basically every version😂 With hang and Darn and other stupid words from back then. Ah. The olden days...