B-stone: Howdy. I appreciate the Roger Whittaker follow up from you as an alternative point of view. Have you ever heard "The Last Farewell" ? Its arguably his hands-down best hit, and really did fall into the crossover categorie in '76, or so, the same Time Summertime Dream and the Wreck were building momentum. When I bought both albums simultaneously, I mused over the maritime connection between the two.
And Sydney Steve, I agree with you on The Last Farewell. It has stood the test of time, and to this day when I hear it, rarely on the radio here in Colorado, or put it on my old turntable, I still get the 'Skinbracer" invigorating ocean-spray slap-in-the-face wake up. He** of a song.
If someone were to hear some of his "easy listening" standards only, they would have a very incomplete view wouldn't you agree ? And man-oh-man are you right can he whistle. He is rather well-noted for this, as I recall.
I still reccomend for new listeners Dirty Old Town as well, a song that always evokes for me that feeling you get on the first or second date with "The" woman meant for you. I'd stack up that song and Last Farewell with a lot of GL songs, although Gord remains my favourite.
Whittaker's "Water Boy", as I mentioned in raising the Whittaker entry, is also a showcase for his powerful bass voice, I swear he could bust all the glass out of the Long Branch saloon in "Gunsmoke" !
I have heard the warbler song and that whistling is definately staggering as you pointed out Sydney.
If someone catches only one of his renditions of songs such as "Send in the Clowns", where he is dressed as a clown, I can understand where a top40-oriented listener would dismiss him as another "category" of singer, but that is in fact his strength, similar to GL's, is his timelessness and versatility, and outstanding voice.
And I STRONGLY reccomend his traditional (Irish ? ) Folk Songs album, with "The Ash Grove" etc. It is pure acoustic and incredible voice classic timeless folk.
OK enough enough, I'll stop....
- Geo Steve