4 of the Most Impressive Vocal Performances of 1970

The article highlights four vocal performances from 1970, a year when rock, R&B, folk and soul blended into sounds that shaped later popular music. It argues that these recordings stand out for the singers’ passion, control and distinctive interpretations.

The selections are Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”, Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s version of Mitchell’s “Woodstock”, and Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”. The article points to Jackson’s mature delivery, Mitchell’s shifts between registers and playful outro, CSNY’s close vocal blend, and Robert Plant’s striking range and apparently effortless style.