It is interesting to see how others do this. 

 It seems as if the majority of people commenting go with what works for their material,which might be different recipes for different kinds of things.

 I admittedly am rather simple in my approach, probably not capable of "over thinking" it. Much like I do everything else I look at the tools like an artist with a canvas and apply the color that seems to work best. 

 Trial and error should have been my middle names. I like the idea of what I call "natural tracking" as opposed to any kind of extensive electronic treatment. Never liked any kind of a duplicated./copied vocal track preferring instead to re track on top of the existing and then treat that mix. At least 50% of the time that doesn't work well. I might double my vox slightly. Bottom line, I am not thrilled with my voice . Things seem to go best tracking into a decent dynamic. Recording with condensers seems to involve me later removing the harshness I get with some of them.

 Lately I have been moving toward more of a funky and real sound which doesn't require extensive vocal manipulations. I don't usually comp anything. I figure if I can't do it once through  I have no business doing it.

even leonardo da vinci drew dozens and dozens of practice sketches before he drew/painted the final one.

sometimes he completely painted over what he had previously finished.

let your muse guide you..... everywhere.

Thanks, Bat, Starise, AT, and GuitarHacker,

I certainly share/commend all your artistic thoughts!  You guys are all like my alter ego(s)  :):):)

I've been *adventurously* re-working a prior piece ("Celestial Playing") before soliciting Danny for his help.  The vocals and beatz are so 'promising' and I don't want discordant-dissonant harmonies to run too askew.

Philip,

I record vocals very similar to how Danny, Bit and Hacker have described.  I usually sing the entire song all the way through about 3 times.  I will usually pick the best take.  Funnily enough, it is often the first take and it is usually the one I feel has the most character.  I might cut out and drag in a small section from another take if it has a little special something, but often, they are from a single track.  

If I was to sing vocals and none of them were doing it for me.  I will scrap them all and then just practice singing it for a couple of weeks.  Then, take a few days off to clear the mind and take another go at it.  I have become much more patient rather than trying to rush something out.

I usually double track or triple track the chorus's, spread them out and run them through a buss with verb or short delay on them.  

Verses I have been know to run a double track very low in the mix where it is really not heard but fattens up the lead vocal.  It has worked for me to volume automate on occasion and boost a short phrase or a couple of words as a double take, just to emphasize that phrase.

It has also worked on some songs to, kind of, change my voice and sing a backing part.  Hard to explain, other than...think Rich Little.  LOL.  

'Makes excellent sense, Mike.

I find it interesting how chorus vocs sound great spread out all over the place, with Haas, multi-vocs, panning, etc.

Of course I love multi-vocs during 'resolution', certain hooks, and choruses, oft.

Certain hooks lend themselves to child-vocs (duet or harmonized-multi).

Then there are those choir Ahs :):):)

Oh man, I do a lot of ahhs! I do like my harmony+melodies, too... I think I've done ONE song where the vocal ISN'T backed with a harmony.