Your Favourite Vocalists

Flicking through my I-Pod I thought I would look at the best vocalists ever. I think sometimes vocalists do not get the credit they deserve given sometimes they are in a band who musically struggle or sometimes are not given the right songs.

Here are my top 5.

1. Bono - Arguably for me the best there has ever been. The range he can find and is also able to draw you into his voice emotionally. With every lyric sung you feel it the way the song is intended. As a showman is in a league of his own. He is able to connect with the audience through the earphones. Songs from One, With or Without You, Beautiful Day to Vertigo and Staring at the Sun. The voice matches the music perfectly. A truly remarkable voice.

2. Prince - For me he has the most dynamic voice I have ever heard. It is demonstrated by his song catalogue. Purple Rain has traces of James Brown in it, Get Off reminds me of Little Richard and Sign of the Times Bob Dylan. Yet encompassing all that, he is pioneering. I am sure Michael Jackson modelled his artistry on Prince. As a vocalist is amazing. He adjusted himself to each genre and sounded fresh each time.

3. Robert Plant - In a band with so many musical genius's as Led Zeppelin, for any singer would be difficult to create a seperate persona. Robert Plant's voice is a truly seductive and sexy thing. Women are drawn to it and men want to sound like him. He has an amazing rawness with it and is able to transfer the studio voice to live stage. Songs such as Whole Lotta Love, Stariway to Heaven to Immigrant Song and Heartbreaker all demonstrate how he elevates the song to a new standing all through the musical perfection.

4. Rod Stewart - I love this man's voice. A rough voice, A powerful voice. Achieved success in the Small Faces and went it alone and developed into a much better singer. He was the first for me that made Male vocalists more appealing without the image. I think Meatloaf is certainly in the same ilk. Songs such as Do Ya Think I'm Sexy to Maggie May to First Cut is the Deepest. I love the rawness and live he is awesome. For me a gem of a talent and a complete voice.

5. Andrea Corr - Some might see this as a strange pick. To me though she is fantastic. In a band with great backing vocalists and also good musicians, she stands alone with such a sexy loving tone to her voice. It matches her look perfectly. Songs like Radio, Dreams and Runaway show her amazing talent. Also the unplugged session they did was amazing. Had a studio quality to it and her voice held up. Truly a wonderful voice.

Other mentions

Marvin Gaye
Roger Daltery
Will Young
Chris Martin
Whitney Houston
Dusty Springfield
Brian Wilson

Mike Patton, Freddie Mercury, Beth Gibbons, Phil Anselmo, John Fogerty.

Corey Taylor, Phil Anselmo, Serj Tankian, Matt Heafy, Tom Araya, James Hetfield.

And for the ones I enjoy when extremely angry.

Mitch Lucker, & Tim Lambisis.

Stevie Nicks.

Neil Young
Mark Oliver Everett
Karen O
Jeff Buckley
Joanna Newsom
Tomoko Kawase
Olly Knights
Hope Sandoval
Matt Shultz
Tōru Hidaka
Otis Redding

There's others I've forgotten but the above were those that first came to mind, though I don't doubt I'll be kicking myself later for missing someone obvious.

For me Dick Valentine is up there too. He's got a manly voice. His delivery is manly. Morrissey's delivery always highlights every wittisism and barbed line. Sting during The Police years was awesome.

The best backing vocalist is John Frusciante. He gives the Red Hot Chili Peppers such a beautiful harmony, and whilst Anthony Kiedis drops the pipebombs, Frusciante quietly cleans up the debris.

Electric Demon wrote:For me Dick Valentine is up there too. He's got a manly voice. His delivery is manly. Morrissey's delivery always highlights every wittisism and barbed line. Sting during The Police years was awesome.

The best backing vocalist is John Frusciante. He gives the Red Hot Chili Peppers such a beautiful harmony, and whilst Anthony Kiedis drops the pipebombs, Frusciante quietly cleans up the debris.

Seamless transition from wrestling boards to music there, Demon.

Jeff Buckley is one of my favourites to listen too vocally, and strangely, so is Nick Cave. He doesn't have a conventional voice (or 'good' some would say) but I listen to every word when he is singing it.

sodhat wrote:

Electric Demon wrote:For me Dick Valentine is up there too. He's got a manly voice. His delivery is manly. Morrissey's delivery always highlights every wittisism and barbed line. Sting during The Police years was awesome.

The best backing vocalist is John Frusciante. He gives the Red Hot Chili Peppers such a beautiful harmony, and whilst Anthony Kiedis drops the pipebombs, Frusciante quietly cleans up the debris.

Seamless transition from wrestling boards to music there, Demon.

Jeff Buckley is one of my favourites to listen too vocally, and strangely, so is Nick Cave. He doesn't have a conventional voice (or 'good' some would say) but I listen to every word when he is singing it.

Bah I knew I'd missed someone important with Nick Cave.

John Frusciante's solo work is very good also, I actually prefer his solo work to what he did during his time with the Chilli's.

Dass wrote:
John Frusciante's solo work is very good also, I actually prefer his solo work to what he did during his time with the Chilli's.

Dass - I salute you.

I love Frusciante's solo work. His latest, "The Empyrean" is such a sublime album.

John Frusciante is a great backing singer. Loved Scar Tissue which is backing vocals at it's best.

Dave Grohl in his Nirvana days was immense. In Bloom just fantastic.

In terms of the best backing vocalist, that is a toughie. Noel Gallagher springs to mind, but if I was to hang my hat on someone it would be Kim Deal. Where is my Mind and Debaser. Class.

It was a very good album and harked back to the time when an album would tell a story through its songs something that's often missing in many today. The art of a well structured album is often overlooked for how important it can be.

Another great vocalist who I can listen to for hours is J Mascis, even years later his vocals on the song "Said the People" are wonderful to behold and it's my favourite track of 2009.

Dass wrote:It was a very good album and harked back to the time when an album would tell a story through its songs something that's often missing in many today. The art of a well structured album is often overlooked for how important it can be.

Absolutely. The album actually takes you on a journey. Very rare these days.

Also, unrelated to the music, the artwork to that album is stunning as well.

It really is one of my favourite albums I own - to listen to, and to look at.

Damon Albarn

legendkillar wrote:

1. Bono - Arguably for me the best there has ever been. The range he can find and is also able to draw you into his voice emotionally. With every lyric sung you feel it the way the song is intended. As a showman is in a league of his own. He is able to connect with the audience through the earphones. Songs from One, With or Without You, Beautiful Day to Vertigo and Staring at the Sun. The voice matches the music perfectly. A truly remarkable voice.

Great thread, and totally agree with your first choice there. Bono is mine too. His voice is pure gold on their early stuff. I love the way he used to improvise at the mic as well (see The Unforgettable Fire). My other choices:

Otis Redding
Aretha Franklin
Mama Cass (The Mamas & The Papas)
James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
Conor O'Brien (Villagers)
Ray Lamontagne
Jeff Buckley
Nick Drake

I also missed off:

Jack White
Ryan Adams

Gregers wrote:Damon Albarn

great shout!

Liam Gallagher was good in the early days of Oasis. Chris Martin is another good one.

Good Lord! Some real shockers mentioned here...

Here are some guys and gals who really can sing:

Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
Layne Staley (Alice In Chains)
Whitfield Crane (Ugly Kid Joe)
Joey Tempest (Europe)
Joe Elliott (Def Leppard)
Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
Vince Neil (Motley Crue)
Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Sheryl Crow
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Dexter Holland (The Offspring)
Andrea Corr (The Corrs)


I'd also agree with the previous picks of James Hetfield, Anthony Keidis and Stevie Nicks, Mike Patton and Freddie Mercury.

@legendkillar:

Are you saying U2 and Led Zeppelin struggled musically? Seems an odd comment to make about 2 of the biggest bands in music history. While Plant and Page (and Jones) co-wrote a lot of Zeppelin's stuff, am I right in thinking Bono is the chief songwriter in U2?

GG wrote:

Gregers wrote:Damon Albarn

great shout!

Liam Gallagher was good in the early days of Oasis. Chris Martin is another good one.

I think GG needs to get his ears cleared out, or to listen to some older music (Plant, Mercury, Otis Redding).

A couple of older guys who could really sing - Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr.
Oh, and Elvis had one of the best voices ever, particularly in his later years, when it developed a richness and warmth.

Damon Albarn is a good lyricist, but no more than an adequate vocalist - kind of a modern day Ray Davies.

Chris Martin sounds OK on the studio recordings, but for me really struggles live.

Liam Gallagher wasn't even the best vocalist in Oasis...

dyrewolfe wrote:@legendkillar:

Are you saying U2 and Led Zeppelin struggled musically? Seems an odd comment to make about 2 of the biggest bands in music history. While Plant and Page (and Jones) co-wrote a lot of Zeppelin's stuff, am I right in thinking Bono is the chief songwriter in U2?

Did you actually read my comments? It was a generalisation of vocalists that are sometimes in a band where they can get lost.

Where did I say Bono and Plant struggled?

If you look at the term vocalist compared to lead singer, I am focusing in on the vocal aspect only

So glad someone mentioned Simon Le Bon!! He's got a fantastic vocal range. I'd also agree on Freddie Mercury.

For pure originality I'd go with the singer from The Cranes (apologies for the video quality):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77v7AyHVKI&feature=related

The lead singer from the who was good aswell but his name slips me at this moment in time.

Roger Daltrey isn't it?

I nominate the lead singer from Big Country too - again I don't know his name, and he's dead, but he was a great singer (particularly live)

Demon - Big Country's singer was Stuart Adamson (god rest his soul).

Also, The Associates Billy McKenzie - what an amazing vocalist he was.

Electric Demon wrote:Roger Daltrey isn't it?

That's the one lead singer from canned heat is quality too.

As there's not many women on here, I'll give a mention to Debbie Harry.

Also, just for entertainment I like the vocals of Pete Shelley (The Buzzcocks) and Jimmy Pursey (Sham 69).

Patti Smith is worth a shout and as is Chrissie Hynde

Think my list consisted of around 40% women but I'll add another to the mix who I'd forgotten, Kate Bush.

Actually there's quite a few women on here, when I looked back properly...oops.

Ryan Adams
Brain Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem)
Howie Payne (The Stands)
Ben Ottewell (Gomez)

Birdy,
Laura Branigan,
Meatloaf,
the lead singer of Journey who's name i've forgotten,

legendkillar wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:@legendkillar:

Are you saying U2 and Led Zeppelin struggled musically? Seems an odd comment to make about 2 of the biggest bands in music history. While Plant and Page (and Jones) co-wrote a lot of Zeppelin's stuff, am I right in thinking Bono is the chief songwriter in U2?

Did you actually read my comments? It was a generalisation of vocalists that are sometimes in a band where they can get lost.

Where did I say Bono and Plant struggled?

If you look at the term vocalist compared to lead singer, I am focusing in on the vocal aspect only

Flicking through my I-Pod I thought I would look at the best vocalists ever. I think sometimes vocalists do not get the credit they deserve given sometimes they are in a band who musically struggle or sometimes are not given the right songs.

You quote I believe. Not very clear to be honest and easily misread. You also misread my comment. I asked if you thought Led Zeppelin or U2 struggled musically.

I got the topic of your thread - you want to talk about singers - it was just your comments in the first paragraph that puzzled me.

Ronnie James Dio - one of the best rock/metal singers ever!

dyrewolfe wrote:Ronnie James Dio - one of the best rock/metal singers ever!

Great shout

there has been some strange choices on this thread.

I reckon quite a few people have chosen the singers of the bands they like as opposed to actual great singers.

For example - Bono? Great frontman, good voice but compared to others mentioned, I doubt he would make most peoples top 50.

Same goes for Prince - great artist. I even started a thread about him. But vocally brilliant. No sir-ee.

Other great vocallists I would question would be an all time fave of mine - Tom Jones. I saw him in concert and he didnt hit a bum note. Yes he sang some great songs but most probably wouldnt put him in my personal top 10 of singers.

So who would I?

A few already mentioned - Freddie Mercury would be near the top. I also think whoever said James Dean Bradfield was a great shout. He doesnt come over as a great singer but try singing any of his songs in his key - nigh on impossible.

I liked Dyrewolfs list the best so far.

The one huge omission for me is Karen Carpenter. The most beautiful voice ever in my opinion.

Other faves of mine - Fish - great singer in a really uncool band.

Cee Lo Green is also very good at the moment and reminds me of Bobby Womack who was also extremely talented. Throw in two others and you have a great list - Joe Cocker and Al Green.

there has been some strange choices on this thread.

I reckon quite a few people have chosen the singers of the bands they like as opposed to actual great singers.

For example - Bono? Great frontman, good voice but compared to others mentioned, I doubt he would make most peoples top 50.

Same goes for Prince - great artist. I even started a thread about him. But vocally brilliant. No sir-ee.

Other great vocallists I would question would be an all time fave of mine - Tom Jones. I saw him in concert and he didnt hit a bum note. Yes he sang some great songs but most probably wouldnt put him in my personal top 10 of singers.

So who would I?

A few already mentioned - Freddie Mercury would be near the top. I also think whoever said James Dean Bradfield was a great shout. He doesnt come over as a great singer but try singing any of his songs in his key - nigh on impossible.

I liked Dyrewolfs list the best so far.

The one huge omission for me is Karen Carpenter. The most beautiful voice ever in my opinion.

Other faves of mine - Fish - great singer in a really uncool band.

Cee Lo Green is also very good at the moment and reminds me of Bobby Womack who was also extremely talented. Throw in two others and you have a great list - Joe Cocker and Al Green.

Prince and Bono? Not good vocalists and Freddie Mercury is better?

Not a chance.

Granted Mercury was a great frontman, but not a vocalist.

Like I said, Bono. Listen to the first 4 tracks on Joshua Tree and tell me that it is not vocal perfection at it's best?

Again same with Prince. The range. Freddie didn't have that range, neither did JDB.

If it was favourites, only one name in my 5 would make it.

My choices...

Aretha Franklin
Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
Stevie Wonder
Jeff Buckley
Dusty Springfield
Bjork
Thom Yorke

Andrea Bocelli, Phil Collins, and Thom Yorke are my favourite vocalists, superb.

dyrewolfe wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:@legendkillar:

Are you saying U2 and Led Zeppelin struggled musically? Seems an odd comment to make about 2 of the biggest bands in music history. While Plant and Page (and Jones) co-wrote a lot of Zeppelin's stuff, am I right in thinking Bono is the chief songwriter in U2?

Did you actually read my comments? It was a generalisation of vocalists that are sometimes in a band where they can get lost.

Where did I say Bono and Plant struggled?

If you look at the term vocalist compared to lead singer, I am focusing in on the vocal aspect only

Flicking through my I-Pod I thought I would look at the best vocalists ever. I think sometimes vocalists do not get the credit they deserve given sometimes they are in a band who musically struggle or sometimes are not given the right songs.

You quote I believe. Not very clear to be honest and easily misread. You also misread my comment. I asked if you thought Led Zeppelin or U2 struggled musically.

I got the topic of your thread - you want to talk about singers - it was just your comments in the first paragraph that puzzled me.

The paragraph was more that sometimes vocalists get lost somewhat in bands. Chris Cornell for me the obvious candidate. Somewhat lost in Soundgarden purely because of how the grunge scene exploded with Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Sonic Youth who shared more of the success going mainstream and musically I didn't think Soundgarden offered much. When Cornell formed with Audioslave, now that was awesome. Cornell with Morello was perfect for me. Almost like they found each other through fate.

U2 and Led Zeppelin didn't struggle musically, though with a different vocalist for both bands may not have done their music justice. I think Bono and Plant took music within their bands to another level with their vocals.

Sometimes vocalists if they are the 'chiefs' in their bands can sometimes think to themselves that they are not expressing themselves artistically enough. Ian Brown, Morrissey, Liam Gallagher all examples of this. Though they find some form of success outside of their bands, it is very much marmite syndrome, either you like it or you don't.

I think one example of a vocalist who through relentless band personnel changes and musical direction changes managed to keep a band in manstream and successful is Robert Smith from The Cure. I mean that guy is the ego has landed and yet through all the difficulties with the band changing line ups and different music, he for me held his own amazingly well.

I think I have rambled on too much

Adam D (Hobo) wrote:there has been some strange choices on this thread.

I reckon quite a few people have chosen the singers of the bands they like as opposed to actual great singers.

For example - Bono? Great frontman, good voice but compared to others mentioned, I doubt he would make most peoples top 50.

Adam - on early U2 material Bono was a fantastic vocalist and I base my choice on that. Granted, in recent years his voice is failing a bit - he is a smoker and has been singing for 30 years so I'm surprised he can still give it a go. There are some songs he'll never do live again just because he can't sing them anymore (Red Hill Mining Town for example) but early U2 material - up to Achtung Baby, his vocal range is immense. It goes from a whisper to a powerful shout perfectly.

Disgaree about Joe Cocker as well. I don't think he's got a great voice at all.

Can't believe I forgot Myles Kennedy. Stunning voice!

I just googled this topic and found the top 100 from Rolling Stone magazine:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/james-brown-19691231

10. James Brown
9. Stevie Wonder
8. Otis Redding
7. Bob Dylan
6. Marvin Gaye
5. John Lennon
4. Sam Cooke
3. Elvis
2. Ray Charles
1. Aretha Franklyn

Basically no one modern!

Another list here from the net - http://www.squidoo.com/Top_50_Rock_Vocalists

The Top 50 Rock Vocalists Of All Time!
Here it goes! Get your vote in!
1
Vote Up
Freddie Mercury
Queen18 points
2
Vote Up
Robert Plant
Led Zeppelin and Soloist18 points
3
Vote Up
Hayley Williams
Paramore12 points
4
Vote Up
Steven Tyler
Aerosmith12 points
5
Vote Up
John Lennon
The Beatles and Soloist11 points
6
Vote Up
Jon Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi and Soloist10 points
7
Vote Up
Jim Morrison
The Doors10 points
8
Vote Up
Mick Jagger
The Rolling Stones9 points
9
Vote Up
James Hetfield
Metallica9 points
10
Vote Up
Axl Rose
Guns N' Roses8 points
11
Vote Up
Kurt Cobain
Nirvana8 points
12
Vote Up
Elvis Presley
Soloist6 points
13
Vote Up
Steve Perry
Journey5 points
14
Vote Up
Roger Daltrey
The Who and Soloist5 points
15
Vote Up
Bon Scott
AC/DC5 points
16
Vote Up
Bono
U25 points
17
Vote Up
Peter Gabriel
Genesis5 points
18
Vote Up
Bret Michaels
Poison and Bret Michaels Band4 points
19
Vote Up
Janis Joplin
Big Brother & the Holding Company and Soloist4 points
20
Vote Up
Don Henley
The Eagles and Soloist4 points
21
Vote Up
David Bowie
Tin Machine and Soloist4 points
22
Vote Up
Bruce Dickinson
Samson, Iron Maiden and Soloist3 points
23
Vote Up
Joey Ramone
The Ramones3 points
24
Vote Up
Paul Stanley
Kiss3 points
25
Vote Up
Thom Yorke
Radiohead and Soloist3 points
26
Vote Up
Bryan Adams
Soloist3 points
27
Vote Up
Paul Weller
The Jam, The Style Council and Soloist2 points
28
Vote Up
Dave Davies
The Kinks2 points
29
Vote Up
Jarvis Cocker
Pulp, Relaxed Muscle and Soloist2 points
30
Vote Up
Grace Slick
Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship, more...2 points
31
Vote Up
Johnny Rotten
The Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd.2 points
32
Vote Up
Ann Wilson
Heart2 points
33
Vote Up
Dave Grohl
Nirvana and Foo Fighters2 points
34
Vote Up
Chrissie Hynde
The Pretenders2 points
35
Vote Up
Amy Lee
Evanescence2 points
36
Vote Up
Elton John
Soloist2 points
37
Vote Up
Chad Kroeger
Nickelback2 points
38
Vote Up
David Coverdale
Deep Purple2 points
39
Vote Up
Van Morrison
Soloist2 points
40
Vote Up
James Maynard Keenan
Tool, A Perfect Circle2 points
41
Vote Up
Ian Brown
The Stone Roses and Soloist1 point
42
Vote Up
Meat Loaf
Soloist1 point
43
Vote Up
Bruce Springsteen
Soloist1 point
44
Vote Up
Liam Gallagher
Oasis1 point
45
Vote Up
Billie Joe Armstrong
Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder, The Network and Foxb more...1 point
46
Vote Up
Kim Gordon
Sonic Youth and Free Kitten1 point
47
Vote Up
Deborah Harry
Blondie1 point
48
Vote Up
Joan Jett
The Runaways and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts1 point
49
Vote Up
Phil Collins
Genesis and Soloist1 point
50
Vote Up
Kelly Jones
Stereophonics and Soloist0 points

I don't know who this 'vote up' is but they got loads of mentions.

Hayley Williams #3?

Utter joke

Storm Lee Gardiner!!!

Rolling Stone is very much a pro American list there!

Seriously Hayley Williams at 3?

What shat!

That Rolling Stone list is pap! Bob Dylan was a good songwriter, but as for his vocals, they were bloody awful!

Depends what your looking for in a good vocalist, Dylan is certainly not what you'd call conventionally great in any form but he does bring a certain uniqueness to his songs that no one else could. Another singer who could easily go into the same category is Nick Drake who is very much like Dylan in this respect.

Personally I'd rather listen to either of those vocalists rather than 4 of the 5 listed in the OP's list, Robert Plant is the exception.

Good Point Dass. I like Nick Drake's voice. I'm not comfortable with Dylan's, but no one else could some of his songs any better - depends which song of his I'm listening to really.