In no particular order...

Russell Mael
Kate Bush
Freddie Mercury
Elvis Costello
Danny Elfman

Very definitely ... David Gray!
and Neil Tennant
Paul McCartney

phil judd
thom yorke
ric ocasek
roland orzabal (i'll bet i'm alone on that one)
barry hay
bono
michael hutchence

David Bowie
Peter Garrett

My list would include many mentioned above, plus;

Jeff Lynne
Roddy Frame
Jim Kerr
Andy Partridge

If you're talking about distinctive voices, then one obvious choice (surprised no one mentioned this) is Eddie Vedder. Like him or hate him, you KNOW who it is the instant you hear the voice.

quote:

posted by anselm
5. Bob Dylan

i love this man, for being one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced the earth, but he has to have the worst voice ever!
it is sooo bad!

distinctive voices IMHO:
eddie vedder
nick drake
macy gray
joan armatrading (love that woman)
tanita tikaram
stina nordenstam

thats all i can think of @ the mo

quote:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted by anselm
5. Bob Dylan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i love this man, for being one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced the earth, but he has to have the worst voice ever!
it is sooo bad!

Just a reminder: it's the most distinctive vocalists I'm focussing on, not the BEST. I'm not a particularly big fan of Dylan's but he definitely is very distinct, with a few stylish vocal tricks, twists and turns of phrase which no-one else possesses.

There's been some great suggestions posted here so far, some people I've forgotten about but would definitely cite as totally unique: Elvis Costello, Eddie Vedder (who I can't stand incidentally!), Stevie Nicks, Roddy Frame.

There's also been a few names suggested who I'd strongly disagree with, like Neil Tennant (sounds too much like Al Stewart), Jeff Lynne (spent most of his time trying to copy Beatles harmonies )

Cinnamon : what an incredible name you mentioned that I totally missed - the late Nick Drake. A fabulous writer and guitarist, not to mention inimitable vocalist. I thought I was his only fan!! http://www.nickdrakeworld.com [Sorry for the shameless plug]

Lots of fascinating and controversial opinions so far....keep them coming

Fergal Sharkey (Undertones and solo fame in the late 70's early 80's)
Nils Lofgren
Tim Finn
Nik Kershaw
Elton John
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Bono
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile)
Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout)

have to disagree with however said Roddy Frame tho'; he sounds just like Midge Ure, Justin Currie and loads of other Glasgow area vocalists (and I like all three singers I've mentioned) I guess I get some flack from any Glasgow-based frenz!

Bob, I don't know Justin Currie, but I can't hear the similarity between Roddy and Midge. I wasn't huge on Ultravox, though.

Anselm, I don't think you can copy harmonies, they just exist as a fact of nature, but you could try to copy melodies. (My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine) I don't think Jeff Lynne was trying to copy the Beatles in that respect. He was (or perhaps still is) a musical genius in his own way, and a fan of the Beatles, or at the very least of George Martin, but as this discussion is about his voice, I have to say it gave me that "feeling" when I was an adolescent.

springsteen,dylan, vedder, neil and tim finn, tori amos, sarah mclachlan, annie lennox,rufus wainwright, lennon, colin hay, axl rose, just a few off the top of my head.

Eddie Vedder's one that springs to mind.

Macy Gray, Michael Jackson, Bono... & Neil Finn (only because I've heard so much of his stuff).

Also the lead singer of Live.

The only ones that I can think of that havent already been mentioned are:

Nick Cave
Rod Stewart
Dido
Celine Dion
Kasey Chambers

Oh, I meant to say Shaggy as well...god I hate that guy...

Sting - I'm surprised no one has mentioned him yet - it's so hard to hit the notes he does - whether it be high OR low

quote:

posted by anselm
nick drake - not to mention inimitable vocalist

yes absolutely agree, anselm. i love 'northern sky'

barry white - now theres a distinctive vocalist

and astrud gilberto - what beautiful silky smooth singing!

I challenge anyone to try and roll Dolly Parton.

One I forgot until today - Tim Buckley (Jeff's dad).

Since Dolly got a mention it must be safe to name the late great Roger Miller. Not only a great voice but also clever and amusing lyrics.
Sorry.

I was just about to suggest Freddie Mercury - but I can hear bits of his voice in George Michael and Robbie Williams.

anyone else think this way?

Joni Mitchell!

She's just the very greatest! Much much more influencial than most woudl think!

Silke
*admires Joni a lot*

I'm not saying whether I like these voices - just that I find them distictive:

Anthony Kiedis
Thom Yorke
Stina Nordenstam
Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Neil Tennant
David Byrne

Must say I find the guy in Stereophonics sounds something like Rod Stewart - so can't give Rod a distinctive vocals vote.

For me the most distinctive voices in rock (which I like and can listen too) are:

thom yorke
john lennon
paul mc cartney
bono
neil & tim finn (obviously)
david bowie
peter garrett
michael hutchence
jimmy barnes
elton john
mark seymour
eddie vedder (although he sounds like a sheep) very distinctive

yeah that's it I think.

Kate

I'd definitely go for:
Neil & Tim Finn
Gordon Summers (a.k.a. Sting)
Eddie Vedder

Some others:
Darren Hayes (Savage Garden)
Don Henley (Eagles)
Frank Black (The Pixies)
Phil Collins
Damon Albarn (Blur)
Bob Marley
Elton John
Eric Clapton

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Memery:
[qb]have to disagree with however said Roddy Frame tho'; he sounds just like Midge Ure, Justin Currie and loads of other Glasgow area vocalists (and I like all three singers I've mentioned) I guess I get some flack from any Glasgow-based frenz![/qb]

*gives you flak*

Umm...nice to see Stevie Nicks getting a mention, although she's not totally unique since I sound exactly like her Then again I don't think I count, being not-famous and all that.

JON ANDERSON OF YES, PEOPLE! COME ON!

And um...Billie Joe Armstrong, you know it's him when he sings...Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev...ummm...Matt Bellamy of Muse...*stops before she goes too far down the obscure indie path*

quote:

Originally posted by marmotgirl:
[qb]JON ANDERSON OF YES, PEOPLE! COME ON[/qb]

The guy from Blind Melon sounded exactly like Jon Anderson. But I wonder if that counts, since a fair amount of their material was imitating Yes.

Somebody mentioned 'Gordon Summers.' Well, I don't know who that is, but i know that Gordon SumNER can't be matched...

I can't believe no one mentioned "The Boss", Bruce Springsteen! His voice is one that is really easily recognised.

My Top 10 (give or take)

1. Steve Perry (Journey)

2. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

3. Steve Winwood

4. Hmmmm, out of "Steves" now...so how about Paul McCartney. He has that rock & roll voice that always got me.

5. Lou Gramm (Foreigner)

6. Neil Young

7. Neil Finn (naturally--did you think I could leave him off??)

8. What's that guy's name from Nickleback? Chad Kroeger? (I think). Even if you're not a fan, he does have that cool r&r voice

I just noticed that all of my choices are men, so I'll add:

Melissa Etheridge

Pat Benatar

I also notice that all of my idols are from like, 20 years ago. Or more. ((sigh)) It's hell to grow old! ((grins))

vch

PS, speaking of Dolly Parton, has anyone heard the cover of Collective Soul's "Shine" she did?

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

vch

BEN FOLDS

DAREEN HAYES

JOEY RAMONE

What about the King?...

ELVIS PRESLEY??

And speaking of sheep-voices...wouldn't an Eddie Vedder/Stevie Nicks duet be too much???

I see no ones mentioned Don McGlashan yet.

So, yeah... Don McGlashan

quote:

Originally posted by Sue Diego:
[qb]What about the King?...

ELVIS PRESLEY??

And speaking of sheep-voices...wouldn't an Eddie Vedder/Stevie Nicks duet be too much???[/qb]

Sheep voice? *splutters, blusters*

Lou Gramm = Trevor Rabin, also of Yes. Same voice, SAMESAMESAME. But I don't, somehow, see you all rushing out to test the similarity.

And I repeat, NOBODY sounds quite like our Jon

Tim Finn
Neil Finn
Elliott Smith

I think that these would be my choice of distintive voices:-

Neil Young

Nils Lofgren

Bob Dylan

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

Kate Bush

Otis Redding

Ray Davies ( Classic English Voice and a Tim fave!)

Paul

quote:

I think that these would be my choice of distintive voices:-

Neil Young

Nils Lofgren

Bob Dylan

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

Kate Bush

Otis Redding

Ray Davies ( Classic English Voice and a Tim fave!)

Funnily enough, Neil Young's voice often gets confused with that of the lead singer of the band America ('Horse With No Name', 'Ventura Highway' etc). Have a listen and see what you think. Also, Kate Bush and Tori Amos' vocal styles often get confused with each other, not sure if either of them fall into the totally 'distinct' category.

Thinking back, maybe I should have titled this topic 'Most uniquely recognisable voice'. Then again, everyone's voice is unique...but the discussions are fun.

I'd like to add...

Morrisey

paulport wrote:

quote:

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

I second that. It's a pity that he hasn't produced his best solo ablum yet. It seems he's got incredible voice but not many good original songs to sing with it IMO.

Ooohhh, yeah. Paul Rodgers. I forgot about him!

vch

Cyndi Lauper anyone?

Or did someone mention her already?

- Kia (about to move from one continent to another and thence very distracted) Kaha...