I was thinking the same thing.  David, [IMHO] seems great musicians who’ve been around the block a few times reach a point as artistes when they begin to subject their own tools to question…& begin searching for the lost chord, so to speak.  & then often times, rather than bettering their repertoire, they tweak it so good it just isn’t poignant anymore.  Not that it’s a forgone conclusion that’s where your going with your best efforts, …but I wonder if you were trying to change your singing technique when you were recording those early fackin’ masterpieces of grainy rock perfection?  No ace kissin’ here either.      It’s just that gritty requires a bit o’ grit.

But then, what’ll it hurt to dig up a healthier grasp of your vocals? 

Ah, nevermind….  :o)