[Closed] The Best British male Singer Ever Is?

It's all subjective so there are no rights or wrongs - just opinions...............

could Mercury sing all those styles? Maybe but I never heard him do so

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Tom Jones = Pub singer

Nobody mentioned Sir Cliff yet?

Freddie
Marriott
Tom
McCartney
Boe
Bowie
Paige
Mcalmont
Bloke from Muse

Moving to female brit singers

Well, that gives you the perfect juxtaposition:

uponthedowns - good call on "crazy little thing called love". Now gospel? soul? Blues? EDM?

Hey Ninfan - have we ever agreed on a debate thread before? 😯

@pondo: ho ho - it's subjective which means there are no rights or wrongs - just opinions.

@uponthedowns: tom jones=pub singer....have your ears syringed man; inform yourself before posting; i refer you to the 4 f's.......first find the ******g facts.

How could I have forgotten the fabulous Robert Palmer......

I would vote for Mark Hollis. Obviously not everyone's cup of tea, but manages to convey incredible amounts of emotion.

@pondo: ho ho - it's subjective which means there are no rights or wrongs - just opinions

Interesting question, though - totally get that you can not be a Tom Jones fan but admire his ability. Likewise, Bowie for me has the better musicality but Freddie's the better singer, and that was the question.

And off at a complete tangent, totally disconnected from the OP........

A little bit of New Orlean ju-ju but Dr John is not talked about or referred to in NOLA; his home town but didn't record there until about 2005-ish.

And off in a totally different direction - james brown.

@pondo: this could go......on and on and on and.....i do so, sorry but.....threads like this give all of us a chance to reminisce/educate/pontificate/share and just generally blather.

I'm really surprised there have have been so few shouts for Roger Daltrey, none for Robert Plant, Paul Jones gets a shout when his real forté is harmonica.

Enough for tonight - until tomorrow.............

@ninfan.....ha ha but.....spend some time on the music; your juxtaposed clips are, well - yawn.

If I could sing half as well as any of the names listed in the thread I would be well ******g chuffed.

Those who can - do; those who can't - talk about it.

Bowie.

George Micheal....not even a mention.

Jim Reeves
Matt Munro

Defo between Tom Jones and Freddie.

You're all wrong, it's this guy.

[img] [/img]

Ah coverdale...

Superb in his prime.

Still Freddie or Paul "the voice" Rogers though for me.

I think Bowie would be my favourite male artist, but if we are just talking vocals then Freddie Mercury was superb. I would also say Matt Bellamy from Muse is a bloody good singer too

Best singer is very specific. Bryan Ferry is terrific live. Silky voice. Ian McCulloch, who is a great writer and who's records sound fab - doesn't sound so hot live.

I think there is a distinction between great artist and greatest singer as Pavarotti may well be on the list.

+1 for Matt Munro and also Marc Almond, once heard him sound checking at Eiland Road, I was working in a building across the other side of the motorway and his voice still sounded phenomenal.

It's Chris Martin from coldplay isn't it?
Or
That one from one direction who's not in them anymore

Fran?? Bloke from Travis. Don't like his music but he can sing / hold a note or two. Same with a young Rod Stewart and matey from Stereophonics. Not my flavour of music but they all can sing rather well

My suggestion would be Tom Smith from the editors.

He has the best vocal range in the UK apparently......

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/bc.marfeel.com//www.gigwise.com/news/94653/editors-tom-smith-has-the-best-vocal-range-in-the-uk%3Fmarfeeltn%3Damp?client=ms-android-huawei

a perfect example.

I must thank Ton for this thread.. if only for tj's funniest post ever! Loads of Tom Jones videos?! Brilliant - genuine 😆 s from me. (My mum still has a tissue Jones the Voice threw into the crowd at a concert after wiping his [s]crotch[/s] brow with it!)

Not really into singers, but I'd go with Scott Walker or Bowie.

I am no big fan Dezb but I thought some folk might not realise the range of songs and styles he can sing.

Most of the folk mentioned [i]as a singer[/i] are nowhere near him simply judged as a singer on vocal range, tone and singing styles.

I know why you posted it. I just found it amusing.

Oh, has Steve Marriott had a mention? Amazing voice.

Teej, I bet you have done a Tom impression in the mirror in the past, with a hairbrush... 😆

Live, Noddy Holder. From a ballad to bringing the house down perfectly in tune. Take away studio effects, layering and (these days) autotune, and some artist sound like shadows of their recorded selves. Noddy sang better live.

[url=

be home soon at about 10'[/url]

Lots of other good artists in posts above. I'll also add Liam Gallagher who made good use of his albeit limited vocal range on the first two Oasis albums before destroying it.

I am with you there Edu - went tithe first comeback concert at the B'ham Odean in the 80s (I think) and gave SLAYED to mini THM to add to his vinyl collection.

Noddy was awesome but Dave Hill was being a bit nobby so when he did a guitar solo, some wag threw a loo roll that hit right in the nuts! Not a nice things to do, but the crowd enjoyed it! The joys of 70/80s concerts!!!!

I saw Slade at Birmingham town hall in 72. The whole building shook. However the early 80s were even better as everyone knew the songs. They played Aberystwyth King's Hall to a mix of students and ageing hippies. It was supposed to be sit down but Noddy organised the public stacking chairs and turned the place into a dance hall. We danced, sang, laughed at the jokes and went home exhausted, deaf, sweaty, happy people.

Noddy is totally underrated. I would have loved to see them live.

[quote="ton"]

Teej, I bet you have done a Tom impression in the mirror in the past, with a hairbrush...

doesn't everybody? After all [i]its not unusual[/i]

😆

Bowie shoes off his versatility (and sense of humour)...

Rob Halford of Judas Priest. Not always great songs but his vocal range is immense.

I am assuming Tom Jones has already been mentioned.

I find myself agreeing with both TJ and ninfan.

Whilst not to everyone's taste Tom Jones' sheer versatility makes him the standout best. Bowie was undeniably brilliant and extremely innovative but I would say that Jones was the better singer.

Good mentions for Noddy Holder and Matt Bellamy though!

Coyote
I find myself agreeing with both TJ and ninfan.

Whilst not to everyone's taste Tom Jones' sheer versatility makes him the standout best.

So is versatility the main criteria when it comes to judging "best"?

Johnny Cash certainly wasn't the best country singer. Dylan isn't the best folk singer. Brian Johnson isn't the best rock singer and none of them could be accused of being versatile. But they are all incredibly distinctive and famous singers.

Some good singers in this thread, some of them almost half as good as this guy:

So is versatility the main criteria when it comes to judging "best"?

Not exclusively but when you consider that he excels (rather than displaying competance) at so many different styles then I'd say that puts him up there. I take it that you disagree?

Coyote

Not exclusively but when you consider that he excels (rather than displaying competance) at so many different styles then I'd say that puts him up there. I take it that you disagree?

I don't know. I wouldn't deny that Tom Jones is a great singer, but I don't really love anything he's done.

If this is the video I think it is (can't check from work), it gives a bit of insight into just how technical David McAlmont's singing can be. Worth a watch

(Dunno who my favourite Brit singer is though could list a bunch of Americans starting with Al Green. Surprised neither Lennon or McCarney get a mention as they'd both got a decent set of pipes.)

In my opinion (and it's just that), I've always thought that Tom Jones is bettered by thousands of black singers, but is famous because he's white and almost as good. A bit like Elvis, Eminem, Jerry Lee Lewis - maybe even Joe Cocker.
He's been clever (or at least employed clever people around him) to sustain his career.

So I'd put Bowie/Freddie in above him because I think they had an amazingly authentic sound.

But with these things, we're always going to think of the most popular/famous and then think who was a great singer.

I haven't seen Van Morrison mentioned, but he might fall into my first category also 🙂

AlexSimon

I haven't seen Van Morrison mentioned, but he might fall into my first category also

Is your first category populated exclusively by pretentious bible bashing tossers with a god complex?

[i]Tom Jones is bettered by thousands of black singers, but is famous because he's white and almost as good[/i]

He's famous cos in his yoof he was a sexy bastard. My mum told me this. And TJ.

Tom Jones is bettered by thousands of black singers, but is famous because he's white and almost as good

Racist.

😛

Freddie all the way for me followed closely by Kelly Jones of Stereophonics fame. Actually quite surprised no-one else has mentioned him yet, his cover of handbags and gladrags is so much better than the original and shows that old Rod Stewart isn't even in contention for me.

Actually quite surprised no-one else has mentioned him yet...

I'm more surprised you have. He's a bit one trick pony.

You're all wrong, it's this guy.

Actually. he wasn't half bad:

But yeah, not 'the best'.

Bon Scott ,close second Rod Stewart Faces era,love a good crackling, raspy voice..

DezB - any of them British? If we are gong worldwide I would have Marvin Gaye or Beres Hammond

[i]DezB - any of them British?[/i]

Eh? What? Who?

Clues in the title.

[img] [/img]

Or Scott Walker (although I thought he was American, but according to wiki he's british...)

What a great thread and thanks to tj for posting so many vids featuring the legendary Tom Jones.

Have to mention that I've had the privilege of seeing Solomon Burke live, guest of Jools Holland and his R & B Orchestra on tour. Amazing performer, RIP Solomon Burke.

Once again STW disappoints me. It is of course
[img] [/img]

Van Morrison for me, he can do quiet as a mouse to loud as fuch with soul and emotion all the way.
Contemporary Sam Smith has a amazing voice needs some songs!

Van bit shouty with comedic value at end of vid.

Sam Smith

Lennox Lewis.

[i]Contemporary Sam Smith has a amazing voice [/i]

There's always one joker around 😆

Nice to see STWers music choices running true to form with a huge liking for "dad rock"

Not sure Gentleman Jim Reeves was ever what you could call British. Van Morrison, on the other hand ...

Surprised Terry Reid hasn't had a mention.

People like Bowie which is fair enough but his singing is pretty irritating with that nasal whine. More of a performer and ideas man.

So, going for "Grandad rock" it is a close run thing between Matt Munro and Billy Fury.

Nice to see STWers music choices running true to form with a huge liking for "dad rock"

Grandad rock even.

It's making me feel refreshingly young.

Val doonican? Oh, hang on - he was irish....

I think I've only seen one mention of Paul Rogers in this thread so I'd like to double that tally, please.

Jeremy Hardy

Good to see Eric Burdon being mentioned, and hats off to whoever used "mellifluous".

Cheers to Metalheart for reminding the world about Billy Mac.

A few others I would have in my list,but only because of what their songs have meant to me.

Roddy Frame.
Kenny Anderson.
Ian McCulloch.
Robert Palmer.
Terry Hall.
George Michael.

Jon Anderson is pretty good

Brian Kennedy has an astonishing voice, particularly when compared to his mentor; Van Morrison. Just listen to any song covered by both.

George Michael & Kelly Jones are worthy but surely Freddie wins for range, passion, charisma and not being blown off stage by Montserrat Caballe?

Jamie Cullum

George Michael

Been mentioned already in passing, but for me and in terms of pure vocal ability it's David McAlmont - his voice is truly astonishing at times.

I'm also a big fan of James Dean Bradfields's vocals, even if they're a bit mannered at times (usually when trying to wrap his tongue around Richey's not-quite-scanning-properly-at-all lyrics.

Awesome Van the Man vid there. 8)

Brian Kennedy has an astonishing voice, particularly when compared to his mentor; Van Morrison. Just listen to any song covered by both.

Agreed, what happened to him?

Fasthaggis beat me to it. My vote would be for Kenny Anderson. But I'm not too worried about whether or not the voice sounds great, there's so much more to it than that. I'd never describe Jagger, Dylan, Neil Young or Kurt Cobain as great singers but I'd rather listen to them than a lot of other technically correct singers. Same goes for a lot of the people described as great guitarists. It's not what you play or say it's what you leave out that's important.

Bon Scott.

Possibly not the best singer but definitely the best singer song writer Paul Brady

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZEoIMy5rQY

Has Kelly Jones been mentioned....brillant on his todd with an accoustic guitar

stevenmenmuir - Member
Fasthaggis beat me to it. My vote would be for Kenny Anderson.

Better than his brothers, you reckon?
Have seen Gordon a few times - very, very Brian Wilsonesque, but absolutely fantastic.
Very different to a KC gig.

David McAlmont
Or
Thom yorke

Both superb

Fasthaggis beat me to it. My vote would be for Kenny Anderson.

Better than his brothers, you reckon?
Have seen Gordon a few times - very, very Brian Wilsonesque, but absolutely fantastic.
Very different to a KC gig.

Both truly brilliant.