Last night I was watching Maryland Public Television (MPR) and they featured Neil Diamond as their entertainment for the fund drive... okay, okay... I REALLY had NOTHING to do. But with the cat sound asleep next to me (he's really not interested in MPR), I could not help but notice that Neil Diamond was not really singing... he was just speaking the words while acting like he was singing. -This brings me to Jimmy's most recent live recordings (i.e. Auburn, WA and the others) where, at times, he does the same thing. When you listen to "You Had to Be There" you don't hear it.
I guess my point is, as Jimmy ages more and more, I hope he does not turn out just like Diamond and just goes through the motions.
I wonder if that's why the pendulum swung back to country within the last year or so... any thoughts?
I saw that, I was having a few beers with some friends but didn't really notice it. How can you even compare Jimmy to Neil Diamond ? Anyway I'll have to listen more closely to Jimmy's new live stuff.
Lots of older singers do that talksinging thing. Thats why most dont do 2 nights in a row. They also cant hit the high notes anymore either. You want to hear talksinging go hear Tull. Love the guy but the voice has had it and the last time I saw Ruch Geddy Lee was talksinging so dont know how hell sound this year. But Its still your favorite guys up there!
I dont see Jimmy just "going through the motions"......I have seen him at Nissan for the past 6 years and every year I thought it seemed that he was really enjoying himself.....I went to NYC last year to see him do the Today show and he even seemed to be having a good time doing that and it was raining most of the time......I really dont think he is just going through any motions, or I dont think he would be doing the shows he is doing.
I think he does "go through the motions" to an extent for the SYKBH songs. But when it's a newer song, or one that he doesn't do often, he is definitely more into it. Also, I still have last summer's Today Show on my Tivo and watch it pretty often - I think he pretty much sings every note (especially for Everybody's Talkin').
Also agree w/ the post that it's harder for him to stretch his voice, so I think that might cause him to slip into the monotone singing voice.
Just a few months I went to a Hank Jr concert and he did the same thing.
Personally I like it when they change things up.
I don't really wanna hear them sing exactly like the recording.
"it's crazy and it's different but it's really bein' free"
........the talking we all could do without....is those cheesy parts at the ends of his songs....like License to Chill, etc...
1ST CONCERT: SAT. AUG 6, 1988 - PACIFIC AMPHITHEATRE, COSTA MESA, CA - LOGE 11 SEC 2 ROW U SEAT 42 $20.35
SHOWS: DAVID-31, STEFANIA-27, SHANE-11, EMMA KATE-7
PARROT HEAD SINCE 1984
I don't think he even sings on most of the albums, and just kind of talks instead. He doesn't have much of a range, but I don't care. Plus, I don't think most of the songs he does require him to sing.
The WA live CD is the only one I own, and I noticed that his voice was going at the end of the show.
can you imagine singing margaritaville as many times as jimmy belting it out to thousands of fans for nearly thirty years with the same enthusiasm as the first time? I think he comes pretty close and I'm pretty darn impressed. Also Jimmy Definately still hits the high notes for smaller venues... especially when hes got a few drinks in him
I've also noticed that Bubba's voice isn't what it used to be, and he's got to say the words on some songs, but let's face it he's never been Pavorati, though he's no Neil Young either. Some of his studio efforts have been ill advised as well, I can think of "Pacing the Cage" for example, although I love the lyrics he just doesn't have the range. I've never gone to see Jimmy for the vocal quality or lack there of, I go to have fun, and that's what Jimmy does best. Hell, half the time I'm singing so loud I can't here it anyway!. At my age, I have all but stopped going to any other concert but JB's. The thought of going to see someone like Sting for example, and sit through 2 hours of quiet, mostly depressing songs just dosen't do it for me, but that's just one Phans opinion. One a somewhat different topic, I'd like to see a show that Jimmy and the Reefers picked all of the music for them and not the fans. A show without M'ville,WDWGDAS, CBIP, Finz and the like would be great!
Jimmy has a better singing voice than you'd think... I'd always assumed he was an average singer, but I heard some stuff last year that really made me appreciate his ability...
Eleven longhaired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus...
Key Lime Lee wrote:Jimmy has a better singing voice than you'd think... I'd always assumed he was an average singer, but I heard some stuff last year that really made me appreciate his ability...
I'd have to agree. FSOTW sounds pretty good for someone's like 30th studio album. He's not the greatest singer ever, but he's still very talented and can put on one hell of a show.
........the talking we all could do without....is those cheesy parts at the ends of his songs....like License to Chill, etc...
I agree about his talking at the end of his songs, such as "License to Chill," and even "Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Mexico," in which he has to toss in gratuitous references to "margaritaville."
Key Lime Lee wrote:Jimmy has a better singing voice than you'd think... I'd always assumed he was an average singer, but I heard some stuff last year that really made me appreciate his ability...
I'd have to agree. FSOTW sounds pretty good for someone's like 30th studio album. He's not the greatest singer ever, but he's still very talented and can put on one hell of a show.
Jimmy has a great voice you just have to listen to the right songs, some of his songs were meant to be sung in a sort of talking way like door # 3 and the hang out gang.
I am listening to Biloxi right now for example. Now thats a great song and he does a great job on that one, now The Wino and I know Just came on and that one to Well now another one Havana Day Dreamin is on he does great vocals in that one. I better go before another song comes on.
I don't think Jimmy goes throught the motions, I think that the motions go through Jimmy!!! He could let the whole crowd sing the songs and never utter a word, and that would be a blast!!! He just has that star presence and it leaves me awe struck...
Also Jimmy Definately still hits the high notes for smaller venues... especially when hes got a few drinks in him 
? Anyway I'll have to listen more closely to Jimmy's new live stuff. 
