I wouldn't say he had a soulful voice-to me he has more of a rock voice. I don't think his voice is unique, but it's functional-gets the job done.

I think his voice is most definitely unique, limited notwithstanding. But he won't be known for his vocal skills, just as much as Miles Davis won't be known for his keyboard playing skills.

I've always liked him as a singer. He's not a powerhouse vocalist, obviously, but I like the warm tone of his voice, and I actually do think he's a soulful singer, in terms of feeling. You hear that on, say, Bold as Love or Castles Made of Sand. Plus, I always enjoy all his little ad-libs ("now, uhhh, dig this, baby..."), in that voice Bootsy would later make off with.

He had limited traditional vocal chops but,

He created a very distinctive style that is identifiably all his own so he Rocks!

***not to mention that the vocals were just a part of his toolbox that he used when he wasn't being the Greatest electric guitarist of all time!!!

Harlepolis said:

I think his voice is most definitely unique, limited notwithstanding. But he won't be known for his vocal skills, just as much as Miles Davis won't be known for his keyboard playing skills.

Pretty much.

deebee said:

I've always liked him as a singer. He's not a powerhouse vocalist, obviously, but I like the warm tone of his voice, and I actually do think he's a soulful singer, in terms of feeling. You hear that on, say, Bold as Love or Castles Made of Sand. Plus, I always enjoy all his little ad-libs ("now, uhhh, dig this, baby..."), in that voice Bootsy would later make off with.

To me he was soulful when he sang and i could always feel every note

People say he was ''limited'' but i thought his vocals were always great and you ALWAYS know when you hear Jimi. he has a distinct voice

Gunsnhalen said:

To me he was soulful when he sang and i could always feel every note

People say he was ''limited'' but i thought his vocals were always great and you ALWAYS know when you hear Jimi. he has a distinct voice

Limited doesn't mean he wasn't great or distinct, it just means he's not techinically equipped vocally as say a Luther Vandross.

You could be as great and as effective vocally as a 5 octave singer, as long as individuality and sincereity are conveyed in your performance.

Billie Holiday WAS a "limited" singer, but she's still regarded as the greatest jazz singer that ever lived against powerhouse vocalists such as Ella & Sarah.

Hope that makes sense.

Harlepolis said:

I think his voice is most definitely unique, limited notwithstanding. But he won't be known for his vocal skills, just as much as Miles Davis won't be known for his keyboard playing skills.

I can't agree with that comparison. That's too damn harsh.

novabrkr said:

Harlepolis said:

I think his voice is most definitely unique, limited notwithstanding. But he won't be known for his vocal skills, just as much as Miles Davis won't be known for his keyboard playing skills.

I can't agree with that comparison. That's too damn harsh.

I actually like Miles' keyboard playing very much and I think its underrated very dark, melodic and like his playing, very subtle.

As a vocalist, Jimi was at his best on THIS track:

Harlepolis said:

Gunsnhalen said:

To me he was soulful when he sang and i could always feel every note

People say he was ''limited'' but i thought his vocals were always great and you ALWAYS know when you hear Jimi. he has a distinct voice

Limited doesn't mean he wasn't great or distinct, it just means he's not techinically equipped vocally as say a Luther Vandross.

You could be as great and as effective vocally as a 5 octave singer, as long as individuality and sincereity are conveyed in your performance.

Billie Holiday WAS a "limited" singer, but she's still regarded as the greatest jazz singer that ever lived against powerhouse vocalists such as Ella & Sarah.

Hope that makes sense.

guess i never thought of it that way

When i hear people say limited i always assume they mean they can't do much with what they have. But that meaning you gave me makes much more sense!

Harle, can you talk about how Billie was limited as a singer?

Her vocal range was only an octave.

Only an octave? Give me hope, lol! but seriously, how do figure out how many octaves someone is?

his voice was perfect for his type of music. Its was a very cool but limited voice. I do like his voice alot on "Freedom", "Voodo Child", "The wind cries Mary", "Stone Free" especially

nd33 said:

I never heard a Jimi song where I thought, "if only he could sing better". If you always do what suits the song, then you are doin it right. Great vocalist and hella soulful!

Touche.

Badass

Like many rock singers Hendrix might not have had a strong voice, but it went great with the music accompanying it

nd33 said:

I never heard a Jimi song where I thought, "if only he could sing better". If you always do what suits the song, then you are doin it right. Great vocalist and hella soulful!

There are a few of those tracks for me, but I suppose most of them have been on the records that were released after his death (and on "Band of Gypsys")

Otherwise, you're right. He knew the limits of his voice and used it appropriately (which is not necessarily the case with, say, Prince as he's gotten older).

As said, his voice was perfect for his music.


One of my favorite Hendrix vocals (on a tune not written by him)...



...Like A Rolling Stone


And then...



...1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)/Moon Turn The Tides




...Eddie Kramer commentary



Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Usher is better.