Thought of a couple more:
Paul Stanley
David McComb (The Triffids) Such a tragic loss! I am spewing right now, because I just found out that Kylie did a cover of "Bury Me Deep In Love"!
That song has more depth than the stupid little fluff pop tart could even contemplate! She should not have gone anywhere near it! She shouldn't even sing it in the shower! NO, NO, NO!!!
Well, I went for a big power walk, let off some steam, got rained on, calmed down a bit and decided to listen to the wretched thing. It's pretty bad, though it could have been worse. It could have had a dance beat!
I may have enjoyed listening to "Locomotion" with my 1st boyfriend (I was 11!) But as I grew, so did my distaste for the gal. My partner hammered the final nail when he admitted to having a better time, seeing Kylie with his ex than SE with me. No hope for some people!
OK, back to the topic at hand, before I get my butt kicked: Stevie Nicks and Dolly Parton got mentioned a few times. Stevies voice has become much deeper with age, but when you hear the song, "Silver Springs" (B-side to "Go Your Own Way") you could almost swear it was Dolly Parton.
Also Sammy Hagar (vocally speaking, the best frontman Van Halen ever had), Steve Perry and John Parr all sound/ed somewhat similar.
I don't know if Mika tries to sound like Freddie Mercury, or if he just does. I got talking to someone after Mika's Sydney show, who said that if Mika ran out of songs, he could sing any Queen song. I can't quite imagine him singing "Hammer To Fall", "Tear It Up" or "I Want It All", because he doesn't have Freddie's rip-roaring rock voice.
Some others who deserve a mention:
Angry Anderson
Agnetha Fältskog (just cut a new album after all these years!)
And I can't believe no one's mentioned this particular artist. He never had classic good looks, or even rugged good looks, yet he's a sex symbol. Why? The VOICE! It is unmistakable and only seems to improve with age.
Of course I'm talking about Tom Jones!
I think John Farnham deserves a mention, even if he does keep popping out of retirement.
I will never forget his a capella rendition of "Amazing Grace", with Linzey and Venetta Fields.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6danLkCJoFI
Oh, Johnnie, that was a HUGE mullet!
Venetta also sang backing vocals on Escapade, incidentally. She has a pretty distinctive sound as a backing vocalist.
if it hasn't been said already, michael huthence~
It has been said, but he was a great singer! He may not have had the greatest voice in the world, but by God, he knew how to use it! John Stevens and JD Fortune tried to imitate him, but as a great man once said,
"There will never be another quite like you
And I miss that thing you do!"
Edited to say Michael Hutchence made his recording debut as a child, the voice of a plastic singing Santa. Imagine what one of those would be worth now!
Someone mentioned Robert Smith of The Cure. I bought The Killers' CD, Sam's Town. It was cheap and I liked the single, "Read My Mind". I played it 1ce and never again, not the 1st time I've bought an album on the strength of a single and been disappointed. There are spots on that album where Brandon Flowers sounds like Robert Smith and there are songs that sound like failed attempts at ripping off The Cure.
Robert Smith did some work with Siouxsie And The Banshees early in his career, that I would like to hear.
Ian Anderson had a distinctive vocal timbre. I went to see him last Thursday at Hamilton Place (Thick as a Brick, parts one and two) and have to report that he has lost it. His singing voice, that is. Great show, great band, but he can't sing anymore.
John Wetton RIP
Mr GEDDY LEE of course!
he just doesn‘t sing in his own distinctive style, he also plays bass and keyboards the same time...
Patrick posted:Mr GEDDY LEE of course!
he just doesn‘t sing in his own distinctive style, he also plays bass and keyboards the same time...
Huge Rush fan. So sad that they've retired. Other distinctive vocalists:
1. Fish/Steve Hogarth - the original and the "new" lead singer of Marillion
2. Patty Griffin - sometimes folk, sometimes rock but can't believe she isn't a household name
3. Kate Bush/Tori Amos - the British/American spine-tingling vocals
4, Karen Peris - another spine-tingling female vocalist
5. Mark Knopfler - everything he signs sounds so good
6. Mary Fahl - how is she not a huge star? What a voice ...
Well, actually, if singers have some degree of popularity (meaning more than just a hometown base), the list could be endless. Those with distinctive voices are the ones that pull to the front in terms of sales, radio play, etc. It's those voices that we remember and can pinpoint immediately. A better question to ask would be, "Which distinctive voices are your favorites?" Now, we are getting somewhere (to quote good ol' NF!) With that being said, here goes.... Tracey Thorn, Kate Bush, Neil Finn (!), Paul Kelly, Julia Fordham, Don Henley, Michael Hutchence, Bono, Mick Hucknall, Annie Lennox, Seal...where does it end?? Thanks for asking!
Brandi Carlile ... what a voice!
Fred Schneider I say!
