The Top 40 Greatest Voices in Rock

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The Top 40 Greatest Voices in Rock
1. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
2. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
3. Paul Rodgers (Free/ Bad Company)
4. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
5. Roger Daltrey (The Who)
6. David Coverdale (Whitesnake)
7. Axl Rose (Guns ‘N’ Roses)
8. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
9. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
11. David Bowie
12. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
13. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
14. Jon Anderson (Yes)
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Joe Cocker
17. Ozzy Osbourne
18. Bono (U2)
19. Peter Gabriel
20. James Hetfield (Metallica)
21. Janis Joplin
22. Chris Cornell (Audioslave / Soundgarden)
23. Roger Chapman (Family)
24. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
25. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
26. Steve Perry (Journey)
27. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
28. Alex Harvey (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
29. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
30. Ronnie James Dio (Dio)
31. Sammy Hagar (Van Halen)
32. Meat Loaf
33. Alice Cooper
34. Geddy Lee (Rush)
35. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
36. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
37. Fish (Marillion)
38. Dave Lee Roth (Van Halen)
39. Biff Byford (Saxon)
40. Neil Young

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1103932/Robert-Plant-seed-rock-n-roll-poll-Mick-Jagger-just-scrapes-ten.html

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@Pamela Rosa,

where's greg allman?

I love Neil Young and Peter Gabriel as writers but great voices? And voices that beat this voice?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UUBPUZfexcY

no way

1 Reply

@aidan,

and are there no women purposefully - is this only the 40 greatest male voices in rock or do they think that there aren't any female voices in the top forty?

1 Reply

I'm sure its a matter of taste and/or the era that we grew up in, but I think all of the following had better voices and did better music than any on that top 40 list, and I'm sure I've left out many:

Elvis
Little Richard
Buddy Holly
Richie Valens
Big Bopper
Bill Haley (& the Coments)
Chuck Berry
The Beatles
Diana Ross (and the Supremes)
The Beach Boys
The Platters
The Drifters
The Four Tops
Roy Orbison
Connie Francis
Teresa Brewer
The Everly Brothers
Fats Domino
The Four Aces
The Fontane Sisters
Guy Mitchell
Sheb Wooley
Frankie Avalon
Patti Page
Tony Bennett
Doris Day
Johnnie Ray
The Crew Cuts
Fankie Laine
Jo Stafford
Kay Starr
Jonnie Mathis
Marty Robbins
The Four Lads
Andy Williams
The McGuire Sisters
Perry Como
Eddie Fisher
Dean Martin
Tennessee Ernie Ford

3 Replies

@Foxfyre,

Oh and add Billy Joel, Neal Diamond, Bette Midler, and Streisand to my list though there have been times that I think Barbra should have been required to write "I am not a rock star" 100 times on the blackboard.

0 Replies

@aidan,

Quote:

and are there no women purposefully - is this only the 40 greatest male voices in rock or do they think that there aren't any female voices in the top forty?

janis j is #21.
surprised she's it...

1 Reply

i could care less about van halen, but to put roth below hagar as representative of van halen is laughable, hagar might be a better singer on his own (to be honest i'm not really sure), but in terms of van halen, roth should be ahead of hagar

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@Pamela Rosa,

I'm glad to see Plant and Mercury at the top. Neat thread.

1 Reply

@alex240101,

rob halford is way to low placed as is Dio. Mick jagger does not belong in the top ten. Robert plant was totally incapable of duplicatin ghis studfio vocals live.

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@Foxfyre,

Foxfyre wrote:

I'm sure its a matter of taste and/or the era that we grew up in, but I think all of the following had better voices and did better music than any on that top 40 list, and I'm sure I've left out many:

Elvis
Little Richard
Buddy Holly
Richie Valens
Big Bopper
Bill Haley (& the Coments)
Chuck Berry
The Beatles
Diana Ross (and the Supremes)
The Beach Boys
The Platters
The Drifters
The Four Tops
Roy Orbison
Connie Francis
Teresa Brewer
The Everly Brothers
Fats Domino
The Four Aces
The Fontane Sisters
Guy Mitchell
Sheb Wooley
Frankie Avalon
Patti Page
Tony Bennett
Doris Day
Johnnie Ray
The Crew Cuts
Fankie Laine
Jo Stafford
Kay Starr
Jonnie Mathis
Marty Robbins
The Four Lads
Andy Williams
The McGuire Sisters
Perry Como
Eddie Fisher
Dean Martin
Tennessee Ernie Ford

Yes:
SO STIPULATED!

David

0 Replies

@Pamela Rosa,

a bit heavily weighted toward white men - who just don't have the best voices

ah well, everyone's got their preferences

3 Replies

@Region Philbis,

I missed that - she definitely belongs (in my opinion)
I think we could trade Grace Slick for Meatloaf for sure...
And maybe Mama Cass for Axl Rose (he screeches - he doesn't sing)
but maybe they think she's pop instead of rock.

I think it's heavily weighted for tenors too - maybe their definition of rock is just really, really narrow

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@ehBeth,

excuse me....

0 Replies

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

a bit heavily weighted toward white men -
who just don't have the best voices
ah well, everyone's got their preferences

I strongly DISAGREE.
Whites like Perry Como and Dean Martin
have smooth, mello, beautiful voices.

The blacks, especially MODERN ones
(NOT like Earl Grant nor Nat King Cole)
have ruff, gross, dirty voices.

2 Replies

@Pamela Rosa,

Not going to quibble with place in line, just whether or not they belong in line:

1. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) - Agreed
2. Freddie Mercury (Queen) - Agreed
3. Paul Rodgers (Free/ Bad Company) - Disagree
4. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) - Disagree
5. Roger Daltrey (The Who) - Agree
6. David Coverdale (Whitesnake) - Disagree
7. Axl Rose (Guns ‘N’ Roses) - Disagree
8. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) - Disagree
9. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones) - Disagree
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC) - Disagree
11. David Bowie - Agree
12. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) - Disagree
13. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) - Disagree
14. Jon Anderson (Yes) - Agree
15. Bruce Springsteen - Agree
16. Joe Cocker - Agree
17. Ozzy Osbourne - Disagree
18. Bono (U2) - Agree
19. Peter Gabriel - Agree
20. James Hetfield (Metallica) - Disagree
21. Janis Joplin - Disagree
22. Chris Cornell (Audioslave / Soundgarden) - Don't Know
23. Roger Chapman (Family) - Don't Know
24. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) - Agree
25. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) - Disagree
26. Steve Perry (Journey) - Disagree
27. Jim Morrison (The Doors) - Agree
28. Alex Harvey (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) - Don't Know
29. Rob Halford (Judas Priest) - Disagree
30. Ronnie James Dio (Dio) - Don't Know
31. Sammy Hagar (Van Halen) - Agree
32. Meat Loaf - Disagree
33. Alice Cooper - Disagree
34. Geddy Lee (Rush) Disagree
35. Brian Johnson (AC/DC) - Disagree
36. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - Disagree
37. Fish (Marillion) - Don't know
38. Dave Lee Roth (Van Halen) Disagree
39. Biff Byford (Saxon) Don't Know
40. Neil Young - Disagree Completely

I will add (In no particular order)

1) Greg Lake - (King Crimson and ELP)
2) Taj Mahal
3) Levon Helm (The Band)
4) Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
5) Justin Hayward (Moody Blues)
6) Marvin Gaye
7) Ike Willis (Frank Zappa incarnations)
8) Ray Charles
9) Timothy B Schmit (Poco, Eagles)
10) Harry Nillson
11) Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music)
12) Stevie Winwood (Traffic)
13) Sting
14) Paul McCartney (Beatles)
15) Mick Abrahams (Blodwyn Pig)
16) Lindsay Cunningham (Fleetwood Mac)
17) Cat Stevens
18) Dave Mason (Traffic)
19) Gordon Lightfoot
20) Stevie Wonder
21) Anita Baker
22) Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
23) Gary Brooker (Procul Harum)
24) James Taylor
25) Billy Joel
26) Michael McDonald (Doobie Bros)
27) Richie Havens
28) Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention)
29) Elton John
30) Daryl Hall
31) Leon Russell
32) John Fogarty (Creedance)
33) Jackson Browne
34) Mark King (Level 42)
35) Colin Hay (Men At Work)
36) Linda Ronstadt
37) Robert Palmer
38) Aretha Franklin
39) Brian Wilson (Beachboys)
40) Jack Bruce (Cream)

1 Reply

@Foxfyre,

Elvis AGREED
Little Richard MAYBE
Buddy Holly DISAGREE
Richie Valens MAYBE
Big Bopper DISAGREE
Bill Haley (& the Coments) DISAGREE
Chuck Berry DISAGREE
The Beatles AGREED
Diana Ross (and the Supremes) AGREED
The Beach Boys AGREED
The Platters DISAGREE
The Drifters DISAGREE
The Four Tops DISAGREE
Roy Orbison AGREED
Connie Francis DISAGREE
Teresa Brewer YOU'RE KIDDING
The Everly Brothers AGREED
Fats Domino DISAGREE
The Four Aces DISAGREE
The Fontane Sisters DON'T KNOW
Guy Mitchell DON'T KNOW
Sheb Wooley DON'T KNOW
Frankie Avalon YOU'RE KIDDING
Patti Page YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Tony Bennett YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Doris Day YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Johnnie Ray DISAGREE
The Crew Cuts DISAGREE
Fankie Laine YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Jo Stafford YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Kay Starr DON'T KNOW
Jonnie Mathis MAYBE
Marty Robbins YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
The Four Lads DON'T KNOW
Andy Williams YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
The McGuire Sisters YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Perry Como YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Eddie Fisher YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Dean Martin YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?
Tennessee Ernie Ford YOU'RE KIDDING - ROCK?

0 Replies

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

The blacks, especially MODERN ones
(NOT like Earl Grant nor Nat King Cole)
have ruff, gross, dirty voices

David - that's imprecise language - how can a voice be DIRTY?

anyway - you're so wrong - and I suspect it's because you haven't availed yourself of the opportunity to listen to some stunningly, wonderful smooth, mellow young male singers who happen to be African American.

In fact, to my ear, there's often an added richness of tone in an African American voice - male or female
Anita Baker is a great example- her voice just has this silky, smoky smoothness that just isn't there in most white womens' voices.

Listen to this song. Don't look at the video, or listen to the words, because that might prejudice you, but just listen to the singing voice (after you get through the initial rap part)and tell me it's not smooth.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lqi5P4gAvSY

I think this list is really a narrow interpretation of rock. I think there aren't very many black people on it because most people consider the music most black artists do to be called soul or blues or hip hop.
What really bugs me is the lack of some really talented women whose spaces are taken up by mediocre males.

2 Replies

@aidan,

Here's a much more comprehensive list of great voices - male and female

Aretha Franklin - who didn't even make this top forty list (WHAT?) is popularly conceded to be number 1.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5251701.ece

1 Reply

Bono, eh. He doesn't exactly have the widest range, but his voice is aesthetically pleasing...JON BON JOVI? Am I missing something? Maybe I don't listen to enough of his butt rock....but Sebastian Bach wipes his ass with Bon Jovi, vocally.

Good to see Chris Cornell on there. He has an amazing 4 octave voice, but he's had some shaky live performances, supposedly. When I saw him it was great. Even in the high range, he keeps his same vocal quality/sound as when he's low...kind of unassuming, until you try to sing along.

Chris from Black Crowes needs a mention too. Listen to the cd with Page they did of all zeppelin songs...he's amazing. And live he's great....awesome bluesy voice. Maynard from Tool...wouldn't put him on the list, but he's impressive. And gotta give give props to Eddie Vedder...at least he's one of the most copied vocalists in rock history.

Bruce Springsteen: YES. Bruce Dickinson: YES. James Hetfield: YES.

And guess what people...the list says "rock." Not R&B, not funk, not blues. ROCK.

2 Replies

@aidan,

aidan wrote:

Quote:
The blacks, especially MODERN ones
(NOT like Earl Grant nor Nat King Cole)
have ruff, gross, dirty voices

Quote:
David - that's imprecise language - how can a voice be DIRTY?

Perhaps if I were an acoustical engineer,
I might be better able to quantify the phenomenon
with greater precision. I did not understand your use
(hereinbelow) of the word "smoky".
I wonder whether what u describe as being "smoky"
I describe as being ruff.

I adopted the frase "dirty voice" from some opera singers and wannabes
& their teachers whom I dated around 35 years ago.

Quote:
anyway - you're so wrong - and I suspect it's because you haven't availed yourself of the opportunity to listen to some stunningly, wonderful smooth, mellow young male singers who happen to be African American.

In fact, to my ear, there's often an added richness of tone in an African American voice - male or female
Anita Baker is a great example- her voice just has this silky, smoky smoothness that just isn't there in most white womens' voices.

Listen to this song. Don't look at the video, or listen to the words, because that might prejudice you, but just listen to the singing voice (after you get through the initial rap part)and tell me it's not smooth.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lqi5P4gAvSY

I did so.
I concede that both of the voices AT THE END,
female and male were not ruff.
Earl Grant (whose record "The End", I bought about 40 years ago)
and Nat King Cole long ago proved that the ruffness in voice
does not result from anatomical defects of blacks.
I did not allege to the contrary.

It seems to me that blacks have made conscious decisions,
during the last maybe 25 years ( ?? ) to sound ruff & ugly
so as to be financially successful by appealing to a specific demografic.
It worked.
As gross as it sounds to me,
I still support the First Amendment.
I just avoid those noises, as well as possible.

Quote:
What really bugs me is the lack of some really talented women
whose spaces are taken up by mediocre males.

For my part,
I have purchased a lot of music from female singers,
tho not in recent years.

David

0 Replies

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