OT: Rock and Roll lead singers

[8893]

Toots Hibbert also has a crazy, energizing voice and presence.

And Raul Malo of the Mavericks is about as close to Roy Orbison as we'll probably ever hear again.

 

[8893]

Hard to believe that this was 10 years ago. Makes me teary just thinking about it again. The NYT happened to be at Levon's barn when we brought our family to one of the Kids Rambles, and two of my kids were lucky enough to be among the crowd in this pic from the article (Anna Lee, of "The Weight" fame was also there that day; she's a friend of Levon's from home):

 

[Waquoit]

Terry Kath had to be an Alien. His guitar playing is mind blowing.

I think his solo on 25 or 6 to 4 is my all time favorite.

 

[uconngb]

1. Robert Plant
2. Everyone else
3a. Ray Charles
3b. Freddie Mercury
3c. Steve Winwood
3d. Mick Jaggar
3e. Greg Allman

Love it....although I'd have Greg 3a and Ray 3e

 

[August_West]

I think his solo on 25 or 6 to 4 is my all time favorite.

You ever hear all the instruments except the horns and vocals stripped away so you can hear what hes doing the whole song?

Its amazing!

 

[John]

Hard to believe that this was 10 years ago. Makes me teary just thinking about it again. The NYT happened to be at Levon's barn when we brought our family to one of the Kids Rambles, and two of my kids were lucky enough to be among the crowd in this pic from the article (Anna Lee, of "The Weight" fame was also there that day; she's a friend of Levon's from home):

that is ee eye en awesome.

 

[superjohn]

Fantastic call on Levon a wonderful singer.


Terry Kath had to be an Alien. His guitar playing is mind blowing.

Do you know if the movie about him ever came out?

 

[superjohn]

Yeah Levon was a treasure. And a great, gracious man. Seeing shows at his barn remains among the top musical experiences of my life, and his voice just brings an instant sense of warmth and place.

And I'll never, ever get how someone can sing and drum at the same time.

He was amazing, can you elaborate on seeing him some more? Always thought Elton John's epic Levon song was about him, turns out it wasn't.

 

[Mano]

This is more personal and perhaps an indication of what type of music I'd like to have made rather than a best voice list, but...

1) Freddie Mercury
2) Robert Plant
3) Thom Yorke

Others I love:
Alex Turner
Matt Bellamy
Joe Strummer
David Byrne
Zack de la Rocha
Win Butler

Other others:
Ian Brown
Christian Zucconi
Jeff Lynne
John Fogerty
Ronnie Van Zant

Also I'm not a huge fan of him, but Chris Cornell has an amazing voice.

There's a million more.

 

[JimHurley]

Bono, Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Perry, Aaron Lewis, James Hetfield.

 

[8893]

He was amazing, can you elaborate on seeing him some more?

He had a series of shows he called "Midnight Rambles" at his barn in Woodstock and he would play with his band and special guests. It was basically like attending a kegger at your good friend's house, if your friend was Levon and he had a great band and the coolest barn that was both a residence and a performance space/recording studio. It was BYOB and there was a big potluck table where people brought food to share. It couldn't have been a more relaxed setting. Maybe 100 people or so. It felt like hallowed ground to us.

During the regular Midnight Rambles there were no pictures allowed, and Levon was nice and gracious but didn't mingle a lot, understandably, as everyone wanted to talk to him. His kitchen was right off the main room and he would enter from there to take the stage. After attending the first one we noticed that he had a knack for finding all the ladies on his route to the stage and giving them a nice little squeeze, hug and/or kiss as he walked by, so of course we positioned ourselves there for future visits and my wife and a few friends were lucky enough get a little Levon lovin' a few times.

The Kids' Ramble was a little different. It was like going to Grandpa Levon's house, as he mingled with the kids the entire time and really couldn't get enough of them. Pictures were allowed and we got a lot with him; he stopped and chatted with my girls for several minutes and graciously posed for pics. My youngest daughter was only a year old at the time and I'll never forget him playfully whispering her name in her ear repeatedly as he posed for pictures, saying "We gon' dance tonight!" with the biggest, warmest smile that characteristic drawl that just melts you.

So happy we got to do that, and I would give anything to be able to have that experience again.

I still vividly remember standing maybe ten feet from him when we was sitting on the stool at the front of the stage for the "Atlantic City" opener. It was all dark except for a single spotlight on him for the first verse, and then when the band kicked in behind him the houselights came up. It was magical. Getting goosebumps again now as I type--and a little misty again...

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

This is more personal and perhaps an indication of what type of music I'd like to have made rather than a best voice list, but...

1) Freddie Mercury
2) Robert Plant
3) Thom Yorke

Others I love:
Alex Turner
Matt Bellamy
Joe Strummer
David Byrne
Zack de la Rocha
Win Butler

Other others:
Ian Brown
Christian Zucconi
Jeff Lynne
John Fogerty
Ronnie Van Zant

Also I'm not a huge fan of him, but Chris Cornell has an amazing voice.

There's a million more.

Bellamy is a good one. I love his voice. Great range and sound, esp live too. Very underrated.

 

[Dove]

Another genre...just rattle off three while eating chicken and brocolli:

Kevin Dubrow of Quiet Riot
David Coverdale and...
Judas Priests' Rob Halford (more when in the closet, tho).
Also Lou Gramm of Foreigner.


That was 4.

 

[uconnfan68]

SO many unlistenable bands.
I'd rather be locked in a room with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young doing the CSN songbook.

Surprised nobody mentioned Sammy Hagar.

I'd like to be in that room.

 

[uconnfan68]

"Oh la la" and "Every Picture Tells a Story" are on my running/exercise playlist and the latter came on during last night's run. Every time I hear it through headphones I'm compelled by the drumming in that song. So powerful and commanding. But the vocal is so great, too. After hearing it last night I fished out the vinyl when I got home and gave it to my middle daughter, who has inherited much of my taste in music, as well as an increasing number of my albums (90 as of yesterday, she tells me) for her use on the turntable we got her a couple years ago. And in the process of course I lectured her and the rest of the family on the greatness of Rod Stewart's early work with Faces and his early solo stuff.

Also have that same song on my endless cd. Along with some Quicksilver, Eric Burden, Fleetwood Mac, ZZTop, and more. Too lazy to change it. ;^)
Need to get back to usb frontpanel though.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Number 1 is Freddie Mercury, it's hard to argue against that.
Plant, Daltrey has got to be up there, as well as Bono.

Among those I don't think were mentioned- Kurt Cobain, Clapton, Thom Yorke, Mark Knopfler, Billie Joe Armstrong, Anthony Kiedis.
Not necessarily vocal ability when it comes to those last 2, but unique sound and great lyricism.

This response will be ignoring the '60's, and mostly the '70's (Queen):

Freddie Mercury was mercurial. The guy could do so many things. Even listen to "Another One Bites the Dust". His "Hey! Hey! Hey" is great, and, in some of the song, he has that Michael Jackson vibe.

Kurt Cobain had that power. He could belt that tone to match their metal/grunge sound.

And I totally agree with the last two. They can sing, and their sound not only conveys their band's sounds, but their songs' themes and messages.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

I dont see how you couldnt have Freddie Mercury in the top 5, his voice and range is close to Robert Plant. Jeff Beck also had an amazing voice, shame he died early

 

[Huskies4ever]

Prince
James Brown
Freddie Mercury
Johnny Cash (I know not rock n roll but....)
David
Bowie

Johnny Cash had an amazing voice.

This is more personal and perhaps an indication of what type of music I'd like to have made rather than a best voice list, but...

1) Freddie Mercury
2) Robert Plant
3) Thom Yorke

Others I love:
Alex Turner
Matt Bellamy
Joe Strummer
David Byrne
Zack de la Rocha
Win Butler

Other others:
Ian Brown
Christian Zucconi
Jeff Lynne
John Fogerty
Ronnie Van Zant

Also I'm not a huge fan of him, but Chris Cornell has an amazing voice.

There's a million more.

Nice to see a Zack de la Rocha reference.

 

[uconnfan68]

Yes, the ramshackle sloppiness is definitely part of the attraction. And the drumming is so unorthodox, at least to my ears, but I can't resist air drumming the crap out of it--and singing several parts at the top of my lungs. It definitely picks up my pace, which is the whole reason I put it on the playlist. It never disappoints.

Also, some dated political incorrectness that wouldn't fly these days. "Slant-eyed lady," "Shanghai Lil."

Somewhat related, but I'm reminded of a similar phenomenon when I am lucky enough to catch Brian's Song, a movie I loved, and see the very liberal use of the "n-word." Great scene in the movie about it:

Take a ride on an Eastern moon.

 

[uconnfan68]

The Drumming and the vocal in every picture are both SO great. That song just chugs along. Next time you are listening on good cans, you will here my favorite parts about that fantastic song.

Its SO sloppy! There are guys yelling in the studio that you can still hear on the recording if you listen closely. There are guitar parts that are mistakes that appear here and there, and at the end the whole beat of the song is turned around unintentionally and it WORKS so great. The warts make the song so authentic.

Wonder what the Faces were on. ;^)

 

[Huskies4ever]

Mercury
Plant
Bon Scott
Steve Perry
Paul Rogers

As singers but if the question is frontman it's hard leave out Jagger, Roth, Rose and Tyler

Bon Scott a good call. "Big Balls" very unique sound (kinda evil sounding, too). He was supposedly a wild, crazy 'effer. His death says it all.

I'm surprised no one brought up Brian Johnson.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

I dont see how you couldnt have Freddie Mercury in the top 5, his voice and range is close to Robert Plant. Jeff Beck also had an amazing voice, shame he died early

Meant Jeff Buckley not beck

 

[John]

Bon Scott a good call. "Big Balls" very unique sound (kinda evil sounding, too). He was supposedly a wild, crazy 'effer. His death says it all.

I'm surprised no one brought up Brian Johnson.

I like Brian Johnson but he's more a screamer than a singer.

 

[John]

The 80s had some very unique male vocalists that I liked, maybe haven't withstood the test of time?

 

[RichZ]

From those of us in the Geriatric crowd:

1) Roy Orbison no explanation required

2) Jay Black of Jay and the Americans had no problem covering 3 full octaves although he was an

2) Frankie Valli same as Jay Black but Frankie wasn't an

3) John Lennon

4)Roger Daultry

5) Burton Cummings Jr.

A few others: Carl Perkins, Springstien, David Ruffin, Jim Morrison

I may be more geriatric than you. Few here will have ever heard of most of the lead singers on my list.

Eugene Mumford
Charles Brown
Clyde McPhatter
Jackie Wilson
Nate Nelson
Ben E King

All of the above were lead singers of vocal groups in the fifties. Brown, McPhatter, King and Wilson also had solo careers, with Wilson's and King's being the most notable.

From the time after the day the music died, I would name Seger, Meatloaf and Mercury.