Doing two things equally well
The recent post on Glen Campbell's virtuosity on guitar as well as having a wonderful singing voice got me thinking.
But only a little. It's midnight after all.
Most of our favourite musical artists tend to be known only for one aspect of their performing talent, their singing or their playing mostly. To pick names fairly randomly here, David Gilmour writes and performs languid and lyrical guitar lines that sell records and DVD'S in millions but his singing voice is unremarkable. This is fine - it doesn't need to be anything else. Jools Holland. Like him or loath him his piano playing is inspired. Yet his singing voice is something only a mother could love surely.
Whereas Mr Campbell can play mellifluosly and sing beautifully. It strikes me that not many genuinely have this facility, ie to be really good on an instrument and have a voice to knock you sideways.
It's all personal taste of course and dependent on your definition of what being 'really good' is and what sort of vocal performance moves you but check the attached out for my understanding. It's Robert Cray, from years ago, singing and playing joyfully.
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How about three things?
No one's mentioned Glen Campbell's (alleged, though I've not personally heard it) virtuosity on the bagpipes.
Glen Campbell playing the bagpipes...
...is on You Tube. Embedding has been disabled, but you can find it here.
eh...
I really like David Gilmour's vocals
Robert Cray - top fellow
I saw him two or three times, and he delivered every time. An absolutely superb singer and guitarist - and he's written a few bloody good songs too - see below for an example, which also features a beautifully restrained solo. And, from what one reads, he's apparently a jolly nice chap to boot.
Glen Campbell
He's pretty handy at soup making as well.
Great voice and great guitarist?
How about ......
Interestingly Gimour seems to have
sold more copies of the £40 version of his Gdansk concert instead of the £9 version (according to Amazon). Goes to show his fans are hardcore with fewer fair-weather fans.
Jimmy Kimmel seems to have enjoyed this
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam. If anyone's ever seen a better live performance by a three piece than this on a chat show, please point it in my direction.
Fabulous simulplaying/singing here. And he's only 21.
It's not on a chat show,
and it's a matter of taste whether you think they're better, but Back Door live are well worth a listen.
... but...
Didn't you originally posted that as 'Back Door Slam'?
in my doatage I assumed it was some 'new young hens' so never clickied it.
Oops!
Had the good/guid fortune to see Back Door support PFM at the Glasgow City Hall (marvelous venue, please don't get me started on that Greenslade gig) and Roger played a blinder plus a "sat in ma chair, playin' dem blues on ma electric bass" thing that lives with me to this day.
Rest ye well son of Hodge.
PS. didn't he do a stint in Whitesnake?
Jeff Buckley
Gets constant and Justified praise for his voice, but as a guitarist I find his guitar playing just as fantastic.
I couldn't agree more...He
I couldn't agree more...He was a fantastic guitarist, and what a voice..The Sin-e stuff is tremendous...
Glenn Tillbrook
Good singer, good guitarist, half a great songwriter.
Todd
Todd can do everything, something and anything.
Yes, Todd Sniders great too...
Nice to hear him get a mention.
Runt!
continues to shake my knees.
Going to see him
next month at the Waterfront in Norwich, after a lifetime's waiting. (Well, since the 70s, when I saw the light.) Any more excited and I'd be hyperventilating.
Greeny
Was there a better Brit 'blues' guitarist & singer than Peter Green?
And what about the fabs - Macca, Lennon & the Quiet One were pretty nifty guitarists, and fair chanters also.
Vince Gill
Over to Nashville, Vince Gill is a fantastic singer and also terrific guitarist in a town full of the buggers. His "High lonesome sound" album is terrific from beginning to end.