hmmmmmmmmmmmm i probably should think on this and come back... and I might do....

but right out of the gate, I'd have to say Ray Davies of the Kinks is right up there... he actually has that sort of hushed, sweet quality you speak of, but with perhaps a hint of acid Elliott doesn't have (if you've only heard the early hits, You Really Got Me, etc, you will have NO clue what I am talking about... but if you've heard their best work, the albums from 1966-1971, you'll know exactly what I mean)

Anyway, listen to "Waterloo Sunset" or "Days" or "The Village Green Preservation Society" and you'll see what I mean.

and for that matter, his brother, Dave Davies, he didn't often get the opportunity to sing lead for the band, but one song in particular where he did is "strangers" on the Lola vs Powerman and the Money-go-round" album....

the song is called "Strangers", and his nasal, plaintive, high-pitched, yelpy whelp gives me shivers every time... his singing on "Death of a Clown" has a similar effect, as does "Susanna's Still Alive".... his voice is certainly not classicaly beautiful, but it is emotionally affecting

and I agree about John Lennon, his cover of Roxy Music's "Jealous Guy", or his own song "Imagine" amazing....

and, yes, for sure Elliott loved the Beatles... they are clearly his number one influence, head and shoulders above any other influence he may have had... if you took out the vocals and just listened to the music on some of the songs, you'd swear it WAS the Beatles!! I'm speaking mostly of his music, not so much so his lyrics... though lyrically, he was closer to John, then to Paul, I'd say... and musically, exactly the opposite