Favorite Vocalists

Eric Wright said:
Don't get me wrong, I like Led Zeppelin, but I'm still trying to get into Robert Plant. I respect his range and talent as a vocalist, but his timbre always sounded...well, whiny.
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I completely agree. I know he's revered, and Zeppelin are giants, but I just don't really care for his voice or a lot of his melodies.
 
MrKnickerbocker said:
I haven't been able to get into King Animal that much. Like most Soundgarden albums, I'm sure it takes some getting used to. They're the kind of band that hits you after many listens, and then you wonder what you were missing before.
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It clicked with me instantly. I bought it on impulse without ever hearing Soundgarden before. I'm having trouble getting their back catalog stick with me though. There are a few classic tunes that grabbed me instantly, but I don't feel the same initial bond with the rest as with King Animal.
 
Yax said:
It clicked with me instantly. I bought it on impulse without ever hearing Soundgarden before. I'm having trouble getting their back catalog stick with me though. There are a few classic tunes that grabbed me instantly, but I don't feel the same initial bond with the rest as with King Animal.
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It's all in the timing, I suppose. When I first heard Badmotorfinger and Superunknown, I actually despised them. I mean, despised. I told friends, I posted on the internet, I couldn't shut up about how much they sucked. Cut to 1 year later, give 'em another listen and think, "Oh no...these are amazing. These are incredible. I'm a complete tool."

Down on the Upside is admittedly a mixed bag, but its got some great moments.
 
I always found that Stevie Nicks had something special with her vocals, writing and performances in Fleetwood Mac. Especially in the early days she was quite a spirit on stage. This is the Rhiannon, which she wrote and it's one of my fav Mac songs. She's so much into it, especially at the end! Fire! :notworthy:
And Buckingham is creeping up into my top 10 of guitarists.
 
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Stevie has a unique voice, though when listening to Fleetwood Mac, I tend to skip to the Buckingham songs. Rhiannon is an exception.

Good clip. Wonder how much coke she'd snorted before that performance!
 
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Nicks is cool, and Benatar amazing, but the best of the '70s rock queens is Ann Wilson of Heart.
Her power is unparalleled and she's got just enough edge.

Can't look for clips now, but will try to later.

His name has come up a few times, but let me add that Dio is all-time favourite.
Among the more recent crowd, I second the love for Cornell.
 
Yax said:
Chris Cornell. Great choice. I just love Soundgarden's comeback album (also my first encounter with them). It's close to a perfect 10.
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King Animal is a nice comeback indeed. You should give some of Cornell's solo work a listen as well.
In particular Euphoria Morning, his solo debut is awesome. It is not a rockin' as Soundgarden, but give it time and it grows. At least it did with me.

 
I'll second that recommendation for Euphoria Morning. "When I'm Down" may be my favorite Cornell song/vocal ever.


Sounds like a Tom Waits song with an incredible vocalist.
 
@MrKnickerbocker and others who haven't read this yet: Here you find comments by a classically-trained, voice teacher (providing advice not only for singers for all types, but also for musicians and people in general) on some of our favourite singers. I think she makes an interesting analysis of Bruce, Dio, King Diamond, Ozzy and Halford. Nice to read the different characteristics. Thought you would like to read the complete article.

Will already post Halford here:

Judas Priest - Dreamer Deceiver (1976):

Initial reaction: “Last guy is super talented and the only one I really wish I could get my hands on. He demonstrates several mad skills, but they aren’t well-integrated. It doesn’t matter so much because he is so committed, expressive, and musical, but I could have helped him do it easier and better”.

This singer has a fabulous range of vocal colors and effects to choose from. His diction is easy to understand, and his phrasing is lovely throughout. He begins with such a high, gorgeous, resonant messa di voce that I was surprised to hear how low his actual full singing voice sits once he moved into it. Clearly he had been singing with a somewhat elevated larynx when he started out so high, and later in the song when he moves into a more shrill, high sneer or a scream you can tell his larynx is in a much higher position once again. The high singing and screaming is still relatively free, but I feel that it would be even more impactful if he would master a vocal technique that would enable him to better integrate all of these different things he does so well, primarily with the goal of incorporating the depth and resonance of his natural low sound into the high stuff. He is the only one of the five who I truly wish would visit my studio some time.
 
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That was very interesting. I'd love to hear what she'd say about Mike Patton & later Brucie (a comparison even.)

EDIT: okay, so like about a dozen other people in the comments section also suggested Mike Patton.
 
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That's a brilliant article, thanks Foro!

Forostar said:
The high singing and screaming is still relatively free, but I feel that it would be even more impactful if he would master a vocal technique that would enable him to better integrate all of these different things he does so well, primarily with the goal of incorporating the depth and resonance of his natural low sound into the high stuff.
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This perfectly and eloquently describes why I am not a fan of Halford's voice. Although, as this article attests, he has a wealth of vocal colors and different voices, he does not have a very good blend of tone. Nothing against him, it's just how this style of singing works. Apparently, I'm not a fan of it. Ripper Owens has the same exact problem, although his lower range also lacks depth and resonance whereas Halford has quite a bit.
 
With pleasure!

Keep in mind that the recording was done in 1975. After that he certainly might have made progression on "these different things he does so well, primarily with the goal of incorporating the depth and resonance of his natural low sound into the high stuff."
 
Favorite singers, eh? Well... obviously, there's Bruce. Also love Rob Halford, Ronnie James Dio, Midnight (from Crimson Glory), Jon Oliva, Zak Stevens, Todd La Torre and Roy Khan.
 
Does anybody else know Apollo Papathanasio from Greek band Firewind?

I think he has a great voice.

 
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Where's Eric Adams? Either we like it or not Manowar (in my case, i got somewhat tired of them long ago), he has a great vocal range.
 
Thought some of you might like this:

Comparing The Top Artists, Past And Present, By Vocal Range

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http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/05/digging-deeper-axl-rose-is-not-singer.html

A copy of the (current! analysis is in progress!) list from the second link (read whole article via link). In blue: Halford and Dickinson. Look up the singers of your own (dis)liking and compare!:




    • 6 octaves, 1/2 note
      • Mike Patton (Eb1 to E7)
    • 5 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
      • Ville Valo (C1 to Bb6)
    • 5 octaves, 4-1/2 notes
      • Diamanda Galás (F2 to C#8)
    • 5 octaves, 3 notes
      • David Lee Roth (E1 to A6)
    • 5 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
      • Axl Rose (F1 to Bb6)
    • 5 octaves, 1 note
      • Nina Hagan (G#1 to Bb6)
      • Mariah Carey (F2 to G7)
    • 4 octaves, 6-1/2 notes
      • Roger Waters (B1 to Bb6)
    • 4 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
      • Devin Townsend (C2 to Bb6)
    • 4 octaves, 5 notes
      • Phil Anselmo (C#1 to Bb5)
      • King Diamond (E1 to C6)
      • Siouxsie Sioux (F2 to D7)
    • 4 octaves, 4 notes
      • Jim Gillette (G1 to D6)
      • Prince (E2 to B6)
    • 4 octaves, 3 notes
      • Tom Araya (G#1 to C#6)
    • 4 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
      • Jon Bon Jovi (E2 to G#6)
      • Chino Moreno (F#2 to B6)
    • 4 octaves, 2 notes
      • Minnie Ripperton (Eb3 to F#7)
    • 4 octaves, 1-1/2 notes
      • Matt Bellamy (E2 to F#6)
      • Stevie Wonder (E2 to F#6)
    • 4 octaves, 1 note
      • Burton Cummings (C2 to D6)
      • Steven Tyler (D2 to E6)
      • Serj Tankian (D2 to E6)
    • 4 octaves, 1/2 note
      • David Bowie (G1 to G#5)
      • Peter Gabriel (G1 to G#5)
      • Rob Halford (C2 to C#6)
      • Ian Gillan (C#2 to D6)
      • Marvin Gaye (D2 to Eb6)
      • James Brown (Eb2 to E6)
      • Christina Aguilera (C3 to C#7)
    • 4 octaves
      • Brian Johnston (A1 to A5)
      • Geoff Tate (A1 to A5)
      • Captain Beefheart (A1 to A5)
      • Paul McCartney (B1 to B5)
      • Tim "Ripper" Owens (B1 to B5)
      • Eric Adams (B1 to B5)
      • Maynard James Keenan (G1 to G5)
      • Glenn Hughes (D2 to D6)
      • Richard Page (D2 to D6)
      • Thom Yorke (E2 to E6)
      • Freddie Mercury (F2 to F6)
    • 3 octaves, 6 notes
      • Elvis Presley (B1 to A5)
      • John Lennon (B1 to A5)
      • Daniel Gildenlow (B1 to A5)
      • Russell Allen (G#1 to F#5)
      • Elton John (E2 to D6)
      • Jeff Buckley (F2 to E6)
      • Luis Miguel (G2 to F6) (note: still being analyzed)
    • 3 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
      • Nick Cave (B1 to G#5)
      • Bobby McFerrin (B1 to G#5)
      • Bruce Springsteen (Eb2 to B5)
    • 3 octaves, 5 notes
      • Roger Daltrey (B1 to G5)
      • Lou Gramm (B1 to G5)
      • Chris Isaak (B1 to G5)
      • Barry White (F#1 to Eb5)
      • Tina Turner (B2 to G6)
    • 3 octaves, 4-1/2 notes
      • Tom Waits (Bb1 to F5)
      • Burton C. Bell (B1 to F#5)
      • Karen O (B2 to F#6)
      • Eddie Vedder (C2 to G#5)
      • David Gilmour (C#2 to A5)
      • Morten Harket (C2 to G#5)
      • James LaBrie (D2 to Bb5)
      • Ronnie James Dio (Eb2 to B5)
      • Miljenko Matijevic (Eb2 to B5)
      • Philip Bailey (G2 to Eb6)
    • 3 octaves, 4 notes
      • Damon Albarn (B1 to F5)
      • Beyonce (A2 to E6)
      • Kate Bush (B2 to F6)
      • Bono (C#2 to G#5)
      • Chris Cornell (D2 to A5)
      • Layne Stanley (Eb2 to Bb5)
      • Bruce Dickinson (E2 to B5)
      • Geddy Lee (E2 to B5)
      • Tim Buckley (F2 to C6)
      • Mark Boals (F2 to C6)
      • Michael Jackson (F#2 to C#6)
      • Sarah Vaughan (G2 to D6)
      • Cedric Bixler-Zavala (G2 to D6)
      • Cyndi Lauper (Eb3 to Bb6)
    • 3 octaves, 3-1/2 notes
      • Jim Morrison (E2 to Bb5)
      • Stu Block (E2 to Bb5)
      • Myles Kennedy (F#2 to C6)
    • 3 octaves, 3 notes
      • Brandon Boyd (B1 to E5)
      • Iggy Pop (B1 to E5)
      • Steve Winwood (A2 to D6)
      • Justin Hawkins (B2 to E6)
      • Miley Cyrus (B2 to E6)
      • Buddy Holly (D2 to G5)
      • Robert Plant (E2 to A5)
      • Mick Jagger (E2 to A5)
      • Nina Simone (E2 to A5)
      • Tommy Giles Rogers (E2 to A5)
    • 3 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
      • Norah Jones (A2 to C#6)
      • Bob Dylan (C#2 to F5)
      • Kurt Cobain (C#2 to F5)
      • Chris Martin (Eb2 to G5)
      • Paul Rodgers (E2 to G#5)
      • Robin Thicke (F2 to Bb5)
      • Justin Timberlake (F#2 to B5)
      • Jared Leto (G#2 to C6)
      • Kelly Clarkson (Eb3 to G6)
    • 3 octaves, 2 notes
      • Alanis Morissette (B2 to D6)
      • Grace Slick (B2 to D6)
      • Peter Steele (Eb1 to F#5)
      • Ivan Rebroff (F1 to A5)
      • Michael Bolton (A2 to C6)
      • Jackie Wilson (A2 to C6)
      • Todd Smith (C2 to E5)
      • Lou Reed (D2 to F5)
      • Eminem (D2 to F5)
      • Mika (F2 to A5)
      • Aretha Franklin (G2 to B5)
      • Annie Lennox (G2 to B5)
      • Floor Jansen (D3 to F6)
      • Cher (D3 to F6)
    • 3 octaves, 1-1/2 notes
      • Rihanna (B2 to C#6)
      • Simon LeBon (E2 to F#5)
      • Barry Gibb (F2 to G#5)
      • Sebastian Bach (F#2 to A5)
      • Lisa Gerrard (F#2 to A5)
      • Steve Perry (F#2 to A5)
      • Joey Belladonna (G2 to Bb5)
      • Ella Fitzgerald (G#2 to B5)
    • 3 octaves, 1 note
      • Dave Gahan (B1 to C5)
      • Till Lindemann (G1 to A4)
      • Bob Marley (A2 to B5)
      • Neil Young (E2 to F5)
      • Brian Wilson (F2 to G5)
      • David Byron (G2 to A5)
      • Ray Charles (G#2 to Bb5)
      • Ann Wilson (C3 to D6)
    • 3 octaves, 1/2 note
      • Lady Gaga (Bb2 to B5)
    • 3 octaves
      • Janis Joplin (B2 to B5)
      • Roy Orbison (E2 to E5)
      • Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) (E2 to E5)
      • Lorde (G#2 to G#5)
    • 2 octaves, 6-1/2 notes
      • Sinead O'Connor (A2 to G#5)
      • Bruno Mars (Bb2 to A5)
      • Sting (G2 to F#5)
      • John Fogerty (G2 to F#5)
      • Rod Stewart (G#3 to C6)
    • 2 octaves, 6 notes
      • Julee Cruise (A2 to G5)
      • John Lydon (A2 to G5) (analysis in progress)
      • Joe Cocker (B2 to A5)
      • Brent Smith (E2 to D5)
      • Robin Gibb (G2 to F5)
      • Adele (C3 to B5)
      • Dolly Parton (E3 to D6)
      • Bjork (E3 to D6)
    • 2 octaves, 5-1/2 notes
      • Johnny Cash (B1 to G#4)
      • Little Richard (F2 to Eb5)
    • 2 octaves, 5 notes
      • Alicia Keys (Bb2 to F#5)
      • David Coverdale (C2 to A5)
      • David Ruffin (E2 to C5)
      • Van Morrison (E2 to C5)
      • Chuck Berry (E2 to C5)
      • Art Garfunkel (G2 to E5)
    • 2 octaves, 4-1/2 notes
      • Damian Wilson (B2 to F#5)
      • Joni Mitchell (C#3 to A5)
      • Dusty Springfield (D3 to Bb5)
      • Katy Perry (D3 to Bb5)
    • 2 octaves, 4 notes
      • Otis Redding (B2 to F5)
      • Stevie Nicks (B2 to F5)
      • Smokey Robinson (C3 to G5)
      • Whitney Houston (C#3 to G#5)
    • 2 octaves, 2-1/2 notes
      • Jerry Lee Lewis (G#2 to C5)
    • 2 octaves, 2 notes
      • Sam Cooke (A2 to C5)
      • Karen Carpenter (D3 to F5)
    • 2 octaves, 1-1/2 notes
      • Taylor Swift (E3 to F#5)
    • 2 octaves
      • Skin (Deborah Dyer) (B3 to B5)
    • 1 octave, 3 notes
      • Avi Kaplan (A2 to D4) (analysis in progress)
 
Forostar said:
I always found that Stevie Nicks had something special with her vocals, writing and performances in Fleetwood Mac. Especially in the early days she was quite a spirit on stage. This is the Rhiannon, which she wrote and it's one of my fav Mac songs. She's so much into it, especially at the end! Fire! :notworthy:
And Buckingham is creeping up into my top 10 of guitarists.
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Yeaahhh, Nicks is/was a babe.

McVie ain't bad either!

 
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