In peoples opinion, what do you all think is Johns best vocal performace? I go for the following

Twist and Shout (how did he DO that!?)
Anna/Baby its you (Soul man!)
Money (another screamer and you can tell he means it!)
intro vocal to Mr Moonlight (wow)
A Day in the life (trippy man, you wouldnt think it was the same bloke who sang Money)
Come Together (stylish!)


Any other choices?

'I'm a Loser'
'Cry Baby Cry'
'I've got A Feeling'
'Lucy In The Sky'
'Hey Bulldog'
'Dear Prudence'

many, many more

Rock'n'Roll Music
Yer Blues
Julia
Instant Karma
I Am the Walrus
Help

rock n roll music
money
twist and shout
just like starting over
instant carma
cold turkey
mean mr mustard
yer blues

Obviously just picking a selected few, but like Tk said..there is many many more..

You Can't do that
All I've got to do
I'm a Loser
I'm only sleeping
Dr Robert
Strawberry Fields
Mr.Moonlight
Not a second time
Yer Blues
I want you (she's so heavy)
Rain
Girl

With the guys:

Twist and Shout
It' Won't Be Long (all the harmonies too)
Mr Moonlight (specially the intro)
Tomorrow Never Knows (production merit)

Alone (not so along... ):

Instant Karma (Phil merit)
Mother
How Do You Sleep?
Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)
Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)

Happiness is a warm gun for me. When he hits that high note.....

That's not a bad shout Kevin. Love his vocals on that.

Yeah, definitely Happiness. But also,

Twist and Shout (of course)
Across the Universe
A Hard Day's Night
A Day in the Life

I don't think he was a great vocalist, though, at least in the traditional sense. But he had a good "rock" voice.

I'm Only Sleeping
That Boy
Across The Universe
Don't Let Me Down

Does anyone have a hard time beleiving that the man who sang on Money and Twist and Shout is the same genteel voice on Imagine and Jealous Guy etc...?

Quoted from Benreturns

Does anyone have a hard time beleiving that the man who sang on Money and Twist and Shout is the same genteel voice on Imagine and Jealous Guy etc...?

You're comparing covers in 1963 (with the guys) and own songs in 1971 (WITH YOKO!!!)  . Now you understand, don't you?  
Seriously, in that way, think about the day Paul recorded I'm Down and Yesterday (the same evening)   (I know it's a very typical exemple)

Yeah I understood that. She sucked the living vocal daylights out of him

Just sometimes have to try hard to imagine its the same fella. A bit like the many faces of John. His face seemed to change every 2 years or so haha. Think Hamburg photos and the the skinny ponytailed guy in the Dakota. I mean - I know people change, but ....damn!

"When I Get Home" a song that highlights John's singing ability! A true old style rock song worth of another listen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mean Mr Mustard
Glass Onion
When I get home
Girl
Dig A Pony

btw, I think Jealous Guy is a great song and his singing in that is also great, just in a different way.

Quoted from apple_sauce

"When I Get Home" a song that highlights John's singing ability! A true old style rock song worth of another listen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's nice in If I Fell

I'm so Tired.

You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
for a little peace of mind*

Second time around - the "I'm Going Insane" ....we all dig that part everytime.

I Just love Glass Onion though cant say it enough.. I told ya bought the walrus and me MAN. haha its great.

I used to listen to I'm So Tired and then to I'm Only Sleeping (the third was Watching The wheels). What a lazy person was, this Lennon!  

I forgot about I'm So Tired.. I love when he does that. I like when he says "You were such a stupid GIT"

Ill have another cigarette, that always makes me want a cigarette.

And all the lyrics were about being in Rishikesh like at school (no smoke, meditation lots of hours so can't sleep enough and being tired all the day, and all that)

Im really into Money (Thats What I Want) right now so I'll say that one, I also really like his vocals on Twist and Shout, LSD, and Rock and Roll music is pretty great too.

Bungalow Bill lol

Quoted from ma_tt2

Im really into Money (Thats What I Want) right now so I'll say that one, I also really like his vocals on Twist and Shout, LSD, and Rock and Roll music is pretty great too.

Three of the best covers the guys made and maybe the best covers of those songs ever.

I have to agree, Bungalo Bill although a silly song is catchy and his vocals are really cool.

I also forgot "Yes It Is" Great vocals on that one.

i'm a little surprised no one's mentioned "sexy sadie"- just extraordinary vocal range and delivery.  lennon rather effortlessly pulled this (and so many others) out of his hat- my definition of genius.

You'd almost have to pick 'em by period or album. I'd be repeating a bunch that were mentioned, but for sheer energy, I like 'Bad Boy', 'I'm So Tired' and 'I Want You'. He may very well have had the greatest range of any pop/rock singer ever.

you cant do that

I've always admired Mr Postman . Sheer energy

Quoted from kevin_b

I've always admired Mr Postman . Sheer energy

I also really like how he sings that

I think the fact that "John" could sing a rock song, ballad and love song with his voice shows just how good he was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best John Vocal?


Best vocals - JOHN!

Quoted from raxo

I used to listen to I'm So Tired and then to I'm Only Sleeping (the third was Watching The wheels). What a lazy person was, this Lennon!  

Tho Ringo thought he was even lazier   ...

RINGO: "I'm the laziest Beatle. I'm quite happy to finish an album and go sit back. I can enjoy myself just sitting back and playing with all the toys, and the kids and the wife... I enjoy playing with the wife."

I agree with all the posts here with the addition of "Bad Boy".  "Now Junior, BEEEEHave yourself!  WOOOH!".

Quoted from Will Campbell

I agree with all the posts here with the addition of "Bad Boy".  "Now Junior, BEEEEHave yourself!  WOOOH!".

Yes!! This is also one of my favorite John phrases of all time, I smile even just thinking about it, especially the first time he sings it in the song.

In general, my favorite voice of his is the "sandpaper" voice - like in Twist and Shout, Money, his solo on "This Boy", etc. That rawness was hidden (sanitized to preserve the perceived sensibilities of the day?) all too frequently in the early days by George Martin's double-tracking of his voice on many songs - I hope one day we get to hear the single-tracked versions! IMHO, when his voice was the rawest (1962-65?), there was no other voice to compare or as emotional - it was right there with the best ever, like the vocalist from the Temptations. I think that he lost it after a few years, it doesn't appear too much from Rubber Soul onwards. But hey, even if the gift was only for a little while, I'm so grateful  

I agree with all the posts above for excellent John vocals. I would just add one that I haven't read yet ... his vocal on the old Teddy Bears song (Phil Spector's group in the 50s), "To Know Her is to Love Her". It's on an old LP called "The Silver Beatles", I think it was part of the audition tape that was turned down so many times before they got their EMI contract (and it may be on the Anthology discs?). Anyway, his voice here is so so soft, and even kind of vulnerable (the complete opposite of the screaming that he is the best at ... was he the best vocalist, or at least tied with Paul, in the history of Rock and Roll or what )  that IMHO it ranks as one of his best.  I think of it as kind of like his voice in "Baby, It's You" (also one of my favorites), but even more so.  

Does anyone else like that vocal of his?

Strawberry Fields Forever, I also love his vocal on You Know The Name (Look up the number). paul and ringo's too on that one

Rock and Roll Music.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Rock and Roll Music.

Do you think their cover is better than the original? I definetelly think so!

For me the songs are:
This Boy (oh and this boy...)
Rock n Roll Music (in the 3rd verse-i think)
Mr Moonlight (intro)
Twist and Shout (Aw, raspy John)
LSD (pure Lennon)

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
In My Life
Cry Baby Cry
Don't Let Me Down
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I Am The Walrus
Yes It Is (Anthology)
Twist And Shout

It's hard to pick one. He really had a great voice. He could do both straight out rock and roll and sweet, heart breaking vocals. Some of my favorites are A Day in the Life, Happiness is a Warm Gun, I Dig a Pony (just the Beeecauuuse part alone gets me) Twist and Shout, I'm So Tired, Lucy in the Sky, I Am the Walrus, and of course Imagine. Yes not Beatles but I had to mention it. It makes me cry. I love the you hoo oo oo oo stuff. )Love listening to my students sing that part.)There are really too many songs to pick. I can't narrow it down. He really is the greatest rock singer of all time. John rules.

I definately prefer his early rock voice to his later weedy "bathroom echo" vocal. By Mind Games the power seems to have gone from his voice. (I think he'd lost a lot of confidence all round after Sometime in NYC)

^ Yeah - I remember watching a documentary about his solo recordings, and one of his producers was explaining how he added alot of reverb to Lennon's voice - as John never thought he sounded naturally good enough - pffft !

Fav John vocal
Very hard choice!

some are Lucy in the Sky, Julia, I Want You, & don't let me down.
My fave would be 'Rock & Roll Music' (he lets rip and sings like no other rocker!!)

I would say 'Dig a pony' and 'Happiness is a Warm gun'.