Very "Chesky" in your tastes @ Bart!
Also add Rebecca Pidgeon "Fhear a Bhata" |
What a relief!! My taste in music is validated after all. It seems nobody in the general public recognizes my best tunes. This was a fun thread to cruise, many of my favorites have been mentioned repeatedly. Fortunately, I do have a couple of additions for your consideration:
Susan Werner..."Time Between Trains" and "Last of the Good Straight Girls" very fine recordings and a excellent voice. She is also great live, catch her for a wonderful envening.
Allison Krauss..."Forget About It" among others; often with the bluegrass band Union Station. Beautifully sweet, liquid vocals,and a damn fine fiddle player, too!
Kelly Flynt of Dave's True Story..."Sex without Bodies"; in the finest smoky lounge singer tradition ala Holly Cole or Sara K. And an amazing Chesky recording to boot.
So, there...cost you well under a hundred bucks, Enjoy.
Best regards |
Come on, guys! What about Diane Schurr"? |
Don't forget Nina Simone, Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin and Neko Case! |
ANNIE LENNOX, BARBRA STRIESAND, ENYA |
Diana Krall, Amanda McBroom, Rebecca Pidgeon, Patricia Barber, and Nat King Cole are my best female vocal list. |
Add Alicia Keys to the List. |
Christina Branco, Eden Atwood. Great recordings. Branco sings in Portugese, but it doesn't detract from the musical experience. My wife saw Atwood in a late night jazz club in Chicago; immediately ordered all her CDs. |
Try the CD "Felt Mountain" by the group Goldfrapp.
It's one of my top 5 CDs... |
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Check out the Fiona Apple "Tidal" CD. Song #5 is "Slow Like Honey". I've never heard this song on the radio, it is my REFERENCE CD now whenever I show off my 2 channel system, or check out a new component. The imaging is the best I've ever heard. Even my friends who don't like her singing that much agree, it is an EXCELLENT piece for audiophile critical listening... |
Bebel Gilberto-if you're into the Brazilian thing.Great recording too. |
Ethereal voice. Heartily recommended |
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Diana Krall is young and loves to try all kinds of different sounds within her scope. I find that exciting and genuine. How can you compare her to "great singers of all time" when she is quite new in comparison. Allison Kraus, Shawn Colvin and Joni Mitchell are some others. Sarah Vaughn and Ella, Anita O'day, Aretha Franklin are in another catagory and all can really connect. But right now? Diana Krall has me feeling anew. And you can't beat those recordings. |
My personal favorite-Patty Larkin-try "Regrooving the Dream" or "Strangers World". Just saw her live in a 260 seat venue-remarkable voice and acoustic guitar playing. |
a few not mentioned yet
Susan McKeon
Suzanne Vega
Lucinda Williams
Natalie Merchant
Liz Phair |
Check out Rebecca Pidgeon, "The Raven". By Chesky Records. It is old but it is very good. I would also recommend Jennifer Warnes, The hunter. |
Let me throw in a new one....how about Tracy Thorn of Everything but the Girl. Silky, sultry, sexy, et al. |
O.K.
Let me apoligize ahead of time because I'm going to have to say bjork.
Before anyone replies, I say bjork simply because no matter how much electronica is in her music her voice sounds more real to me.
Please proceed with your barrage of negative remarks
late... |
Try Rebecca Pidgeon (The Raven) SACD is beyond discription! |
My top 4:
1. Diana Krall
2. Eva Cassidy
3. Nancy Wilson
4. Jane Monheit |
Old school-Etta James. Country-Patsy Cline. Sixties-Janis Joplin. Seventies-Anne Wilson/Stevie Nicks. Eighties-Pat Benatar/Kate Bush. Nineties-Allison Krauss/Sarah McClaughlin. 2000+-Christina Aguilera. Take your pick. My personal fave is Anne Wilson but I love them all. |
You should try Fiona Apple! |
One of my favorite songs is from a relatively obscure singer named Sara Jahn. I first heard the song crucible on a compilation CD put out by a St. Louis rock station. I recently acquired her CD & although the song has changed somewhat, her voice has matured. I was reading through some of the earlier posts (i.e. Diana Krall) & like DK, her voice conveys the emotion without scientific explanation. Side note: I attended a wedding not long ago & asked the DJ to play Diana Krall. He was surprised that I even knew her name, but while the music was playing I looked around the room & noticed everybody was enjoying it. |
I find Cowboy Junkies too slow - nice voice but by the end of a CD I'm almost asleep!
Recently got a Linda Perry CD (in flight) and its amazing. Her vocals are strong and songs great. I also like johnette napol... (concrete blonde) especially the first (self titled) album & a good mix on "still in Hollywood".
I think alot are voting on Margo's looks not sounds - I think Linda Perry comes out on top in both catagories! |
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For new stuff I can't get enough of Susan Tedeschi or Shelby Lynne. |
Shawn Colvin "A Few Small Repairs"...I'm not sure I would call her the "Best" Female vocalist around but Shawn Colvin sure has a beautiful and unique voice that sounds incredible through good tubes. |
Eva Cassidy is excellent, especially for an untrained singer, but Sabina Sciubba who is on the Naim label is trmendous. Dale |
Didn't get a chance to read all and don't think it has been mentioned - Sade. Listen to the song "Is It a Crime". Great concert on DVD too. |
Vinylsaur: Waycool, another Annie Haslam fan! I recently picked up Live at Carnegie Hall in perfect condition. I saw her many years ago ... she was nursing a very sore throat, and still sounded amazing. |
Here are a few I have not seen mentioned Annie Hayden /The Rub, maybe hard to find but well worth the effort. Kritin Hersh / Sunny Border Blue, from my point of view the best of the year so far. Then there is old favorites Lori Carson and Lisa Germano to name a few. |
Jane Monheit - Come Dream with Me. Trust me, you'll like it. |
Puresource, just look under "Cowboy Junkies"...I guess that you have not realized Margo is the lead singer of said Canadaian group...kind of a family operation. However, avoid their latest titled "Open"...instead go for "Lay It Down" or "The Trinity Sessions".
Besides, I also like Lucinda Williams' just released album titled "Get Right With God"...no preaching...but a sound and poetry in the "Junkies" idiom. Enjoy! |
Can someone please recommend where to find a Margo Timmons CD? I am very interested after reading all this, but have been unable to find even a single recording. |
Has anyone mentioned Peggy Lee? Aside from various greatest hits releases, try "Latin Ala Lee" released on DCC. |
Check out June Christy--especially "Something Cool." Next try "The Song Is June!" Excellent "cool jazz" vocals. |
You need to dig deep into Ella Fitzgerald's catalogue. Try "Take Love Easy" with Joe Pass (especially the JVC XRCD). Also any of the Verve Songbooks, or live albums. |
Re: "open" - the Cowboy Junkies new self-produced item - I take BACK my recommendation - it is their poorest to date, with only one acceptably good song. I believe that they may have lost their way!
Edie Brickell is goo, but EDIE READER is fantastic! Try "Mirmana" for starters - an especially clear voice with great productions! |
Try Carrie Newcommer--The Age of Possibility or (her second best in my ears) My True Name. Good voice. Good but not great recordings. Great lyrics--they will grow on you. I can't stand a pretty voice with nothing to say. So phoooooey on impeccably recorded passionless CDs. |
Edie Brickell, Erykah Badu |
And Margo has a new CD titled "Open" with the usual ambiance and breathiness........HHHHHHH,hhhhhhh. |
Give a listen to Annie Haslam from Renaissance. Other than that Margo gets my vote. |
So, who is the sexiest and most sultry singer. |
For all you Diana Krall fans (which I am),you have to check out Stacy Kent. She is pretty much an unknown but trust me, she is a fantastic singer!!! Check out the album, Let Yourself Go, a tribute to Fred Astaire. This album sounds great with tubes. The recordings are not as spooky real as Diana Krall, however, they have a very nice smooth laid back quality.
I have every Diana Krall album and now I'm after all the Stacy Kent albums!! |
I remember a few years ago there was speculation the remaining Beatles might do a tour, adding a forth person. Some of the nominations were ridiculous and would have diluted them so much...who were they? I think Tom Petty, Ron Wood, and a few other names like that.
Now, assuming they were together again not just as a sentimental and commercial tour, but to truly become an inovative force again; and not just have a sit in for John, but a meaningful member, who would you nominate? I think Kate Bush might be the right ticket. |
Going back to the 70s and 80s, Flora Purim was incredible, with energy and range that would not quit. I see her and Airto every time they come to town, and over the last aprx. 10 yrs, she's had trouble with her voice. The last time I saw her, about 6 months ago, I was very pleased to hear her back in very good form.
Tori Amos...awesome, wild, an amazing composer too. She goes from subtle to dymanic in the blink of an eye. Amazing textural qualities to her voice. I like to listen to her simply musically, not usually wanting to get into the words or meaning of the songs. Give some credit here to Kate Bush, who innovated much of this style.
Amanda McBroom has a beautiful voice. The song 'Amanda' on "Growing Up in Hollywood Town" is marvelous and truly captures the feeling of the words. I wish she had more recordings out there.
Diane Schuur can really sound sweet, and also really belt it out with stunning clarity. Not really the type of music I listen to much, but once in a while, I just have to hear her sing.
Joni Mitchell is incredible when she slows down and isn't putting so many words in. 'Blue Motel Room' off of Hejira is a great example of her at her smooth, fluid vocal best.
I have to plug for Phoebe Snow. Man, she did some beautiful stuff, and her phrasing showed real interpretive talent. Even that recent TV commercial that had her singing a few lines of Sills and Crofts "Summer Breeze" was captivating.
Maire Brennan of Clannad, who someone mentioned above...I love her especially when she sings those mellow tunes in her native Irish tongue.
You can't pass up Loreena McKennitt...I think she's my favourite, and every bit of depth in her soul she communicates to you, and that's no small amount of depth!
Diana Krall...I know, she's fine listen and her records are well produced, but I still don't think she's pushed herself or her music far enough to be considered one of the greats yet. It will be interesting to hear if she ever does really make the effort to bust out, and offer the world of music something it's never really heard before. |
Just to add to some of the above and agree with many but I like the following Jazz - Billie Holiday (both verve and columbia recordings, probably the most important singer of the 20th century after Sinatra), Dinah Washington (particularly the early mercury recoardings), Ella Fitzgerald (the verve songbooks), Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone (although her output varies, generally the earlier recordings are best),Betty Carter and Shirley Horn; in pop/folk - Eva Cassidy (one of the best you've probably never heard), Sandy Denny (one of my all time favorites), early Joni Mitchell (the Blue album and before) and early Judy Collins (albums from the 60's and 70's for the most part). Hope the above is helpfull. |
Diana Krall And Jennifer Warnes
Laugh all you want but there are very few singers better than Karen Carpenter. It's too bad she didn't record better songs but their last album is quite listenable. |
