10 great Vikki Carr songs

Vikki Carr emerged at an unlikely time in pop music. A torchy, big-voiced singer who can belt out a ballad or swing with a ferocious sense of rhythm, she became a star in the mid 1960s. She is a contemporary of the Beatles – she was born after John but before Paul – but had more in common with jazz-influenced-pop singers like Nancy Wilson, Kay Starr and Barbra Streisand.

When easy-listening vocalists went out of fashion in the '70s, Carr turned her attention to the Spanish-language market. In the next decade, the woman born Florencia Cardona emerged as a Latin-music hitmaker and, ultimately, a beloved figure on the scene. She has earned three Grammys for Spanish recordings and in 2008 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Grammys. Carr performed at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in 2014, and we used that as a chance to revisit 10 of the diva's greatest performances. The criteria: We only looked at songs that were released as singles.

'Cosas del Amor'

There are a few things to note about this song and video, a mammoth hit in 1991. First, the melodramatic clip resembles a bad telenovela, thanks to the hair-pulling antics of duet partner Ana Gabriel. The plot is even odder: Why is there an eclipse and what does that have to do with the things of love (the title's English translation)? On the other hand, there's no denying the effectiveness of the silk-and-sandpaper blend of the two voices. Lyrically, the song presents Carr as a wise pal counseling a younger friend through the ways of romance. This spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin chart, Carr's biggest hit by far on any U.S. chart. Her album of the same name stayed at No. 1 for a month and earned a Grammy.

Forget You

This brooding 1964 ballad should have set the Billboard charts on fire, but she would have to wait until 1967 to crack the Top 10 on the Hot 100. Notice Carr's natural ability to interpret a song, as she bitterly bites out the verse before belting the chorus. Love the mariachi horns on the instrumental break, a nifty little nod to her Mexican heritage.

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'Hay Otro En Tu Lugar'

There's a feminist slant to this kiss-off number, which is buoyed by horns and a relentless beat that hammers its way into your brain. In the tune, Carr's man walks out in search of greener pastures. He returns, begging to get back into her life: "I'm sorry but it's too late," she responds. "There's another man in your place." Sassy, and oh so good. From 1988's "Esos Hombres," one of her most consistent albums.

'Grande, Grande, Grande'

Originally an Italian song, the lyrics were translated into both English and Spanish. Shirley Bassey, who often sounds a lot like Vikki, had a minor hit with the song in English as "Never, Never, Never." Carr recorded the song on her first all-Spanish album, 1972's "En Español," and the tune became closely identified with her. She sounds terrific, even engaging in some wordless vocalese as the record fades out. The tune focuses on a woman's relationship with a man who can be selfish and arrogant, but at other times, he's wonderful.

'Mala Suerte'

The promotional video for this 1988 hit features appearances by Mexican divas Ana Gabriel and Yuri, although they don't sing on the track. Who needs them? Carr emotes her way through a love-gone-wrong ballad that is anchored by a ringing, twinkly keyboard hook that is hard to forget. Written and produced by Roberto Livi and Bebu Silvetti, who helped define the sound of adult Latin pop in the '80s and '90s with songs by Julio Iglesias, Rocio Durcal, José José and, of course, Carr. The first single from "Esos Hombres," this reached No. 3 in the States.

'It Must Be Him'

In 1967, Carr earned a signature tune with a song that addresses a universal situation. She thinks she's over an ex-flame, but she prays it's him on the line every time the phone rings. Carr sings the hell out of this song: Did any major female singer at the time have a bigger voice? Even Streisand didn't belt with this kind of neurotic angst. The tune was covered by Shirley Bassey, Martha & the Vandellas and Dottie West, but no one can take it away from Carr. This reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in England, and never fails to bring a concert audience to its feet. Carr picked up a best female pop vocalist nod at the Grammys, but Bobbie Gentry won.

'Discúlpame'

Mexican songs sure can be melodramatic. Take the opening verse of this tune, in which the narrator admits that she nearly lost her life after cutting open her veins once her man left. Even Alanis Morrissette never went that overboard. In Carr's tune, he re-enters the picture. "Excuse me!" she exclaims, telling the guy to take a walk and forget that she even exists. From 1980's "Y El Amor," this signaled the start of one of her most commercially successful periods.

'Total'

Carr says this tune is like her national anthem in Mexico. The song boasts a flowing melody and a confident, relaxed vocal that reflects the whimsical nature of the lyrics. "I won't die if I don't have your kisses," she announces. "I'm tired of so much kissing." South of the border, this is guaranteed to inspire a singalong during her concerts.

'With Pen in Hand'

In the '60s and '70s, Carr made the talk-show show rounds and often performed this number. Every time she sang it, the camera would catch the tears glistening on her cheeks as her voice broke. It became her thing: "Vikki Carr's on TV and she's singing the crying song!" That doesn't detract from the scorching emotion she brings the tune, a tale of divorce in which she switches the gender from the Bobby Goldsboro original. In her version, a woman leaves behind her husband and child: "Can you take good care of Jenny? / Can you take her to school every day?" This was her last Top 40 hit on the Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination (she lost to Peggy Lee).

'Esos Hombres'

Every single from "Esos Hombres" became a hit, and rightfully so. The title track is the album's finest moment. It's a wonderfully evocative, can't-live-with-'em lament about the opposite sex. Carr comes down really hard on "Those Men," another Livi/Silvetti composition: "They can make us feel like a queen / And with their indifference, they can dethrone us." The male-bashing track showcases her combination of sheer technical skill and the emotional resonance she brings to the right material. Speaking of those men: Within a few years of this record's release, Carr divorced her second husband.

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.