Tough to pick one MVP but the top two Mick no.1 and Paul second without either there is no Stone or Beatles. Mick gets my nod simply for longevity and you could flip that rank if you are talking about their impact on rock and roll and society. Jager McCartney Plant
Mapman, if you’re gonna come up with a new schoolyard game, you have to tighten up on the rules. like, bands with multiple vocalists at the same time, which one is mvp as opposed to bands that had multiple leads at different times, which is mvp. theres no value to choosing geddy lee. How many songs did Neil pert sing on? however, in the Beatles case even Ringo did lead vocals on probably a dozen chart hitting songs ( some as solo artist) so choosing an mvp on that band has merit. By the way, I like George Harrison’s vocals. here’s a gimme: who would be the mvp on Simon & Garfunkel?
I can’t believe nobody mentioned Bono. mickeydee, I’m ashamed with what your parents taught that you let this exceptional voice miss your radar. going back a bit, Frankie Valli’s 4 octave abilities are still unmatched.
Geddy Lee- laying down serious bass chops and singing... no one could ever replace him. There are SO many though. Most of the top ones have already made the list.
Both my parents were professional singers and taught me what to look for in a voice...if they were alive, they would both say Steve Perry...no other competition.
The new David Byrne HBO concert video is amazing. It’s called American something (I forget). It’s also available on vinyl. There are a dozen performers, and their use of sets (or lack of them) is so creative. I was mesmerized. Don’t miss it!
@tunehead I put Steve Perry because I believe he has a much better voice but second choice is Geddy Lee. His voice was raw power and emotion especially on Caress of Steel and 2112.
Robert Smith - the cure morrisey- the smiths dan Auerbach - the black keys charles Thompson/ black Francis/ frank black: the pixies iggy pop- the stooges
Damn ol' brain. I just watched the performance of "The Weight" I referred to above; it was on "Evangeline"---with Emmylou Harris---that Richard plays drums and Levon mandolin. On "The Weight" Levon plays drums and sings the first verse, Mavis Staples the second, Pops the third, Rick the fourth, and all the final. A great version of this absolute classic of a song, better imo than anything John & Paul wrote. You may disagree ;-) .
I also failed to include The Byrds as bands having three lead singers (that is, when Gene Clark was a member). Great harmony vocals too, of course. Bassist Chris Hillman didn't sing while a Byrds member, but does in his post-Byrds career, both solo as a member of The Desert Rose Band.
You are correct @rpeluso, Manuel’s first name is Richard. Levon said he considered Richard The Band’s lead singer; he was Clapton’s favorite white male singer. Richard, Levon, and Rick all sang the melody on different songs, sometimes one of them singing some verses, another others (Rick takes the lead on the "Wait a minute Chester" verse in "The Weight", Levon on all the others). And in some Band songs the three of them sing the verses in harmonies that wrap around those of each other. Robbie has said they were emulating The Staples, who end The Last Waltz performing "The Weight" on a sound stage, filmed after the LW concert. In that version, Rick again sings the "Chester" verse, Richard plays not piano but drums (he was a fantastic drummer, playing them on about half the songs on the brown album), and Levon plays mandolin (all the Band members were multi-instrumentalists), not singing at all.
All three of them could have been a band’s lead singer, very rare in all of Rock ’n’ Roll’s history. All three had (all are deceased now, alas) unique, easily identifiable voices. The Beatles had two great lead singers (George, bless his heart, was not much of a singer), but most bands are lucky to have one. Buffalo Springfield had three singers---as did Moby Grape, making good harmony vocals possible. An obvious 3-lead singer band is Crosby, Stills, & Nash (4-lead singers if you consider Neil Young a singer ;-) . And lastly, Rockpile---Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, and Billy Bremner, who, like CSN&Y, had two lead guitarists. They made only one album under that name, but are the band on a number of Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe solo albums.
zImwig, I think its Richard Manuel. Not Robert. In any case, great choice, I place him next to my choice, Levon, and have to include Rick Danko in the top three.
I didn’t say Collins over Gabriel. Only that Gabriel was replaced and the group went on to even greater fame works against Gabriel as Genesis MVP. MVPs are not easily replaced. In fact when Collins left and they gave Ray Wilson, a fine vocalist on his own right, a go, that was it for Genesis. So there is a case to be made for Phil Collins as an MVP with Genesis.
mapman has a screw loose saying Colllins over Gabriel. Genesis is never Genesis without Gabriel. Simply put, a unique individual whom brought fame to a group that Collins rode home to the bank. Roger Daltry is symbolic as MVP vocalist. Robert Plant is not far behind. Ahead of them all is Natalie Merchant. There is no 10,000 Maniacs without her!
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
