Elvis:  Awright, what did ya find THIS week?

Well, I have a little story to tell.  A couple nights back, I saw Karen Carpenter trending on Twitter.  Curious, I found that most of the buzz was that Rolling Stone Magazine (that bastion of great music knowledge, lol) had released a "readers poll" (which looked more like a 'buddies of editorial' poll) of "The greatest Lead Singers of all time."  And Karen Carpenter was leading the suggestions of names that got left out.  I mean, when the article on RS itself has to lead with a disclaimer:

"... And remember, we just count the votes – even if they are exclusively for white men..."

And not just white men... half the list is dead!  Of course, so is Karen, so that's not a big deal.  But then a day or so later, that same Clickbait page I found last week's 'greatest songs of all time' ALSO had a list!  So I said, let's compare, contrast, and see what Chris thinks!  But first, our lone debut this week, at #10. Coming in from her new lp, here's Melody's Echo Chamber....

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Uh, that was cartoon characters?

No, more like video game avatars... I think it was okay, but her human videos were better, if no less bizarre.  So anyhow, I see that the clickbait list wasn't exactly the same- instead of 'lead singers' it had 'rock vocalists'.  But oddly enough, their top two were the same, just flipped.  Odder still, 4 of the RS ten didn't make the top ten on the clickbait list- and three more didn't rate their top 25!  And four clickbaiters would be disqualified from the RS list as they were soloists and not members of a band.  All that given...

Ain't it about time to make with the list?

Yes it is!  First, here are the lead singers 'voted' to the RS list:

10- Kurt Cobain, Nirvana (Status: Dead). He got #24 on clickbait.    To me, great lead singers have to do more than scream more or less melodically.  Example, Frankie Valli.  This theme will come up again... and again.

9- Chris Cornell, Soundgarden (Status: Dead).  #19 on clickbait.  Now, mind you, I'm not a hater of these guys.  I had the cassettes of Nevermind and Superunknown. I just think a "lead vocalist" in the top ten range should be able to move you with the power of their singing. Example: Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops.

8- John Lennon, Beatles (Status: Dead).  #17 on clickbait. Now this is more along the lines I would list, maybe not my top ten.  Personal preference, I would have took Paul McCartney first.

7- Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam (Status: Has a recent lp out and an M10 single).  Even as much as I loved The Haves, I don't know about top ten.  Although it certainly moved Eddie higher on my list. I'm surprised they voted him and no mention of someone like, say, the Eagles' Don Henley.

6- Roger Daltrey, The Who (Status: Elderly). Even by the standards RS used, I wouldn't have put him this high up.  Certainly not better than Lennon.  You want a 60s British band leader, give me Justin Heyward from the Moody Blues.

5- Jim Morrison, Doors (Status:  Even the tin hats have to believe he's dead by now).  Clickbait #21. He wasn't my cuppa for sure, but he did have the chops.  Much as I hate to say it, I'll leave him alone.

4- Mick Jagger, (Status: Active, if elderly, unless he's a clone).  Clickbait #14. He should get a longevity record, perhaps a special mention, but two things he never was: handsome and a world class vocalist.  Of course, he still sounds the same, which puts him in a class past a lot of his peers.

3- Bono, U2 (Status: Alive).  I honestly don't know what to make of this one, so I'll just say two words: Burton Cummings.

Now like I said, the top two on each list are the same, just flipped.

So yer gonna save 'em fer last, right?

Yep.  Let's see what clickbait (this time compiled by one Kelsey Eve) had to put in the top ten of their less-restrictive "rock vocalists" list.

10- Ann Wilson, Heart (Status: Lighter).  Hard to argue that she meets the quality test. Is she as good as Martha Reeves was? Ummm...

9- ELVIS...

WHUTTTT???!

I hands down agree here, Big Buddy.  You can pick your spot on the list, far as I'm concerned.

Darn it, yer gonna make me cry...

8- Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac and solo (Status: Presumably immortal). Again, can't argue the quality test.  And at least clickbait realizes that women exist.

7- Bon Scott, AC/DC (Status: On the Highway To Hell).  Not a factor on my list.  Clickbait passed over much better singers, even ones they had down-list, like Bob Seger.

6- Steven Tyler, Aerosmith (Status: Asking Jagger about the clone process). I think, had he tried that style of vocal, he might have been a good choice.  Definitely down-list for me though, with cats like Eric Burden not showing up.

5- Janis Joplin, solo (Status: Dead).  I can't say bad about Pearl.  More bluesy than my tastes, but that's just me.

4- David Bowie, solo (Status: Presumably floating in a tin can, far above the world).  No argument here.  Not even a good, "But what about..."

3- Michael Jackson, Jackson 5 and solo (Status: Dead but well-medicated).  I think of him more of a performer than an artist.  Some might say the same about Tom Jones, but let's hear MJ try singing She's A Lady.

Okay, so who's left?

Hold the hosses, buddy!  You gotta give us the M10 this week first!

Oh, crap, I fergot!

9- Up one, Scorpions and Peacemaker...

8- down five, Cactus Blossoms an' Everything...

7- up 2, Duran Duran an' Laughing Boy...

6- up one, Sweet an' Hoffs an' Run To Me...

5- an' stuck, Beach House an' Only You Know...

4- an' down one, Best Coast an' Leading...

3- up 3, Cactus Blossoms again an' Is It Over?

2- up two, Tears For Fears an' Break The Man... 

An' still at #1....

So who's the top two?

The answers to that question, my friend, are....

...Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury!

I might dither a bit, but not strongly, on Plant from Led Zeppelin... but not over Freddie from Queen!  Plant won the Rolling Stone vote, Mercury the clickbait choice.

I will say I had something different planned this week... but I can always do it next time, if I don't see another squirrel!  Till then, Lord willing!