There’s n-n-nothing like a little stuttering in the vocals to drive the rocking home. Here are 10 great songs that use the vocal trick―or is that tic?―to add a little drama.
“My Generation” ― The Who
Pete Townshend once said he always tried to write toward the strengths of the individual members of the Who. To that end, he put the stutters in “My Generation” because both he and Roger Daltrey were “huge fans of John Lee Hooker and Johnny Cash, both of whom occasionally stuttered.” The BBC initially refused to play the song, fearing listeners would be offended, but as the song became a hit the broadcast company capitulated.
“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” ― Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Randy Bachman wrote this song on a lark for his brother Gary, who stuttered. The song was originally a “scratch track” and wasn’t intended for release, but a perceptive record company executive heard potential in its power-chord riffage and throwaway charm. The song eventually topped the charts in 18 countries.
“Bennie & the Jets” ― Elton John
This No. 1 hit on both the R&B and pop charts was written as a homage to the glam rockers who, at the time, were dominating the British music scene. Expectations for the song were low, and in fact in England it was released as the B-side to “Candle in the Wind.” Sir Elton went on to perform the song on “Soul Train,” joining David Bowie as the two “whitest” artists ever to appear on the show.
“Welcome to the Jungle” ― Guns N’ Roses
Two explanations exist for the origins of this Guns N’ Roses classic. One account says the track was inspired by a warning Axl Rose received while sleeping in a Queens schoolyard, long before he joined the band. (Specifically, “You’re in the jungle; you’re gonna die.”) The other story asserts that a truck driver dumped a hitchhiking Rose in Los Angeles with the words, “Welcome to the Jungle.”
“My Sharona” ― The Knack
Recorded in just 11 days for a mere $18,000, the Knack’s debut album soared to platinum status in just seven weeks. The reason? Simple: this teenybopper nugget. Love it or hate it, “My Sharona” is embedded in the collective consciousness of everyone whose adolescence intersected with the year 1979.
“Changes” ― David Bowie
This 1971 hit was written in the cabaret style that marked much of the album (Hunky Dory) from which it sprang. Mick Ronson arranged the strings, Bowie played sax, and future Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman played piano. Bowie tried to persuade Wakeman to join his band, the Spiders from Mars, but much to his chagrin Wakeman refused.
“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” ― Billy Joel
Innocuous pop balladeer Billy Joel plumbed uncharted emotional depths with this lead track for his breakthrough album, The Stranger. Stammering the last syllables in the words “heart attack” and “Cadillac,” Joel drove home the harshness of the working class ethos that defined life among New York City’s immigrant population.
“Back in the U.S.S.R.” ― The Beatles
This rollicking lead track for the Beatles’ "White Album" has been described as "Brian Wilson with sex appeal." Due to Ringo Starr’s temporary abdication, Paul McCartney assumed drum chores for the song, giving it a playfully amateurish vibe. The line “Georgia’s always on m-m-m-m-my mind” was a double entendre―referring both to the state and to the country in the (then) U.S.S.R.
“Bad to the Bone” ― George Thorogood and the Destroyers
This signature track from George Thorogood falls squarely in the blues-classic lineage that includes Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man” and Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy.” The makers of the sitcom “Married with Children” had a near-obsession with the song, using it in countless episodes. The track also ranks among the most covered by aspiring, amateur blues-bar bands.
“Barbara Ann” ― Beach Boys
Many people believe “Barbara Ann” is a Beach Boys original, but in fact the song was written by Fred Fassert and first performed by his band, the Regents, in 1961. Dean Torrence, of Jan and Dean fame, shared lead vocals with Brian Wilson on the Beach Boys’ version. The Who’s incendiary cover is a highlight of the documentary film, The Kids Are Alright.