I sat and listened to The Beatles' "Twist and Shout" the other day for the first time in forever. I know there's a story behind the record and it was the end of a long day and was done in one take and all - unless that's myth.

Anyway, I know it's an obvious choice, but what an incredible recording and effort by Lennon. In this age of pro-tooled and tweaked vocals, that song is really bracing today.

So, what do you consider to be a top, spot-on vocal performance?

im going on a limb here:

antony : anything he touches

Julian Casablanca's vocal performance on 'Room On Fire' is quite excellent.

Excellent, I tell you. Excellent!

Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum

Singers:

Linda Jones "Your Precious Love"
Aretha "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"
Jeff Buckley "I Want Someone Badly"

Vocalists:

Mick Jagger "Sway"
Bob Dylan "Like A Rolling Stone"
Johnny Rotten "Holidays In The Sun"

And I think Lennon is responsible for a shitload of all-time great vocals. "Twist And Shout" definitely, but also "God" and "I Found Out" and "Imagine" and etcetera.

say what you will about neil young, but I nominate "Helpless"

Truer words... there are so many choices here.

Pressure Drop - Toots Hibbert

Crying - Roy Orbison

My Generation - Roger Daltrey

Oh Comely - Jeff Mangum

What A Good Boy - Bare Naked Ladies

London Calling - Strummer

Roger Daltrey - Won't Get Fooled Again

Among many notable performances by Mick Jagger, I was listening to "Let's Spend The Night Together" the other day, and was just amazed by how hard Jagger is just openly freaking out.

I woulda loved to have been in the studio to see them cut that one.

I love that song.

Mike Patton's entire performance on Faith No More's Angel Dust

John Fogerty's howl on Travelin' Band even if the song and vocal are pure Little Richard.

Chuck D. on practically everything

It's a sappy song, but there's no denying Art's masterful vocal on "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

And...
Otis Redding - "These Arms Of Mine"

Good one! Toots is right up their with Otis Redding. "Time Tough", "Pomp & Pride", "Funky Kingston" - amazing stuff.

Yep. As always proving that heart, hunger and fire win out over chops every time.

Redemption Song~Bob Marley

al green - simply beautiful
david bowie - lots and lots. rock and roll suicide jumps to mind.

and i know he doesn't have a good voice by any standard of technique, but frank black on "tame" is pretty fucking sweet.

Somebody to Love by Queen/Freddie Mercury has always been one of my favorite vocal performances of all time.

Funky Kingston is a stone classic..possibly my favorite reggae album. Period.

Thought of a few other favorite vocal performances...

Inflammable Material - Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers)
No Killing - Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes)
Ex Lion Tamer - Colin Newman (Wire)
Mandolin Wind - Rod Stewart
Right In Time - Lucinda Williams
Germ Free Adolescents - Poly Styrene (X Ray Spex)
Strong Me Strong - Yellowman

He's also responsible for two of the all-time greatest "angry" vocal performances:

"Southern Man" and "Ohio"

The vitriol oozes from the speakers.

EDIT: Oh, and I just thought of another pretty unorthodox one...the brilliant emotional detachment displayed by Deborah Ifuh (intentional sic) of Romeo Void on "Never Say Never."

Peter Murphy - Marlene Dietrich's Favorite Poem, or when he was with Bauhaus ("Double Dare" and "Stigmata Martyr")

Alison Goldfrapp - Lovely Head

In terms of quirkiness, I do love Jello Biafra and Fred Schneider.

added: HR from Bad Brains

He smoked a pack of Shermans and was reportedly screaming his head-off for an hour or so. His voice was fried and it would be the last vocal take of the day, so he had to nail it.
He did.


This is my all-time favorite Stones song.


I'd like to add :

billie holiday - you've changed
jeff buckley - lilac wine
gram parsons - brass buttons
neko case - furnace room lullaby
richard buckner - once
sinatra - angel eyes
pj harvey - we float
dylan - far too many to mention

Mike Love and the Beach Boys' harmonies in "Good Vibrations"
Bjork "Hyperballad"
Ben E. King "Stand By Me"

Jim james and the boys on "Z". This album is incredible.

Lux Interior - "I Can't Hardly Stand It"