The indomitable Arthur Brown, who possesses the most profound dance moves and world-view in the world, is also a pretty astonishing vocalist.
Category: vocalists
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Joan Jett.
The great Joan Jett, First Lady of rock.
Led Zeppelin, with eight scintillating live performances. Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones are all in top form. JPJ has some fine moments, esp. No Quarter and Trampled.. Plant, as always, is as powerful, beguiling, and inventive a lead vocalist as any that exists on this planet, and both Page and Bonham demonstrate why they are legends.
Jimi Hendrix, whether performing the somber, doleful Hey Joe, the furiously kinetic Johnny B. Goode, or the iconic, brain-imploding National anthem, was a virtuoso on his instrument unlike any other.
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The Song-Poems.
The wonderment of the Song Poem has led a long and prosperous life. Advertisements in magazines and whatnot—especially the latter—calling for “non-professional” “poets” to go ahead and send in their masterworks, and have them set to music, have resulted in…improbable finished products. Many of the above sampling are the work of Rodd Keith, the so-called “Mozart” of the song poem. One Norm Burns takes a shot at some others. All are indisputable in their existence.
Hailing from Sheffield, Pulp’s Jarvis Branson Cocker remains a titan and figurehead of the British music world. The “Erotic Coathanger”‘s quirky, enigmatic ways make him a source of immense curiosity to millions. Then, there are his hands, the antics of which are unprecedented in the annals of such things.
The great Gordon Lightfoot, who is not only a legend in the music world, but {arguably} rates as the highest-ranked Canadian of all time, has written some of the most iconic and memorable songs ever. A mere sampling is here presented, including some criminally neglected gems.
The angry, but smartly suited, young men of The Jam, featuring vocalist and “Modfather Paul Weller, combined briskly tempoed rock with Motown R&B to exceptional effect. Weller went on to further fine doings with The Style Council before launching a solo career.
Composer/Vocalist Townes Van Zandt is responsible for many poignant masterpieces; this represents merely a small-ish sampling. Loretta would be a prime example; though the lyrics are warm, a sense of melancholy nonetheless pervades the song. His “hit” Pancho and Lefty was covered by Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard, and wistfulness clearly prevails. The powerful Waitin’ Around to Die speaks for itself.
Tremendously influential, Van Zandt led a life that was quite troubled, being tormented not only by his bipolar condition, but by numerous addictions which eventually cost the great man his life. He contributed in ways difficult to fathom, however, to the musical landscape, and will not soon be forgotten.
A modest collection of brilliant live performances by Mr. Bowie, with 2 studio tracks, plus a wondrous, pared-down demo thrown in for good measure. The constantly reinventing, quasi-androgynous David Robert Jones {his birthname} pioneered his way through the music world, leaving the landscape forever altered—with new worlds and vistas previously undream’t of—in his wake.
