Daltrey ‘Won’t get fooled again’
Springsteen ‘Racing in the Street’
Meatloaf ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’
Rocky Erickson’s wail on “You’re Gonna Miss Me” was hard to beat. The 13th Floor Elevators became legend & Rocky changed his name to “Roky.” The group was notoriously “psychedelic,” but they were also hard driving rockers.
A few years back, I saw Eddie Vedder on TV, playing with Neal Young. “Young Rocky,” I thought.
If we can go “newer” on vocals, I really enjoyed the ethereal vocals on “John Wayne Gacy” by Sufjan Stevens. It’s more of a mood piece than a virtuoso vocal performance, but his voice fits the music perfectly, and is near pure.
All the U2 mention and no reference to “Pride”? Under a Blood Red Sky had a great version of that, and Bono was leading the audience throughout.
And I’ll be the first to admit that he doesn’t have a “great” voice, but I can’t think of another vioce I’d want to hear perform the southern, kudzu-laced Alt-rock of REM than Mikey Stipe.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention my single greatest concert moment (and there have been a few), seeing Bob Mould do his Workbook material at Metro with one guitar and a nightstand (and about 6,000,000 speakers).
Uncle Tupelo was a great listen as well. Tweedy was a little rougher back then.
-Cem
I saw Colin Blunstone of The Zombies in concert on Friday. What a great set. I nominate him as his voice still sounds indentical to when most of their hits came out in the late 60’s like Tell Her No and Time of the Season.
Anytime music was playing and Freddie Mercury opened his mouth
Oh, yes, me too! Stipe’s is one of those uber-distinctive voices, and no matter what he sings, the instant you hear it you can’t imagine anyone else singing it. I wasn’t all that familiar with REM, but a friend of mine had an Indigo Girls CD and I first noticed Stipe singing background vocals on a song called Kid Fears. I purchased the Indigo Girls CD, found out who Michael Stipe was, and purchased REM’s entire catalogue soon after.
Jackson Browne. Especially his concert version of “Running on Empty”.
Two pages and nobody’s mentioned Little Richard??!! Cheesy Geico commercials notwithstanding, that guy had some PIPES.
“Lucille”, “Long Tall Sally”, “Tutti Frutti”… Any of these could qualify. And those are just poor-quality YouTube versions. If you listen to the Rhino Records compilation of Little Richard’s music you realize what an amazing instrument his voice once was.
And as long as I’m going old school, how about Jackie Wilson? He showed off his incredible vocal range on “Lonely Teardrops.” (Can’t find a good internet clip of that one, unfortunately, but here’s Jackie doing “Baby Workout” just to give you some idea of his vocal abilities.)
Oh yeah, and here’s one reason Elvis Presley is the King of Rock and Roll: “Heartbreak Hotel”.
And we can’t forget Roy Orbison’s “Crying”
**Elvis Presley’s ** “Suspicious Minds” from *Aloha in Hawaii * is still perfect 25 years later.
Journey’s **Steve Perry ** belting out “Mother, Father” during MTV’s televised Houston concert in '81 - he had incredible range and emotion.
Prince’s live “Purple Rain” version of “The Beautiful Ones” makes me want to rip off my clothes and screw someone.
Elton John’s “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” is still one my favorites list.
Queen’s **Freddie Mercury ** singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” Live at the Bowl - So powerful and the dude never missed a beat
**John Cougar Mellencamp’s ** voice is underappreciated. It’s a great rock and roll voice. His live version of “Little Pink Houses” at the Concert for New York was nearly perfect until Kid Rock came out and killed it.
**Alanis Morrisette’s ** unplugged version of “Uninvited” is both haunting and hard ass.
Pat Benatar’s “Promises in the Dark” is that great combination of vulnerable and rocking.
The Eagles Randy Meisner’s performance on “Take it the Limit” is great.
What, no mention of “*Hocus Pocus *”?
Why do you hate yodeling?
Aretha Franklin on Respect
James Brown This Is a Man’s World
and now for something completely different… vocals that are so tight, so structured, so technically perfect that they deserve mention.
Karen Carpenter on damn near anything, but let’s say Rainy Days and Mondays
The Mamas and Papas on California Dreamin’ and Monday Monday
Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge, on MTV’s Unplugged, singing “Thunder Road” – the perfect match of voices to lyrics.
Sam Cooke - “A Change Is Gonna Come”.
Crosby Stills & Nash: Suit for Judy Blue Eyes
Queen: The Prophet’s Song
in both cases for great harmony and balance, dramatically different stylings of course.
Tori Amos: Silent All These Years
how can someone’s voice inspire tenderness and creep you out at the same time? I can listen to her for hours.
Yes (Jon Anderson): Turn of the Century
that’s a great voice and in this one the vocal just drives the song, like a breeze gradually picking up to a gale-force wind
Neil Young: Rocking in the Free World
just because
Not sure I would say “greatest,” and I don’t even like the song that much, but it seems like Billy Thorpe deserves a mention for “Children of the Sun.”
I’m going to have to go with Harry Nilsson (before he blew out his vocal chords drugging, smoking, and boozing around with John Lennon). Especially “Jump Into the Fire,” and (though it may qualify as “rock”), his version of “Without You.”
Bob Seger’s “That Old Time Rock and Roll.” I can’t picture anyone else singing that song and not turning it into a sick parody.
I’d have to disagree here. Sing the following line in your head to the tune of “Evenflow”:
“Heeeeeeeeeeeee - hawwwwwwww, everytime I sing I sound just like a donKEY!”
Some comedian parodied Eddie Vedder years back and since then, I can’t listen to Pearl Jam without thinking of it.
I’ll add my vote for all things Freddie Mercury and Roy Orbison. I’ll also throw in anything done by Chrissy Hynde - think “Chain Gang”, "Kid’, “Brass in Pocket” - I could go on…
Another vote.
And a more recent track to consider - Kid Rock (!) - Only God Knows Why
A nitpick, but “Pride” wasn’t on Under A Blood Red Sky - that was recorded on the War tour, a year prior. There is a live version of “pride” on Rattle And Hum, though.
Agreed there. Bob’ s never been a technically great singer, but his passion and intensity blow everybody else I’ve seen out of the water.