When it comes to vocals I would categorically say Black Is Best.The number of white vocalists I listen to is in single digits.Roy Orbinson,of course,is the best.No other white popular singer can touch him.During those incredible,short lived Travelling Wilbury's session's,Dylan remarked about Orbinson
"With Roy,you didn't know if you were listening to mariachi or opera. He kept you on your toes.With him,it was all about fat and blood.He sounded like he was singing from an Olympian mountaintop...he was singing his compositions in three or four octaves that made you want to drive your car over a cliff. He sang like a professional criminal... His voice could jar a corpse,always leave you muttering to yourself something like,'Man,I don't believe it'."
Barry Gibb when he heard Orbinson's 'Crying' felt
"That was it.To me that was the voice of God."
Dwight Yoakim
"Orbinsion's voice sounds like the cry of an angel falling backward through an open window"
Bruce Sprinsteen while speaking at Roy's induction into the Hall of Fame
"Now we all know that Roy Orbinson is the best."
In 1963,at a Beatles concert,Roy Orbinson was the introductory act before the big boys came on.But when the fab four finally came on stage,they were greeted by a screaming,chanting audience demanding
WE WANT ROY!
YouTube - Roy Orbison - Crying (HQ)
YouTube - Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely (HQ)
AND MY FAVORITE POP SONG OF ALL TIMES:
An old man on his death bed whispered to me
"You are the master of your destiny"
A diamond is a diamond a stone a stone
But a mans not all good nor all bad
Call them as you see them,youll stand alone
Youre the best friend that you ever had oh yeah
Youre the best friend that you ever had
So laugh when its time to laugh,
Cry when its time to cry,
Live while its time to live
Youll die when its time to die
lalalalalala....................
Then he closed his eyes and left me alone,
My old friends death brought his wisdom home
A diamond is a diamond a stone a stone
But a mans not all good nor all bad
Call them as you see them youll stand alone,
Youre the best friend that you ever had,oh yeah
Youre the best friend that you ever had
So laugh when its time to laugh
Cry when its time to cry
Live while its time to live
Youll die when its time to die
Lalalalalalala.................
YouTube - Roy Orbison - Best Friend