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>>There are lots of terrific singers who don't have great voices. Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday, Tom Waits, Steven Tyrell, Dr. John and on and on. Yes, Johnny Cash is a perfect choice. The thing is they all worked out how to sing the song so that the song mattered. Never did they sing as though the singer was all that was important. That was my problem with Houston. Same with Streisand, Dion, and others of that ilk. I just can't listen to them in spite of the fact that they all have wonderful vocal chords. I just don't find their renditions at all interesting. Boring, in fact. As far as I'm concerned, they may as well all be Barry Manilow. ;)
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>Same page. And I add Ricki Lee Jones and Leon Redbone
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>And in Dr. John's case I still would rather he shut up and play. Great piano doesn't need vocals.
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>( Maria Muldaur and Lydia Pense - great voices but no chance of them wanting to do Celine Dion covers <s> )

Agreed on all of those (other than Lydia Pense who I am not familiar with). I would plug Dr. John's rendition of "Such a Night" at The Last Waltz to you but don't need to because I know you were there ;-)

My Leon Redbone CD is on the dryer now, in the on deck circle for the next car trip....