Male Voices

[Frankie Crocker]

Ray Pollard. Gene McDaniels. Dean Parish. Major Lance. Romance Watson . Not mentioned so far in this thread but pretty close to Roy Hamilton when it comes to belting out a song. Impossible to pick a Top Three as there are dozens and dozens of unsung heroes.

[Chalky]

2 hours ago, MotownSoulMan 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. 

But debate makes it interesting.  If there was no debate all we would do is make lists and that quite frankly is boring.  Neither is debate nit picking.  I for one asked questions because quite frankly many mentioned although good, maybe made the odd great record or two hardly fall into the great singer or voice catagory.

why not just title the topic favourite singers then you wouldn't have the irrelevant nit picking.  

Until then I will debate and question odd choices.  What is the point of a debating forum if you can't debate.  Pick any subject you like titled greats, footballers for instance and you won’t just get a list, you will get debate and that is how it should be. 

We have also had this topic in the past, seceral times.  No one complained about the debate raised then. 

Edited December 21, 2018 by chalky

[David Moore]

Too many to choose from really but here goes my favourites  r Otis Redding  David Ruffin Levi Stubbs J J  Barnes Jackie  Wilson  Edwin  Starr  Also in my opinion Levi Stubbs ' vocal performance  on the  acapella version of Ask The Lonely is the best of all time  truly  awesome

[Pezer]

Marvin Junior must be right up there !

[Woodbutcher]

Two pages filled and no mention of the wonderful Curtis Mayfield ... that's sorted now then ... 

[Guest Steve C]

He certainly made an Impression on me ...boom boom !

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Steve C said:

He certainly made an Impression on me ...boom boom !

Amen to that. (I'll get me coat!!!!!!). 

[Motownsoulman]

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.

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Corrected my spelling

[Motownsoulman]

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

[Chalky]

2 hours ago, MotownSoulMan said:

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.

 

I haven't talked nor do I talk down to anyone and neither do I claim to be anything, certainly not the great I am as you put it.  Neither will you shut me up!  Something to say or a question to ask I will say it or ask it, after all that is what a forum for debate is all about, opinions.

Nuff said.

Edited December 22, 2018 by chalky

[Chalky]

Has Tommy Tate been mentioned yet?  Great soul singer who is vastly under-rated.  Dancers to ballads, he can do them all.

[Colnago]

What about rance Allen then , he can do them all too  and I love tt , another name I’ll put in , Luther Ingram , his koko stuff is superb 

Edited December 22, 2018 by Colnago

[Motownsoulman]

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!!!

[Motownsoulman]

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

 

[Colnago]

11 minutes ago, MotownSoulMan said:

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

 

Nice one 

[Motownsoulman]

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.

[Steve S 60]

Not mentioned yet, the late great Donny Hathaway.....

 

[Colnago]

35 minutes ago, MotownSoulMan said:

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.

Great tune , I can hear where George Jackson got his “ my desires getting...” from

[Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles]

Many of my favorite male vocalists have been mentioned by you all (Teddy P., Lou Rawls, Brook Benton, Clarence Carter,…). I likes a lot "crooners" as Johnny Mathis or Jerry Butler; great tenors as Ronnie Dyson or Little Anthony; high falsettos as Philip Bailey, Eugene Record or Ted Mills from Blue Magic; baritones as Marvin Junior from The Dells;… many other lead singers from vocal quartets, trios or quintets from Levi Stubbs to Eddie and Walter from The O'Jays, Little Sony from The Intruders, Harold Melvin and David Ebo from The Blue Notes, Jimmy Ellis from The Trammps, Frank Brunson from People's Choice, Sam Moore from Sam & Dave and, IMHO, their white equivalents, the Ingui brothers (Charlie & Richard) from The Soul Survivors, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, Rance Allen, gospel greats as Joe Ligon from Mighty Clouds Of Joy;… O.T. Sykes, O.V. Wright, Al Wilson, Major Harris, Latimore, Billy Paul, Anthony White… so many enormous vocalists and so uniques and distinctives...

I want to made a little tribute to the underrated great vocalist Frank Brunson (RIP) on a full of blues and gospel track:

 

[Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles]

One of my first 45's in my teens was "Demasiado débil para luchar" b/w "A la gaza de un zorro" ("Too Weak To Fight" b / w "Looking For A Fox") by Atlantic distributed here in Spain by Hispavox. perhaps is the tune I have heard more times (hundreds or towsands…!). Anyway, my absolute mellow track by Clarence Carter is his cover of "Light My Fire". Also there's a very good track by him from his ABC years (1975) entitled "Warning" that I discovered in a ABC Soul comp.

 

[Motownsoulman]

1 hour ago, Colnago said:

Great tune , I can hear where George Jackson got his “ my desires getting...” from

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

[Motownsoulman]

53 minutes ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

One of my first 45's in my teens was "Demasiado débil para luchar" b/w "A la gaza de un zorro" ("Too Weak To Fight" b / w "Looking For A Fox") by Atlantic distributed here in Spain by Hispavox. perhaps is the tune I have heard more times (hundreds or towsands…!). Anyway, my absolute mellow track by Clarence Carter is his cover of "Light My Fire". Also there's a very good track by him from his ABC years (1975) entitled "Warning" that I discovered in a ABC Soul comp.

 

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?.

[Motownsoulman]

1 hour ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

Many of my favorite male vocalists have been mentioned by you all (Teddy P., Lou Rawls, Brook Benton, Clarence Carter,…). I likes a lot "crooners" as Johnny Mathis or Jerry Butler; great tenors as Ronnie Dyson or Little Anthony; high falsettos as Philip Bailey, Eugene Record or Ted Mills from Blue Magic; baritones as Marvin Junior from The Dells;… many other lead singers from vocal quartets, trios or quintets from Levi Stubbs to Eddie and Walter from The O'Jays, Little Sony from The Intruders, Harold Melvin and David Ebo from The Blue Notes, Jimmy Ellis from The Trammps, Frank Brunson from People's Choice, Sam Moore from Sam & Dave and, IMHO, their white equivalents, the Ingui brothers (Charlie & Richard) from The Soul Survivors, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, Rance Allen, gospel greats as Joe Ligon from Mighty Clouds Of Joy;… O.T. Sykes, O.V. Wright, Al Wilson, Major Harris, Latimore, Billy Paul, Anthony White… so many enormous vocalists and so uniques and distinctives...

I want to made a little tribute to the underrated great vocalist Frank Brunson (RIP) on a full of blues and gospel track:

 

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?

Edited December 23, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Added info

[Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles]

Hi, MotownSoulMan,

The compilation on ABC I referred was a various artists compilation appeared in 1976 called "Soul Food" that includes authentic gems as Angelo Bond's "Reach For The Moon", Clarence Carter's "Warning", Frankie Redmond's "Fighting To Keep My Head Above Water" (sounds like Curtis Mayfield and is produced by Clarence Carter!), Sylvia Smith's "Original Midnight Mama";… a collection of rare grooves and rare gems!

The group called People's Choice you mentioned is NOT the same People's Choice from Philly. They are from Detroit. I have "Save My Love For You" in a 2 x CD compilation by Burning Airlines called "Keep The Faith. The cream of rare Soul" (includes rare tracks by The Tokays, The Fi-dels, Mel Davis, Stevie Mancha,..,).

Cheers

[ashersammy]

Sos peeps - Ayup Chalky how you doing mate, been somewhile. 

[Chalky]

4 hours ago, ashersammy said:

Sos peeps - Ayup Chalky how you doing mate, been somewhile. 

Bloody hell Sammy, it has been a long time, I'm good mate, how are you?

[Guest Steve C]

When it comes to Clarence Carter I have a mind block that starts and never stops. It's called 'Patches' , vomit.

Small thing, it's Johnnie Taylor , not 'Johnny'.

Edited December 23, 2018 by Steve C

[Steve S 60]

10 minutes ago, Steve C said:

When it comes to Clarence Carter I have a mind block that starts and never stops. It's called 'Patches' , vomit.

Small thing, it's Johnnie Taylor , not 'Johnny'.

"Messin' With My Mind" has a similar effect on me.  I absolutely hate that song.

[Colnago]

I could kick my own arse for not mentioning ZZ HILL  and SYL JOHNSON 

[Guest Steve C]

When a singer like Bobby Bland doesn't get a shout out by this point in a discussion then we could all have our arses kicked.

Given we are now just talking about voices we liked I'll mention a favourite of mine ….Otis Leavill !

Edited December 23, 2018 by Steve C

[Colnago]

43 minutes ago, Steve C said:

When a singer like Bobby Bland doesn't get a shout out by this point in a discussion then we could all have our arses kicked.

Given we are now just talking about voices we liked I'll mention a favourite of mine ….Otis Leavill !

Bobby Bland , yes , we all deserve a boot up the arse 

[Motownsoulman]

12 hours ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

Hi, MotownSoulMan,

The compilation on ABC I referred was a various artists compilation appeared in 1976 called "Soul Food" that includes authentic gems as Angelo Bond's "Reach For The Moon", Clarence Carter's "Warning", Frankie Redmond's "Fighting To Keep My Head Above Water" (sounds like Curtis Mayfield and is produced by Clarence Carter!), Sylvia Smith's "Original Midnight Mama";… a collection of rare grooves and rare gems!

The group called People's Choice you mentioned is NOT the same People's Choice from Philly. They are from Detroit. I have "Save My Love For You" in a 2 x CD compilation by Burning Airlines called "Keep The Faith. The cream of rare Soul" (includes rare tracks by The Tokays, The Fi-dels, Mel Davis, Stevie Mancha,..,).

Cheers

Ah, I get you now. I was going on the You Tube photo to the song Warning that you put up.

Thanks for putting me straight on People's Choice too. It was just one of those pieces of drivel in the back of my head that led me to ask. 

You finish off that post mentioning The Fi-dels and Steve Mancha. I've got a couple of things by the former, and quite a few songs by the latter. I like that Groovesville sound. However the stand out name you mentioned was Mel Davis. In my head, one song sticks out of his above all else, and I posted a link to the Darrell Banks version of it on the "Feel Good Friday" thread, and that's "I'm The One Who Loves You". Outside Motown, it's been my wife's favourite song for years and years. I've got an instrumental of it somewhere also.

[Motownsoulman]

4 hours ago, Colnago said:

I could kick my own arse for not mentioning ZZ HILL  and SYL JOHNSON 

ZZ Hill could sing. That "Nothing can change this love" is a classic. Maybe the most super bluesy song I like. Clay Hammond was another.

[Motownsoulman]

Steve S 60 chalky

You're not alone when it comes to that song Patches, or The Chairmen Of The Board's Version either. I don't dislike it, but it's not on any of my digital playlists.

I kinda agree with you lot mentioning Bobby Bland, but I don't have a lot of his stuff, hence it never crossed my mind.

Edited December 23, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Added info

[Chalky]

But Bobby Bland has been mentioned, by Tim Richmond on the first page. 

[Middleman]

Anybody mentioned Phillipe Wynne?

[Woodbutcher]

Another great that needs a mention ... 

[Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles]

1 hour ago, MotownSoulMan said:

Ah, I get you now. I was going on the You Tube photo to the song Warning that you put up.

Thanks for putting me straight on People's Choice too. It was just one of those pieces of drivel in the back of my head that led me to ask. 

You finish off that post mentioning The Fi-dels and Steve Mancha. I've got a couple of things by the former, and quite a few songs by the latter. I like that Groovesville sound. However the stand out name you mentioned was Mel Davis. In my head, one song sticks out of his above all else, and I posted a link to the Darrell Banks version of it on the "Feel Good Friday" thread, and that's "I'm The One Who Loves You". Outside Motown, it's been my wife's favourite song for years and years. I've got an instrumental of it somewhere also.

Hi again, MotownSoulMan

In fact, along the years since I purchased my first vynils around 1975, I have been purchasing some cult albums and 45's labeled as "Northern Soul" (Ebonys, Futures, Bunny Sigler,…) but perhaps the most important collection of Northern soul items is the double CD I referred that I purchased simply for a reason: a track by one of my favorite singers previously unknown for me: "Where I'm Not Wanted" by Eddie Holman.

This is the complete track-list (I assume my ignorance in the Northern Soul field, I'm simply a "soul music aficionado" in the general sense and perhaps, this compilation is not qualifiable as "essential" or "representative",..?)

CD1

01- The Professionals: That's Why I Love You

02- People's Choice: Save My Love For You

03- The Parliaments: Heart Trouble

04- Martha Starr: Love Is The Only Solution

05- L. Allen: Can We Talk It Over

06- Billy Arnell: Tough Girl

07- Paris: Sleepless Nights

08- Troy Dodds: Try My Love

09- Johnny Rogers: Make A Change

10- The Holidays: I Lost You

11- Melvin Davies: I Must Love You

12- Billy Kennedy: Sweet Things

13- The Fidels: Try A Little Harder

14- Eddie Holman: Where I'm Not Wanted

15- The Tokays: baby Baby Baby

16- Steve Mancha: He Stole The Love That Was Mine

 

CD-2

01- The Trips: Love Can't Be Modernised

02- Eddie Holman: Hurt

03- Emanons Orchestra: Bird Walkin

04- Eddie Hill: I Can Hear You Crying

05- The Servicemen: Are You Angry

06- Doni Burdick: Candle

07- J.J. Barnes: Sweet Honey Baby

08- Agents: Trouble

09- Gene Woodbury: Ever Again

10- Vince Apollo: I Bear Witness

11- Jay Lyle: How good Can It Get

12- The Inspirations:: No One Else Can Take Your Place (instr.)

13- Silky Hargreaves: Lucky To Be Loved By You

14- Rose Batiste: Someday

15- Jimmy Gilford: Nobody Loves Me

16- Pat Smith: Whirpool

[Colnago]

54 minutes ago, chalky said:

But Bobby Bland has been mentioned, by Tim Richmond on the first page. 

Never mind eh , oversight ...

[Colnago]

1 hour ago, MotownSoulMan said:

ZZ Hill could sing. That "Nothing can change this love" is a classic. Maybe the most super bluesy song I like. Clay Hammond was another.

Aye , I love his version of mr nobody somebody... killer track

[Motownsoulman]

52 minutes ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

Hi again, MotownSoulMan

In fact, along the years since I purchased my first vynils around 1975, I have been purchasing some cult albums and 45's labeled as "Northern Soul" (Ebonys, Futures, Bunny Sigler,…) but perhaps the most important collection of Northern soul items is the double CD I referred that I purchased simply for a reason: a track by one of my favorite singers previously unknown for me: "Where I'm Not Wanted" by Eddie Holman.

This is the complete track-list (I assume my ignorance in the Northern Soul field, I'm simply a "soul music aficionado" in the general sense and perhaps, this compilation is not qualifiable as "essential" or "representative",..?)

CD1

01- The Professionals: That's Why I Love You

02- People's Choice: Save My Love For You

03- The Parliaments: Heart Trouble

04- Martha Starr: Love Is The Only Solution

05- L. Allen: Can We Talk It Over

06- Billy Arnell: Tough Girl

07- Paris: Sleepless Nights

08- Troy Dodds: Try My Love

09- Johnny Rogers: Make A Change

10- The Holidays: I Lost You

11- Melvin Davies: I Must Love You

12- Billy Kennedy: Sweet Things

13- The Fidels: Try A Little Harder

14- Eddie Holman: Where I'm Not Wanted

15- The Tokays: baby Baby Baby

16- Steve Mancha: He Stole The Love That Was Mine

 

CD-2

01- The Trips: Love Can't Be Modernised

02- Eddie Holman: Hurt

03- Emanons Orchestra: Bird Walkin

04- Eddie Hill: I Can Hear You Crying

05- The Servicemen: Are You Angry

06- Doni Burdick: Candle

07- J.J. Barnes: Sweet Honey Baby

08- Agents: Trouble

09- Gene Woodbury: Ever Again

10- Vince Apollo: I Bear Witness

11- Jay Lyle: How good Can It Get

12- The Inspirations:: No One Else Can Take Your Place (instr.)

13- Silky Hargreaves: Lucky To Be Loved By You

14- Rose Batiste: Someday

15- Jimmy Gilford: Nobody Loves Me

16- Pat Smith: Whirpool

There's some good tracks on there mate. If I remember what I was told correctly, that Inspirations on 7 inch vinyl is rare, with the vocal on the flip. I do like the instrumental version of that Professionals song. It's one of my favourite instrumentals of all. That Emanons Orchestra instrumental tune is the one where the beginning always sounds like an mp3 recorded at 1kbps isn't it?

Edited December 23, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Added info

[Motownsoulman]

52 minutes ago, WoodButcher said:

Another great that needs a mention ... 

Yeah. A very very different and unique voice from the norm, pardon the pun.

Edited December 23, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Added info

[Motownsoulman]

I think the lead singer of this lot might qualify. Brother of the great man himself, Joe Stubbs

The Contours - Just A Little Misunderstanding - Gordy 1966.

 

[The Yank]

          I'd say Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin would be in my Top Three with Bobby Womack,

          Teddy Pendergrass and Eddie Levert from the O'Jays not far behind.

 

[Tomangoes]

Eddie Holman - where I'm not wanted!

Apparently played 4 times in one hour by Richard Searling on its first introduction at the casino.

However this is far superior :

 

 

What a spectrum of vocal ability! 

Ed

(The slow cut is also not bad)

Edited December 23, 2018 by tomangoes
Spello

[Guest Soulatthedale]

21 minutes ago, the yank said:

          I'd say Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin would be in my Top Three with Bobby Womack,

          Teddy Pendergrass and Eddie Levert from the O'Jays not far behind.

 

Cant argue with those but Id add Edwin Starr and Junior Walker to that list, both fantastics singers, and of course Curtis Mayfield.

[Motownsoulman]

26 minutes ago, the yank said:

          I'd say Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin would be in my Top Three with Bobby Womack,

          Teddy Pendergrass and Eddie Levert from the O'Jays not far behind.

 

That's 4 of the 9 I originally stated. 

[Motownsoulman]

12 minutes ago, tomangoes said:

Eddie Holman - where I'm not wanted!

Apparently played 4 times in one hour by Richard Searling on its first introduction at the casino.

However this is far superior :

 

 

What a spectrum of vocal ability! 

Ed

(The slow cut is also not bad)

His name keeps cropping up, time and time again. I've a couple of his songs, but that's all. To be honest I didn't even consider him.

Heaven help us if someone starts a female voice thread

Edited December 23, 2018 by MotownSoulMan
Added extra info

[Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles]

Hi, Tomangoes

IMHO, from all the Eddie Holman stuff I knows, the most dramatic atmosphere and one of the best demonstration of his rich register is on this track:

 

I only have singles, tracks in VV.AA. compilations and only one album, the one on Salsoul produced by Norman Harris, with another all time favorite of mine: "Inmune To Love". I hate when I read that Eddie Holman or Little Anthony are "falsetto" singers, they are, IMHO, both great tenors with diverse vocal registers.

Some other male vocalists favorites of mine I think nobody have mentioned until now: L.V. Johnson; the great JOE TEX (I allways preferred him to James Brown, his "Rub Down" LP is a treasure for me since 1978!); Solomon Burke, Wicked Pickett, Bill Whiters, Joe Simon, Gil Scott-Heron, Joe Bataan (he sang, IMHO, in a Little Sonny from the Intruders mould)...

[Autumnstoned]

Anyone mentioned either of the Dells lead singers? Marvin Junior and Johnny Funches I think. Both great distinctive vocalists.