# Who's the better singer? Steve Marriott or Rod Stewart? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969 "2018-12-11T22:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/1 "2018-12-11T22:54:25Z")
As you know from [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=866014), I’m heavily into early 70s British hard rock at the moment and am right now listening to Humble Pie’s album Smokin’. It’s great, and I once more noticed the mighty throat of Steve Marriott. He could have screamed down even Robert Plant at the time. Now compared to his (much more in the end) famous counterpart of the Faces/Small Faces universe, Rod Stewart, which one was better? Of course Rod became a superstar while Steve Marriott became quite obscure over the years and finally burned at his home at age 44. But I think he really could hold a candle. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/2 "2018-12-11T23:27:32Z")
I’ll go Steve Marriott. He made sounds that just shouldn’t have come from that body. Un-freakin’-believable. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/3 "2018-12-11T23:38:06Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I’ll go Steve Marriott. He made sounds that just shouldn’t have come from that body. Un-freakin’-believable. Yeah, where did that volume come from? He was really not a big man. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/4 "2018-12-12T00:45:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Of course Rod became a superstar while Steve Marriott became quite obscure over the years and finally burned at his home at age 44. But I think he really could hold a candle. What do you think? He probably shouldn’t have held that candle… I think Stewart probably had a better voice, but never chose or wrote songs that allowed him to show it off to its best effect. Marriott, OTOH, always made the most of his song choices. I’d probably prefer to listen to Marriott. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/5 "2018-12-12T00:53:20Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > He probably shouldn’t have held that candle… You’re a mean person ;). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/6 "2018-12-12T00:57:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > He probably shouldn’t have held that candle… > > I think Stewart probably had a better voice, but never chose or wrote songs that allowed him to show it off to its best effect. Marriott, OTOH, always made the most of his song choices. > > I’d probably prefer to listen to Marriott. Now in earnest, of course Marriott wrote the songs himself, while Rod rarely did. But Rod Stewart is an excellent interpreter of songs by other songwriters. But only in voice, I think Steve Marriott impressed me more. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/7 "2018-12-12T01:32:55Z")
My vote goes to Marriott. Take a listen to Rockin’ The Fillmore, what a dynamo he was! Little bit o’ trivia: Steve played the Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver. Other notables to play that part: Davy Jones and Phil Collins. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/8 "2018-12-12T02:22:09Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yeah, where did that volume come from? He was really not a big man. [David Bowie reminiscing on VH1 Storytellers about his old mate Steve Marriott before either of them was famous is not to be missed: God, Bowie could spin a yarn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc-0Hf3MUNk) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/9 "2018-12-12T02:50:45Z")
I never heard of Steve Mariott, though I’ve probably heard him. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/10 "2018-12-12T03:00:17Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > [David Bowie reminiscing on VH1 Storytellers about his old mate Steve Marriott before either of them was famous is not to be missed: God, Bowie could spin a yarn.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc-0Hf3MUNk) I miss Bowie. Thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/11 "2018-12-12T03:08:29Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I never heard of Steve Mariott, though I’ve probably heard him. [Of course you have](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGEgRnvFzLY). ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/12 "2018-12-12T03:37:41Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I never heard of Steve Mariott, though I’ve probably heard him. [Another well-known track.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S74n2YF7WOI) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/13 "2018-12-12T03:48:37Z")
Well hell, if we’re linking to classic Marriott tracks, I have to ask, [Are You Ready?](https://youtu.be/2gaMhWGFKmw) (for non-Pie fans, the other vocalist/guitarist is Peter Frampton) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/14 "2018-12-12T05:25:02Z")
I’m horrible remembering artists, but, based on what I found when I googled them, Marriot has the better vocal range, better control, and better tone. Stewart has this nice raspy effect that’s not remotely unpleasant to listen to, but he tends to sound the same in everything I could find. I applaud that he’s kept his voice in such good shape, since he sounds the same in the 2010s as in the 1970s, but I think Marriot had him beat. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/15 "2018-12-12T11:47:37Z")
I’d vote for Marriott. I’ve never had much interest in seeing Rod, although the Faces were huge when I started going to gigs, but I did go see the Small Faces on a re-union tour in 1978. (I think, the support was Cock Sparrer whose 1st album was just out then). Their heyday was obviously past but his voice was still good. I wasn’t as familiar with their back catalogue back then and wasn’t sure which songs were new and which were old ones I didn’t recognise, but the bulk of the audience knew, and gave the new material a very muted reception, which was a shame. But it was still a packed hall and a good night. Sadly, I think he had one of his heart attacks later that night back at their hotel. (Or so I figured from their keyboard player Ian McLagen’s autobiography _All the Rage_.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/16 "2018-12-12T19:53:13Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Little bit o’ trivia: Steve played the Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver. Other notables to play that part: Davy Jones and Phil Collins. And Tony Robinson. Marriott was Robinson’s understudy and they became friends. While I’m a huge fan of all the great 60s British bands, I think Marriott might have been the best of all the frontmen. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/17 "2018-12-12T21:14:26Z")
Steve Marriott by far. I always thought Rod had a good blues voice but it wasn’t well suited for much else. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/18 "2018-12-12T22:04:07Z")
Obviously the requirements for being a good frontman aren’t exactly the same as for being a good singer, but [Marriott was unbelievable](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnI6W3l_1Oo&index=6&list=RDNjEMHtSCU9M). Could Rod Stewart, or indeed any other white guy, be so mesmerising? ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/19 "2018-12-13T02:21:16Z")
I always thought Bonn Scott sounded like a cheap imitation of Marriott. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-better-singer-steve-marriott-or-rod-stewart/825969/20 "2018-12-13T02:54:51Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I always thought Bonn Scott sounded like a cheap imitation of Marriott. Interesting that you mention that…I was just on youtube listening to one of the last songs Marriott recorded w/Frampton and there were several comments saying it sounded just like _Hells Bells_. They’re right I think, but it’s kinda of a chicken/egg thing to me. [The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall](https://youtu.be/tKx5L1wZS6I)