Jo Stafford’s ISOLATED vocal from 1952 is ridiculous, in more ways than one!

[@annamariehewitt3173]

Thank God there are young musicians like you who are not letting these beautiful songs die....

[@deniseg812]

I thought the same.

[@soonerclark]

Right on!

[@homegown1234]

I remember hearing this song a long time while I was a girl back in the 50s. Words and music were perfect back then and still beautiful today. Another song which is my favorite from the 40s is "I'll Be Seeing You" I remember hearing in a movie of the same name but also hearing it on the radio back in the 50s. Still is a wonderful song no matter how many years its been.

[@RockinJohnny]

Great music never dies

[@hollypinkley]

My mom had her records & played them all the time - her ""September Song"" was my favorite!! I memorized her but my mom said some of her ""subject matter"" was to much for an 8-year-old!!! I was I had had a voice coach like you back in the 60'S - I might NOT have given up on my music quest!! I quit preforming in the 70's!!

[@firstchoice7761]

My parents would dance to her records in our kitchen; this is one of my favorite memories. Still love her voice. Oh, I'm 80.

[@TehGav]

❤

[@babasheeny3634]

Me…..77. Wasn’t it great growing up during that time? We were so lucky!!

[@rhondadorey1723]

73 here and I couldn't agree more! Some of the best music ever. 💗🇨🇦

[@summersojourner]

Agreed… I’m 68 but my parents loved the great music of this era and my siblings and I loved it as well.

[@gabybrik5525]

You and subsequent generations before late 90s - early aughts, we have all been lucky, we were surrounded by beautiful sounds. So happy to see that young people are gravitating to real music.

[@BTURNER1961]

NOBODY, I mean NOBODY else will do an analysis video of Jo Stafford and post it on You Tube. What you do, is totally unique because of the breadth of genre and time you are willing to cover. Stafford has a 40's vibe to what she does. She does such clean work when she sings. You can feel a certain bittersweet pathos behind it. You are right about those instruments. They get in the way of perfection. It occured to me that I don't recall a curseword or 'slur' in the lyrics any of your videos you showcase. That suggests you apply content standards for subject and language so that parents need not worry about younger viewers listening. Am I correct?

[@QBAN2010]

Fil is all class!!!! Refreshing, he was raised well…

[@MrsColumbo823]

Ahhhgreed. He’s so wonderfully smart and unique. Jo Stafford was a singer that my mother (a professional singer) introduced me to and this song brings back many many sweet memories. Gorgeous voice!

[@muttley5958]

Shenandoah sung by Jo Stanford is a must listen. 😃

[@opaulamorgan4265]

You nailed it!🎼🎶

[@judyplimpton9583]

Love you Jo.❤❤❤ You are a part of my teenage years

[@FavoriteMovieDate]

My mother used to tell me that Jo Stafford had perfect pitch and was one of the best girl singers at the time. My mom was very critical of singers, having a beautiful voice and perfect pitch herself and couldn’t stand singers that were “screamers”. I love the Big Band singers and Jo is always wonderful. Thanks for delving into these great performers.

[@georgedavis8412]

Billie Holiday was a fan of Jo Stafford. ‘Nuff said.

[@bawillard2578]

Exactly! My mother as well..beautiful, trained voice, collage music major. Would say same ...!!

[@tamerlano]

She didn't have perfect pitch.... according to her

[@georgedavis8412]

@@tamerlano LOL. She should know. She did have perfect intonation, however.

[@DavidNaquin]

When I listened to Joe I listened for that last Consonant. She puts right there so, you can hear it. Dosent trail off like a lot of singers.

[@gurinapsait8602]

This made me tear up.. My mom use to sing this song when I was a child.. When she could call from her nursing home angry I would sing this to her then she would join in.. She wouldn't be angry anymore.. Thank you Fil for a great memory.. This is one song that I know all the words too..

[@marthawelch4289]

Thank you for posting a personal cherished memory.

[@sheelfjohnson]

You got me with that one, as my dad has just moved into a nursing home. 😔 Thanks for sharing that.

[@TomCee53]

Tears here. 🥹

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

That was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

[@bobc7066]

Makes me think of my mother who passed away 30 years ago. thank you Fil.

[@wabashcannonball]

I’m THRILLED that you did a video on Jo Stafford. I was going to ask you to do one but was worried you’d think that not enough people would know who she was. She’s my favorite singer. Thank you, Fil! ❤

[@donaldrobinson9451]

She was really something.

[@boomer3150]

@@donaldrobinson9451 Yes, as was Julie London.

[@kimbenjamin5210]

You must live in Wabash, Indiana!?

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

Such a perfect example of a singer and song to examine closely! A good basis to compare with others when analyzing. Holding a very steady long tone is one of the most difficult things to do and Jo does it perfectly along with her quicker inteval shifts. Just wow.

[@stock33647]

Jo Staffard was a clasically trained singer and an aspiring opera singer whose chance to train for the opera was dashed by the depression in America. Her breath control and her ability to sustain notes in a variety of octaves was outstanding. Opera's loss was popular and country music's gain.

[@frankalfar]

Really interesting...

[@tomsitzman3952]

I did not know about Jo's opera training. Makes perfect sense.

[@michaelmeltzer3397]

"Early Autumn" and "Moonlight in Vermont" are two of Jo's fantastic recordings.

[@bethwilliams4903]

Moonlight in Vermont is my fave Jo S song, it’s peculiar in nature (haiku) and vocally it must have been an odd choice for the time - but her delivery is flawless. My in-laws were from the big band era and were stunned that I even knew who she was - (admittedly I only knew the ‘big names’ at that time like Rosemary Clooney) Along with Connie Boswell and Ella I’d put Jo in with them for sheer perfection and joy to listen to - thanks for this episode 🥰

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

Man, I love your attitude toward music. You are a great appreciator, and you communicate your appreciation clearly, intelligently, and persuasively. And your tastes are catholic: you love people doing great work in any genre. A tip of the hat to you, man!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@pjmvdbroek]

I don't think catholic is the appropriate adjective here :)

[@corkpop8401]

@@pjmvdbroekthe use of the word catholic is totally appropriate. Note un capitalized ´c’

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

@@pjmvdbroek Lower-case "catholic." Look it up.

[@BaronessErsatz]

Fil, you had the same smile on your face that many of us have when listening to her. It's just her vocal magic.

[@clitsing6034]

I love Fil's deep appreciation for good music of every style and time.

[@opaulamorgan4265]

Fil always smiles when he hears or sees something unique or special!

[@dbraden1958]

It's hard not to smile, when you hear an amazing, masterful, wonderful performance. Those pieces of the performance, such as "See the pyramids along the Nile" are just magical there're so good. When I started singing as a guitarist, I sounded off key more like "Darlene" and generally sang alone so I could work on singing better while not annoying those around me. 🤣 It was so nice of her and her husband to put out the sing along album, with the off notes - that putting your customer first, so the non-professionals singing sound good!

[@lorimontcalm9086]

Yes I noticed that eager anticipation before he started playing Darlene...

[@luvmyrecords]

Her pitch was legendary. Ella Fitzgerald once had a record date with arranger and conductor Paul Weston, Stafford's husband. Ella told him, "I'm not sure I want to do this with you. I'm afraid that if I sing a bad note, you might go home and tell your old lady!"

[@michaelnicola5210]

Just wonderful. Thank you. My taste and interests span a very long time as well, my parents being WWII grads. I’m new to you but wonder if you’ve ever studied Barbra Streisand of Elaine Stritch? Happy Holidays

[@tonisumblin2719]

😁🤣. And Ella had a magnificent voice. Coming from her that’s a highest order of compliments.

[@marielacey7928]

And to think ella was the singer Sinartra was scsted of singing with but having only just discovered i can understand 😊

[@fosbury68]

Ella didn't sing too many "bad notes".

[@tribbles2955]

Omigosh! Thank you. I requested that you play Jo some months ago. I'm delighted. Although I'm 82 and have listened to Jo all my life, I don't think that I appreciated her fully until tonight. One night some years ago my husband and I drove back from New York City while Jo's songs alternated with Perry Como. Sheer magic.

[@marthawelch4289]

How romantic!

[@amazinggrace5692]

Perry Como ..I remember him from his TV show.

[@karenryder6317]

In the late 40's I lived upstate in Schenectady where my parents listened to that same radio show (where Jo and Perry alternated) every weekday night. I think it was 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm while I waited for "Baby Snooks" to come on.

[@johnsposato5632]

I'm 73. A bunch of years ago, we were escorting one of our daughters from the Baltimore area to Michigan State where she would be doing a summer internship. Somewhere along the way, I found a station that was playing music from this Era. One great hit after another. Singing along with these great songs, I thought I was in musical heaven. That was a great Era in popular music, to be sure.

[@johnsposato5632]

​@@amazinggrace5692Yep. He would sit on a stool with a mic in his hand, a spotlight on his face, and he would just sing. No frills, but marvelous.

[@MrPatdeeee]

Come April 5, 2024 I will be 92 yrs old; from Tampa, FL and Chicago, IL. And I can say, "Jo Stafford’s rendition; was so incredibly awesome; it will never be forgotten for us that listened; and loved her so much"! May Jesus rest her precious Soul 😇AMEN! P.S. And get this...I didn't like most "popular music" (then). Because I was wrapped up, in "Hillbilly Music"; before Nashville changed it into, "Country Music"! So it shows just how great that precious lady was!❤IT! To the "nth" degree! 🤓

[@riverebec1]

Happy belated birthday.

[@MrPatdeeee]

@@riverebec1 I'm very honored that you would do this! Thank you, and may Jesus bless you and yours, Always.❤

[@lindafletcher1628]

Thank you for choosing Jo Stafford This reminds me of my childhood, my parents and aunts and uncles used to play this a lot along with Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin etc etc etc Great music

[@vincemccord8093]

Thanks for posting this analysis of Jo Stafford. It's interesting to note that Jo Stafford and Frank Sinatra were both in Tommy Dorsey's Pied Pipers. Stafford's husband, Paul Weston, went on to arrange many Sinatra hit records. The world would be a better place if more female vocalists tried to sing like Jo and not Mariah Carey!

[@wabashcannonball]

Sinatra was never a member of the Pied Pipers. They backed him on a number of occasions, but he certainly wasn’t a member of the group.

[@vincemccord8093]

@@wabashcannonball Thanks for pointing this distinction out.

[@CaptainBakerJason]

I’ve always enjoyed Jo’s use of dynamic changes and slides that create emphasis on the mood and emotions conveyed in the verses. Stylistically, this seems a lost art in popular music, but the gifted vocalists still distinguish themselves with precise control of these vocal characteristics of which Jo mastered so distinctively. Excellent choice & analysis Fil! 🙏

[@Nancyshank]

My mom was a singer and sang with Jo on many records and she used to play a record when company would visit called “Sing along with Jonathan and Darlene Edwards” which was a woman singing hysterically bad. It was Jo (and her husband) but no one but musicians ever knew. My mom always said how hard it was for someone like her with perfect pitch to do it.

[@chucklindo6731]

Our mom would practically squeal with delight just thinking of putting that record on for company.

[@bonitaforeman7213]

I was always just totally amazed at her control to be able to be "Darlene"! Still have CD's of them and laugh so hard!!

[@wabashcannonball]

Wow, that is so cool. Was your mother a studio singer at Columbia or Capitol?

[@joannebeauchamp1169]

Jo Stafford’s version of, “You Belong To Me” pure perfection! Also, give a listen to Patsy Cline’s version. Seriously! Patsy was capable of singing so MUCH more than just Country music! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@lafemmevocale1040]

Yes!! Sing Along Jonathan & Darlene Edwards is absolutely brilliant!! And hilarious It takes real talent to be able to intentionally sing that BAD!

[@lindadescafano3749]

Jo Stafford had a beautiful voice and it is a pleasure to listen to her sing. I also enjoyed her isolated vocals as well and it was interesting to hear her off key vocals. Thanks Fil for another great analysis. 😊🎸🎵

[@cynic-fw3jg]

My mother loved Jo Stanford. Thank you for featuring her. She has such a beautiful voice. Brings me back to my childhood home watching my parents dance in the living room when they thought us kids were asleep.

[@noelevans8239]

Stafford

[@12thDecember]

Well, that's wild. I had You Belong To Me in my head this morning on a hike. 😄 Edit to add, I didn't realize how phenomenal a voice she had until you isolated it. Thank you for doing this great analysis.

[@henryellis1358]

I am 88 and this brings back such amazing times, thank you for the pleasure this singer and song brings to those that appreciate good music.

[@debbier938]

Hi Fil, This was an incredible analysis. Jo’s voice is just spellbinding! Listening the second time through without the instrumentation was just as great as the first time with the instruments. She is a wonderful example of having a beautiful singing voice. And yes, she was trained, but you can’t train someone to bring that expression and depth to a song without some kind of natural abilities. Her breath control and therefore her phrasing should be an inspiration for any singer. Stayin’ Alive is a-hoot and even her out of tune/off key singing is better than any song that could be pitch corrected/ autotuned today. You out did yourself on this one… especially after a crazy day I had today. Thank you for brightening my day with this awesome video. You Are The Best… Love You, Debbie☮️

[@coversbymark1379]

Jo was known for her precise voice. My favorite love song is her "No Other Love." It's just beautiful. This song, too, is great. Thank you for featuring her.

[@G.G.8GG]

Oh yes! Thanks for the reminder of "No Other Love." We had that recording also when I was a girl. I loved to sing along with it. To me, those were the days of real pop music.

[@Ozone280]

In my opinion Jo's cover of No Other Love remains unsurpassed and she's one of my favourite singers. Smooth as silk.

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

No other singer can warm my heart like Jo Stafford. Can you imagine being the man she is actually singing to? The way she sings this tune sounds like she is singing to ME.

[@leightonolsson4846]

She makes it sound so easy but the technique involved is mind-blowing

[@pattyneff4624]

Yes! Most definitely 👌

[@caroliamurri3872]

Jo Stafford in the 50s, Karen Carpenter in the 70s…masterfull! Thank you Fil! ❤

[@ohger1]

And wedge in Judith Durham of the Seekers for the 60s.

[@Every_Day_islike_Sunday]

Wowza! Not only can she hold a note, but the note is held with precision! Nice find, Fil, thanks!!❤ This kind of stuff makes me wish i had taken voice lessons when i was young. I can belt it out in the shower, though. Hahahaha!

[@Yesica1993]

I have taken voice lessons and hearing perfection like this makes me kinda wish I hadn't, LOL!

[@Every_Day_islike_Sunday]

@@Yesica1993 lol i understand! You're probably better than you think, though.

[@kimmysophiabrown4807]

Your appreciation for music has such a wide swath. I love how you are researching so many musicians/singers in such a respectful and insightful way. Lovely. I had no idea about Darlene Edwards, so funny and interesting.

[@katherinea.rodgers8366]

She had such a beautiful voice and this song brings back memories from way back! No background noise. Her voice was the only instrument she needed. Thanks so much Fil, for your analysis of this fabulous artist. Glad to know that she was popular in the UK.

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

Her voice was like velvet. Thank you for sharing her. Not many of our young people have ever heard of her.

[@r.crompton2286]

I agree . My descriptive "would be "warm, dripping honey.

[@Sheerkat7]

I'd never heard of Jo Stafford or this song before. That was so beautiful that it brought me to tears. What an incredible talent she had. Thanks Fil.

[@1msbucket]

Isn't it great to discover new artists this way?

[@TomCee53]

It was 70+ years ago. She was pretty popular in the 50s & 60s

[@BartholomewSmutz]

​@@TomCee531940s also.

[@johnlangendoen967]

Taking up singing lessons 6 months ago (online ) , at the age of 65 brought me here.....😊😊

[@michaelcraig9449]

She is the greatest. Now you have lived!

[@aerialtour]

I knew Jo Stafford had an amazing voice when she was singing w/the Pied Pipers &Frank Sinatra in Tommy Dorsey’s Band, but with this isolated vocal software Jo’s voice was stunning!! Thanks Fil.

[@argusfleibeit1165]

I noticed for the first time, how long she sustains the notes at the ends of phrases, even sustaining longer after the vowel ends into an "m" or "n", the note still is going. What wonderful breath control as well as pitch. She sings the song straight through, even a vocal over the introduction-- two verses, a bridge, third verse, bridge, final verse with some jazzy variations, and the long ending note. No instrumental breaks, just all Jo. And I'll bet you it was all in one take, no splicing.

[@Mister_Listener]

I have no idea but. I can imagine this record, like most records was comp’d from several different takes that she had sung. That’s just how records are made, unless it is a live recording from a show. Thats said, Jo probably didnt need to be comp’d--but it made her records even more amazing.

[@TehGav]

In 1952, it was possible to record the instrumental backing of a song on Track 1 of a 2-track (mono) tape, and to record the vocalist on Track 2, re-doing pieces of the song if necessary by erasing the first vocal and doing a new one over it. Comps became possible in 1955 when the high-end studios started using 3-track recorders, but in practice, during the '50s and early '60s, extra tracks were usually used for backing vox, instrumental solos, and percussion. @Mister_Listener @@Mister_Listener

[@macharrington7733]

I noticed that too... just beautiful

[@edwinturner1149]

joe used to do her half hour radio spot on radio luxumberg on a Sunday,at 10- 30pm,so did bing crosby,kurt Massey,and Martha tilton, good listening then

[@Mister_Listener]

@@TehGav thank you for that history lesson, much appreciated! So it is possible Jo and company were able to do re-takes as often or as little as necessary, which would somewhat raise the quality of her performance.

[@nemo227]

Jo Stafford was something special as a singer. Her singing always reminded me of a well played cello. Yes, I remember 1952 very well.

[@MostlyBuicks]

One of my favorite recordings. Take that all you pitch correction junkies.

[@Mister_Listener]

If everyone was able to sing like Jo, we wouldnt need tuning software, to be fair.

[@UberLummox]

@@Mister_Listener But if you can't, then just don't. And w/pitch "correction" just takes away any soul.

[@Mister_Listener]

@@UberLummox i TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU about taking away the soul. There are some great singers out there today…and tuning software works best when you DON’T need it, but they use it everywhere, it is industry standard. A totally different era, but it is wonderful to enjoy these old singers and classic songs. Maybe these will make a resurgence in the future with some fantastic new artists.

[@waynesmith3767]

When I saw the title I thought “what is rediculus about Jo a s Stanford? She was great!” So I’m glad I listened to her and your excellent analysis and discovered you meant ridiculously good.

[@Ken-bj9uy]

I have liked "GI Joe" since I discovered her on Pandora.

[@pen64]

One of the most perfect voices. Her and Connee Boswell are so often overlooked - Connee was a singer Ella Fitzgerald cited as an inspiration!

[@RobertStambaugh-l5r]

My favorite singer is Connie Francis . Beats Madonna .

[@M.Wood67]

Apart from the fact, that I enjoy these songs from the 50s a lot and those great voices like Jo Stafford, Kay Starr, Patti Page or Doris Day - this was such an entertaining video and a great example, how wonderful music can be without this autotune and pitch correction crap. Thank you very much Fil.

[@karenryder6317]

I think Jo had a better voice than Kay, Patti or Doris. Jo's only real contemporary rival for "the best" would be Patsy Cline.

[@billbelk7250]

My dad, who wasn’t into (my) music, had a Kay Starr album(Bonaparte’s retreat, I think). Beautiful voice!

[@M.Wood67]

I don't rate them. Just listened to Etta James "at last" and man, what a voice. They were all great in their own kind and style. And just like their male counterparts like Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Frankie and even Elvis simply unreached until today.

[@lilkimig]

@@karenryder6317 I have read that Patsy Cline idolized Jo Stafford! Patsy did a version of this song as well, which was also excellent. I agree with you about Jo having the best voice of those you mentioned, and on technical levels, I would say her voice is better than Patsy's, too. And I say that being a HUGE Patsy fan! :D

[@bblegacy]

All of that "technology" is a load of you-know-what that is only needed by people who just lack real talent and ability. I know this sounds harsh, but it's true. Any singer that "needs" auto-tune is not a good singer. Period. I don't care who it is. Back then if you were a singer you were either good enough to get somewhere in the heat of competition just as fierce as it is now or else the glory went to someone else who was just... better. Another difference 60-70+ years ago was that there were small clubs and venues almost everywhere running full-tilt six nights a week in which to get experience from an early age and develop style and a repertoire of legitimate songs and repertoire. In the end though, it's pretty simple though, in that singers like Jo Stafford or Sinatra or anyone else basically just opened their mouths and sang something pretty much the way a songwriter wrote a song and an arranger crafted it for them. It wasn't about creating an entire totally larger than life media image and platinum sales media personality for themselves and turning themselves into some kind of side-show freak at the expense of anything musical just to look at in the process. Talent talks and there's a lot of stuff around now that can barely walk and will be utterly forgotten in six months, primarily because it's got zero substance beyond gimmickry and electronically produced sounds (AKA noise), just for novelty sake. ... which should hardly qualify as music let alone anything remotely musical.

[@DouglasJWilkening]

Jo Stafford was probably the most underrated vocalist of the 1950’s.

[@wabashcannonball]

Only underrated by people who haven’t heard her. She’s well known to be a favorite singer of many musicians - Lester Young, Ray Charles, for example - and even before she went out on her own, she was well regarded as a singer in the Pied Pipers, who were brought on by Tommy Dorsey. She had tremendous, worldwide exposure and popularity, and her recording of “You Belong to Me” in the early 1950s was (if I have this right) the first million-selling song by a woman. Jo is one of the all-time greats, and no has ever not thought that. However….if you wanted to say “I wish more people knew about her” or “Her name doesn’t come up often enough,” then you’ve got something. But the fact that she almost completely stopped performing and recording when her kids were small doesn’t mean she is, or ever was, underrated.

[@piloyvind1222]

Before the break through of R n R she was the best Selling artist of all time. She has influenced many singers especially Ella Fitzgetald.

[@DouglasJWilkening]

@@wabashcannonball I have looked at numerous lists of “favorite” or “best” or “best-selling” vocalists of the 1940’s and 1950’s, and Jo Stafford doesn’t make ANYONE’s top 10. I even found a “top 100” list for the 1950’s and Stafford wasn’t on it. I know her Wikipedia bio states that “by 1955” she was the best-selling female artist, but that sentence in Wikipedia is not attested (that is, there is no citation to support it), and I can’t find any verification for the claim. So I will stand by my statement that Jo Stafford gets shortchanged.

[@RobertStambaugh-l5r]

Joni James and Kitty Kallen are also underrated .

[@independentfilmchannel1476]

She was admired by critics and revered by fellow artists and her recordings sold well in her time. For some inexplicable reason her name is not often an immediate inclusion among great singers of her era, possibly she had no large-scale hype across the decades as many of her contemporaries have. In truth, however, the voice has dated not a whit.

[@deborahlynn4439]

Thank you for that Fil. This was the first time I'd heard her. Her voice is as close to perfection as can be.❤

[@subsidiarity8839]

I'm very pleased to see this acknowledgement of my favorite 20th century female vocalist. What incredible talent and discipline.

[@lyndaproper1313]

Re: Darlene Edwards - Sorry to take two bites of the apple here, but THANK YOU, FIL!!! I have not laughed this hard in a long time!!!! It reminded me of a trauma I had when I was about 10. My family was visiting a family who had a daughter about my age, and the daughter and I were visiting in her bedroom. She proudly announced she wanted to sing to me a song she had been working on. So, being polite, I said I surely wanted to hear her sing the song. What happened next was one of the most musically traumatic events of my life: as she pulled herself up straight and took a deep breath, the most ungodly sounds I had ever heard began to fill the room. ( I think it was a ballad, but I can't be sure.) And I, trying to be a polite guest, kept just the smallest smile on my lips as if I were enjoying the song, and nodded along to show I was listening, but I'm pretty sure my eyes could not mask the excruciating pain that filled my ears and radiated out through my entire body - worse than fingernails on a blackboard, and much like the Darlene Edwards performance you presented to us. Thank you for providing me with this flashback!

[@TheKatdawg65]

Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae singing Let the Rest of the World Go By is sublime, to me. One of the hundreds of songs my daddy used to sing me to sleep with.😢

[@RosaKay55]

Jo had a gorgeous voice. I remember this song from years ago. I so appreciate, Fil, that you take the time to feature these great singers of the past!

[@byzcath]

I’ve heard Jo many times, and have always been struck by her voice. Your video has given me a deeper respect for her. Ah, what a beautiful voice! Thank you for this analysis.

[@baskervillebee6097]

My folks always listen to Jo Stafford. Her voice is sublime.

[@glenjones6980]

Wow. I instantly knew the song but couldn't fathom where from and then bingo, pre school and next door at my grandparents, grandad as ever putting a record on the turntable in the huge wooden cabinet I learned was a radiogram. I was fascinated by the records dropping and the stylus arm moving across and could spend hours watching it and listening to the same records over and over. I remember my grandparents dancing to this in the front room (back when the front room was only for special occasions). It's one of my earliest memories and as I was only 6 when grandad died there are precious few memories of him. It was over 50 years ago now and I wasn't old enough to really understand it at the time but now it feels like yesterday and the tears are flowing, something that's never happened before now.

[@drewpall2598]

With a voice like Jo Stafford, I can see where you would get sidetrack and listen to Jo's isolated vocals in it entirely. another great analysis Fil. 😊👍

[@annebishop9634]

In the late’90s there was a “Mom & Pop” radio station I listened to. Their programming was one song from the 40s, one song from the 50s, one song from the 60s, one song from the 70s and one song from the 80s then repeat the pattern. I loved it! Jo Stafford’s Shrimp Boats is a Coming was of my favorites. Glad to hear her doing a standard. Thanks!

[@fredpierce9363]

Thanks for spotting this song and sharing it. The time was just 7 years after WWII and the radio was still playing all of those sentimental songs. The Korean war was raging when this song came out and this song was a favorite torch song for the GIs. Jo was a singer with a group called The Pied Pipers. Her voice was recognized by the record producers and she was asked to do a solo album. The Pied Pipers did my Mom's favorite song, Whispering Hope. I am in my mid 70s now and this songs brings back so much of my early years. This song was later done as a Doo-Wop in the mid 50s by the Duprees and then Patsy Kline had a hit with it in the early 60s. Jo's sweet pure voice carries the day with this song and is one of my favorites. Check out Patsy Kline's version too.

[@davidhardy879]

Tonality , pitch , breath control ... it's ALL THERE ! My favorite Female Vocalist of all time !! " GI Jo " Stafford !

[@zanhar7688]

I remember being told many years ago that 'Jo Stafford has perfect pitch'. I didn't understand what it meant then.... this was really fascinating - as always. Thank you, Fil.😁

[@idankoos4156]

She denied that..she denied that and meant having good relatively pitch

[@wendyhunter5913]

First time commenter but a long time viewer. Thanks so much for all the great music and wonderful talents that you have introduced me to. What an amazing vocalist she was! Gob-stopping talent. I wasn't in on the Darlene Edwards thing before you let the secret out, but I had a strong disconnect between the amazing pitch of the first song and the second song!🤣 As you say, it took amazing talent to pull off the latter farce. So glad you seem completely back to health--please stay well. :)

[@EarlyRiser--]

Wow, Jo doesn't even need a backup band with her amazing voice. Its the perfect song for the perfect voice! What a great voice and song to review. Thanks Fil! 💖

[@lynnmanning2795]

Just a. It before my time, but her voice is still great , her Shrimp oats Are Comming, was my favorite! Thank you for letting the rest of the world hear the best female voice!

[@allie1953]

She did an album with Frankie Laine that featured "Shrimp Boats", "Jambalaya" and various others. The album might have been called New Orleans. I have not been able to find it again. That was my introduction to Jo. I was ten (in 1963) and the album was already some years out at that point. Years later I went on to buy various of her albums reissued as CDs. She got me into the Big Band sound. Margaret Whiting is another one I like.

[@Broonzied]

Love Jo. Her takes on Blue Moon and Moonlight in Vermont are sublime.

[@geertcharleskoning2701]

There's so many . Red Rosey Busy ... He's Gone Away ... I Should Care ... I 'll Walk Alone ...

[@ozzietadziu]

Over the 83 years of my life, I have been touched dramatically by two outstanding recordings of popular music. The first was Jo Stafford's "You Belong To Me", and the second was Dinah Washinton's "September In The Rain". My "Desert Island" choices.

[@ozzietadziu]

My favorite of the Joanathan & Darlene Edwards albums was "Sing-Along", a spoof of the Mitch Miller's big chorus recordings. The flat gong always breaks me up. When I was living in San Francisco in the 60s, I often hosted cocktail parties and would play their albums quietly in the background, waiting to see if anyone noticed. One time an attendee came to me and said, "Is there something wrong with your turntable?"

[@pumagutten]

You got a good point, Fil! Her voice is remarkable in the sence that the extra instruments don't improve her finished product. I am tempted to say that the song sounds better without the other instruments. Her voice is the finest instrument.❤

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Well said.

[@WoefulMinion]

Jo Stafford's vocal in this song has a remarkable energy by itself. I think that's one reason you can listen to it alone and still be completely drawn in.

[@TomCee53]

A voice like this almost makes me want to quit singing. But,then again it makes we want to work harder.

[@ryanality]

She’s one of the most amazing vocalists of our time. Her version of I’ll Be Seeing You kills me.💔💔💔 Such a seamless sound. Jo’s tone is so rich; she’s got an otherworldly voice.

[@TurkeyCreek-ek8mj]

I couldn't believe it when I saw this in my subscription feed! I usually enjoy your picks but you knocked it out of the ballpark with this. IMHO there are four vocalists that are in a totally different universe from everyone else; Jo Stafford, Patsy Cline, Linda Ronstadt, and Allison Krause. This song was only two years old when I was born and I so remember listening to my mom's 78rpm recording of this on the stereo when I was little. Thank you SO MUCH for this analysis.

[@karenryder6317]

It's amazing to hear you name these four because they are exactly the same ones I would pick!!!!

[@QBAN2010]

Fil has figured out how to do KZbin… rare, eclectic, interesting, expertise in musicianship and an overall great guy. No one else can top him!!

[@Finarphin]

Mary Ann Kennedy

[@bigbass421]

She was truly great.. from 71 years ago- when I was born... and here is real talent, no b.s., no auto tune, no over singing, no octave jumping gospelized pretense and ego crap. Her work with Paul Weston as Jonathan and Darlene, is truly hilarious... especially to those of us who re professional musicians. You really have to be THAT great, to deliberately sound like musicians that think they're great but are actually really bad. So many are, and we have all been on the bandstand with folks like that. Hysterical. "Autumn In New York" was a staple of comedy routines featuring singing insects on shows like Soupy Sales- in the 60's.

[@filthyloops9821]

It's always a great moment of pleasure to listen, watch and "study" your analysises. Love your work and the passion you put in it. Thanx for being "You" Fil 🤘🏼

[@QBAN2010]

I watched The Walking Dead and couldn’t get into it as it wasn’t my cup of tea for entertainment. But one day there was a scene with Jo Stafford and Long Ago And Far Away….and while I never fully embraced the show, I had to give the writers and producers credit for their brilliance in using Jo to create the perfect mood for that scene!!!

[@dagmar.6954]

Thanks Fil. Enjoyed hearing this great artist from the past. What a beautiful pure voice she had. From what I read about her, she had classical training to become an opera singer but ended up having a great career in popular music. Can't believe how spot on her pitch was with her vocals. Back in those days you really had to know how to sing. You couldn't hide behind auto tuning.

[@kitkat186]

Jo's voice is HEAVEN now I want to hear all her songs.

[@highnrising]

Jo Stafford was a fabulous singer, who's been largely forgotten now. She did a lot of pop duets with Frankie Laine, another great singer, known mostly for his cowboy movie and TV theme songs, but who also had a jazzy side. You might want to check him out.

[@RandyRanson-d5x]

First time I heard Jo Stafford, I fell in love with her voice.

[@olga138]

Incredible breath control and accuracy. Wow!

[@rosieHolliday5887]

I really like Jo Stafford. Listen to her often. Very relaxing voice

[@RonWesterbeek]

Quite a great voice to analyse Fil, realising this is a one-take one-mic (? 😅) 'live'recording, be it wire-recording or lacker of those days. Love to hear indeed. Rock ! 💪💃🎵

[@winfieldritzert2176]

My dad's favorite singer... Listen to "Long Ago And Far Away"... It's on another level. I get chills every time.

[@vmd6074]

Jo's phrasing and control was remarkable and always beautiful. Her control of pitch was used to hilarious purpose in her Jonathan and Darlene records. American Folk Songs is, IMHO, her most achingly lovely recording.

[@AppleCorp3]

Shenandoah and Wayfaring Stranger are incredible performances

[@QBAN2010]

Fil, you are a man after my own heart! I love you eclectic tastes and your appreciation of talented artists of every genre and era! I grew up with my favorite artists bringing Pink Floyd, ELO, Santana, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, but I love Jo Stafford! Long Ago And Far Away by her is my favorite! I never tire of your channel land loved your vids on Roy Clark and Charro! Never stop what you are doing!

[@konstantia1607]

Well, it's settled, Fil. You are the Mona Lisa Vito of music analysis.❤ (As Bill Belichick might have noticed.) You even brought out Darlene's nowhere/me not rhyming. The things I know just because of you! Jo Stafford was wonderful and this song is spectacular. Thank you Fil.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I loved Jo as “Darlene”

[@cwilson284]

The joy on your face as you listen to her is wonderful to see--a musician from one era in thrall to one from another. Now that's respect.

[@goblinqueen4991]

Her voice is amazing. I actually liked the isolated vocal better than the version with full musical accompaniment. Thanks for the experience!

[@karenryder6317]

Me too. Without the dated 40's Big Band "fox trot" sound of the accompaniment, the really timeless classical beauty of her voice shines out.

[@ConstanceDawley]

⁠

[@markrinehart8813]

The voices of the truly great singers, are a finely tuned instrument of its own. Another great song & singer I had totally forgotten about. Thanks Fil.

[@brianorndorff1387]

One of the greatest singers of all-time. Check out her duets with Gordon MacRae, their blend is superb. Per "Darlene Edwards", you have to be really good to be that bad. Another of her alter egos was "Cinderella G. Stump" on Red Foley's "Timtayshun."

[@russellbaker27]

My favorite Joe Stafford song is, no other love. Absolutely amazing. Four people in love. I think of my mother and father, bless them. An absolute gem of a song.❤😊

[@1msbucket]

First off, I just gotta say how much I enjoy a rocker appreciating someone like Jo. It makes me lol, just watching Fil! Jo is favorite of mine when listening to those oldies. An extra bonus here is the song itself is beautiful as sung by Jo as well as the Duprees. Thanks for the Darlene/ Jo video also. Funny. Fil you have the best job in the world. Lol Reminds me of Tiny Tim

[@barbaraemmel8610]

I was a child in Australia when this song came out and my father used to sing it to my mother. Many wonderful memories.

[@lintollefsen7166]

Jo's voice: So sweet, so expressive. What a joy to listen to!

[@michlyntyres]

My dad was a professional musician and we had all her records, and Dad would sit with me and tell me to listen carefully, as she was pitch perfect and told me she was the best popular vocalist..

[@ToneHobart]

She absolutely crushes everything she sings. an amazing voice that makes me wish I was alive back then to hear it brand new.

[@Terri_MacKay]

I only knew the version of "You Belong To Me" sung by Vonda Shepherd, but I did know that it was a cover. I'd never heard of Jo Stafford, so I was very happy to be introduced to her absolutely sublime version of the song. It's no surprise to find out that this was #1 on the UK charts. Lovely!! What a change of pace Darlene was. I was in tears, I didn't know what to make of it, and I couldn't imagine why you were analysing it. I was very confused.🤣 When you said it was Jo, I was floored! Thank you for another great analysis...and for the laughs.❤️🇨🇦

[@miked.7882]

I have all of the Jonathan and Darlene Edwards albums on vinyl and CD. They’re a hoot. Sometimes I’ll spring them on unsuspecting friends just to watch their expressions. And I love Joe Stafford‘s voice.

[@MFG333]

It's nice to see young people discovering the music we have enjoyed for 70 years

[@ginnyvogel7754]

This was old people's music or 'music to die by' when I was a teen. Grandparents listened to it on old 78s. But I secretly loved it! This song is so romantic. The analysis is great-thank you!

[@lindadanoneberg4818]

I still have this record from my parents on 33 1/3 vinyl record.

[@daveduffy1755]

The singers of this era were working live with musicians of the highest abilities so their standards were way above the contemporary digital studio counter parts of the day and had to be able to record music in one take sessions unlike today's lesser performers

[@bblegacy]

It was a meritocracy back then that I was still lucky to come out of as a musician when I went to music school from 1978 into the 80s. There were high expectations and if you are a horn player like me, you learned really young that you played the right notes the first time, or else they would just get someone else who could do that. It was a pretty simple concept to grasp, to be honest. I got my first road-gig as a multiple woodwinds / saxophone player for the national tour of a Broadway show when I was 26. I arrived in Providence, Rhode Island and went directly to the theater for a 12:30 PM sound-check and had to sight-read and play the 95 page 2nd Woodwind book to "A Chorus Line" (that I had never seen before) at a 2:00 Sunday matinee performance, without any rehearsal in a sold-out theater, in an excellent, absolutely together, 19 piece pit orchestra that had been together on the road (with occasionally new musicians coming in) for basically a decade. I was just the newest arrival that Sunday afternoon, and I spent the next two years with that band until the tour production closed altogether in 1988. So in some of the bigger cities there are still musicians that can cut it at that level and are still around and don't flinch about doing 8 shows a week or something like 32 shows within 27 days in 4 different cities. We're still out here ready and able to play anything pretty much at sight but the problem nowadays is that producers doing anything seem to have a problem wanting to pay musicians for actual professionalism so they just eliminate them wherever and however possible. So, enter the hordes of keyboards and mechanically contrived nonsense that passes for a lot of music for TV and films now. Unfortunately the freelance world of recording as a session player in NY or LA now is all but dead and it's rare to get a legitimate 3-hour studio session to record 3 or 4 tracks of anything for anybody regardless of what it's for. And the days of recording sessions using 15-30 musicians for one session are long over, at least in the US. Most of what is recorded for films now is recorded in eastern Europe, because the musicians are less of an expense over there for a movie that's probably only going to make a one or two hundred million dollars in profits. As for audiences, they are there in live venues like concerts but I seriously question whether they can even tell if a live orchestra is being used. 99.99% of everything everyone has heard since the 1970s has been some kind of canned music played through a speaker of some sort whether it's a stereo, TV or PC.

[@bonitacallipare5338]

Thank you for wisely ending this with the first song. 😂 1952 was one year before my parents were married and hearing this song, with Jo’s picture, and having family pictures where my mom and her sisters look just like her is like a soundtrack of those days. Lovely. Your smile authenticates your presentations. Thank you Fil.

[@maggielandow2686]

I love his smile. It warms my heart.

[@leesmith8443]

Cant believe someone your age chose this song. I have it on my iPhone cuz my mother had it in her collection of 78’s. Her voice is second to none

[@lyndaproper1313]

This song was one of my very favorite songs from 1952 = when I was 5. I knew all the words. I guess I was a pretty sappy kid! That time was just after WW2, during the occupation of Japan and Germany, and during the Korean war, so there were a lot of soldiers away from home. The music reflected the loneliness, and "crooners" (male and female) proliferated. This song, in particular, spoke to that separation, and Jo Stafford was perfect; she disappeared into the song and its meanings. I couldn't tell you another song she did, nor what ever happened to her. Maybe her hubby returned from overseas and she started baking cookies for the neighborhood kids in her picket fenced house? (That's not an insult, btw; you had to be there.) Thanks, Fil. OOPS! I spoke too soon. Egad! So that's what happened to Jo Stafford! Unbelievable! I wonder what kind of cookies she baked? Maybe depended on which day it was! Not because she was a bad baker, but because you didn't have any idea of what she was going to try to do.

[@rifroar]

Jo started out as a Big Band Singer in the 40's, that's where She developed her great breath control and phrasing.

[@Historian212]

Her breath control came from her early training in opera, which was her ambition until the Great Depression made that impossible. That’s when she started singing popular music with her sisters, then with others, eventually becoming a big band singer, then a recording artist and solo act.

[@robmiller3464]

Fil, that was great! I’ve heard the song before at some point but never knew the artist. Wow, what a great voice. So pleasing to the ear! Definitely no auto-tune necessary. She apparently had a good career! Definitely gifted technical ability. Thanks Fil

[@marthagrinnan6155]

Jo Stafford began her career with Tommy Dorsey as a solo singer. She was, also, a member of The Pied Pipers, which was a group that sang with Tommy’s Big Band. They backed Frank Sinatra while he was a member of the band. Most notably, “Dream”, lyrics by, Johnny Mercer. IMO, one of the very best lyricists. 👍❤️

[@kareemahmullen8940]

What a wonderful choice and analysis! Yes, though she slides, as you say controlled slides, she doesn't scoop, and like many well-trained classical singers, she is able to aim and arrive at an intended note, rather than scooping to find it. Great voice and as you point out, her breath control as well! I listened to her when I was young, as she was one of my Dad's favorites. Don't know if she was classically trained- you did say that she was!- and what a natural...quite amazing! The second example was fun and interesting too.

[@tarquin4592]

I’m a fan of Jo’s music and would like to comment that Jo once said that Gisele Mackenzie had perfect pitch. I don’t believe you have ever covered Gisele’s singing, but she was another high class female singer of Jo’s era. Quite amazed what a wide taste you have and how enjoyable your vids are.

[@brendaw53]

That was amazing! Enjoyed listening to the oldies and haven’t heard You Belong To Me for ages! Listening to her this time one thought came to mind. Is that how a gentle breeze sounds??? ❤ Your analysis was genuinely fascinating! That’s why I keep coming back…❤

[@ggeorge4144]

They did't call her the singer's singer for nothing. She was respected by all the top voices of the day.

[@sharongaskell]

Grew up with my mom singing along to Jo Stafford on radio and record. Music was a large part of our lives. Singing along I can hear my mom singing. Thanks FIL.

[@billmoran3812]

I’ve never seen this detailed of an analysis. Fascinating. It’s interesting that using technology that didn’t exist back then we can now see how truly amazing some of the singers like Jo Stafford were back then. We knew it by our ears, but this proves it.

[@bobturnley2787]

Jo Stafford sounded so good on You Belong To Me. Also sang a wonderful recording of I'll Be Seeing You! Best version I've heard.

[@mbdcia9772]

I was thinking the same thing. Paul Weston arranged and conducted that recording (I'll Be Seeing You). I say "I'm her second biggest fan.", because Paul was clearly her biggest and best.

[@alexbowie6316]

This is top notch in the history of recorded music. Discovery and re-discovery are what this is all about.