Motownsoulman

That's a fine bunch of voices you mention. Jerry Butler, Lou Rawls and Billy Paul get played quite a bit by me. I've always been very fond of that Philly sound, with Teddy Pendergrass and Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes being right up there. Just as a matter of interest, didn't that Frank Brunson and People's Choice, do a vocal version of The Popcorn Orchestra's, Saving All My Loving For You?

Personally speaking, I don't think Clarence Carter made a bad song. I do like "Warning" but then when he moved from Atlantic, and things became move orchestrated, it seemed to lift his voice too. Ain't that compilation album you're on about called Real, or something like that?.

Yup. It's very reminiscent of that song. That George Jackson song is actually pretty good. I've not heard it many times, and to be truthful I don't know if I've got it anywhere. I'll have to have a rummage through stuff in the morning

Colnago Re Clarence Carter's Slip Away. I love it to death, literally. I want it played at my funeral. It's one of the very best songs on the label in my opinion, and one of the first songs I bought with my own money.

Ha Ha Ha, Now I have to go and make a fresh brew, cuz sipping my tea and reading that at the same time just brought most of it back out through my nose because of laughing.

Tommy Tate?. Now he wrote some songs, but I don't have any of his vocal works. Now there's a name I didn't expect to see, Rance Allen. I love some of his Gospel songs. So easy to listen too. Luther Ingram could belt a song out too. Someone mentioned Al Green earlier too. Love one or two of his songs. Has anyone mention Clarence Carter yet. Slip Away - 1968. Atlantic

I've read back on at least one other topic that quite clearly shows you telling others what to do, so save your breath. Your attitude is condescending. Oh and don't worry, it's not just me that thinks this. No one wants you to shut up, or at least I don't want you to shut up. I would like you to just try being a little less terse with people, and try to sort in a manner that doesn't make it seem like you're having a dig at members. I'll say no more. PEACE!!!

ulyssees You're the second person that i've heard state that. As for in the original question, it only gets a 6/10 from me. There are an awful lot of songs that I like much better than that one.

Damn, Otis, and Curtis Mayfield didn't even cross my mind. My bad.

Firstly, just when did I mention anything about debate not being acceptable?. Secondly, It's the manner in which you address other people's comments, in that belittling and nit picking manner, talking down to other members, like you're "The Great I Am". Well I have news for you. You ain't the "The Great I Am". You're not even the "Mediocre I Am". It's maybe why I was warned about certain members archaic attitudes, long before I actually joined this site. Thirdly, and finally, just because this thread subject has been raised before, and no one objected then, it doesn't mean the problem can't be raised now. I will have to take your word on that being the case anyway, as I haven't looked threads that far back. It's not like Parliament is, and affected by precedents recorded in Erskine-May. Enough said.

This thread was intended to find out what individuals classed as the BEST MALE VOICES of Soul, however, and quite obviously, what may be one persons "Pick" may easily be someone else's "Poison" As a matter of fact, an awful lot of singers, could never reproduce the voice they could lay down in the studio, when singing live on stage, however, several could, hence my initial list, and a few others that are mentioned. Personally speaking, I wouldn't even consider some of the names mentioned, because (a) there are some i'm not familiar with, and (b) a few of the names are known for one, maybe two songs that I wouldn't even consider mediocre songs, and that's all. That's my opinion, and I stress, MY OPINION. Bleeding Tony Blackburn has a couple of known songs, but that don't make him one of the best singers, no matter whether people like them or not. (Sorry if anyone has just had to go and put a lumpy yawn down the khazi) Someone mentioned that you have to take into consideration their background, ie, where they came from. In my opinion, that's codswallop. It's got no bearing on anything whatsoever. One or two members seem to suggest that some picks, are simply because they may just happen to be the singer of their favourite songs. Maybe, but again, it's irrelevant. Now while some members have played the game in the manner that it was intended, one or seem to have started the nit picking of sorts, much in the manner of old where "someone can't be classed as a collector if all they collect is cd's", or more recently on here, what is Motown and what isn't. That's cobblers fella's, and you know it. Now I know this is a forum, and forums are for discussion, but please, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Not everyone's ear is drawn to the same thing when considering topics of this nature. As I said earlier in this post, what suits one person, doesn't necessarily suit another. The key to the whole thread is simple, it's in the initial post, BEST MALE VOICES.

I don't know as a Top Ten would even sort it out.

I suppose in this category, this guy deserves a mention too. Jack Montgomery - Dearly Beloved. Scepter 1966

Joey Ever since you mentioned this song, it's been on my mind, and finally this morning I dug it out. Now, after spinning a few Four Tops songs yesterday, i'm kinda torn now, between Marvin Gaye and Levi Stubbs, with the latter coming out on top at the moment. Strange how being prompted about one song by someone else can affect ones choices. Thanks MsSoulie for reminding us of the voice of Percy Sledge too. The flip of The Four Tops - Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over), Just As Long As You Need Me, from 1966, on Motown. A whole lot of magic.

Agreed. It was heartbreaking alright, downright cruel, and totally unnecessary. Voice wise, he never did lose it, and as you say, his voice never really changed at all. It was just like you was sat in the back of the studio as he recorded it. I couldn't tell you how many times I saw him live, but it'll be over 20 times, between the 6ts and the 9ts, both in the UK, Europe and over the other side of the pond. Mind you, I would think the number of Motown concerts i've been to since the mid 6ts is well over 150. Just As Long As You Need Me is classic Levi Stubbs/Four Tops. It's right up there, and I love it. You just about sum up the Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke argument in that sentence. It's purely down to the ear isn't it?.

I do regret not naming Sam Cooke, though in my honest opinion, Marvin Gaye was more versatile, vocally. As for Levi Stubbs, well, what do you say. I think I am right in saying the first time I actually saw him live was in '66. The thing that struck me, and my Uncle Phil, that took me to the concert, was the fact he could sing as well live, as he sounded to be singing on the records. That I hadn't really heard before, apart from Petula Clark. Now of course there are several singers that are as good live as they sound in the studio recordings. There are certain songs by The Four Tops, that do mean a lot to me, and hold a special place in my heart. Baby I Need Your Loving, I'm Grateful, Do What You Gotta Do, Lonely Lover, Reach Out, Walk Away Renee, and Without The One You Love, but to name a few, but, that vocal, on Ask The Lonely is something else. It is the one song of The Four Tops that makes my eyes leak, and it always sends the shivers up my spine. It would certainly be in my top 10 of all time. My ONLY regrets about that group, are, (a) Sweet Was The Love never got released until 2005, because it would have been a huge hit for them, in the day, and (b) I saw The Four Tops on Vintage TV before Levi Stubbs died, but after the stroke, and was appalled that they pretty much forced him to appear on the show. I thought that was cruel. Yeah, have the old boy in the audience, but leave him the hell alone. That did bring a tear to my eye.

You know, I had completely forgotten about the great Sam Cooke. My bad. My choice was almost going to be Levi Stubbs, but once Marvin Gaye came into my head, I kinda weighed things up, and that lead to my decision. I'll grant you one thing though, there isn't much between Marvin Gaye and Levi Stubbs. Certainly, I would say that those two singers, have given me more enjoyment over the past 58 years than any other individual male singers.

This came about when I was asked the question, who do I think had or has the best male singing voice, on a well known social media site. I didn't need to think about the question at all, and instantly said that bloke who was the leader of a pack of Las Vegas rats. My answer led to several messages of rather adult banter being passed back and forth between the two of us, until the final message came to me saying, I meant in the world of Soul music. That kinda set the cogs spinning about in my swede. Without too much thought I had milled Roy Hamilton around, closely followed by Chuck Jackson, Levi Stubbs, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackie Wilson, David Ruffin and of course, Teddy Pendergrass, amongst others. Then it dawned on me. When I looked back at his catalogue, there isn't a song I don't like, and there isn't a song that i've heard sung better by another male singer. I was sold. In my humble opinion the best male voice in Soul music, is Marvin Gaye. Your thoughts?.

Easy choice this. First is the flip of This Old Heart Of Mine, on Tamla, There's No Love Left - The Isley Brothers Secondly would have to be I'll Be Doggone - Marvin Gaye I would place this as a close 3rd choice. The Girl Across The Street - Moses Smith

Bruv Cheers for putting the photo up mate. That don't half bring back some happy memories. We had some great nights there, and I can't remember there ever being any agro in there. Funny you should mention about your mates Ford Corsair though, cuz I remember one of the lads from Broadstone having all 4 wheels taken from his mini, where it was parked just up the road. He couldn't get it moved that day, and when he and some mates went back for it on the Sunday, someone had broken the boot open in the meantime, and nicked the spare too 😂

I finally managed to get Larry Houston outta my head, and then some peenarse went and played this on the radio. Here we go again. New York City - I'm Doing Fine Now 1973 I don't suppose i'm really helping myself by digging out the Tom Moulton remix and playing it. ☺

The one that immediately springs to mind is Brenda Holloway's - We'll Keep On Rolling, and Larry Atkins - Ain't That Love Enough.

Soulsides ha Ha Ha. That gave me the giggles. Nah, I was in the Armed Forces from leaving school in 1970 until retiring in 2007 when my body couldn't do it anymore. It's the only proper job I ever had, and I don't regret a single moment of it.

Bleeding hell. I've now got this 1980 flip side going round and round in my swede. It is a cracking tune though. Larry Houston - Let's Spend Some Time Together. HFM-001B

Cheers guys. Back then Spalding was full of clowns like that. If you looked remotely like a scooter boy or a soulie, you could hardly go into a boozer in town without someone coming up to you and trying to sell you some pills or powder. I truly couldn't tell you how many times I went up there from Peterbrough and ended up bopping some tosser. The main culprit is brown bread now, but I wouldn't mention him by name anyway, because he actually woke up to the real world, and turned out OK by the 90s. There used to be a dive of a boozer at the top of Pinchbeck Road and one weekend in there I had 2 skins try it on. Shame for them that some local girl called Clare warned me well in advance what was gonna go down. That ended with one of them in a choke hold, and the other getting thrust kicked everytime he got close enough, till I got bored, and let one go limp and punched the other really hard in the Solar Plexus. The best crack was it was me that was asked to leave ha ha. I hated most of that lot in Spalding, but unfortunately my girl at the time lived there.