My Favorite Singers
ROBIN
ZANDER from CHEAP TRICK: An early favorite,
a singer of uncommon range and power.
He puts almost every hard rock singer to total shame
with his melodicism, screaming and vast understanding of how to carry
a tune. I like to sight "
I Can't Take It" from 1983's Next Position Please, "She's Tight" and "If
You Want My Love" from 1982's One On One, along with "Speak
Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace," "Hot Love," and "He's
A Whore" from their 1976 debut as evidence
that nobody can really top Robin's prowess.
BOB DYLAN: Not commonly known as a great singer just as often as he's praised as one. Key and pitch may not be Dylan's best concerns (though he's just fine in that area in you actually paid attention!) But that phrasing! The breathe control, the sophisticated way he has with a melody all tie into a package that makes him one of the great vocal influences of my life. If you can find the ultra rare footage of us performing on Jenny Jones, remember-I'm doing a Dylan!
OTIS REDDING: The Bob Dylan of soul. Folks like Marvin Gaye and David
Ruffin may be more immaculate and have greater range, and Al Green may
be the true god of voice, but Otis' sheer joy in singing, along with
that southern fried grit
has made me not want to be white on several occasions.
BRIAN
CONNELLY from SWEET: Dynamics, theater, humor, pathos, Brian Connelly
could sing the hardest rock n roll, the sweetest pop, do camp operatic
harmonies better than Freddie Mercury, ballads at the drop of a hat-he
was a magician and a thespian at the microphone, putting us all to shame
in fell swoop. He made me want to be white again.
DAVID JOHANSEN from NEW YORK DOLLS: A great actor with superb timing from the post Dylan school of singing. Johansen doesn't so much "sing" as he projects. He IS the song, dammit! Though his chops ain't all bad on his solo stuff (especially on the Live! 1978 recording,) it's with the Dolls that I copped a feel for his worldly way with a lyric, his gesticulations, those damn vocal mannerisms. To truly understand Johansen's style you'd have to feel it's pure avant-garde chic, it's downtown bohemian off-broadway message, it's revolutionary intent. It's a work of art goddamnit! And if you think that's funny, how come I'm the one that's laughing?!
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Joey Ramone & Buddy Holly.
