I am SO enjoying these clips of 'Classic Clay' that someone-who-will-one-day-receive-immeasurable-blessings provided...

It is a good deal of fun to watch quick-witted Clay learning to be comfortable onstage and to banter with the group. It's even good fun to hear him blend his voice in a country group number (though 'Elvira' is never going to be a favorite, even with a touch of Clay...) :)

While the upper register is a touch strained on 'Still The One', the mid-register resonance has got me swooning.

And if I really get started trying to describe my feelings about "Go the Distance" I'm liable to go into a complete State of Bliss and need some kind of help to get back! Again, the upper register is weaker (I do wonder if part of the effect is that the sound-system can't handle that trick Clay has of tipping his head back on the high notes...) but MY GLORY the resonance throughout the rest of the range!!!

In my line of work, you wouldn't expect me to thrill over a voice - I hear the creme de la creme on a regular basis. But it's still pure excitement when I hear the depth of Clay's voice, especially on a power ballad where he can really let it rip.

Sheer joy! That young Clay already had the gift of phrasing, and such an amazing natural voice that I simply can't imagine him NOT being a singer. All he's really added now is the 'walk' and some Rock/Pop styling. But I hope he eventually finds his 'home' in the romantic power ballad again, just because so few really have the voices to do the genre justice (especially live) - and he is one of the best.