# Greatest Rock Vocal Performances **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2007, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473 "2007-03-11T09:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/1 "2007-03-11T09:35:42Z")
Have we done this one before? I’m curious as to what people think the greatest vocal performances have been in rock music. Not necessarily the best songs or bands, just the best vocal. Here are a couple that I’d put on the list: **Twist and Shout** - John Lennon **Piece of my Heart** - Janis Joplin. But I could be convinced to switch that to **Me and Bobby McGee** **Jeremy** - Eddie Vedder **Love Reign O’er Me** - Roger Daltrey Any other candidates? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/2 "2007-03-11T10:02:01Z")
Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan on Strange Kind Of Woman, from the live album Made In Japan, when he starts matching Blackmore’s guitar licks note for note until you can’t tell which is guitar and which is vocals - a breathtaking display of technique that always makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/3 "2007-03-11T10:57:59Z")
Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah.” I win, thread over. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/4 "2007-03-11T11:31:24Z")
A number of Meatloaf songs. Great voice. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/5 "2007-03-11T12:05:53Z")
Another vote for Ian Gillan, on almost anything. I still think he’s what a rock singer _ought_ to sound like. Incidentally, as well as all his mainstream work with Purple et el., he did a great job as Jesus on the _studio_ recording of the ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ album. I’d also like to give close-but-no-cigar prizes to Freddie Mercury (pick your own track, but I’d go for ‘One Vision’) or Peter Gabriel (‘Sledgehammer’). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/6 "2007-03-11T13:51:00Z")
_Hallelujah_ isn’t rock. _Gimme Shelter_, with Merry Clayton showing Mick Jagger how it’s done – there’s your winner. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/7 "2007-03-11T14:23:37Z")
I’ll offer up Paul McCartney on “Oh! Darling”, although it was not achieved in one take. Also, check him out on “Monkberry Moon Delight”. He went through a (short) period of using voice-as-instrument, and came up with some very impressive vocal feats. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/8 "2007-03-11T15:06:17Z")
Roger Daltrey’s scream on “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Second Merry Clayton on “Gimme Shelter.” ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/9 "2007-03-11T15:57:13Z")
Aretha Franklin deserves a little _Respect_ here. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/10 "2007-03-11T16:25:08Z")
Interesting. It sounds like some of you, at least, favor the raw, “I’ve been screaming all night and my vocal cords are shot” sort of vocal performance. I have a confession to make. You know what song spontaneously started playing in my brain around the time I saw this thread? I hesitate to tell you, because I could lose serious Coolness Points. Just remember, this isn’t my own, carefully reasoned choice; it’s something that some part of my brain came up with. And I don’t know what my brain was thinking. I haven’t heard the song recently, and I have no idea what pushed it into my consciousness, but, for whatever reason, the vocal performance forcing itself into my head right now is… “Mr. Roboto,” by Styx. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/11 "2007-03-11T16:45:55Z")
Third _Gimme Shelter_. Best rock song, best rock vocal performance. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/12 "2007-03-11T16:48:56Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] I have a confession to make. You know what song spontaneously started playing in my brain around the time I saw this thread? I hesitate to tell you, because I could lose serious Coolness Points. Just remember, this isn’t my own, carefully reasoned choice; it’s something that some part of my brain came up with. And I don’t know what my brain was thinking. I haven’t heard the song recently, and I have no idea what pushed it into my consciousness, but, for whatever reason, the vocal performance forcing itself into my head right now is… “Mr. Roboto,” by Styx. [/QUOTE] From all accounts I’ve heard, personality-wise Dennis DeYoung is a complete and utter ass - but he’s got a great voice. I’m not sure Mr. Roboto is the best example thereof, but my brain is prone to coming up with weird shit, too. Add my vote for Meat Loaf, for Heaven Can Wait. It’s a good performance throughout, but that final note is just way too cool. Burton Cummings of The Guess Who - Undun, and These Eyes. David Clayton-Thomas (Blood. Sweat & Tears) - Hi-De-Ho. Midge Ure (Ultravox) - Vienna, and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes. I don’t think Freddie Mercury ever did a bad job on any song, but there’s a solo track from his album The Great Pretender, called Exercises in Free Love. OK, not really a rock song, but since I’d classify him as a rock singer, it counts (my brain, my rules 🙂 ) In Exercises In Free Love, Freddie sings soprano, and quite well. It’s mindblowing. ---
**Author:** ![Glassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Glassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glassy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/13 "2007-03-11T17:03:15Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Interesting. It sounds like some of you, at least, favor the raw, “I’ve been screaming all night and my vocal cords are shot” sort of vocal performance. [/QUOTE] I think it’s interesting, too, because that’s not a style that I particularly favor. The person I thought of when I saw this thread was Sam Cooke. (Hey, if we can have Aretha, we can have Sam.) \*Beautiful \* voice. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/14 "2007-03-11T17:05:08Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Add my vote for Meat Loaf, for Heaven Can Wait. It’s a good performance throughout, but that final note is just way too cool. Burton Cummings of The Guess Who - Undun, and These Eyes. David Clayton-Thomas (Blood. Sweat & Tears) - Hi-De-Ho. [/QUOTE] Ooh, great answers! I’ve loved going through life as almost the only 20-something I know who even knows who these people are. I’d add: Leon Russell - A Song For You Fredie Mercury - Somebody To Love Bruce Springsteen - Jungleland Crosby Stills, and Nash - Helplessly Hoping There’s got to be a “perfect” Zeppelin tune, maybe the Immigrant Song? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/15 "2007-03-11T18:42:01Z")
It seems strange to post a great vocal performance by **Queen** without mentioning Freddie(which there are dozens),but Roger Taylor’s Meeeeeeeeeeeee in Bohemian Rhapsody deserves a nod. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/16 "2007-03-11T18:46:47Z")
[QUOTE=Eonwe] There’s got to be a “perfect” Zeppelin tune, maybe the Immigrant Song? [/QUOTE] _Battle of Evermore_, which is made perfect by the addition of Sandy Denny on harmony vocals. The song itself is trite garbage, but rock & roll can be summed up by Elvis’ vocal on _Viva Las Vegas_. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/17 "2007-03-11T18:55:56Z")
The most talented singing I’ve heard in American rock is probably Joshua Homme in _Tangled Up in Plaid_, though admittedly it’s not the best song nor the most emotional singing. Eventually I think he’ll be #1 though, he just needs to make more emotional songs. I haven’t heard any of the other songs listed in this thread though, except Fred Mercury, who I would still rank Homme above. (Though Mercury played about more in different ranges.) Not quite rock but, given that Aretha Franklin found her way in here, Otis Redding on his song _A Change is Gonna Come_ is probably the song with the most emotion that I can think of which would be close enough to mainstream rock. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/18 "2007-03-11T19:11:20Z")
Even though he just dies, how about **Brad Delp from Boston** for “More Than a Feeling” In the same vein: **Steve Perry from Journey** ’s solo hit “Oh, Sherry” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/19 "2007-03-11T19:25:46Z")
Joe Cocker in **A Little Help From My Friends, The Letter, Feelin’ Alright?** Rod Stewart in **In a Broken Dream** ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473/20 "2007-03-11T19:40:12Z")
I like Del Shannon’s **Runaway** , especially the new version he recorded for the opening credits of _Crime Story_. His voice had gained some character since the original. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-vocal-performances/395473.md?page=2)