Carl Perkins (2,563 views)

[BAZanine]

Carl Lee Perkins (9 April 1932 - 19 January 1998)
Years Active: 1946 - 1997
Voice Type: Baritone
Vocal Range: B1 - E5

SPOILER: Click to show

{Vocal Summary}Likely as important to the development of early rock music as Chuck Berry was, Carl Perkins is a name you'll see come up quite often when the greats are asked of their influences. Equipped with memorable lead guitar playing and a raw vocal approach, Carl laid the groundwork for white rockabilly and paved the way for most anyone from Elvis to the Beatles to Clapton and so on. Although not primarily known for his vocals, Carl time and time again was able to prove himself a more than capable vocalist. Possessing a twang that is quite common nowadays, it can likely be inferred that his approach to singing has affected aspiring country singers even to this day. Beyond this, Carl's voice is one that, as mentioned before, is not too refined; on the contrary, that would likely detract from his music. As he was, Carl proved himself more than able to handle the upbeat songs he became known for (despite likely being a bit uncomfortable in his upper range) and as an older man was able to deepen and acquire a rich lower range. Even if many may argue his voice was indeed not his strongest asset, it is regardless a part of a greater combination of elements making for some of the best rock 'n' roll music that ever was, a declaration I'm sure the Lennons and the Hendrixes of the world would agree with.

Significant High Notes:

E5 ("Keeper of the Key" Million Dollar Quartet session)
D5 ("Where the Rio De Rosa Flows")
C♯5 ("Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On")
C5 ("All Mama's Children", "That Don't Move Me", "That's Right")
B4 ("I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling" Million Dollar Quartet session, "I Shall Not Be Moved" Million Dollar Quartet session)
B♭4 ("Blue Suede Shoes" live, "Look at That Moon", "That Don't Move Me")
A4 ("21", "All Mama's Children" Boppin' the Blues version, "Baby I'm Hung on You", "Baby, What You Want Me to Do?", "Be-Bop-a-Lula", "Because You're Mine", "Big Bad Blues", "Birth of Rock and Roll", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Blueberry Hill", "Boppin' the Blues" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Born to Boogie", "Dixie Fried", "Don't Get Off Gettin' It On", "Down by the Riverside" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Go Cat Go", "Gone, Gone, Gone", "Hey, Good Lookin'", "I'm Walkin'", "Keeper of the Key", "Jive After Five", "Just Thought I'd Call", "Little Cabin on the Hill" Million Dollar Quartet sessions, "Long Tall Sally", "Lucille", "Matchbox", "Old Time Religion", "Pointed Toe Shoes", "Poor Boy Blues", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "Put Your Cat Clothes On", "Redneck", "Rock Medley" live Austin City Limits, "Rockabilly Music", "Rockin' Record Hop", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Sorry Charlie", "Susie Q", "Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong" Million Dollar Quartet session, "That's All Right", "We Did It in '54", "You Can Do No Wrong")
G♯4 ("Allergic to Love", "Boppin' the Blues", "Charlene", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes", "High Heel Sneakers" live Österåker Prison 1972, "Home (That's Where the Heart Is)", "Honey Don't", "I Care", "Just as Long", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E", "Lonely Heart", "The Monkeyshine", "Never Look Back", "Power of My Soul", "The Rain Might Wash Your Love Away", "Redneck", "Rock Around the World", "Sweet Misery", "That Don't Move Me", "That's Right", "Your True Love"☆)
G4 ("All Mama's Children", "Baby, What You Want Me to Do?", "Because You're Mine", "Big Bad Blues", "Big Train (From Memphis)", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Born to Boogie", "Born to Rock", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "C.C. Rider", "Caldonia", "Champaign, Illinois", "Country Boy's Dream", "Daddy Sang Bass", "Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes", "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", "Glad All Over" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Got My Mojo Working", "I Can Feel It", "I Got a Woman", "I Shall Not Be Moved" Million Dollar Quartet session, "I'm Walkin'", "Jenny, Jenny", "Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Just as Long" uptempo version, "Lend Me Your Comb", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "A Lion in the Jungle", "Long Tall Sally", "Look at That Moon", "Lucille", "Maybelline", "Mean Woman Blues" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "A Mile Out of Memphis", "Miss Misunderstood" live Austin City Limits, "Only You", "Pointed Toe Shoes", "Put Your Cat Clothes On", "Ready Teddy", "Restless", "Right String but the Wrong Yo-Yo", "Rock Medley" live Austin City Limits, "Roll Over Beethoven", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", "Sister Twister", "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Sorry Charlie", "Soul Beat", "Superfool", "Susie Q", "Sweethearts or Strangers", "That's All Right", "Tutti Frutti", "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", "Where the Rio De Rosa Flows", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "You Can't Make Love to Somebody", "Your True Love" live / 1968 version)
F♯4 ("All Shook Up", "Amen" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Baby, Please Answer the Phone", "Blue Moon of Kentucky" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Boppin' the Blues", "Country Boy's Dream", "Country Soul", "Dixie Fried", "Don't Let Go", "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" live New Orleans, "Eye in the Sky", "Glad All Over", "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes", "Honky Tonk Song", "The Hurt Put on by You", "I Can Feel It", "I Care", "I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry", "Jive After Five", "Just Thought I'd Call", "Keeper of the Key", "Night Train to Memphis" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Old Time Religion", "Pink Pedal Pushers", "Poor Boy Blues", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "The Rain Might Wash Your Love Away", "Rockin' Record Hop", "Shine, Shine, Shine", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Standing in the Need of Love", "That's Right", "Till I Couldn't Stand No More", "Turn Around" live, "We Did It in '54", "What Am I Living For", "What'd I Say", "You Can Do No Wrong", "You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country", "Your True Love"☆)
F4 ("Charlene", "Cotton Top", "Dream on Little Dreamer", "Georgia Courtroom", "Give Me Back My Job", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Hambone", "High Heel Sneakers" live Österåker Prison 1972, "I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down", "Love, Sweet Love", "One More Shot", "Right String but the Wrong Yo-Yo", "Shine, Shine, Shine", "Sundays Are Fun Days With My Lord", "That Don't Move Me", "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" live Stuttgart 1981)
E4 ("21", "Allergic to Love", "Baby I'm Hung on You", "Baby, Please Answer the Phone", "Be-Bop-a-Lula", "Big Bad Blues", "Big Train (From Memphis)", "Birth of Rock and Roll", "Blue Moon of Kentucky" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Born Equal", "Born to Rock", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "C.C. Rider", "Caldonia", "Daddy Sang Bass", "Distance Makes No Difference With Love", "Don't Get Off Gettin' It On", "Don't Let Go", "Don't Stop the Music", "Down by the Riverside" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" live New Orleans, "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", "Go Cat Go", "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad" live Stuttgart 1981, "Gone, Gone, Gone", "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Got My Mojo Working", "Hallelujah Special", "Home (That's Where the Heart Is)", "Honey 'Cause I Love You", "Honey Don't", "Honky Tonk Gal", "Hound Dog", "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore", "I Got a Woman", "I Shall Not Be Moved" Million Dollar Quartet session, "I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry", "I'm Walkin'", "If I Could Come Back", "Jailhouse Rock", "Jenny, Jenny", "Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Keeper of the Key", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Lend Me Your Comb", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "Little Cabin on the Hill" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Lonely Heart", "Look at That Moon", "Love Makes Dreams Come True", "Matchbox", "Maybelline", "Mean Woman Blues" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "A Mile Out of Memphis", "The Monkeyshine", "Night Train to Memphis" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "One More Shot", "Only You", "Poor Boy Blues", "Power of My Soul", "The Rain Might Wash Your Love Away", "Ready Teddy", "Redneck", "Rise and Shine", "Riverboat Annie", "Rock and Roll (Fais-Do-Do)", "Rock Around the World", "Rock Island Line", "Rockabilly Music", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", "Sing a Song With Me", "Singin' the Blues", "Sister Twister", "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Standing in the Need of Love", "The Star of the Show", "Susie Q", "Sweethearts or Strangers", "Tennessee", "Till I Couldn't Stand No More", "Unmitigated Gall", "What Am I Living For", "What You Doin' When You're Cryin'?", "What'd I Say", "Where the Rio De Rosa Flows", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "You Can't Make Love to Somebody", "Your True Love"☆)

Significant Low Notes:

E3 ("All Mama's Children" Boppin' the Blues version, "All Shook Up", "Allergic to Love", "Amen" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Baby, Please Answer the Phone", "Big Bad Blues", "Big Train (From Memphis)", "Blue Moon of Kentucky" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Boppin' the Blues" Boppin' the Blues version, "Caldonia", "Champaign, Illinois", "Dixie Fried", "Don't Let Go", "Don't Stop the Music", "The E.P. Express", "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", "Eye in the Sky", "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Got My Mojo Working", "Hey, Good Lookin'", "Honey 'Cause I Love You", "Honey Don't", "Honky Tonk Gal", "Honky Tonk Song", "Hound Dog", "I Care", "I Got a Woman", "I Shall Not Be Moved" Million Dollar Quartet session, "I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry", "I'm Walkin'", "Jailhouse Rock", "Jive After Five", "Just as Long", "Keeper of the Key", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Lend Me Your Comb", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "Lonely Heart", "Look at That Moon", "Lucille", "Matchbox", "Maybelline", "Mean Woman Blues" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Memphis Tennessee", "A Mile Out of Memphis", "The Monkeyshine", "Night Train to Memphis" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Only You", "Old Time Religion", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "Power of My Soul", "Put Your Cat Clothes On", "The Rain Might Wash Your Love Away", "Ready Teddy", "Riverboat Annie", "Rock and Roll (Fais-Do-Do)", "Rock Around the Clock", "Rock Around the World", "Rock Medley" live Austin City Limits, "Rockin' Record Hop", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Sorry Charlie", "Sundays Are Fun Days With My Lord", "Sure to Fall", "Tennessee", "Unmitigated Gall", "Waymore's Blues", "What You Doin' When You're Cryin'?", "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", "Where the Rio De Rosa Flows", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "You Can Do No Wrong", "Your True Love"☆)
E♭3 ("Country Soul", "Glad All Over", "That's Right", "What You Doin' When You're Cryin'?")
D3 ("Born to Rock", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "C.C. Rider", "Can the Circle Be Unbroken" live Stuttgart 1981, "Cotton Top", "Charlene", "Daddy Sang Bass", "Detroit City", "Don't Get Off Gettin' It On", "Georgia Courtroom", "Give Me Back My Job", "Go Cat Go", "God Bless America", "Got My Mojo Working", "Hambone", "I Can Feel It", "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore", "I Saw the Light" live Stuttgart 1981, "I'll Fly Away" live Stuttgart 1981, "I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down", "I'm in Love Again", "Jackson" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Kaw-Liga", "Let the Jukebox Keep Playing", "Love, Sweet Love", "Right String but the Wrong Yo-Yo", "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", "Sing a Song With Me", "Sister Twister", "Soul Beat", "Stateside", "Sweethearts or Strangers", "Turn Around", "Unmitigated Gall", "You Tore My Heaven All to Hell")
C♯3 ("Baby, Please Answer the Phone", "Blue Suede Shoes" live / Ol' Blue Suede's Back version, "Born to Rock", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" Million Dollar Quartet session, version 1, "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" live New Orleans, "The E.P. Express", "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad" live Stuttgart 1981, "Home (That's Where the Heart Is)", "Honey 'Cause I Love You", "Honey Don't", "The Hurt Put on by You", "I Don't Like What I'm Seeing in You", "If I Could Come Back", "Jailhouse Rock", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E", "Look at That Moon", "Maybelline", "Memphis Tennessee", "A Mile Out of Memphis", "Power of My Soul", "Rock Around the Clock", "Rock Island Line", "Roll Over Beethoven" A Portrait of Carl Perkins version, "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" Ol' Blue Suede's Back version, "Shine, Shine, Shine", "Singin' the Blues", "Sittin' on Top of the World" live Austin City Limits, "Standing in the Need of Love", "Sundays Are Fun Days With My Lord", "Tennessee", "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" live Stuttgart 1981, "Till I Couldn't Stand No More", "Tutti Frutti" Ol' Blue Suede's Back / A Portrait of Carl Perkins versions, "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain")
C3 ("Can the Circle Be Unbroken" live Stuttgart 1981, "Forever Yours", "Goin' to Memphis", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Her Love Rubbed Off", "I Can Feel It", "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore", "I Want You Back Again", "A Lifetime Last Night", "A Lion in the Jungle", "Lord, I Sinned Again Last Night", "Miss Misunderstood" live Austin City Limits, "Movie Magg", "The Star of the Show", "Sweethearts or Strangers", "That's All Right" live Austin City Limits, "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" live Stuttgart 1981, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" Ol' Blue Suede's Back version, "You Can't Make Love to Somebody")
B2 ("Big Bad Blues" 1974 version, "Cotton Top", "Country Soul", "Distance Makes No Difference With Love", "Don't Let Go", "Every Road", "Go Cat Go", "Help Me Dream", "Honky Tonk Gal", "I Don't Want to Fall in Love Again", "I Shall Not Be Moved" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Jackson" live Limehouse Studios 1985, "Just as Long", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "One More Shot", "Poor Boy Blues", "Redneck", "Rise and Shine", "Rockabilly Music", "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", "Standing in the Need of Love", "Till I Couldn't Stand No More", "Tutti Frutti" Ol' Blue Suede's Back / A Portrait of Carl Perkins versions, "What Am I Living For")
B♭2 ("Movie Magg", "Never Look Back", "One More Loser Going Home", "Restless" Go Cat Go! version, "Two Old Army Pals")
A2 ("All Mama's Children" Boppin' the Blues version, "Baby I'm Hung on You", "Birth of Rock and Roll", "Blueberry Hill", "Class of '55", "Country Boy's Dream", "Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes", "Down by the Riverside" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Dream on Little Dreamer", "God Bless America", "Hallelujah Special", "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes", "Kaw-Liga", "Love, Sweet Love", "Mama", "Mama and Daddy", "My Old Friend", "Never Look Back", "Old Time Religion", "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" Ol' Blue Suede's Back version, "Sing a Song With Me", "Singin' the Blues", "Stateside", "Sweeter Than Candy", "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" Million Dollar Quartet session, "This Ole House", "Turn Around", "Unknown Song" Million Dollar Quartet session, "We Did It in '54", "Wild Texas Wind", "You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country", "You Tore My Heaven All to Hell")
G♯2 ("Every Road", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Sweet Misery")
G2 ("C.C. Rider", "Farther Along" Million Dollar Quartet session, "A Lifetime Last Night", "Lord, I Sinned Again Last Night", "Mama and Daddy", "Matchbox" Go Cat Go! version, "Superfool", "That’s All Right" live Nottingham 1987)
F♯2 ("Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes", "Help Me Dream", "The Hurt Put on by You", "I Don't Like What I'm Seeing in You", "I Don't Want to Fall in Love Again", "Quarter Horse", "Turn Around" live Austin City Limits)
F2 ("Distance Makes No Difference With Love", "One More Loser Going Home", "Sweet Misery", "We Did It in '54")
E2 ("Born Equal", "Detroit City", "I Just Can't Make It by Myself" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Love Makes Dreams Come True", "Mama", "My Old Friend", "One More Shot", "Poor Boy Blues", "Rock Island Line")
E♭2 ("Farther Along" Million Dollar Quartet session)
D2 ("21", "Class of '55", "Daddy Sang Bass", "Dream on Little Dreamer", "Farther Along" Million Dollar Quartet session, "Georgia Courtroom", "Sweeter Than Candy", "This Ole House", "You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country")
C♯2 ("Love Makes Dreams Come True")
B1 ("The Rain Might Wash Your Love Away")

…………………………………………………………………….
*Blue marks clear falsetto or whistle notes.
*Italics mark non-melodic notes.
*Boldface marks notes that are considered impressive in relation to this person's vocal capabilities.
*Underlines mark notes obscured in the mix of the song.
*"Your True Love"'s tape speed is fast by a whole tone. As such, ☆ denotes the notes Carl hit in the track prior to its being sped up.

Best Vocal Performances:

1. Home (That's Where the Heart Is)
2. That Don't Move Me
3. Gone, Gone, Gone
4. Daddy Sang Bass
5. My Old Friend

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}E5 ("Sittin' on Top of the World"^[1b], "Tutti Frutti"^[1b])
E♭5 ("Boppin' the Blues"^[1a], "Shake, Rattle, and Roll"^[1b], "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"^[1b])
D5 ("I Got a Woman"^[1a])
B4 ("Rockabilly Music"^[1e])

E♭2 ("Green, Green Grass of Home"^[1d], "Quarter Horse"^[1d])
D2 ("Be-Bop-a-Lula"^[1d])
C2 ("Detroit City"^[1c])
B1 ("One More Shot"^[1d], "The Star of the Show"^[1c])

.......................................................
[1] Questionable representativeness.
a. Brief yips.
b. Brief woos.
c. Speaking.
d. Brief dips and anacrusis in low range.
e. Brief trills in high range.

[2] Questionable identity.
a. Ambiguous tone.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notewatched Discography & Album Ranges}Studio Albums:
Dance Album (1957) (B♭2 - A4)
Whole Lotta Shakin' (1958) (E3 - A4 - C♯5 - D5)
Country Boy's Dream (1967) (D2 - G♯4)
On Top (1969) (G2 - A4)
Boppin' the Blues (1970) (A2 - A4) - Tracks 2, 3, and part of track 8 unavailable
My Kind of Country (1973) (F2 - A4)
Ol' Blue Suede's Back (1978) (A2 - A4)
Country Soul (1979) (D2 - F♯2 - A4)
Rock 'N Gospel (1979) (D2 - G4)
Cane Creek Glory Church (1979) (E2 - A4) - Only tracks 3, 5, 9 available
Class of '55 (1986) (D2 - A4)
Born to Rock (1989) (B1 - C♯2 - G♯4)
The Complete Million Dollar Quartet (1990, recorded 1956) (D2 - E♭2 - B4 - E5)
Friends, Family, and Legends (1992) (A2 - A4)* - Only tracks 1, 2, 10 available
*Tracks 2 and 10 were previously released. An album range representative of the available previously unreleased track on this album would be (A2 - D4).
Go Cat Go! (1996) (E2 - G4 - A4)**
**This album consists of songs recorded at various times throughout Perkins' later career.
A Portrait of Carl Perkins (1999, recorded circa late 1980s, early 1990s) (E2 - A4)
+ Stray tracks/singles

Live Albums:
The Carl Perkins Show (1976) (G2 - A4)
Live at Austin City Limits (1981) (F♯2 - A4)
The Survivors (1982) (C3 - G4)
Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (2006, recorded 1985) (B2 - A4)
+ Other assorted live performances

Special thanks to Holsety for assistance in discerning harmonies.

[Deleted]

Great singer. Not as much range as I would’ve expected though… 😐

[Bink]

Gotta ask does he really need his lows starting at E3? Seems like his lows are really developed for someone who’s thresholds are that high

[BAZanine]

His lows were kinda lackluster throughout his time at Sun Records. At the very least he didn't make much use of them, which makes sense when you see how much bigger the E3 section is than anything below it.

[Bink]

Jan 7, 2023 14:52:19 GMT BAZanine said:

His lows were kinda lackluster throughout his time at Sun Records. At the very least he didn't make much use of them, which makes sense when you see how much bigger the E3 section is than anything below it.

Ehh, I mean for the most part sure, but didn't "Georgia Courtroom" also come out during the Sun years?

[BAZanine]

Nah, that's just the cover they chose for the video. That track came out in the late '70s or early '80s.

[Bink]

Jan 9, 2023 8:22:36 GMT BAZanine said:

Nah, that's just the cover they chose for the video. That track came out in the late '70s or early '80s.

Aight that's fair enough, just thought I'd bring it up