Welcome to the 2026 Vocals by Dave Yarin website – please be seated…or remain standing if you wish. No glossy production or AI special effects on these vocals, no autotune or pitch correction in this home studio joint – just keepin’ it real for my listeners.
First, a Recently Dropped section with some liner notes for light reading. After that and new for the summer of 2026, if you’re in the mood for The Beatles, Billy Joel or Elton John; I’ve got playlists for you. Or, if you just want to rock out or chill out; or you’re feeling a bit cocktail lounge-ish, I’ve got you covered. If I couldn’t find a playlist for a song, it’s on the variety playlist. And for those of you who can’t get enough holiday music, my holiday playlist is available throughout the year at the bottom of the page!
Thanks to Adriana Balic for teaching me how to actually sing instead of yell, and finding the emotion in the songs. Thanks to my friends who listened. But big big thanks to my lovely wife Beth and awesome kids Jennifer and Michael for a lot of listening to the good, the bad, and yes the ugly at times; and some great feedback too! Michael (aka “Beatle”) – the music producer, studio engineer and entrepreneur – taught me a heckuva lot about singing and recording. He oughta know – it’s what he does. So thanks for listening, and please drive home safely!!
Upcoming Gigs!
October 3rd, 2026 – private party
Stay tuned for other upcoming gigs! Meanwhile, please use the “Contact Dave” tab above to reach Dave about booking info, get a file of something you heard here that you like, or just to say hello and talk music.
Recently Dropped (but not broken)
These are recent takes; meaning there may be some re-recordings and more better mixing/mastering to follow, but I thought they showed some promise. I hope you do too!
My life long friend and brother Mike from NY suggested I try this one – coincidentally at the exact same time that I was thinking of recording it, and along with having a sister-in-law who is a huge “Fan-ilow” – I said why not. This is definitely my “If I was stranded on an island and could only have one Barry Manilow song“…song.
Brilliant. In the early 1980s, Billy did an homage album to the 50s doo-wop groups that he grew up listening to, and he wanted to record it and hit the high notes before he no longer could. Somehow, he managed to write a great group of songs that had the 50s influence but also appealed to 80s audiences. I loved the album when it first came out, and I love it just as much if not more now. This is the title track from that album.
Led Zeppelin’s star never shined brighter than on their double-album tour de force Physical Graffiti. It included this foot stompin’ camp fire ditty that I’ve always loved. Full transparency – the chatter (and airplane noise) at the very beginning is that of Robert Plant and Zeppelin’s studio engineer. I always loved that start to the song, so I left it in.
Hey…ummm…let me see you move. A little something different for me. Michael Jackson recorded this song with piano accompaniment in the early 80s, but it never saw the light of day until after he died – when Timbaland produced this version and Justin Timberlake added vocals (full disclosure – I left JT’s “cool guy” opening and middle in cuz I really can’t sound that cool-ish…otherwise it’s me on lead vocals). I’m probably closer to the JT vocals, but it really doesn’t matter cuz I like the song so I sang and recorded it (my typical criteria for choosing a song).
In the era of standards, the singers were as talented and distinctive as could be. It takes you one second to recognize that Frank or Tony Bennett is singing, and I believe that Dean belongs in the same group or discussion. He had so much style and swagger when he sang; some people described his singing as though he had a glass of wine in his hand…perhaps because he often sang with a glass of wine in his hand (some of that was image more than reality).
The Beatles finished recording the songs that would end up on Let It Be, and John took the master tapes and handed them off to Phil Spector – without asking the other Beatles – to post-produce the songs as only Phil Spector could. This understandably infuriated Paul, as songs like this one were muddied with all of Spector’s production. Paul intended this is a piano-centric piece, but his piano playing and vocals get lost in the Phil Spector-produced version. It’s much better as Paul intended it, and that’s how he performed the song live in the years that followed.
Back around 1977 and already really into music, my grandma took me to Newberry’s (the “five and dime“) to buy me my very first record album. Truth is before I got really into The Beatles, my first musical memories are of Paul McCartney’s solo music, and I told my grandmother at the time that “this guy was once in a really big band.” Understatement of the century. Anyway, my grandmother bought me the Paul McCartney live album (“Wings Over America“) that had just come out, and the live version of “The Long and Winding Road” is on it. Oh and by the way…here’s the very same album. Still with me after all these years…
In concert, Robert Plant referred to Stairway To Heaven as a song of hope, but I think that this is the true song of hope. I recorded this a few years ago, but heck singing technique changes, ya get a little better at figuring out how to use the recording equipment; and last but certainly not least – the world around you changes, so you sing it with a bit of emotion in your heart (and flowers in your hair) this time. So with all that said, I re-recorded it this morning.
The challenge with this song was getting the emotion of the song and the vocal sound that I wanted into the singing, and then getting the whole thing to sound ok on the recording with just the acoustic guitar accompaniment. Yep a very well-known song, and this version found its way into the Shrek movie. Jeff Buckley was a very expressive singer with incredible range. It’s a shame that he left us too soon and with only one full album completed, but this version of the song was on it.
For Peter my brother on this Memorial Day. The biggest U2 fan there is (I’m second just behind him). While I coulda changed the lyrics to “Party Boy” for Peter, it would’ve messed up all the rhymes and what not in the original song (I know he’s laughing at that).
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it will
A song to end racism. A song of hope and optimism by one of the greatest singers that there ever was. He left us too soon, but he left behind the most incredible voice and style of any singer/entertainer. If you have a chance to listen to Sam Cooke Live At The Copacabana, I highly recommend it.
The Beatles Channel
Dave sings Billy – remastered and remixed for 2026
As a fellow Long Island native and MOT who was born in the same Bronx NY hospital as Billy was, I’ve loved his music for as long as I can remember. To me, he is the Norman Rockwell of popular music 1 – there’s a story in every song. Studying The Stranger’s album sleeve, pictures, liner notes and lyrics as a 10-year old when it came out – and all of Billy’s albums going forward, I worked my way back to his older music through the Songs In The Attic live album. Awesome piano playing and songwriting aside, I’ve always loved the range in Billy’s singing voice and the way that he uses it – particularly for a guy who never took voice lessons. And he can sing all genres – rock, ballads, doo wop 50’s…you name it.
Most of the below songs were remixed and remastered recently to balance my vocals with the instrumentation a bit better and get the loud out (not to be confused with “Getting the Led out” – which is when a radio station plays 3 Led Zeppelin songs in a row). “Everybody Loves You Now” was recorded in an LA studio and was engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Beatle; and therefore needed no further remixing and remastering. Also, some of the songs now include more retsyn – the secret ingredient in certain breath mints.
Get well soon Billy! Long Island’s own…Billy Joel – as sung by me. Oh and one more thing…as Billy always said at the end of his concerts – don’t take any sh*t from anyone!
Rock On, Garth!
Dave Yarin – Live At The Copa!
Feelin’ a little Rat Pack or piano bar-ish? Throw on your tux or that little black number, take the kitchen entrance like Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco did in Goodfellas and slip a few people a double sawbuck on the way in; and get a table dropped just for you (with a fresh white table cloth) right in front of the stage for the best seat in the house.
Dave Sings Elton
Everyone talks about Elton and Billy’s piano playing…for obvious reasons, but I was always awed by their vocals. Elton’s range, his style, his vocal emotion was and remains amazing. The playlist includes 4 songs from my favorite Elton album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (the title track), and 3 songs you don’t hear as often (Sweet Painted Lady, Roy Rogers and Harmony) – that are part of the reason why this album remains one of my all-time favorites from cover to cover. And before you say “Hey Dave, isn’t Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds a Beatles song?” – Elton did an awesome cover of it, so I included it on this playlist. Thank you Elton.
Pontoon Boat Rock
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Happy Holidays!
A playlist of twelve thirteen of my favorite Christmas songs – all as sung by; and repeatedly remixed and remastered by…Moi. A double shot of Elvis (RIP). Jimmy Buffett (born on December 25th; RIP) and Tom Petty (RIP). I read somewhere that Wham’s Last Christmas (RIP George Michael) is the most listened to Christmas song ever…however they keep track of that. Band Aid had everyone who was everyone then…before We Are The World I might add. And yes – I’m all the lead vocals on Do They Know It’s Christmas. John Mellencamp – for my Indiana family! Elton being Elton. Combining Motown and U2 on Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is like putting chocolate and peanut butter together, and I’ve loved the John Lennon (RIP) and Greg Lake (RIP) songs ever since I can remember remembering. I first heard Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles when I was a kid, but over time I’ve discovered several other versions that are equally as good, the best of which is by Aaron Neville. Twelve Thirteen of my favorite Christmas songs, with Happy Holiday wishes from me and the “band” to everyone!
“I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear“
- Expression TM by D. Yarin ↩︎