ira Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 Eric you've talked about musical artists you enjoy and respect. But I wondered...What are some records that you feel have irreplaceable lead vocals that make these records into "3 or 4 Minute Classics". To all my cyber-buddies I'd love to see some of your picks as well. Please-Let's all list only 3-5 songs so we don't use up songs others may wanna post. "MY STARTER LIST".. 1-"DOO WAH DIDDY"-Paul Jones' vocal MAKES this song! 2"KICKS"-Mark Lindsay kicks ass! 3-"LONG COOL WOMAN"-Allan Clarke is amazing!(And it ain't even my favorite Hollies'song."Bus Stop" is my favorite,but it's more of a group harmony effort IMHO.) 4-"TIME OF THE SEASON"-Colin Blunstone does a pretty good job-Ya Think? Hope to hear from you Eric and all you EC.comers with some of your choices.-Ira. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 Ha! you just name 4 of my favorite singers. I'd take Blunstone singing 'She's Not There' or 'Whenever You're Ready'...Jones singing 'Pretty Flamingo' and Clarke singing 'Honey and Wine'. As For Lindsey...'Kicks' may be the pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted September 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 And I salute YOU for your choice of Pretty Flamingo.-Ira. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScentLady Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 "Baby It's You" - SmithThe versions by the Shirelles & Beatles are nice, Gayle McCormick's vocals takes the song to a whole new level."Reach Out I'll Be There" - 4 TopsLevi Stubbs at his absolute finest. The emotion and sense of urgency in his voice make this song a classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 I Like it Like That - DC5 - Mike Smith's vocals are very gutsy - so much better than the original version. Ira I agree with 1, 3, and 4 songs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early Wynn Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 "Baby It's You" - Smith. I couldn't agree more!!!How about "Hungry" for Mark Lindsey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crg2 Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 Anything Colin Blunstone sings makes a good song better.Steve Marriott singing "Afterglow"Macca belting on "I'm Down" I like Mark Lindsey's voice on the "Judge GTO Breakaway" Theme. Just very direct, unaffected, and cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted September 8, 2007 Report Share Posted September 8, 2007 Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction Not an incredible song, but the vocals express an escalating pent up anger coming through more and more through each verse. Del Shannon - Runaway Again, the vocals take an average song and put it over the top. I believe both were done in one take. But there is one vocal perfomance that blows everything I've seen posted. Everyone know what is referred to as Elvis's 68 comeback special, black leather etc. Well in between the first takes and preparation for the show, and the final airing around Christmas.. Bobby Kennedy and Martin Lutheran King were shot. Colonol Parker and the network wanted Elvis to close with a Christmas song. Elvis wanted to acknowledge the assasinations and commisioned for a song to be written that he could close with. I don't recall if Elvis co-wrote it or not but it's called "If I Can Dream", and he's in a white suite. It's also an escalating vocal performance, but by the end it's an out of the park vocal home run. Check it out. Eric what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steeler Deb Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 My picks are:Me & Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul - nobody can sing this like he does. Sultry and sexy.Just You and Me - Peter Cetera - one of my all-time favorites from Chicago.Layla - both versions from Eric Clapton - I think he is one of the best guitarists in the world. I just love this song.Pride and Joy - the late great Stevie Ray Vaughn.and last.... Eric Carmen singing I Wanna Be With You from the Hangin with the Raspberries VH1 clip!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 Seattle Steve said: But there is one vocal perfomance that blows everything I've seen posted. Everyone know what is referred to as Elvis's 68 comeback special, black leather etc. Well in between the first takes and preparation for the show, and the final airing around Christmas.. Bobby Kennedy and Martin Lutheran King were shot. Colonol Parker and the network wanted Elvis to close with a Christmas song. Elvis wanted to acknowledge the assasinations and commisioned for a song to be written that he could close with. I don't recall if Elvis co-wrote it or not but it's called "If I Can Dream", and he's in a white suite. It's also an escalating vocal performance, but by the end it's an out of the park vocal home run. Check it out. Right on Steve! "If I Can Dream" (written by Earl Brown), is one of Elvis' greatest vocal performances. A fabulous song, given a fabulous treatment. "There must be lights burning brighter somewhere Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue If I can dream of a better land, Where all my brothers walk hand in hand Tell me why, oh why, oh why cant my dream come true" Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted September 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 My buddy Mel just reminded me that Burton Cummings' vocal on "American Woman" is unbelievable.If you need reminding see "Superbad" where one of the nerdy kids is coerced into singing it by some threatening,stoned older guys...and a coupla minutes later we hear Burton doing the real thing.(Ya know in a completely different style "She's Come Undone" is a superlative Burton Cummings performance as well.-Ira.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 Elvis, "If I Can Dream" live is reminiscent of the heartfelt passion of Eric doing "Boats" live.Re: Burton Cummings. He is known as "the voice". I don't think anyone could do justice covering his material vocally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 Ira & Hollies65 - at the end of this You Tube link is Gerry & the Pacemakers, Freddie & The Dreamers and then Manfred Mann doing Do Wah Diddy from The British Invasion video (which I actually own a copy of)....I wish it was not an abbreviated version of Do Wah Diddy but here it is....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bessieboo Posted September 9, 2007 Report Share Posted September 9, 2007 I had a major crush on Burton Cummings in the late 70's. I saw him opening for America (I think) he blew them away. He was so much better, I can't remember any of America's performance. I had No idea who he was - I was told he was some "old rocker" from some group that broke up. The day after the concert I bought everything I could find. What a voice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steeler Deb Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 I agree that Burton Cummings has a great voice. I love These Eyes and No Time. Some more that I think have cool lead vocals are: Doesn't Remind Me and Original Fire by Audioslave. Chris Cornell is fantastic on these. and of course the ever classic...Pittsburgh Steelers Polka" by Jimmy Psihoulis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierre Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 You could mention almost everything Queen did with Freddie Mercury. This becomes patently obvious when you watch "We Will Rock You" (the current Queensploitation musical)...nobody can compare to Freddy's range and theatricality. Queen had a lot of substandard material, but Freddie made it sound a lot better. And on their good stuff, he "knocks it out of the park".Although I greatly respect his studio performances, I don't care for his live work (or his personality, from the interviews I've seen). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lew Bundles Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Missing You -John Waite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Nice thread. Good bump Lew. Burton Cummings is hard to beat vocal wise. And his best performance (IMHO) is on "I Will Play A Rhapsody" from his 3rd solo album. I thought it about it some after reading through this thread and I can't think of another artist who could sing it anywhere near the level he does. He is very underrated. And still going strong, touring/playing small venues and seemingly (from his posts on facebook) enjoying the poop out of it !... James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 P.S. Lew, "Everytime I think of you" is my favorite of that dude's. When I was in college I played that song on the jukebox every time I went to the Greenery Pub. Every time. So great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneNR Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 "Will You Still Love Me" Peter Cetera at the front of Chicago. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Gene Clark I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better Carl Wilson God Only Knows Ronnie Spector Walking In The Rain Joey Ramone The KKK Took My Baby Away or I Wanna Be Sedated Nick Lowe So It Goes or Cruel To Be Kind Elvis Costello Pump It Up Johnette Napolitano Joey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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