# Lead singer takes a break: best and worst examples **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273 "2016-02-16T16:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/101 "2016-02-18T14:17:22Z")
Ann Wilson did most of Heart’s lead vocals, but Nancy Wilson was great on “These Dreams”. And count me as another fan of Mother. It fits with the rest of the album. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/102 "2016-02-18T15:09:21Z")
Not sure if Old 97s bassist Murry Hammond qualifies, as he usually gets one or two tracks per album and a handful of songs in their live sets. But he definitely falls in the “good” category. On the other hand, lead guitarist Ken Bethea took his one shot with “Coahuila” and hasn’t been heard from since. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/103 "2016-02-18T15:47:19Z")
Forgot one: Louis Perez, Los Lobos’ percussionist/lyricist, takes a rare lead vocal on “Saint Behind the Glass.” ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/104 "2016-02-18T16:07:36Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Speaking of Jimbo taking a breather, I propose Ray Manzarek, doing “Close To You” on the first live album, as a simultaneous best AND worst example. > “Best” example because Jim’s voice was already faltering by that time, and Ray really could sing. > “Worst” because technical ability notwithstanding, Ray’s voice was so incredibly obnoxious. Yes indeed – it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/105 "2016-02-18T16:10:49Z")
> [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > Ann Wilson did most of Heart’s lead vocals, but Nancy Wilson was great on “These Dreams”. > > And count me as another fan of Mother. It fits with the rest of the album. Also on _Little Queen._. She may ot be the power house that Ann is (hell, who is?) but she can hold her own. And _Mother_? I just can’t with you people who like it:p I remember having to \>ffwd past it. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/106 "2016-02-18T16:13:15Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > I like C.J. doing the Dee Dee songs, and others, in end-period Ramones. Me too. Strength to Endure is one of my favorites as well even though Joey didn’t sing it. The Ramones were never really commercially successful but they kept plugging along. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F_FZu4T_ak4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgVChJMA8=&rs=AOn4CLANawVX9Bf_6_1Ei0bDQpKN2uMUWg "The Ramones - Strength To Endure") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_FZu4T_ak4) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/107 "2016-02-18T17:59:29Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I’m glad **nearwildheaven** got to post her eponymous suggestion. That same album (_Out of Time_) has both Mike Mills’ best and his worst compositions – “Near Wild Heaven” and “Texarkana” respectively. But he sings poorly on both of them (and on the earlier “Superman,” a cover song). > > As for Led Zeppelin, the only instance I’m aware of in the studio canon of someone else taking lead vocals is Jimmy Page singing the bridge (“Little drops of rain…”) in the song “Thank You.” A pleasant enough voice – odd he didn’t sing more. Doesn’t sound like a lead to me. His voice, if that’s him, is just for color. It’s a duet with Plant being mixed louder. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273/108 "2016-02-18T18:49:47Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Doesn’t sound like a lead to me. His voice, if that’s him, is just for color. It’s a duet with Plant being mixed louder. Could be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-singer-takes-a-break-best-and-worst-examples/746273.md?page=5)