Billie Holiday
Patsy Cline
Moma Cass Elliot
Whitney Houston
Aretha Franklin
Christina Aguilera
My dear departed Mother, voice of an Angel
Brash.... Janis Joplin
Pink
Last two didn't have the PIPES, but the delivery and passion, just make me want to listen...and listen.
Just too bad there aren't a lot of good recordings of Jannis, most I've ever heard, the SQ was ok at best, just not a lot of well recorded stuff.
Sure had a story to tell, if she could stay sober enough..
Regards |
And for those who heed @jsauterr's excellent recommendation, then give Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker a listen. For a modern, white version (but not "white" sounding) of old school R & B singing, try Lou Ann Barton. Her Old Enough album, produced by the great Jerry Wexler (Aretha, Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, Dylan, hundreds of others) and Glenn Frey, is fanf*ckingtastic! She tours with Jimmie Vaughan. |
As with everything in audio, there is no best. It's all subjective.
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Lots of great nominees here. This past Christmas I re-established that my no.1 all-time greatest single performance is "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love. But that performance reminds me of the earlier "Maybe" by Arlene Smith (as a member of The Chantels). Both powerhouse vocals in the style of Big Mama Thornton, a female Blues Shouter if you will. The above are all African Americans. For white singers, I generally gravitate towards those of the Country/Bluegrass persuasion. I've been listening to my sister's Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits in the car lately, and love her phrasing. While many singers (and guitarists, I came to learn in the studio) tend to "rush", Patsy waits for the downbeat (the "1") to pass by before singing the first note/word of a line, leading to a "relaxed" feel that I love. That's something that Southerner singers (and musicians) seem to know instinctively; the rest of us have to learn it. ;-) |
Adele (Live at Royal Albert Hall)
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Shelby Lynne has a lot to offer. Just A Little Lovin'... |
Eva Cassidy - a tragedy that she died so young
Jewel - listen to "Love used to be"
Jennifer Nettles - listen to "O holy night / hallelujah
Wow...great vocals
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Surprised Annie Lennox wasn’t mentioned. Haunting voice.
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Nobody has mentioned the Barnsley Nightingale, Kate Rusby.
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@soundsbeyondspecs +1! I couldn't agree more. I am a huge fan of Melody. All of her albums are worth having. Meaningful, heartfelt songs sung by a gal who has been through some very rough times. "My One and Only Thrill" is my favorite song of her's and probably her best conceived album. You can tell it has caught on with lots of folks as there are 180 gram LPs at 33 ⅓ and 45 rpm!
Melody, Eva Cassidy and, of course, Karen Carpenter, are/were some of the greatest natural talents ever. Yes, I know there are many other notable ladies with fantastic vocal gifts!
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A lot of great choices here, but the best female vocalist in my opinion was the absolutely brilliant Eydie Gorme. I would try to describe her voice, but words simply do not suffice. A voice sent from heaven - even that is an understatement! Another great female vocalist is the phenomenal Linda Eder. Nobody else will mention her either, but she has been astonishing her loyal fans for the past 3 decades plus, and her voice still sends shivers up the spine of anybody who has a pulse. I've seen her 3 times and she gets better with age. Two women with voices that leave me awe struck.
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"A fantastic singer, i believe, unmentioned here was
Keely Smith, one of the best natural singers ever. "
If I didn't mention her; I should have. I inherited just one of her albums with Louis. The vinyl is far from Virginal; but good enough to appreciate both their talents. My parents often spoke of Keely with respect. |
A fantastic singer, i believe, unmentioned here was
Keely Smith, one of the best natural singers ever.
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Gotta 2nd Annie Haslam of Renaissance and Jennifer Warnes.
I'll add Judy Collins who had (has?) an amazing voice over a long career.
For those of you who liked Karen Carpenter, check out Shane Ericks on youtube. She has a number of covers of carpenters songs e.g. superstar and I think at least one original. If you don't already believe in reincarnation ;-)
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Nina Simone's rendition of "Don't let me be misunderstood" is a favorite of mine. |
Ella by a mile
but can we talk about how comically terrible Lyn Stanley is? My only thought is that she saw the success of the Florence Foster Jenkins movies and wanted in.
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Laura Fygi
Melody Gardot
Eva Cassidy
Nora Jones
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for me it comes down to the songs themselves.. and what moves me ..some may not be the most talented of vocalists or have the best range but can sometimes project a feeling into a song that others even though talented cannot seem to capture, I can't imagine anyone else singing " The First Time" with more emotion than Roberta Flack. etc, all of them to be applauded |
Oh, hell. For me it’s Ella Fitzgerald amongst all the others worthily mentioned here. It’s Ella singing anything. I have no favorite track, I can listen to her for hours on end. (Gotta love music servers and/or streaming.)
Big Joni fan, too - but more for her guitar than her voice. |
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Joni Mitchell.. Court and spark. |
Jane Monheit great rendition of over the rainbow
Jacintha |
So difficult to pick the best. Marilyn Monroe, despite the poor quality of her recordings, was awesome giving it 100%, Joan Baez had a tremendously clear voice, and the legendary Judy Garland always sang it like she meant it.
However my favourite would probably be Petula Clark. Always sounded human and you could never feel lonely whenever she was singing. |
@hifiman hope you enjoyed Laura Mvula. Just discovered Alice Fredenham, Under the Covers album. It’s very good, thought you might find it of interest, covers a lot of styles and recorded very well.
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Whitney Houston. Don't forget when she sold millions of copies of her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. |
@toneranger58 I'm gonna see if you can go two for two with recommendations. "Sing to the Moon" arrives tomorrow.
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@hifiman5 Glad you are enjoying Rumer, when I want to show off the system for any visiting females, it never fails. Another you may not know is Laura Mvula, her first album Sing to the moon is killer. Also big fan of Chrissie McVie, such a delicate soulful voice, she sang many of my favorite FM songs, per your mention. |
@tattooedtrackman Stevie was mentioned back last October by @andy8400. How about Christine McVie on "Warm Ways"?
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I can’t believe no one mentioned Stevie Nicks. |
@toneranger58. I listened to the Rumer album 30 second snippets on Amazon and then ordered the CD. Absolutely everything you said it is! Thanks for posting about it!
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- Eva Cassidy
- Alison Krauss
- Sarah McLachlan
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Rumer, Seasons of my Soul. The entire Lp is amazing. Amazing voice, tone, harmonies and production.
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Carpenters, the best eversince. |
Jazz = Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington
Blues = Etta James and Dinah Washington (again)
Pop = Jo Stafford
Opera = Rita Streich and Victoria de los Angeles.
Choral = Norman Luboff Choir
Sorry, no way to pick just one. :-)
Frank |
That angelic voice of my Mom saying "Dinner's Ready"
I miss that... |
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So am I .Reality is not in fashion though .
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Can't believe no-one mentioned Edif Piaf. |
Did somebody mention Whitney Houston? My personal favorite is I Have Nothing. |
Lots of great ones mentioned, i would add Carey Newcomer |
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I will have to check her out. The Nancy Wilson I was referring to is Ann's sister and people often mix their names up. |
Nope, Nancy Wilson is a Jazz singer.
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If you are referring to the lead singer of Heart, she is Ann Wilson. I agree that she is an outstanding singer. |
Since you requested just one, I’ll have to go with Nancy Wilson. Of course there are many others I like.
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