You like his voice best in which era?

[Elvis' Babe]

Think of the question in these terms. Ladies, which Elvis voice would you most like to hear singing to you first thing in the mornin', last thing at night ?

oh the dreams start pouring lol.

1969-1977...yeah id like waking up to that...i mean hearing that...i mean both... i think i'd have trouble functioning during the day. i'd just be daydreaming. and yes, all the way to 77...because his voice was so gorgeous in those last years. it got this sweetness and sorrow that was just gorgeous.

1950s--waking up to hear that sweet boyish charm...i wish.

[peter]

It?s not easy to say it. I have to say it in eras:

1972 - 1975 - BEST
1969 - 1971
1967 - 1968
1954 - 1957
1976 - 1977 - I can?t agree with you about quality of Elvis? voice in this era. He was really best in 72 - 75 years. If I?m hearing to It?s Easy For You it?s clear why.
1958 - 1966 - WORST

[Albert]

I don't really like his 50s voice. I picked for the 60s because of the many voices that he had: the opera (Surrender), the rockin' (1969), the blues voice (Hi-Heal Sneakers), the warm voice ('Almost'), the high voice ('Pocketfull Of Rainbows'), and so on..... Unfortunately you now miss the deep, big voice from the second half of the 70s.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

1958 - 1966 - WORST

I have to say that I think you are being a little harsh to say the least here are a couple that spring to mind: -

1958 Hard Headed Woman, I Got Stung, One Night,

1959 A Big Hunk of Love

1960 It's Now or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight?

1961 (Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame, Surrender, Flaming Star, Little Sister

1962 Can't Help Falling in Love, Return to Sender, Good Luck Charm

1963 (You're the) Devil in Disguise

1964 Such a Night, Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby

1965 Crying in the Chapel

1966 Frankie and Johnny

Granted not all of them are vocally difficult, but some of them are

[curtis simpkins]

Thanks Matt for putting that down.
i didn't think his music from 1958 to 1966 is his worst music at all.
there's a lot of good music he did in them years.

but imo there are some soundtracks i never did like in the 1060s.

clambake....Easy come,Easy Go......but some i do listen to off and on.

[sam]

Seems like I'm in the majority. Liking the seventies voice the best. Love the other years as well though. It's a shame BMG don't do a bit more with the seventies catalogue!!!

[iamhekev]

His voice full stop.

KEV.

[iamhekev]

[QUOTE=sam]Seems like I'm in the majority. Liking the seventies voice the best. Love the other years as well though. It's a shame BMG don't do a bit more with the seventies catalogue!!! ;

They will sam,its called FTD,so you will be able to fill yer boots = A1,of course.

KEV.

[U.S. Male]

I'll listen to anything he sings from any year, but if it has to be one period I'd say the 1970's, because his voice had gotten a bit more deeper, and he could really hit those high marks (ex: My Way, Hurt, American Trilogy)

[Lonniebealestreet]

It's a shame BMG don't do a bit more with the seventies catalogue!!!

SAM for President!

...of Sony/BMG, anyway.

Curtis, I'm surprised you don't like the Clambake soundtrack. I'm not a huge fan of the soundtracks like some of you guys are, but Clambake is one that I really dig, actually. Strengthened greatly by the bonus songs Guitar Man, How Can You Lose What You Never Had, Big Boss Man, Singing Tree, and Just Call Me Lonesome, there were still some quality songs in that movie. The best three of them were slow songs: You Don't Know Me, The Girl I Never Loved, and A House That Has Everything. Once you get past the fact that Confidence is on this album, it's really a great collection of songs.

But I respect your opinion. Lord knows there are some things I like a lot that many people don't, and vice versa.

Albert and Big Boss, I know what you all mean about not liking the 50s voice as much and prefering the depth of the 70s voice. And as you said, Big Boss, he had the power then, and could hit those amazing high notes. But overall I just prefer that more masculine sound to his voice.

[T_J]

To the comment on Elvis being able to nail high notes in the 70s (My Way, Hurt and American Trilogy), it's worth pointing out Surrender, It's Now or Never, Tonight Is So Right For Love, Viva Las Vegas etc from the 60s. For depth and richness, how about the original How Great Thou Art, I'll Remember You or Indescribably Blue - all from 1966. These qualities already existed in the 60s, but were accompanied by impeccable diction and greater command of falsetto when he chose to use it.

[peter]

Matt:
If you wanna hear my point of view: Elvis never had a bad voice! But it?s about your point of view which era is best... I think that his voice was best in 72 - 75 years (Aloha DVD, If You Talk In Your Sleep bootleg, Memphis 74, 75 and 22nd March 75MS). All these concerts are absolutely stunning, because Elvis is in best vocal shape! His voice is strong, nice, clear, deep, he sung all tones with absolutely certainty and his range is large. And these are things which I don?t feel from other eras (for example: in 76-77 he lost the certainty and control in his voice). But still, it was 2nd best singer on whole world... :worthy:

[P.S. Annie]

I must agree on that one with Unchained. For me his voice was that good, because he can bring emotions to you, warmth, tenderness, laughter, charm and so on. Listening to him gives me a feeling of being home. I know that Sinatra is seen as good singer but he had never that ability(imo). And that is why I think still so many people are drawn to Elvis music, he give you the feeling he believes what he is singing and that he does that espacially for you. And in every decade he does that.

[Albert]

That's a really good remark P.S.Annie, and I completely forgot about it: his ability to bring emotion to his songs was much better in the 70s than in any other period.

[peter]

I don?t know how to say it Unchained... When I?m hearing to his concerts from 72 - 75 era, he has in voice all what I want to hear. He is in different class /higher/ than other singers like (for example) Freddie Mercury, because his voice was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING on concerts, but imo only in this era. Later.... Yes he is still better than a lot of other, but I don?t feel from his voice selfconfidence (hear to the You Gave Me A Mountain or My Way, long high parts which he sung without any problems in my favourite era he almost (!) only recitate on 76 - 77 concerts). And it?s not my cup of tea.

And about Ian Gillan. I?ve never heard better singer than Ian is! When he sung in rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, it was something beautiful and when I heard Child In Time for the first time, I had to say : "Yes, he is really one of best singers ever!" He has all what Elvis had (nice clear voice) and as bonus he has a large range... And he know how to use it! When he sung duet with Luciano Pavarotti in 2003, song Nessun Dorma, it was something what is unforgettable!

[Cherokee]

To the comment on Elvis being able to nail high notes in the 70s (My Way, Hurt and American Trilogy), it's worth pointing out Surrender, It's Now or Never, Tonight Is So Right For Love, Viva Las Vegas etc from the 60s. For depth and richness, how about the original How Great Thou Art, I'll Remember You or Indescribably Blue - all from 1966. These qualities already existed in the 60s, but were accompanied by impeccable diction and greater command of falsetto when he chose to use it.

Ditto, yeah what he said

[Lonniebealestreet]

I don't disagree with TJ's points there, and I love all those performances, but personally I find it more impressive when he hit those notes in the 70s. I think it's because his voice was deeper and more masculine then, so when he sang those high notes it was more assaulting--I mean that in a good way, like very in your face and it stood out more, seemed like more of an achievement.

That might not seem to make sense at all, but that is how it strikes me.

And that is not to say I am not amazed by the ending of Surrender. But hey, I also like that operatic snippet of the song on Rhythm And Country (the "la-la version").

Regarding the diction and falsetto control, two words: It's Impossible.

But once again, those are good points.

That's a really good remark P.S.Annie, and I completely forgot about it: his ability to bring emotion to his songs was much better in the 70s than in any other period.

As is that.

But there's really no right or wrong here. What is best is one thing (and is subjective anyway), and what is your favorite is another--and what I'm most interested in.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Ron, on some of the Vegas '75 shows he definitely sounded like he had a cold or something, even the March 22 midnight show which so many of us love. But it seems to me that in the tours from April to July, he sounded as good as he ever did. Very clear-voiced, and with lots of spirit, control, an power, and...basically everything that could be good in a man's singing voice, IMHO.

Maybe it's a Vegas thing. Generally speaking, to me he always seemed a little better vocally on the road, which is probably because he was in better spirits and more energized.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Yeah, that could be a little time-consuming, Ron.

But you still ought to give one a spin, because I'm half-crazy and don't know what I'm talking about half the time. (Makes sense.)

Ron! Did you hear that? A sound from your CD rack...It almost sounded like, "Play me...play me." Yes, that is what it said. Looks like it was coming from your Dixieland Rocks! Weird!

[Lonniebealestreet]

Good show, good show...

Perhaps it was the creepin' crud!