Top 5 EC vocal performances

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:48 pm

Inspired by the Lipstick Vogue/New Lace Sleeves conversation...what are your top 5 EC vocal performances, and why...

Here's mine:

Last Boat Leaving - tearjerking performance with a bitter, world-weary undertone..really great.

New Lace Sleeves - in terms of notes sung, his voice is everywhere perfectly, especially rubato at the chorus.

Battered Old Bird - his performance here defines this song for me. Retrospective anger and cynicism.

Tokyo Storm Warning - he hardly stops to take a breath, a bit like Pump It Up, but con fuoco. I think there's a real sense of agitation in the performance in this song ''we might as well be martians''.

Satellite - really gentle, I find that the verse and chorus blend really well here, and there is a real sense of pity in the performance.

That's what I think anyway....what about you guys?

LessThanZero · Post by **LessThanZero** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:06 pm

I agree with you my friend. But I'll replace Tokyo Storm Warning with that new tune about IVY.

That was gorgeous.

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:52 pm

Lipstick Vogue was pretty good

pip_52 · Post by **pip_52** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:17 pm

I like how he sings "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head" . . .

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:25 pm

Off the top:
1. The Other End of the Telescope
2. Dust 2
3. Opportunity
4. Clubland
5. Beyond Belief

Post by **BlueChair** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:47 pm

pip_52 wrote:I like how he sings "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head" . . .

Yeah, I was also thinking of that one...

Tim(e) · Post by **Tim(e)** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:47 pm

God Give Me Strength - this sends shivers up and down my spine (and I'm not even religious

)
So Like Candy - the ultimate break-up song.
Shipbuilding - beautifully understated vocals
Let 'em Dangle - don't know why exactly... it just appeals
Eisenhower Blues - a great romp in which EC exercises his tonsils in unexpected ways.

Branst · Post by **Branst** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:45 pm

God Give Me Strength
Why Can't A Man Stand Alone
Eisenhower Blues
Next Time 'Round
Either Side Of The Same Town

Runner Up:
Shallow Grave

jazzguitarist · Post by **jazzguitarist** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:50 pm

1)The other end of the telescope-just listen to the way he phrases the "of" at the end of the song.

2)Beyond Belief/The Long Honeymoon-On BB, just perfect desperation voice, gives the edge to the songs lyrics. Honeymoon, I still get chills to hear him sing "her love would be as strong as this"

3)I want you-Yet still more chills and thrills. It's impossible to imagine many other singers who could bring this off.

4)Radio Sweetheart-One of my favorite tracks, but his vocal brings off both a joyful hook and lonliness at the same time.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 10:21 pm

These are really quirky choices that have almost nothing to with "good singing" in the normal sense. I think of them as songs we're Elvis brings something to the song that no one really could, or maybe just seemed to have a good time. In fact, I'm limiting myself to before 1987 or so, when he was, by all accounts less good!

Battered Old Bird -- EC worst vocal excesses find their perfect home!
From Head to Toe -- EC is no Smokey, but then Smokey is no EC
I'm Your Toy (Live) -- Young Elvis at his crooniest
Night Rally -- See Battered Old Bird
American Without Tears -- just plain good.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:50 pm

1. Uncomplicated - It was this song that made me want to learn to sing like Elvis in the first place. The opening line is so ferocious to me.

2. Lipstick Vogue, for the reasons I indicated on that thread.

3. Blue Chair - I love all of it. Adore the delivery on "And I know that she cries for...you, when she's barely awake." But his vocals on the bridge especially move me. "They boasted of loving the daylights right out of her in the small hours...." and then finishing with that desperate "Uh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh."

4. Alison - Just about flawless. I love the way he sings this song.

5. I Want You. It's all about the vocals on this one. So raw and evocative. Especially love it when the instruments die down and it's almost only him. You can taste the bile and feel the desire.

Runners up:

Beyond Belief. Although honestly this one is a bit of a cheat, only because it's not a one-take vocal. I love what his voice does in every line, but if he had pulled it off in one take, it'd make my list.

Watching the Detectives. See Beyond Belief.

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 12:25 pm

Episode of Blonde (chorus)
So Like Candy (And it's So.....)
Seconds of Pleasure/Twenty five to Twelve
Party Girl (Just like a million...)
Just Another Mystery (Metronoooooooooome)

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:39 pm

What about his great version of My Funny Valentine....a true EC classic vocal

legman open to offers · Tue Mar 23, 2004 5:45 pm

I've always liked his audible "inhale" for effect. A long, out loud breath before he sings a line. He does it all through Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head and Starting To Come To Me. I like that type of effect in singing style.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 5:46 pm

Episode Of Blonde is my alltime favorite Elvis vocal, I love how he goes from spoken word to singing.

If he had recorded Deep Dark Truthful Mirror within the passed three years... then that as well. But, I love the live rendition where he mixes in the "im going now, bye bye" thing in.

<3,
s.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 10:34 pm

Oh, and "This Is Hell" is definitly one of the better vocal performances since the stone age.

Anyone ever hear the Ian Tanner cover? He pulls it off(sounds similar to stephen lynch).

EDIT:::
Almost forgot my top five:

1. Episode Of Blonde
2. This Is Hell
3. Brilliant Mistake
4. Im Your Toy
5. Clowntime Is Over

honorable mention ::: "tears before bedtime"(country version)/Let Them All Talk/Honey Hush.

My favorite voice of elvis is his Almost Blue voice.

just a quick list. =]

<3,
s.

Copenhagen Fan · Post by **Copenhagen Fan** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:30 am

SWEET PEAR!!!!!!

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:54 pm

Gloomy Sunday (no way to replicate that sonorous quality)
All the Rage (all piss and vinegar)
Poisoned Rose (sounds like he's having a rough time)
Crimes of Paris (sounds like he's having a good time)
Having it All (off of my Elvis goes to Paris solo '84 boot)

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:08 pm

Having it All is a great song that should be heard more.

His vocal on 'Still too Soon to Know' was pretty damn fine

laughingcrow · Post by **laughingcrow** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:15 pm

Ship of Fools off of Deadicated is actually a pretty cool vocal take on that song...was listening to that today!

girl out of time · Post by **girl out of time** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:50 pm

i want you, clowntime is over n° 2, almost blue, high fidelity, that day is done

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 10:58 pm

High fidelity? I really like that pick. I've always thought it was the odd-vocal-out on Get Happy!! He sounds a bit drunker, or angrier on that vocal. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees how unique it is.

Real top 5!

episode of blonde
battered old bird
let them all talk
this is hell
honey hush

<3,
s.

BrilliantMistake45 · Post by **BrilliantMistake45** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:18 pm

Heres mine in no order:

Poor Nepolean (off of Deep Dead Blue)
Just A Memory (Live @ the Super Club in NYC from the EC & SN EP Box Set)
Glitter Gluch (from KOA)
Neat Neat Neat (cover of The Damned from the Extra TYM disc)
Let Me Tell You About Her (from North)

Honorable mentions: Mouth Almighty, Someone Took the Words Away, All Grown Up, Tears Before Bedtime.

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Top 5 EC vocal performances

Top 5 EC vocal performances

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