'Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir. I have tried in my way to be free.'
Leonard Cohen's voice is fine by me. A voice with character is what they call it. Randy Newman is another guy whose voice suits his musical style and lyrics. But they wouldn't be characterised as 'strong' voices.
Last Edited by Grey Owl on Oct 08, 2015 6:17 AM
By the way, the bass tone of the guy in that Cohen tune is incredible. ---------- --Nathan Heck Lead Technician, Lone Wolf Blues Co. customerservice@lonewolfblues.com
I don't think that Waits and Cohen is all that similar voice wise. They both older white, non-rock singers though. Tom Waits kind of embodies a kind of Americana with his heart of Saturday night. That album is pure gold. ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Mavis Staples carried on a romance with folk legend Bob Dylan. Dylan had long admired The Staple Singers, covering their song "Dying Man's Prayer" in 1962, and the Staple Singers had in turn recorded several Dylan compositions. In the late 1960s, Dylan proposed marriage to Staples; although they had dated for seven years, she turned him down.
Although Staples has since come to regret her decision not to marry Dylan, she explained her reasoning at the time in a 2004 Washington Post interview: "We had gotten with Dr. King and I was young and stupid, and I was thinking Dr. King wouldn't want me to marry a white guy." Dylan has referred to Staples ever since as "the love that I lost."
This one is a weird one. It's not that his voice is that weird, but he uses it in unusual ways. I think I have this on cassette somewhere. No where near blues, but I like it.
That Darling Cruel reminds me of Bowie in his Ziggy period.
If you go down the Mavis Staples blues, gospel and RnB road it would be never ending choice of voices from Skip James to Bukka White to Howlin' Wolf and on and on!
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Marine1896, I hadn't noticed that before, but when I was looking for that video I found a bio of the lead singer and Bowie was considered one of his big influences. Once I was listening for it I heard it right away.
No mention of Slim Harpo singing through his nose! Definitely one of those singers who made it happen. Never could take much of Neil Young or Bob Dylan, harmonica or vocals. That's just me...
One of my all time favorites.... John Prine. But his voice absolutely fits his songs. Talk about a poet.... ---------- Bluesharp- If you don't blow you suck...
Although Staples has since come to regret her decision not to marry Dylan, she explained her reasoning at the time in a 2004 Washington Post interview: "We had gotten with Dr. King and I was young and stupid, and I was thinking Dr. King wouldn't want me to marry a white guy."
Young and stupid is a very accurate description about ANYONE that would take marital advice from one of the most prolific cheaters and womanizers of all time. I didn't know King was such a racist though.
