Singers whose voices have not aged well

Lyndon · « **on:** 12 Apr 2009, 04:12 pm »

I don't mean to be bashing all aging stars, but I wonder how other baby boomers are being realistic in assessing the vocal qualities of artists that they have grown up and loved?
In the past year, I have noticed many Hall of Fame singers who just don't have the "magic" in their pipes to qualify for their recent releases or performances.
Examples are Aretha Franklin, who's singing on "Dancing of the Stars" was horrible, only saved by her excellent back up singers, or her singing at the Obama inauguration. Bob Dylan, who actually had a very good voice at the beginning of his career, 50 years of touring and cigarettes, leaves a growly voice, with not much of the emotion and timbre of his youth. I drove to Wendover, Nevada, last night, to attend an Art Garfunkel concert at the casino theater. Excellent theater, good acoustics, a crack band, and Art's voice, which was always airy, light, ethereal, just couldn't hit the high notes that were the watermark of his vocal signature. It wasn't that his voice was lost in the sound mix, it just wasn't much "there" anymore. I know it is the artist's choice when to hang it up, because as an established performer, there is always a small, guaranteed audience, but I wonder how many have actually retired from performing when they realize the golden pipes aren't golden anymore. The analogy to great athletes is somewhat comparable, though in that field, it is far easier to ascertain, as the field belongs to youth.
Rod Stewart, anyone? Roger Daltry? Grace Slick (who has basically retired)
Robert Plant, has been very creative in channeling his voice into other genres that make allowances for his loss of vocal chops.
Please don't jump all over me on this. Just a personal feeling that many of the artists that I still love, just won't draw my attention and money in their current state.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 05:03 pm »

Ray Charles.

Goosepond · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 05:30 pm »

Name one that has????

Gene

Mike B. · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 05:44 pm »

Joni Mitchell - chain smoker

TV Man · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 06:21 pm »

Quote from: Goosepond on 12 Apr 2009, 05:30 pm

Name one that has????

On the bright side I recently went to see the Moody Blues live. Justin Hayward's voice was great. He's in his early sixties now and sounded absolutely splendid even nailing the high vocal parts in the chorus of "Nights In White Satin."

Lyndon · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 07:47 pm »

Glad to hear it about the Moody Blues.
Gene,
Some of the "crooners", cabaret type singers, kept a fantastic voice till the end, like Mel Torme. Maybe that comes from not trying to sing louder than the band and PA systems.

Joni Mitchell's smoking definitely had an effect on a great voice.

Voices that originated in the lower register seem to age better. Just my opinion.

dwk · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 07:52 pm »

Quote from: Goosepond on 12 Apr 2009, 05:30 pm

Name one that has????

Gene

Emmylou Harris.

In a great example of 'one of each' I saw her with John Prine at Red Rocks last year. The contrast was remarkable - her voice has held up quite wll, his has not. John still put on a good show and has altered his material/delivery to compensate somewhat (much like Dylan) but Emmylou was a real revelation.

pjchappy · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 08:01 pm »

Although he never had a great voice, Roger Waters voice is pretty much shot.

I believe he is still a smoker.

bprice2 · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 08:30 pm »

What are we to make of Mavis Staples? Her voice has become deeper, grittier and more gutteral, but is it for the worse? It seems to me age has made her voice even more passionate sounding.

Scott F. · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 08:50 pm »

Quote from: Goosepond on 12 Apr 2009, 05:30 pm

Name one that has????

Michael Martin Murphy

Though probably better known to those who listened to his country rock stylings back in the 70's, his tone is still pure and he can still hit those great high notes so many aging vocalists can only dream of reaching.

We saw him a year or so ago. That still rates as one of my very favorite concerts of all time. As you can see from his attire, he preforms Western music (not country). Highly recommended concert for the entire family, young and old.

photo by me taken at Wildwood Springs Lodge

Scottdazzle · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 09:26 pm »

Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell... I love them all, but their voices all show the unmistakable sounds of abuse.

woodsyi · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 09:27 pm »

Can you age something well if it were not well to begin with? aa

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 09:35 pm »

You mean like Joe Cocker?

ecramer · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Apr 2009, 09:49 pm »

David Allan Coe. Won't go to see him again some things are better left to memory and records

Lyndon · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 02:46 am »

bprice2,
I am not saying to drop them in the garbage hole. Mavis Staples' last release was wonderful, but when I want my Staples Singers music bite, I go for the Last Waltz dvd of their version of "The Weight" and didn't they do a version of the 'Rubber Band Man'? A great family group.

ecramer, have you seen that 'Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom Prison' video? It has a segment of David Allen Coe, driving his own tour bus, and just being outrageous! And that was in his prime.

Agree on Michael Martin Murphy and Emmy Lou Harris, but feel bad for John Prine, who I think had throat surgery due to cancer. That will take anybody's voice.
I thought Nanci Griffith also announced her retirement after her thyroid condition, but it appears she is back in the saddle.

ratso · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 03:32 am »

hehe did you really say tom waits

acresm22 · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 03:48 pm »

Ian Anderson has very limited range now, probably from too much growling back in the late-70s. He also had throat troubles back in '84, and everything recorded after that sounded different. If you hear Jethro Tull now, he really struggles with the vocals...but his flute playing is as good as ever ; )
Another with mid-80s throat problems, Elton John. He reportedly prefers his post-surgery voice, which is lower and more resonant. I like the old EJ, with all the high notes and frequent leaps into falsetto. I read somewhere that most if not all of the old EJ standards are now performed in a lower key because he just can't hit the notes.

Now Mark Knopfler...his voice has gotten better with age.

Scottdazzle · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 03:55 pm »

Quote from: ratso on 13 Apr 2009, 03:32 am

hehe did you really say tom waits

Yeah really. Listen to his first few records and then anything in the last 20 years. He could sing a little in the old days and certainly was able to convey emotions then.

hmen · « **Reply #18 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 03:59 pm »

Crosby, Stills, and Nash. They have to bring an extra guy on stage (who they don't even introduce) to sing all the hard parts and it's still painful to hear.

JoshK · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 04:09 pm »

Quote from: acresm22 on 13 Apr 2009, 03:48 pm

Now Mark Knopfler...his voice has gotten better with age.

I would agree. In fact, when someone said whose has, I immediately thought of Knopfler.