The Greatest Rock Singer of All Time

[shereads]

Tina Turner

Yes. Still.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Well that changes things.

Vocal texture, volume, range, dynamics, ability to rock: the female soloist who sings a screaming orgasm on the track,"The Great Gig in the Sky," from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Clare Torrey, sayeth Wikipedia, and fuck yeah.

Oh, and Jim Morrison.

 

[shereads]

Clare Torrey, sayeth Wikipedia, and fuck yeah.

Oh, and Jim Morrison.

I wonder if the two of them ever got together?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I wonder if the two of them ever got together?

That would be some rockin and rollin-- covering what, seven octaves, at least!

 

[Noi Jetat]

If you even think Aretha, you have to include Barry White, do you not? Of course, I do love a deep voice on a man, which is why I'm such a huge Peter Steele fan. And if you're including R&B, how about Patti LaBelle?

And if you're going to include those who died way to young for their talent, can I get some love for Layne Staley or Michael Hutchence?

And, of course, Jeff Buckley. Voice of an angel, common sense of an ant.

Gah, so many talented vocalists that deserve to be mentioned, at very least.

 

[Edward Teach]

Just looking over some online polls for best singing voice of all time. One poll had Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix, but not Sinatra, Bing Crosby or Elvis.

 

[slyc_willie]

I've always questioned Rolling Stones' political, cultural, and musical stances. I'm a big fan of ideology, but methinks these people take it too far most of the time. Then again, controversy sells.

So they take a small sample of various current recording artists and ask them who they think are the most influential vocalists of the rock era. They should have actually taken the time and spent some of that Levi's-Donna Karan-Victoria's Secret-Dorito's advertising money and polled their readership. I'm pretty sure the results would have been markedly different.

I love 'Retha. She's got a hell of a voice. But then, if we're considering the era, and not just the genre, where the hell is Bobby Darin? Or Old Blue Eyes? Neil Diamond? What about Phil Collins, Michael Hutchins, or Jon Bon Jovi? Each of them have a very distinctive style and vocal texture. They probably would not have sold as well without their unique voice characteristics.

As for Bob Dylan . . . Geez. He's a great songwriter, but unless you like your lyrics sung by your least-favorite drunk uncle, the man's as inspiring in that regard as a sheet of newspaper on the floor in a public bathroom.

 

[matriarch]

No Robert Plant?

No one could ever scream like Robert Plant. No one.

I'm quoting previous posts which might make the selection easier to understand.......

"the article actually says "greatest singer in rock era". So, of all singers, in all genres, alive and active in the same time period as rock music? I guess she's not an unworthy winner.

Voters included Metallica frontman James Hetfield, folk singers David Crosby and Yusuf Islam, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, punk rock veteran Iggy Pop and English pop star James Blunt. They each submitted their top 20 choices, and an accounting firm tabulated the results."

So, this wasn't a general poll, it was a specific question, and only, apparently, asked of a very specific group of people.

So very unlikely that their choices will coincide with any of ours.

Maybe someone would like to start our own poll, with specific areas of expertise: rock, soul, r&b, composer, singer, guitarist, drummer, etc. etc......... the AH 2008 Poll of the Greatest Ever performers in the Popular Music World.

"

 

[oggbashan]

I thought that Helen Shapiro was a great singer for that period even if she was more Jazz than Rock.

Og

 

[Safe_Bet]

I'm quoting previous posts which might make the selection easier to understand.......

"the article actually says "greatest singer in rock era". So, of all singers, in all genres, alive and active in the same time period as rock music? I guess she's not an unworthy winner.

Voters included Metallica frontman James Hetfield, folk singers David Crosby and Yusuf Islam, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, punk rock veteran Iggy Pop and English pop star James Blunt. They each submitted their top 20 choices, and an accounting firm tabulated the results."

So, this wasn't a general poll, it was a specific question, and only, apparently, asked of a very specific group of people.

So very unlikely that their choices will coincide with any of ours.

Maybe someone would like to start our own poll, with specific areas of expertise: rock, soul, r&b, composer, singer, guitarist, drummer, etc. etc......... the AH 2008 Poll of the Greatest Ever performers in the Popular Music World.

"

Thank you for volunteering, love!




ETA: They should also have to justify their reasoning.

 

[Boota]

I'm not going to list any favorites, because some of my favorite vocalists really can't technically "sing". But from a pure technical point of view, covering chops, technique, pure ability, etc. - I believe Freddie Mercury is the greatest singer of those decades. He did amazing things with his voice. All the while still staying pretty true to the rock ethic. That's not a slam on anyone on the list. Some don't seem to belong, but that's fine with an opinion list.

I went to school with Aretha Franklin's son and he could really sing, too.

 

[Emperor_Nero]

Talking just about voice and singers, I can't believe no one here has even mentioned either Roy Orbison (His nickname was "The Big O" and this is a porn site) or Jay Black (who was also known as "The Voice") from Jay and the Americans.
Both had strong voices and a huge range. Not exactly hard rockers, but Oh, Pretty Woman, Crying, Only The Lonely and others from Orbison, plus Cara Mia, Come A Little Bit Closer and This Magic Moment from Jay and the Americans are all classics largely because of the vocals.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

What about singers who Did The Most With The Least

1. Mick Jagger
2. Bob Dylan
3. Lou Reed
4. Cher
5. Ringo Starr
6. Eric Clapton
7. WIlliam Shattner...

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Clare Torrey, sayeth Wikipedia, and fuck yeah.

Oh, and Jim Morrison.

Jim Morrison, yes. For stage presence, gonzoness, over-the-topness, and for that scream.

And his brother VanD): Not a great voice, not a great range or volume, but he just had it.

 

[Liar]

What about singers who Did The Most With The Least

1. Mick Jagger
2. Bob Dylan
3. Lou Reed
4. Cher
5. Ringo Starr
6. Eric Clapton
7. WIlliam Shattner...

Madonna.

The has a voice too bland for even a decent Kareoke night.

 

[The_Fool]

Roy Orbison

 

[Safe_Bet]

What about singers who Did The Most With The Least

1. Mick Jagger
2. Bob Dylan
3. Lou Reed
4. Cher
5. Ringo Starr
6. Eric Clapton
7. WIlliam Shattner...

Your choice Lena Tatina or Yulia Volkova of t.A.T.u. LINK

NEITHER can sing worth a freakin damn, but they they made it to the big time by making believe that they were lesbians (both DO have uber nice asses however... )

 

[AllardChardon]

Van Morrison's Brown-eyed Girl. I loved that song. I have brown eyes and he was singing to me, right? Just like Roy Orbison in Pretty Woman.

I remember wanting to marry Roy after hearing his voice. My girlfriend suggested I get a good look at him before deciding to marry him. I was shocked. I expected an ELVIS and here was this regualr guy with really thick dark glasses. I learned to look before I speak. I still love his voice, though.

 

[Emperor_Nero]

Van Morrison's Brown-eyed Girl. I loved that song. I have brown eyes and he was singing to me, right? Just like Roy Orbison in Pretty Woman.

I remember wanting to marry Roy after hearing his voice. My girlfriend suggested I get a good look at him before deciding to marry him. I was shocked. I expected an ELVIS and here was this regualr guy with really thick dark glasses. I learned to look before I speak. I still love his voice, though.

Pretty amazing considering Brown-Eyed Girl was originally written as Brown-Skinned Girl and is the story of an interracial relationship. The record label made Van Morrison change it to make it more palatable for 60's radio stations -- many of which still banned it for the line "Makin' love in the green grass"

 

[shereads]

In the category, "Worst Singing Voice of a Brilliant Songwriter," I nominate:

Leon Russell.

<sack of cats>

 

[shereads]

Singer who always makes me smile: Jackie Wilson.

Even in the bluest of navy-blue funks, I can't help but feel a little better when I hear him sing,

Your love keeps lifting me higher
than I've ever been lifted before
So keep it up, quenching my desire
And I'll be at your side forever more...

Just thinking about it, I'm smiling like a fool.

 

[shereads]

I'm not going to list any favorites, because some of my favorite vocalists really can't technically "sing". But from a pure technical point of view, covering chops, technique, pure ability, etc. - I believe Freddie Mercury is the greatest singer of those decades. He did amazing things with his voice.

Ditto Neil Young. Voice like sandpaper, but wonderful to hear.

Something I particularly love about Neil Young's music is that when I sing along, I don't sound a lot worse than he does. Theoretically, that should also be true for Leon Russell but it doesn't work that way. I'm close to the actual notes, and that makes Leon sound even worse.

 

[shereads]

squeaks out the words,

Michael MacDonald, Donna Summer

then runs away in shame

 

[shereads]

Sexiest laid-back vocals: Donald Fagan

 

[dr_mabeuse]

In the category, "Worst Singing Voice of a Brilliant Songwriter," I nominate:

Leon Russell.

<sack of cats>

Leonard Cohen
Neil Diamond