"Best vocal of all time" is an impossible ask, but I will offer one of my personal favorites, Mahalia Jackson singing Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" on the brilliant Black, Brown and Beige:
I have a box set DVD (10 friggin discs) of the best of the Midnight Special from the 1970's. Been a fan of Philly Soul since I was 10 and for some reason this one really got me as I watched the dvd's. Probably just nostalgia for being 12 again :) but I think this is pretty good. A LOT of really good performances on those dvd's! Stylistics- You Make Me Feel Brand New - ( New Window )
But Jon Anderson of Yes has quite a few to choose from. I'll go with a live version of Heart Of the Sunrise as being hard to top.
That was from a time when male vocalists actually had good distinctive voices. Throw in Bon Scott and John Perry. Holy crap Bieber is the best male vocalist nowadays, there are worse and he's a terrible no talent.
Kind of funny story re. The Great Gig in the Sky Â
Years ago I was looking for a new pair of speakers for my new man cave in the house I just bought. I was prepared to spend quite a lot if nec.
I brought Dark Side CD with me to the stores to help evaluate the speakers. The first store I went to I put on The Great Gig in the Sky.
The young clueless sales rep stopped the CD right as Clare Torry was about to start singing and said you really should listen to something different to evaluate the speakers, you know something with a female voice.
I said thanks, took my CD and took my money elsewhere. Ending up buying a nice pair of Klipsch.
Steven Tyler has the worst voice of any rock star ever!
All depends on your definition of great vocals. Some of my favorite singers would be Joplin, Petty, Springsteen, Neil Young, Joe Strummer.....none of these people have what most would consider great singing voices. THey wouldnt make it past the auditions of American Idol. BUT....they sure could sing!
BTW.....I draw the line at Dylan. Never got him...Dylan and Radiohead; two acts that seem to be universally loved, and I just dont get them:).
I'll be honest with you, I love his music, I do, I'm a Michael Bolton fan. For my money, it doesn't get any better than when he sings "When a Man Loves a Woman".
Requires that I be in a certain mood, I think Astral Weeks by Van Morrison is 99th percentile when it comes to vocals.
Hell, Moondance ain't half bad either.
Recently I've gotten back into some old Mazzy Star tunes. Though she doesn't sing with much range, I love how Hope Sandoval slides into notes so tastefully.
Quote:
By Whitney Houston
She's extremely overrated, her vocals are too thin and reedy. All current pop singers are terrible, music sucks for the last 20 years.
Come Sunday - ( New Window )
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World?
Barbara Striesand - Evergreen?
Patsy Cline - Crazy?
Roger Daltry - Won't Get Fooled Again?
Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come?
Aretha - Respect?
Sinatra - One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)?
Enrico Caruso - Santa Lucia?
Etta James - At Last?
Neil Diamond - I Am, I Said?
Ray Charles - America the Beautiful?
Clare Torry - The Great Gig in the Sky?
Jphn Lennon - Twist and Shout?
Pavarati - Nessun Dorma?
Seriously...there can't be just one.
Quote:
In comment 14453488 Fast Eddie said:
Quote:
By Whitney Houston
She's extremely overrated, her vocals are too thin and reedy. All current pop singers are terrible, music sucks for the last 20 years.
He is just trolling. He's a troll that has made it long past his expiration date. He'll time will come.
One of my all time favorite songs.
Quote:
In comment 14453504 Coach Red Beaulieu said:
Quote:
In comment 14453488 Fast Eddie said:
Quote:
By Whitney Houston
She's extremely overrated, her vocals are too thin and reedy. All current pop singers are terrible, music sucks for the last 20 years.
He is just trolling. He's a troll that has made it long past his expiration date. He'll time will come.
Yeah, I just tune him out....also love “somewhere over the rainbow” by Iz
I'd add Roy Orbison's In Dreams.
AKUS individually are among the most talented musicians ever assembled, and yet amazingly as a band they are even greater than the sum of their parts.
Excuse me?
Link - ( New Window )
Stylistics- You Make Me Feel Brand New - ( New Window )
Link - ( New Window )
Voice of an angel - ( New Window )
Blue Bayou - ( New Window )
Quote:
By Whitney Houston
She's extremely overrated, her vocals are too thin and reedy. All current pop singers are terrible, music sucks for the last 20 years.
Well it is over 20 years old you ignorant putz.
+1
That was from a time when male vocalists actually had good distinctive voices. Throw in Bon Scott and John Perry. Holy crap Bieber is the best male vocalist nowadays, there are worse and he's a terrible no talent.
I brought Dark Side CD with me to the stores to help evaluate the speakers. The first store I went to I put on The Great Gig in the Sky.
The young clueless sales rep stopped the CD right as Clare Torry was about to start singing and said you really should listen to something different to evaluate the speakers, you know something with a female voice.
I said thanks, took my CD and took my money elsewhere. Ending up buying a nice pair of Klipsch.
Janis 1970 Toronto - ( New Window )
Bette Midler--I Shall Be Released (she really belts it at the end!) - ( New Window )
Art Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
All depends on your definition of great vocals. Some of my favorite singers would be Joplin, Petty, Springsteen, Neil Young, Joe Strummer.....none of these people have what most would consider great singing voices. THey wouldnt make it past the auditions of American Idol. BUT....they sure could sing!
BTW.....I draw the line at Dylan. Never got him...Dylan and Radiohead; two acts that seem to be universally loved, and I just dont get them:).
I'll be honest with you, I love his music, I do, I'm a Michael Bolton fan. For my money, it doesn't get any better than when he sings "When a Man Loves a Woman".
I mentioned her above...Clare Torry.
Agree when he was younger. Now.. his voice is gone
Heather Headley - ( New Window )
Hell, any of his Gospel songs are vocal orgasms for the ear.
You could tell it was what HE wanted to sing, and he drenched every word of every bit of emotion when he was at a piano playing gospel.
Hell, Moondance ain't half bad either.
Recently I've gotten back into some old Mazzy Star tunes. Though she doesn't sing with much range, I love how Hope Sandoval slides into notes so tastefully.
You beat me to it.
Link - ( New Window )
I've been repeatedly checking this thread specifically for your inevitable, predictable, and 100% correct take.