Post by Henny Macc on Jun 12, 2020 21:25:47 GMT
Richard Davies (July 22, 1944 - )
Years active: 1969-present
Country of origin: England
Recorded vocal range: E2-A5 - 3.4 octaves
Band history:
- 1969-1970 - Daddy (keyboards, vocals)
- 1970-1988 - Supertramp (lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica)
- 1996-2002 - Supertramp (lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica)
- 2010-2011 - Supertramp (lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica)
- 2015 - Supertramp (lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica)
- 2018-present - Ricky and the Rockets (lead vocals, keyboards)
Recorded high notes:
A5: "Asylum"
G♯5/A♭5: "Asylum"
G5: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Listen to Me Please" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Maybe I'm a Beggar" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "Poor Boy", "Remembering"
F♯5/G♭5: "White Hot Rock" live at Festhalle Bern 1972
F5: "My Kind of Lady", "Poor Boy"
E5: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Asylum", "Dreamer" live Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Oh Darling"
D♯5/E♭5: "Gone Hollywood", "Goodbye Stranger", "Just Another Nervous Wreck", "Listen to Me Please", "Lover Boy"
D5: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Hide in Your Shell" live Pavillon de Paris 1979, "My Kind of Lady", "Put on Your Old Brown Shoes", "Waiting So Long"
C♯5/D♭5: "Bloody Well Right" live at Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Chicken Man" BBC session 1973, "Forever", "Goodbye Stranger", "Lover Boy", "Oh Darling", "Poor Boy", "Put on Your Old Brown Shoes"
C5: "Bonnie", "Dead Man's Blues", "Gone Hollywood", "Goodbye Stranger", "Hide in Your Shell" live Pavillon de Paris 1979, "It Doesn't Matter", "My Kind of Lady", "Oh Darling", "Poor Boy"
B4: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Gone Hollywood", "Lover Boy"
A♯4/B♭4: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Bloody Well Right", "Hide in Your Shell", "Lover Boy", "Poor Boy", "Rudy" live at Maida Vale Studios 1972
A4: "An Awful Thing to Waste", "And the Light", "Another Man's Woman" live at Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Asylum", "Brother Where You Bound", "Cannonball", "Friend in Need", "From Now On" live at Palacio de los Deportes 2010, "I'm Beggin' You", "My Kind of Lady", "Oh Darling", "Pony Express" live 1972, "Poor Boy", "Rudy" live at Maida Vale Studios 1972, "Shadow Song", "Summer Romance", "Where There's a Will"
G♯4/A♭4: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Don't You Lie to Me (I Get Evil)" live Palacio de Deportes 1988, "From Now On", "Goodbye Stranger", "I Just Want to Make Love to You" live Dallas 1985, "I'm Beggin' You", "Lover Boy", "Where There's a Will"
G4: "An Awful Thing to Waste", "And the Light", "Another Man's Woman", "A Soapbox Opera", "Asylum", "Bloody Well Right", "Broken Hearted", "Brother Where You Bound", "Cannonball", "C'est What", "Coming Home to See You", "Crime of the Century", "Dreamer", "From Now On" live Rome 1988, "Give a Little Bit" live at Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Gone Hollywood", "If Everyone Was Listening", "I'm Beggin' You", "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" live at Palacio de Deportes 1988, "It's Alright", "Just Another Nervous Wreck", "Listen to Me Please", "Little By Little", "Lover Boy", "Not the Moment" live Palacio de Deportes 1988, "Pony Express" live 1972. "Poor Boy", "Remembering", "Rudy", "Slow Motion", "Some Things Never Change", "Waiting So Long", "Your Poppa Don't Mind", "You Started Laughing", "You Win, I Lose" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997
F♯4/G♭4: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "All Along the Watchtower" live at the PN Club 1969, "A Sting in the Tail", "Asylum", "Bee in Your Bonnet", "Better Days", "Bonnie", "Brother Where You Bound", "C'est What", "Downstream", "Ever Open Door", "Give a Little Bit" live at Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Gone Hollywood" live at Palacio de los Deportes 2010, "It Doesn't Matter", "Just Another Nervous Wreck" live at Palacio de los Deportes 1988, "Lover Boy", "My Kind of Lady", "Over You", "Rudy", "Shadow Song", "Summer Romance", "Where There's a Will", "You Can Never Tell with Friends", "You Started Laughing"
F4: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "An Awful Thing to Waste", "Another Man's Woman", "Asylum", "Bee in Your Bonnet", "Black Cat" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "Bloody Well Right", "Bonnie", "Cannonball" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Dead Man's Blues", "Don't You Lie to Me (I Get Evil)" live Palacio de Deportes 1988, "Ever Open Door", "Forever", "From Now On", "Get Your Act Together", "Gone Hollywood", "Goodbye Stranger", "I'm Beggin' You", "I Just Want to Make Love to You" live Dallas 1985, "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" live at Palacio de Deportes 1988, "It Doesn't Matter", "It's Alright", "Just a Normal Day", "Lover Boy", "MAybe I'm a Beggar" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "No Inbetween", "Not the Moment", "Poor Boy", "Rudy", "She Caught the Katy" live 2022, "Slow Motion", "Still in Love", "Summer Romance", "Thing for You", "Times Have Changed", "White Hart Rock" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "You Win, I Lose"
Recorded low notes:
D3: "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Another Man's Woman", "Bonnie", "Cannonball", "Casual Conversations", "Get Your Act Together", "Got My Mojo Workin'" live at Stephen Talkhouse 2022, "It Doesn't Matter", "Maybe I'm a Beggar" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "My Kind of Lady", "Nothing to Show", "She Caught the Katy" live 2022, "Try Again" live at Festhalle Bern 1972
C♯3/D♭3: "Ever Open Door", "Free as a Bird"
C3: "An Awful Thing to Waste", "Bonnie", "C'est What", "Crime of the Century" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Dead Man's Blues", "Dreamer", "Ever Open Door", "Gone Hollywood", "Goodbye Stranger" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Help Me Down That Road", "I'm Beggin' You", "Listen to Me Please", "Little By Little", "No Inbetween", "She Caught the Katy" live 2022, "Thing for You", "You Never Can Tell with Friends"
B2: "Better Days", "They Call Me the Breeze" live at Stephen Talkhouse 2022
A♯2/B♭2: "An Awful Thing to Waste", "Asylum", "Ever Door Open", "My Kind of Lady", "Not the Moment"
A2: "Free as a Bird" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Help Me Down That Road", "It's a Hard World", "Listen to Me Please", "Maybe I'm a Beggar" live at Festhalle Bern 1972, "My Kind of Lady", "Tenth Avenue Breakdown", "They Call Me the Breeze" live at Stephen Talkhouse 2022, "When There's a Will", "You Started Laughing"
G♯2/A♭2: "Brother Where You Bound", "Child of Vision" live Pavillon de Paris 1979, "Dead Man's Blues", "Goodbye Stranger", "Over You"
G2: "Cannonball" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997, "Get Your Act Together"
F♯2/G♭2: "Brother Where You Bound", "C'est What", "Better Days", "Free as a Bird", "It's a Hard World"
F2: "Get Your Act Together"
E2: "Brother Where You Bound", "Listen to Me Please", "Where There's a Will"
{Questionable notes}
G5: "Black Cat" live at Festhalle Bern 1972 - poor audio quality, unable to tell if this note is vocal or an instrument
A2: "Fool's Overture", "Hide in Your Shell", "Lady", "Sister Moonshine" - possibly John Helliwell's voice
G2: "Fool's Overture" - possible pitch-shifted note, also possibly John Helliwell's voice
F♯2: "Lady" - possible pitch-shifted note, also possibly John Helliwell's voice
D2: "Get Your Act Together" - fryish note at the bottom of a scale downward; more of a crackle than an actual note
G5: "Black Cat" live at Festhalle Bern 1972 - poor audio quality, unable to tell if this note is vocal or an instrument
A2: "Fool's Overture", "Hide in Your Shell", "Lady", "Sister Moonshine" - possibly John Helliwell's voice
G2: "Fool's Overture" - possible pitch-shifted note, also possibly John Helliwell's voice
F♯2: "Lady" - possible pitch-shifted note, also possibly John Helliwell's voice
D2: "Get Your Act Together" - fryish note at the bottom of a scale downward; more of a crackle than an actual note
.......................................................
*Blue marks falsetto notes.
*Italics mark non-melodic notes.
*Underlines mark notes in backing vocals or otherwise muffled/obscured in the song mix.
{Detailed bio}
Rick Davies co-founded Supertramp (originally called Daddy) in 1969, and with co-lead vocalist Roger Hodgson, went on to become one of the iconic voices that made the band famous. He is likely best recognized for having written and sung their 1979 hit "Goodbye Stranger", and for serving as the baritone counterpart to Hodgson's prominent light tenor vocals in the band. However, in 1983 when Hodgson left the band, Davies took over the role of band leader and primary vocalist/songwriter, and has been serving in that role ever since.
At the time when Supertramp released their debut self-titled album in 1970, Davies served more in the role of keyboardist than vocalist, with Hodgson handling most of the vocals on that album, and their guitarist at the time Richard Palmer also contributing vocals on some songs. Davies' only lead vocal performances were on "Shadow Song" and "Nothing to Show" (the latter featuring vocals shared between him and Hodgson), and at the time his voice sounded much lighter than it would later become known for. On the band's second album, 1971's Indelibly Stamped, however, the vocalist dynamic shifted so that Davies was singing the majority of the songs, with a few being sung by Hodgson and one by their saxophonist/flutist at the time, Dave Winthrop. It wasn't until their third album, 1974's Crime of the Century, that Davies and Hodgson established the more balanced co-lead vocals dynamic that would continue for the rest of their time together in the band. It was also around this album that the band's music became more vocal-centric in general, with many songs featuring prominent large harmony sections with vocals by both singers, as well as saxophonist John Helliwell at times.
Supertramp's music continued in this style for another four albums afterwards, including their most famous album - 1979's Breakfast in America. However, after 1982's ...Famous Last Words..., Roger Hodgson quit the band, leaving them without a guitarist or second vocalist. Davies continued to move the band ahead regardless though, and recorded their next album, 1985's Brother Where You Bound with himself handling all vocal duties and session musicians recording the guitar parts (or some songs with no guitars altogether). This gave the band more studio material to release to the public, but still left them unable to perform many of their best-known songs live, as Davies lacked the vocal range to take over vocals on songs Roger Hodgson had previously sung. Thus the band hired guitarist/vocalist Mark Hart as a touring member to handle lead vocal duties on Hodgson's songs, who then also recorded as a session member on the band's 1987 album, Free As a Bird, and even contributed co-lead vocals on the song "Where I Stand".
Following this, Davies disbanded the group, but reformed it in 1996, this time with Hart as a full-time member. They released a new album in 1997, entitled Some Things Never Change, which primarily featured Davies on vocals, but also had a few songs sung by Hart. Hart continued to perform live lead vocals on these songs and Roger Hodgson songs, but the band has primarily continued in a direction with Davies as lead vocalist since then, with their last album, 2002's Slow Motion featuring songs exclusively sung by him (the only Supertramp album to do so besides Brother Where You Bound). After this, Davies dissolved the band again, but has had several more resurrections of it in 2010 and 2015, and more recently started performing with some of its former members again under the moniker "Ricky and the Rockets".
As a vocalist, Davies has managed to keep his sound and abilities quite consistent over the years. While Roger Hodgson was always more of the vocal show stealer during his time in Supertramp, Davies' vocals provided a strong lower balance to Hodgson's frequently high-pitched vocals, and together the two of them made for an impressive vocal team. Davies could be described as "the true definition of a baritone", as his singing is often done around a very "middley" range - not frequently going too high or low with it. Over the years, however, he has revealed to have a pretty solid second octave, from which he will show off lower notes on certain occasions, and he also has a falsetto that can go quite high, which he often used in the 70s to mimic some of Hodgson's vocal parts. What he lacks, however, is a developed mixed voice, as his full voice singing only really extends up to A4. The strength and frequency that he has hit some A4s with suggests that he would be able to go higher if he really tried, but he seems to prefer to keep that side of his range more reserved, and let his higher-voiced bandmates venture into such regions instead most of the time.
Rick Davies co-founded Supertramp (originally called Daddy) in 1969, and with co-lead vocalist Roger Hodgson, went on to become one of the iconic voices that made the band famous. He is likely best recognized for having written and sung their 1979 hit "Goodbye Stranger", and for serving as the baritone counterpart to Hodgson's prominent light tenor vocals in the band. However, in 1983 when Hodgson left the band, Davies took over the role of band leader and primary vocalist/songwriter, and has been serving in that role ever since.
At the time when Supertramp released their debut self-titled album in 1970, Davies served more in the role of keyboardist than vocalist, with Hodgson handling most of the vocals on that album, and their guitarist at the time Richard Palmer also contributing vocals on some songs. Davies' only lead vocal performances were on "Shadow Song" and "Nothing to Show" (the latter featuring vocals shared between him and Hodgson), and at the time his voice sounded much lighter than it would later become known for. On the band's second album, 1971's Indelibly Stamped, however, the vocalist dynamic shifted so that Davies was singing the majority of the songs, with a few being sung by Hodgson and one by their saxophonist/flutist at the time, Dave Winthrop. It wasn't until their third album, 1974's Crime of the Century, that Davies and Hodgson established the more balanced co-lead vocals dynamic that would continue for the rest of their time together in the band. It was also around this album that the band's music became more vocal-centric in general, with many songs featuring prominent large harmony sections with vocals by both singers, as well as saxophonist John Helliwell at times.
Supertramp's music continued in this style for another four albums afterwards, including their most famous album - 1979's Breakfast in America. However, after 1982's ...Famous Last Words..., Roger Hodgson quit the band, leaving them without a guitarist or second vocalist. Davies continued to move the band ahead regardless though, and recorded their next album, 1985's Brother Where You Bound with himself handling all vocal duties and session musicians recording the guitar parts (or some songs with no guitars altogether). This gave the band more studio material to release to the public, but still left them unable to perform many of their best-known songs live, as Davies lacked the vocal range to take over vocals on songs Roger Hodgson had previously sung. Thus the band hired guitarist/vocalist Mark Hart as a touring member to handle lead vocal duties on Hodgson's songs, who then also recorded as a session member on the band's 1987 album, Free As a Bird, and even contributed co-lead vocals on the song "Where I Stand".
Following this, Davies disbanded the group, but reformed it in 1996, this time with Hart as a full-time member. They released a new album in 1997, entitled Some Things Never Change, which primarily featured Davies on vocals, but also had a few songs sung by Hart. Hart continued to perform live lead vocals on these songs and Roger Hodgson songs, but the band has primarily continued in a direction with Davies as lead vocalist since then, with their last album, 2002's Slow Motion featuring songs exclusively sung by him (the only Supertramp album to do so besides Brother Where You Bound). After this, Davies dissolved the band again, but has had several more resurrections of it in 2010 and 2015, and more recently started performing with some of its former members again under the moniker "Ricky and the Rockets".
As a vocalist, Davies has managed to keep his sound and abilities quite consistent over the years. While Roger Hodgson was always more of the vocal show stealer during his time in Supertramp, Davies' vocals provided a strong lower balance to Hodgson's frequently high-pitched vocals, and together the two of them made for an impressive vocal team. Davies could be described as "the true definition of a baritone", as his singing is often done around a very "middley" range - not frequently going too high or low with it. Over the years, however, he has revealed to have a pretty solid second octave, from which he will show off lower notes on certain occasions, and he also has a falsetto that can go quite high, which he often used in the 70s to mimic some of Hodgson's vocal parts. What he lacks, however, is a developed mixed voice, as his full voice singing only really extends up to A4. The strength and frequency that he has hit some A4s with suggests that he would be able to go higher if he really tried, but he seems to prefer to keep that side of his range more reserved, and let his higher-voiced bandmates venture into such regions instead most of the time.
{Album ranges}
Supertramp:
Supertramp:
- Supertramp (1970) - D3-A4
- Indelibly Stamped (1971) - E♭3-G4-G5
- Crime of the Century (1974) - B♭2-A4-A5
- Crisis? What Crisis? (1975) - D3-G4-G5
- Is Everybody Listening? (recorded 1975; released 2001) - B♭2-A4-A♭5
- Even in the Quietest Moments... (1977) - E♭3-A♭4-E♭5
- Breakfast in America (1979) - G♯2-G♯4-D♯5
- Paris (1980) - G♯2-A4-F♯5
- ...Famous Last Words... (1982) - A2-C3-G4-F5
- Brother Where You Bound (1985) - E2-F♯2-A4
- Live '88 (1988) - F♯2-G♯4-E5
- Free as a Bird (1987) - F♯2-A4-C5
- Some Things Never Change (1997) - E2-A4-E♭5
- It Was the Best of Times (1999) - G2-A4-G5
- Slow Motion (2002) - G♯2-G4
- 70-10 Tour (2010) - G2-A4-D5
{Best displays of vocal range}
"Listen to Me Please" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997 (G2-G5)
"Asylum" (B♭2-A5)
"My Kind of Lady" (A2-F5)
"Goodbye Stranger" (G♯2-G♯4-D♯5)
"Brother Where You Bound" (E2-A4)
"Where There's a Will" (E2-A4)
"Dead Man's Blues" (G♯2-C5)
"Dreamer" (C3-E5)
"C'est What" (F♯2-G4)
"Listen to Me Please" live at Royal Albert Hall 1997 (G2-G5)
"Asylum" (B♭2-A5)
"My Kind of Lady" (A2-F5)
"Goodbye Stranger" (G♯2-G♯4-D♯5)
"Brother Where You Bound" (E2-A4)
"Where There's a Will" (E2-A4)
"Dead Man's Blues" (G♯2-C5)
"Dreamer" (C3-E5)
"C'est What" (F♯2-G4)
Original version of this thread by ProgBoi on TRP2.
