Added: 4 years ago
From: Brent441
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  • Both Black and Pitney are dynamite. It all boils down to what voice you like the best I believe. I heard Black first and never thought anyone could compare to him until I listen to Pitney version. I like Pitney a little better.

  • ..gene sang this in full voice..magnificent range...jay blacks voice had to break into falsetto because he did not have the voice to bang the high notes full on...gene was that much better its really not fair to compare jay to gene.

  • OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Gene killed this song.Makes me wish i was a tenor,im a baritone.Ive never heard this superb version.R.I.P. Gene!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Not portal 2 but this is good too....

  • Love this one very much.The voice of gene is so great to listen too.

    There so much emotion in it.

    Thanks for posting

  • We are used to Jay's version, but Pitney's version blew me away.

  • whats this the chipmonk version???/

  • Excellent thats for putting it up...keeps music fresh when you hear different versions of songs you love...more please

  • Simplicity and Bobbyfuzz make very good points. I must admit even though I'm a very big fan of Gene, I do favor Jay's version. However, I give Gene the edge on hitting the high notes, as Bobby said he does it more naturally, whereby I believe Jay shifts into falsetto to hit the high notes, but there insn't a thing wrong with that. That was trend then. Both are fantastic.

  • not trying to compare or compete but David Whitfield is worth a listen also... Enjoy

  • Not bad; however, Jay Black sends it through the roof.

  • Portal 2 anyone?

  • This is one of my favorite songs so naturally when someone introduces another singer, I'll go check it out. I love Gene Pitney AND Jay Black. This is my opinion: Gene Pitney's version isn't as powerful as Jay Black's; however, Jay doesn't have the range that Gene has. In comes Carlos Almenar Otero -- wow! Powerful as Jay's version, has as good a range as Gene (i.e. didn't need to go into falsetto as Jay does) -- alas, Carlos doesn't carry the tune as long as Gene does.

  • number #1 singer in my book

  • NOTE; Click on (show more -bar-) to see the LYRICS to this great song...Please let me know of any omissions or errors...Thank You...

  • Gene Pitney, OMG. I'm only passingly familiar with him, I had no idea he could sing like that.

  • My grandma loves this song, her husband, who died, loves it too.

  • learned something,, I thought this was a Jay and the American's hit

  • wow spectacular rare to see such a grand cover! im much younger than the norm when it comes to fans of this style of music making but i dont think that impairs my ability to make a fairly decent judgement on talent. i loved it. i wont compare it to jay black but what range. no falsetto at all! thank you for the video it was so pleasing.

  • This is not the version we are used to hearing. However, it is by far the most excellent. I love Jay and the Americans but Gene left Jay in the dust on this one.

  • Listen to David Whitfield's 1954 version....marvellous!

  • To Chris...Pitney died on a tour in the UK April 5, 2006. Autopsy determined he had died from heart disease. I loved the music. As an add on he started with Roy Robinson who was always a favorite of mine. i still have all of my lp's with some of these good old songs. Not scratched either after all these years.

  • OMG!!!! first time....I mean it....the first time I've heard this version. Awesome range Gene!!! (I know he's reading these in Heaven). Chills chills chills...just like when I was 16!

  • WHAT A GREAT MAN.

  • What ever happened to Gene Pitney? I loved his singing and especially one song on his album called "Tower Tall"  I played that song over and over again.

  • @Kris100ish Tower tall is magnificent.

  • i have never heard gene pitney like this before ,wow what a voice im use to his hit records, know most of them but this is so powerful thanks for the record

  • Not bad.  I still like the Jay and the Americans version best.

  • We all have opinions and we all have our favorite versions of certain songs, by certain vocalists. No doubt, Gene had one hell of a vocal range and is one of my favorites from the 1960's as well. With that said, the Jay & The Americans version is still tops for me, mainly because of Jay Black. But, make no mistake about it, I enjoyed this recording by Gene Pitney and will buy me a copy, because it's damn good. Gene had (has?) absolute talent , hands down.

  • very nice channel, I love grene Pitney glg.rosi

  • I love Jay Black but this version of Gene's blew me right out of the water. I know it's not the version we are used to hearing but to me it's superior by far.

  • I really, really like Gene Pitney but ... Cara Mia would never be in my list of songs by Pitney that I want to hear. On the other hand I am completely obsessed by Jay Black's version and could listen to it half dozen times a day.

    Music, no accounting for taste. To each person their own, as they say.

  • beautiful love the music and song.lg.aus Germany

  • Wow!! That's unbelievable. What astounding range he had. Along with Roy Orbison, Harry Nilsson and Jay Black the best singers in rock and roll.

  • holy crap... i thought jay black was good... this guy is stunning... amazing voice...

  • I think that the Jay and the Americains, with Jay Black, is still the best version...but this one by Gene Pitney is not bad at all.....may be not in the classical style of Gene Pitney...He has made better songs of course...

  • @Amourdelalande1 Mmm... i think its more like apples and oranges... pitney is pretty darned good! listen to his voice!

  • Only ONE singer in pop music could hit those notes in FULL VOICE!!! That singer was GENE PITNEY! Not Jay Black, not Roy Orbison... ONLY Gene!!! Magnificent version! Thanks! The other versions are better known and are terrific but just not as powerful when sung in Falsetto.

  • @musicalcliff You would be absolutely right. No one had Gene's powerful voice but Gene. He took this to a whole new level.

  • Oh ich liebe dieses Lied so sehr nehme es mir mit gggvlg M-louise

    Hast du toll gemacht !!!

  • One of my all time favorite songs by one of my all time favorite vocalists .... That being said I still like Jay Black's version the best.....

  • I have listened to this song several times. Instead of "Cara Mia why" 4 times near the end, I am hearing "Cara Mia Why" the first time & "Cara Mia Mine" for the last 3 times. Anyone else hearing that too? Fantastic job, Mr. P. Right up there with Jay's version as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for posting the song & lyrics, Brent. Could never figure the line, "Say you'll always care."

  • I think Gene's version here is the standard... Jay is close but not as smooth or from the heart...

    Sad I never got to see him...

  • Comment removed

  • Saw his concert in Nottingham in 2002 and was amazed how good he was,fantastic singer and a really nice man,such a sad loss.

  • ONE OF THE GREATS!

  • Sorry folks but he just doesn't do it for me. Pitney almost had a feminine voice and i honestly can't see the fuss about him.

  • @bigttim1 I admit that this is NOT one of his best offerings..but I'll listen to most anything he recorded...it reminds me of better days as a teen. He had a 'dramatic' tenor voice that just didn't work in some songs...this being one of them!

    I saw him perform many times and he had such talent and charisma..I miss him still.

    RIP Gene

  • when music was music

  • @johnny9022..=) i like his version better..he has sweet voice

  • I can't seem to find a CD of Gene Pitney that includes this song! GRRRRR! HELP!!!

  • @CJCowboyReese1 Look at Amazon.com There's a couple there.

  • @CJCowboyReese1 -- You will find Gene sings Cara Mia on *Gene Pitney sings Great Ballads*  CD

  • @CJCowboyReese1 --- You will find that Gene sings Cara Mia on the CD -- *Gene pitney sings Great Balads*

  • @CJCowboyReese1 browse around on Amazon...that's where I found some older recordings of his compiled into a couple of discs. I miss him still...my teen heart throb big time! So talented and a kind man.

    RIP Gene xoxo

  • Clearly the BEST version ever sung of this classic! Gene is able to hit even the highest note in FULL VOICE, while Jay has to go falsetto to hit it... sorry Jay, but Gene easily wins this vote! Thanks for posting... always have loved it. Next best is Gene's "House Without Windows" as an example of Gene's range! What a God-given blessing!

  • wunder schöner song geht heute noch unter der haut.gglg

  • Goose bumps and chills.

  • @coyotesong Glad I'm not the only one lol. God doesn't give this kind of voice to just anyone. The man was in a league of his own.

  • @Tonithenightowl Completely and absolutely. Thanks for your post.

  • @coyotesong You are most welcomed. Glad to know another Gene Pitney junkie lol Been hooked on him since 1964 and I don't want a cure..

  • One of the great Ones without a doubt! Loved many of his songs!

  • ich liebe diesen song.wer hat ihn zuerst raustgebracht. weiss das einer von euch?

  • Noone sings this song as beautifully as Gene. What a voice.

  • i love Gene Pitney but in every version but Jay and the American's the singer including Gene has to cut the long note on the word die. Jay holds in one breath.

    Magic

  • @pookaev I think this was a matter of choice for Gene. It's not that he couldn't have. When Gene sings I'm gonna be strong there is no question as to whether he could as far as ability. I would have loved for Jay to do his version of I'm going to be strong but oddly no one ever attempted it at the time it was a hit to my knowledge.

  • What a voice ... not many singers had his staying power.  with love and Respect

  • Very good! But the very best cover: "Ted & Die Fremden Cara Mia" - marvellous!!! You can find it here inside U-tube.

  • i am named cara mia because of this song :D

  • my name is cara mia- i was named that because of this song :D

  • Wonderful song, a great loss to all his fans, and there are many!

  • Very nice version.

  • Gene and Roy were the voices along with Jay. My favorite was Orbison then Gene. It's a shame we lost both of them way to early.

  • Great version! But: Jay & The Americans version is also very good!

  • wow! only knew the jay black version. this guy belts, no falsetto here...

  • Great posting.Loved it

  • Always thought Jay Black was the bomb with this song till I heard Gene do it. Gene takes it to a different level with power unsurpassed. His version leaves Jay in the dust. No falsetto here just the pure power of Gene's range and awesome control.

  • @Tonithenightowl i agree thought jays was incredible this is unbeiveable

  • @ironrick46 ahuh I was blown away too by Gene's version. Now it's my fave. Then again I'm a huge Pitney fan so thought I was being biased. Glad to see someone agrees with me lol. We lost a treasure with Gene. Thanks for responding.

  • @Tonithenightowl owl i listen to gene a least once a day . another song that shows his powerful voice is I m gonna be strong. i ve hearddifferent folks cover but nobody comes close he s got to hit 3 or 4 octaves in that song and without a falsetto, unbeleivabe. take care partner

  • @ironrick46 I could not agree more. I'm gonna be strong in my opinion has never been covered by anyone who could do justice to Gene. That song was his and his alone. I would be hard pressed to pick a Pitney fave, but I have to say I'm gonna be strong is mine. I was a 13 yr.old girl when that song was a hit and I thought Gene to be the most sensitive, romantic singer in the world. I'm now 57 and I still think so. Nice to meet another Pitney fan. Peace.

  • What a song! Gene sure belts this out with pure emotion and feelings! Thanks for sharing this song for all to enjoy. I feel real lucky to be back in love!!

  • Holy shit! Never heard this before, certainly is different. Love the Jay ATA version, but Gene doesn't have to go into falsetto to pop the money notes. Great control in upper register, too. Thanks to YouTube and Brent441. I probably would never nave heard this. Cheers.

  • @hibob418 Very well put - you know your stuff.

  • Thank heavens for youtube & posters like you! Otherwise I'd never known that Gene Pitney had his own version of this classic 60's romantic ballad. Though it's a bit too fast for my taste, I always enjoy listening to the late great Gene's soaring & powerful voice. THANK for sharing this gem with us! :)

  • Gene does a good job with this but nobody can match Jay Black with that beautiful majestic voice.

  • Great song, but at 00:20, he looks just like Mr Bean!!!!

  • Dynamic singer.  I didn't know much about Mr. Gene Pitney. Very good song.

  • Just beatiful! I love also the Mario del Monaco version.

  • Absolutely great!

  • such a powerfull song. i have yet to hear a bad version yet.

  • I agree that opinions are just that. I think this is a fine version of the song. I didn't even know Gene Pitney covered it until tonight but i think he did an admirable job. Gene Pitney had one of the greatest voice range's and control ive heard. I'll probably always love the original a little more cuz i heard it first but this is ab excellent rendition. Great song whether you prefer this version or any of the many others. A classic song is a classic song.

  • This is a very good song and Gene sings it more naturally than Jay did. Jay tries too hard and I liked Jay's singing. But Pitney didn't have to try hard to hit those high notes. Again, we all have our opinions, but sometimes it is important to listen without favoritism.

  • @bobbyfozz you're right

  • I like Gene Pitney. Sorry this is not a good choice for him.

  • I've always loved this song. And here the late great Gene Pitney give his own wonderful spin on it. Delightful to the max, daddy-o! I'm hep to this jive...I dig it the MOST! THANKS so much for sharing this awesome "blast from the past" with us! And may you & yours have your HAPPIEST holiday season ever! :)

  • with this classic song whether its sung by jay or gene or the chipmonks be thankful we get yo hear thse classic songs sung by each singer in their own special way we are all different and will always have our favorite singer ,,, we have a choice too ,, chill out and lay back and enjoy them,,,,jay and gene are both great in ther own way

  • As much as I'm a "Fanatic" Gene Pitney fan, I have to say that this song was not a good one to "show off" Gene's voice. I agree with others, it was Jay's song. But, haven't we all heard worse?

  • I'm interested in listening to any version, but thus far Jay Black's version is my favorite, deep, melodic, powerful.

  • I like the Jay & the Americans version better because the lead singer sounds like Roy Orbison and it's better. And people who are downrating comments because we like the other version better, let us have our damned opinions. So rude!

  • david whitfields version of cara mia is the best and it  stayed at no 1 in the record charts in 1954 for 13,weeks one of gene pitneys favourit singers was none other than david whitfield, sadly both of them are no longer with us, but both great singers.

  • This version is the most beautiful, Gene is fantastic in this song.

  • Comment removed

  • Who's better, who's not. Come on folks, who cares. It's a pretty song if the chipmunks were singing it. Ya'all quit whinning.

  • It would be real nice if you added the lyrics

  • look in the box in the above right-click on "more info" and the lyrics pop up.

    I like both Jay and Gene's versions. I think Gene hits the notes better, but that is my opinion. Please don't blast me for it.

  • Jesus, this sounds like one of the muppets is singing! Go listen to Jay and the Americans singing this song and then promise to NEVER EVER listen to this one again. PROMISE!!

  • You hit that nail on the head.

  • love them both

    Gene was underrated, great to hear

    thank you very much

  • jay's version was better

  • Both Genes version and Jays version are superb

  • I don't have to decide ! I like both versions so shoot me ! Both are on my playlists now !

  • I like Jay's version, but this one far outshines his version. Pitney doesn't resort to falsetto for the high notes.

  • What your saying is bullshit. Gene Pitney just sings louder and not in a higher key..

  • Gene can in no way sing this song like

    Jay Black. Jay out sings anyone with this song, even the older he gets.

  • Can we please all just agree to respect both of them? Never saw Jay Black & the Americans in concert...saw Gene when he was way past his prime (90's...) but he was beyond awesome (tuxedo, pit orchestra, string section)..the way life oughta be...". Loved seeing Jay

    on the PBS special a few years ago, his backup band was just too cool!, dressed, looked, played nice. C'mon, let's just enjoy a bygone era & memories You Tube allows us to share...singers/ musicians ipo yellers/noisicians? Thanks.

  • Beautiful ! Such a voice !!!!!!!!!!!

  • gene version is so much better than jay and the Americans in my opinion, genes talent was and could only be surpassed by the great Roy Orbison

    although gene was much better looking

    a true legend

    r.i.p gene

  • there you go

    you've just named two of the top 3 male 'pop' vocalists of the entire 20th Century

    god bless

    may your hearing and judgment never fail you

  • vilken röst...helt sanslöst

  • Du har verkligen rätt, min vän!!!!!!! Han är otrolig!!!!!!

  • He sounds extended in vocal, limited in range. Jay Black is the only one to offer due justice to Cara Mia.

  • Limited in range? he's hitting high C! Jay Black can't do that... he reverts to falsetto

  • I agree, although Jay is still alive, and Gene, unfortunately, isn't.

  • I think we all can agree that if he were a young man today, Gene Pitney would win American Idol hands down.....

  • Simply put, Gene Pitney was the greatest American singer of the 20th century.

  • this is great

  • wow!!!!!!  what a voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Gene Pitney's vocal range was phenomenal. Talent rarely seen.

    In olden days, he would have been the ultimate star. By the 1960's there was so much turmoil in music that he was sometimes lost in the various entendre

    of music styles, still he was a master.

    He is sadly missed, and still loved.

  • I connect with him like no other singer. Don't know why, but I do. I have my reasons which reason does not know.

  • What a voice not many can top it

  • Why can't we click on to the minus comments and see what they are?

  • a sad loss to all his fans

  • Nikolai Volkoff version is the best yell

  • Pitney could sing anything he wanted. What a voice range and what a lovely man. He brought me so much happiness with his songs when I was much younger. Rest in peace, Mr. Pitney, you are certainly in my heart...always will be...with every little breath I take.

  • Hey 72k people checked out this vid. He still has a following....great!!!

  • He has a voice for each song. It is an amazing talent.

  • Gene was great ! I grew up listening to him--my big sister had almost all his albums.

  • I like this version and Jay's version

  • An underrated talent for sure!

  • Underrated? Somewhat forgotten maybe, but no one that ever heard him was less than blown away (that I know anyway).

  • I saw him in concert about 2 years before he passed away and he put on one of the best concerts I've ever seen. The man could still sing.

  • You heard wrong.

  • You're thinking of the late Mean Shitney.

  • Your comments confirm that you ARE your username.

  • What an ignoramus!Go squeeze yourself...idiot!

  • What a voice. I saw him in Birmingham in the late 60's.

    My friend's father had breakfast with him once (no spare tables,) and found him most charming.

  • Gene Pitney had a great voice. He, like many singers of these years, bring us beautiful moments.

    Youtube search for ELVIS ROCK DISCO 45 and you will see an honoring to this one and others beautiful songs.

  • Let's see what the judges think of this insightful critique:

    Simon: I think the use of swear words was genius, I think he hit the nail on the head.

    Randy: Dawg, yo yo Dawg, naw man, naw this is harsh and pitchy. I ain't buying it.

    Paula: Ya know, sure... it's a shitload of gratuitous cussing, but you made it your own.

  • Do you notice that Gene didn't have to sing Falcetto to hit the high notes in this song? That is one helluva feat! God I miss Gene.

  • Anthony: Very good point. Pitney's range was awesome. Missed by so many. A good man, he was.

  • Oh and by the way i,m 60 bye.

  • we all have an opinion its a free world now

  • Gene,Jay, now or then, all unique all classic, all the special voice, one better than the other?, NO WAY, grow up.

  • Cara Mia w/ LYRICS? But where is the lyric?

  • Click more info at the top right to expand the information of the video, it's in there, and this song is another great classic of Gene !

  • just listened to jays version cant beat gene the best

  • what a classic can listen to it over and over

  • I'm the third biggest Gene Pitney fan in the world (and I can name the other two!), but... its HARD to top the Jay & the Americans version of this.

    I wonder if Gene had it first, if I'd say the same.. we just kinda grew on the Jay Black version.

    Gene really pushes to hit those notes, (so did Jay), and its just on the fine edge of limits.

    Jay once said in concert "Never record a song in your twenties with notes you can't hit in your 60's!"

    Gene was a friend of mine. I miss him.

  • I am so sorry you miss gene, he was a lovely man, I didnt know him as a friend but I worked with him as a support act in one of his concerts in the early 70s at a place in Manchester called "The Golden Garter" I also worked with Roy Orbison at the same venue a few weeks later, them were the great days of artists and Cabaret.

  • I love both versions, so different, but Roy Orbison never sing this song (pity)

  • I like Jay's version better, but this extremely impressive to say the least.He did an excellent job with this song,defintley put a lot of feeling into the recording.Regardless of opinions of who is better,let's be thankful we had these two men that provided us with such great music over the years. SrPigeonFucker, you have to be the biggest paintchip eating retard in the world,congratulations on getting your account closed ;)

  • How come YouTube even lets you on???? And, I'm referring to more than just your inane comment.

  • Pitney does this song without going falsetto. Jay can't do that, few men can.

  • Although I like GP range, I still believe Jay Black's rendition of this song fits the romantic tone of the song much better. I never realized GP did this song, too. His voice is great, too.

  • you would say the exact opposite if you were more familiar at first with Pitney's

  • I believe David Whitfield was the first to record this song, in fact he had a number one hit with it in the charts for 10 weeks from June 1954. His version was much slower than Gene,s and earned him a gold record. Personally , i don,t think Gene,s version can be bettered.

  • Who was the first with this song.

  • Ya know who I would of loved to hear do this song? Roy O.