[caspersvapors]

not talking about when he came out of his coma and that raspy older voice (thats obvious) but rather the early 80s like starting around 81. His voice became really soft and his singing sounded like he was congested or something. was this from smoking heroin or what?

[strumminsix]

What I hear is this progression:
quirky singer (60s) > solid singer (early 70s)> magical singer (mid 70s-early 80s)> story teller (early 80s - coma)> spotty singer

[Shaggy]

It's fair to say that smoking also took it's toll. In the early-mid 70's I think was Jerry's prime as a singer, some of versions of songs like Comes A Time were sparkling, he had a great voice.

Then in later years when it was alot more worn you could say it suited so many of the great ballads he sung as well. He put alot into those songs.

[devil]

The change seems to coincide with Jerry taking up black tar heroin. Always sounded like he was laboring to project at times where when he was younger the vocals are more relaxed because his lungs are much healthier. I've always liked Jerry's vocals from later years, You can hear more emotion.