OT: Rock and Roll lead singers

[HuskyHawk]

I started this thread, and have been thinking on it since.

There are some underappreciated names out there.

• Jeff Lynne - ELO. Been hearing their tunes and man, that guy can sing. Listen to "Telephone Line"
• Gregg Allman - white man's blues done really well
• Debby Harry - unique sound
• Bowie - flamboyant and with more range than he gets credit for
• Phil Lynott - Whole band is underrated
• Brad Delp - instantly recognizable

Guys I do not understand being on any list of great lead singers

• Cobain (he's awful) Cornell -> Vedder -> Cobain among Seattle Grunge bands of the era
• Morrison (talked more than sang, was a good front man)
• Springsteen (just ok as a singer, great front man)

Being a great front man is different than being a great singer. Springsteen, Morrison, Cobain, DLR, Jagger all great front men.

 

[Jimdish255]

Way late and just a shuffle of the mentioned guys.

1. Plant- if you were creating a guy from scratch with range, stage presence and the ability to sing different styles with his own spin he's the guy.

2. Daltrey- terrific rock vocals and dynamic stage presence

3. Mercury- best voice and good performer

4. Elvis- how do you leave this guy off any list?

5. Tough but I'll go with Ozzy for pure presence and an underrated voice in his prime. You went to see Ozzy period.

Hard to leave out both Morrissons, Paul Rodgers, Fogerty, Perry and McCartney. Probably my second team.

Janis Joplin belongs in the top 5 easily if this wasn't a sexist list.

Croce is tough to leave out except for genre not matching.

Amazing what an embarrasment of riches there was around the same 10-15 year period.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Don't forget the late Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagen. Basically Small Faces traded Steve Marriot for Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. "Stay With Me" is classic - basically what Rock n' Roll was all about summed up in a tidy four minutes.

My preference.
Python Lee Jackson - In a Broken Dream (1972)
This is the prefect Rod Stewart song......under an alias. The voice is the voice.

 

[Yardigan]

I started this thread, and have been thinking on it since.

There are some underappreciated names out there.

• Jeff Lynne - ELO. Been hearing their tunes and man, that guy can sing. Listen to "Telephone Line".

Went through a phase where I couldn't hear Ma-Ma-Ma Belle enough...and it just happened to repeat again last week...

 

[Madmannsucks]

Hmmm...how could I forget John Fogerty?
Chuck Negron....
Tom Johnston for what he was....and Michael McDonald, the most effortless vocalist ever.
And the Rockville Rocket, Gene Pitney.
Ricky Nelson, could croon, rock, and sing ballads.

 

[storrsroars]

My preference.
Python Lee Jackson - In a Broken Dream (1972)
This is the prefect Rod Stewart song.under an alias. The voice is the voice.

Rod definitely had chops. What you posted would probably be a great tune with a better backing band. Very plodding, but Rod rose above it.

I like Rod with Faces because those guys were having fun. Until Rod got unbearable to be around, anyway.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Rod definitely had chops. What you posted would probably be a great tune with a better backing band. Very plodding, but Rod rose above it.

I like Rod with Faces because those guys were having fun. Until Rod got unbearable to be around, anyway.

Well said.

 

[ShabooAllStar]

Ah, what the heck... Some lesser knowns for people to check out:

Peppi Marchello (RIP), the Good Rats

Johnette Napolitano, Concrete Blond

Raul Malo, The Mavericks

Alison Moyette, solo, Yaz

David Clayton Thomas, Blood Sweat & Tears

Burton Cummings, The Guess Who

 

[Ewekon]

Ah, what the heck... Some lesser knowns for people to check out:

Peppi Marchello (RIP), the Good Rats

Johnette Napolitano, Concrete Blond

Raul Malo, The Mavericks

Alison Moyette, solo, Yaz

David Clayton Thomas, Blood Sweat & Tears

Burton Cummings, The Guess Who

Good Rats were a summertime home from college staple at Surfside in Fairfield. Would road trip to see them at Toad's and in Misquamicut. NRBQ as well.

 

[Horatio]

 

[storrsroars]

Ah, what the heck... Some lesser knowns for people to check out:

Alison Moyette, solo, Yaz

Burton Cummings, The Guess Who

We've mentioned Burton a few times here early on.

Alison Moyet was Adele before there was an Adele. Excellent set of pipes. I assume her weight kept her from being a bigger star. Girl was big. Probably the only woman who could challenge Ann Wilson of Heart for best female vocalist in late 70s/80s.

 

[mussels]

1. Jim Morrison. His vocals aren't perfect but they are riveting and stage presence is undeniable.

Unless I missed it, seven pages until someone mentioned Jim Morrison. That's just wrong.

 

[zepfan]

Robert Plant is my man and Led Zeppelin my band so this is hard for me to say, but I have to give it to Mr. Jagger. Obviously not for voice alone, Plant clearly the superior singer, but Mick's stage presence is second to none. "Moves like Jagger" and attitude like Jagger with a distinctive voice with reasonable singing skills - he is the epitome of rock. After "Percy" Plant and "the chicken on acid" as Mick was once described, I will go with Freddie Mercury, Roger Daltry, and the late great Mr. Bowie!! Runners up include Meat Loaf, Steve Perry, John Fogerty (for the howling).

 

[Offhegoes]

I started this thread, and have been thinking on it since.

There are some underappreciated names out there.

• Jeff Lynne - ELO. Been hearing their tunes and man, that guy can sing. Listen to "Telephone Line"
• Gregg Allman - white man's blues done really well
• Debby Harry - unique sound
• Bowie - flamboyant and with more range than he gets credit for
• Phil Lynott - Whole band is underrated
• Brad Delp - instantly recognizable

Guys I do not understand being on any list of great lead singers

• Cobain (he's awful) Cornell -> Vedder -> Cobain among Seattle Grunge bands of the era
• Morrison (talked more than sang, was a good front man)
• Springsteen (just ok as a singer, great front man)

Being a great front man is different than being a great singer. Springsteen, Morrison, Cobain, DLR, Jagger all great front men.

Vedder and Cornell are top 10 on any list for singers all time IMO. Their versatility can be breath taking at times. It’s just a coincidence they came from the same area around same time. Cobain is not on same level vocally. Listen to Release live by Pearl Jam to get an idea.

 

[tentoes4rings]

1) Chris Cornell
2)Plant
3) Bono
4)Jim Morrison
5) Diamond Dave

2nd team:
Mercury
Daltrey
Bon
Vedder
Bob Marley

 

[David 76]

We've mentioned Burton a few times here early on.

Alison Moyet was Adele before there was an Adele. Excellent set of pipes. I assume her weight kept her from being a bigger star. Girl was big.

Mama Cass was bigger and better. Though not really rock.

 

[tentoes4rings]

1. Jim Morrison. His vocals aren't perfect but they are riveting and stage presence is undeniable.

2. Mick Jagger. First did he make a deal with the devil or something? How can he still sing? Puts on an unbelievable show. Saw them in Philly and Hartford probably '82

3. Steven Tyler. Dream on, nuff said.

4. David Lee Roth. Again not perfect but a great front man.

5. Roy Orbison. You've Got It reminded me that he can just flat out sing. Completely different from everyone else on this list, though.

I’m a huge Morrison fan but for me part of the criteria should be live performance. Jim was such a drunk that many Doors live performances suffered as a result. That’s why I elevated people like Bono and David Lee Roth, because their live presence was so strong.

 

[Mano]

I started this thread, and have been thinking on it since.

There are some underappreciated names out there.

• Jeff Lynne - ELO. Been hearing their tunes and man, that guy can sing. Listen to "Telephone Line"
• Gregg Allman - white man's blues done really well
• Debby Harry - unique sound
• Bowie - flamboyant and with more range than he gets credit for
• Phil Lynott - Whole band is underrated
• Brad Delp - instantly recognizable

Guys I do not understand being on any list of great lead singers

• Cobain (he's awful) Cornell -> Vedder -> Cobain among Seattle Grunge bands of the era
• Morrison (talked more than sang, was a good front man)
• Springsteen (just ok as a singer, great front man)

Being a great front man is different than being a great singer. Springsteen, Morrison, Cobain, DLR, Jagger all great front men.

Liked for Jeff Lynne. Have always really loved ELO’s stuff. Very unique even now. And “Telephone Line” is one of my faves. “Rain is Falling” is another great showcase of his voice.

 

[AdamaNation]

I started this thread, and have been thinking on it since.

There are some underappreciated names out there.

• Jeff Lynne - ELO. Been hearing their tunes and man, that guy can sing. Listen to "Telephone Line"
• Gregg Allman - white man's blues done really well
• Debby Harry - unique sound
• Bowie - flamboyant and with more range than he gets credit for
• Phil Lynott - Whole band is underrated
• Brad Delp - instantly recognizable

Guys I do not understand being on any list of great lead singers

• Cobain (he's awful) Cornell -> Vedder -> Cobain among Seattle Grunge bands of the era
• Morrison (talked more than sang, was a good front man)
• Springsteen (just ok as a singer, great front man)

Being a great front man is different than being a great singer. Springsteen, Morrison, Cobain, DLR, Jagger all great front men.

You got me EXACTLY. I was going for front men as noted

 

[Madmannsucks]

Hmmm, I don't know...did anyone mention Eric Burdon?

 

[Coach McGurk]

Not many can compete with the heavyweights on this list (plant etc.)

BUT.... the most underrated (since I only saw 1 mention of him, presumably because vocals were least important aspect of the 3 piece band)
JACK BRUCE! Listen to spoonful and that’s all you need to hear.

Other phenomenal vocalists (who are obviously more pop than rock, but I challenge you to find more gifted male vocalists)

George Michael, Kenny Loggins, and Lou Gramm

 

[browndog319]

Roger Daltrey needs to be at the top of this list. Range. Power. Still kills it in his old age. Presence.
The Who remains a very influential band and his singing is a huge part of it.
Then Robert Plant.
Then Bruce Springsteen.

 

[Guapo]

Just a PSA; I figured some posting here might be interested:

Someone has been doing God's work and uploading Beatles albums in their entirety on YouTube the past few days and they have yet to be taken down.

 

[Guapo]

Roger Daltrey needs to be at the top of this list. Range. Power. Still kills it in his old age. Presence.
The Who remains a very influential band and his singing is a huge part of it.
Then Robert Plant.
Then Bruce Springsteen.

Should have included Daltrey in my original list, otherwise you're spot on if you also include Mick.

 

[storrsroars]

Roger Daltrey... Still kills it in his old age.

May I suggest a hearing check up?

Roger, good as he was in the 60s/70s, hasn't nailed a high note or his signature scream on WGFA in 30 years.