Sep 052013
It’s a simple question: Is there a better, more iconic rock scream than Roger Daltrey‘s wail in “Won’t Get Fooled Again”?
It could be a wordless scream, or just one word like Daltrey’s “yeah!” Maybe it’s a whole line or verse or song belted out with rage or destroyed vocal cords. Perhaps something less old school, like Trent Reznor in “Head Like a Hole” or Billy Corgan‘s rat in a “caaaaaage” in “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”.
Does Robert Plant have anything to bring to the challenge here? To start things off, I submit the “Immigrant Song” wailing as a top contender to the throne.
Please offer up your best candidates!
I’m thinking John Lennon on Twist and Shout might be the only one that can come close to be as iconic, but there’s many more that I enjoy hugely.
Above on this page I see an image from Iggy from Funhouse, and surely the yell at the beginning of TV Eye is one of the all time greats.
Personally, my favorites are all those screams by Dickie Harrell when the Blue Caps are about to go into the rave up at the break.
Is it “Cold Sweat” in which James Brown lets out a blood-chilling screech-scream?
I’m thinking Joe Cocker on With a little help from my friends …
Lennon’s scream opening Revolution has to be a contender.
Felix Cavaliere in Good Lovin’. Maybe not the most iconic, but the best in my book.
Runner up: the Sonics – throughout Strychnine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BINOU2zh6Ac
Yes, Mr. Mod, it was “Cold Sweat” in which James Brown did that screaming.
My entry in this scream thing is Barrence Whitfield. Here he is doing ‘Rambling Rose” @ a record store:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjBDpXtdlNc
Here’s a version of his signature song, ‘Stop Twistin’ My Arm”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLMjUyysjso
I don’t know if you noticed, but your man Barrence kicks off the latest Saturday Night Shut-In!
I just heard that Mr. Mod. That was the kickoff song from his latest album, which also includes a song called ‘Oscar Levant” which blew my mind.
I believe that was Paul. Regardless it’s the bomb.
I love the desperate wail of Roky Erickson at the beginning and throughout “You’re Gonna Miss Me”.
On a side note, I searched “You’re Gonna Miss Me” at YouTube looking for a rare live version and all that came up was that actress Anna Kendricks and all these other people doing that silly cup thing. WTF?
Yeah I vote for Roky.
John Oswald cobbles together most, if not all, of James Brown’s screams on the track “Black” off of Plunderphonics.
I’m surprised that no one has nominated Screamin’ Jay Hawkins…take your pick but I’ll select “I Put A Spell On You.”
PS – I loved him in JJ’s “Mystery Train.”
I got BLISTAHS ON MY FINGAHS
That is a memorable one!
Blood curdling!
Intro to “Meadows” Joe Walsh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0_KBe8z0h0
aloha
LD
I’ll go with Clare Torry on Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig In The Sky” from Dark Side of the Moon.