Mel Torme with pianist John Colianni - "Pick Yourself Up", 1994

[@mikebamber8150]

A huge talent :arguably the greatest singer of any genre in the last century. I doubt that we will see his like again.

[@BuckieBear]

imho (and others') Johnny Mathis is the greatest ballad singer (of all time) but scat---NO one could out-scat Mel and Ella!!!

[@michaelfabian3036]

WITH Frank, yes == #1 shared!!>>Different styles; equal rarified greatness!

[@nueland]

How can you not like this. Just can't miss the greats while they're around. Again - yea, yea youtube.

[@DavidJones-xp4yf]

I said years ago, and I still believe it's true today, that if Mel Torme had been blessed with "movie star" good looks - instead of having a face only a mother could love - he would have been THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC. Bigger than Frank, MJ, Dean, The Beatles, Bing, Elvis, or anyone. Imagine if Mel Torme had Dean Martin's looks..... let that sink in for a minute..... he would have been unsurpassed in popularity.

[@pamtebelman2321]

but that's the whole point, I think. We can't have it all, but we can excel in the gifts we've been given, as Mel did. God is great, isn't He?

[@tubaryan12]

The same thing can be said for Jason Alexander. Great actor, can sing, but not that good looking.

[@tomkelly9841]

Well, the same can be said of Ella, she would never win American Idol or Who's gat Talent. Then again if you compared Ella's prime against any of these people they pale in comparison. Mel Torme was one of the most gifted singers of the last Century, Neither Sinatra or Dean Martin could orchestrate or scat sing like Torme .

[@ARIZJOE]

Both Mel and Dean were great. In addition to dark good looks, Dino Crocetti had phrasing, and a wonderful sonority. Mel was a much more accomplished musician who could compose and arrange in several genres, particularly jazz. As a voice, fellow Ohioan Dean is my favorite. As a musician, few compare to Mel Torme. I think Mel's atypical looks were kind of funky. In his later years he did turns on "Seinfeld" and for Mountain Dew. Mr. Torme had an identity of an artist, the 'troubadour' archetype. And after all, he dated Marilyn Monroe.

[@paulsmith7424]

Lest we forget, The Meltones were considered the creme of vocal groups, and how about The Christmas Song & Born to be Blue , which has the distinction of having the most difficult bridge to get to from the A section. I heard Mel cop to this on a late night show.

[@moshepotts]

I had the gr8 privilege of seeing him work live..at the Wrest Point casino in Australia in the 1973...he literally blew everyone out of the room..including me, a young pop/funk singer who'd never heard of him until that night...what a player....a little guy in a suit & tie with Butch Miles drumming.....anyone who was there will NEVER FORGET IT....I know I haven't...and I went on & discovered Bird, Prez, Bud & Miles thanx to Mel.....

[@jefflingyueyan]

I think definitely one of the MOST underrated jazz vocalist of all time. So much swag and how can something sound this soothing and lively at the same time?!

[@buffalocrooner]

He is The Master Scat Singer. He is so good at it that it made me literally cry, wishing he was still alive because the world lost a great one when he passed.

[@michaelfabian3036]

EXQUISITE & RESPLENDENT = understatement....}}}}} That's Mel Torme!!! LOVE his Christmas music, as well !!!

[@bucksix1]

Who else could scat Bach? There has only been one Mel Torme and we were so lucky to have had him!!!!!! I truly feel very sorry for those 6 who voted thumbs down. I hope they don't live in my neighborhood.

[@ronaldstrange8981]

Am currently retiring to bed with a Mel Torme c.d. I have loved him since here in U.K. he had a massive hit with "In a mountain greenery." Please give it a whirl and oblige. England, October, 2024.

[@garywilliamsuk]

Just sensational.

[@sjukfan]

Amazing guy. I hope I have half that energy and enthusiasm when I'm 70.

[@michaelfabian3036]

1,000% hear HEARRR to that!!! :-))))

[@hoek334]

I am convinced he will be considered the greatest singer of the 20th century within 10 years

[@michaelfabian3036]

He AND Frank == BOTH #1 shared!!

[@AngusTCat]

Listening to Mel's version of this song blows me away every time. What a talent.

[@nueland]

I listen to this rendition with Mel & John at least 2ce a week. It's on my desktop. I'm always amazed and delighted by the wizardry, tempo, inventiveness and speed. Will talent like this ever come back? Thanks for this post and the memories it provides.

[@sakeenahm]

Nancy Ueland I just saw John live yesterday and he did a number at breakneck speed. I can message you the video

[@buffalocrooner]

I could listen to this on repeat all day, it's lightyears ahead of the pop music of 2012 that doesn't require any talent or technique. No wonder more people buy OLD MUSIC than NEW MUSIC these days!

[@PaulEdgewatertheman]

What a bad ass. Amazing talent.

[@jean-lucbersou758]

La très Grande Classe . Quel Talent ,Quelle énergie .Magnifique improvisation avec une virtuosité rythmique et mélodique fascinante !! Chapeau !

[@briangallagher7776]

A superb performance indeed! Didn't know he could do scat and do it so well.

[@SergioVellatti]

He was truly GENIUS. He could do it all, and superbly well; drums, piano, etc etc...not even fair for the rest of us mortals.

[@davidmiller4078]

Love Mel Torme so inventive in his vocol bursts of scat singing he played piano and drums and had been a child entertainer so had used his natural talent and honed it never seen or heard this performance before absolutely brilliant thanx for posting wow

[@kenallanphillips]

Love this. What a voice!

[@lateshiachilds3640]

he is amazing.

[@assignmentearth2899]

First heard this years ago on an album called "Mel Torme and Friends". It became, and for the longest time was my, 'if you ever were on a desert island and could only have one album', album. Well heck, it really still may be. Greatness!

[@963821]

So competent and so much fun. Its really all about the fun for him.

[@sakeenahm]

This is beautiful and, John you play brilliantly

[@officialritareys]

Great!

[@patrickcorey8124]

Yeah everything about this song is lovely. Hello 👋how are you doing? Nice to meet you here where are you from? I'm Patrick Corey from California USA

[@ABFABF183]

WOH!

[@fasbc]

Mel was tops!

[@davewhitesax]

Heard this for the very first time 10 days ago on BBC's "Jazz Record Requests" and had to look for it on You Tube. Fab-u-lous!

[@amazmace]

A-woodly wooldy wooldy dat dat dat! Now this is the ultimate scat singer!!!! My favorite! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!!!!!

[@MikeWilliamsonMusic]

Nobody was better than Mel. :-)

[@lexusis220d]

simply awesome!!!

[@ewalltom]

I used to love listening to a cd of this year's ago. Never saw the video. Wonderful!

[@arlene1934corwin]

I'm fainting!!!

[@patrickcorey8124]

Hello 👋how are you doing? Nice to meet you here where are you from? I'm Patrick Corey from California USA

[@arlene1934corwin]

@@patrickcorey8124 And how complimentary to hear from you! I'm a Brooklynite born and bred, living in Sweden for the past 36 years. A jazz pianist/singer and a worshipper of Mel Torme, I've done Pick Yourself Up forever. I learn so much from him every time I hear him. My husband (also a pianist) and I are preparing a performance in September (God willing) and of course, "Pick Yourself Up" will be right there. If you like, you are welcome to reach me on Facebook or arlene.corwin@gmail,com. Any friend of Torme is a friend of mine. Are you a musical, or just a really talented listener?

[@patrickcorey8124]

@@arlene1934corwin please check your email, I sent you message already okay

[@patrickcorey8124]

@@arlene1934corwin hello my dear. Check your email address. No reply from you. I told you that I'm not always available on here KZbin that why I really want us to communicate via email okay. Please reply my mail.

[@patrickcorey8124]

Hello what is going on with you? Are you okay? Please reply my mail I'm expecting it

[@TheSchlerm]

Amazing.. Speechless....

[@arlene1934corwin]

This tops all his many other "Pick Yourself Ups". My god, I have no words!

[@gaggle57]

Masterful!

[@alansafe5]

I have one word for this: WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!

[@darrellhall6622]

Love this. Saw a version of this on Night Court

[@pamtebelman2321]

classic!

[@AngusTCat]

Great. Just simply magnificent.

[@psychicwoman]

Oh my gosh so beautiful!

[@alwinkluit]

Wow.. great performance, what a class.

[@Nygeld]

AWESOME!!

[@jilltorvaney5105]

phenomenal!x

[@patricejegou5132]

Wow!!!!!

[@lffit]

perfection! Thank you!

[@AngusTCat]

Thanks for posting this. Mel Torme was the best EVER.

[@Anonymous-md4ec]

Mel is the best of all time. He does it all.

[@JanetESmith-er8sk]

Guard this vid with your lives!!! You’ll never hear the likes of this again!!

[@3A5530NE]

Rip John Colianni

[@kylegabauer2006]

Night Court brought me here. Season 8 Episode 18 "Hey Harry, F'Crying Out Loud -- It Is a Wonderful Life ... Sorta"

[@betarbetar]

4,899 viewers and nobody dared to dislike :D

[@pegrueneis]

Look: a lefthand double- bassplayer..rare

[@acedrumminman]

My old boss...

[@cammicty]

Mel sang circles around Frank! Even then it was all about the package, your Manager, etc, in fact Andy Williams discussed that in an Interview years ago. It was always who you knew in the Entertainment Industry.

[@ikewasgen45]

Nat Cole, Sinatra, or Torme? Hard to pick the greatest TALENT! The greatest generation scores again.

[@BuckieBear]

So many greats--it's wonderful, and we have them on videos and recordings!!

[@emanx222]

dave barber for me Sinatra is the equivalent of a pop star when compared to the other 2. It’s honestly a battle between Mel and Nat. The 2 were not only incredible singers they were also musicians that truly understood music.

[@ssmith9745]

Sure, it's great singing, fun and virtuosic. But it does seems a little less. inspired when you realize that his 1989 performance of this song -- including all the "improvs" -- is virtually identical, right down to the repartee with the pianist (George Shearing in the earlier instance) and the "woodle-ee-woodle-ee-dat-dat-dat"s at the end!

[@josiah566]

Is than Mike Stern on upright bass? ... no matter what the description says I say that's Mike Stern on bass.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Frank who?

[@r.c.a.7570]

Ella and Mel that’s all

[@pamtebelman2321]

Agreed. Have you heard them scat together on the video from the Grammy Awards? It's pretty amazing.

[@sierramadrejerky3146]

Mel is so hep

[@SunSound7]

Mel is bad to the bone.