We sold a LOT of Magnepan/Audio Research systems with Mara Muldaur singing "Midnight at the Oasis" back in the day.
If you read Linda Ronstadt’s book, she will tell you that she can identify the popular singer a newer singer is imitating in about 30 seconds. Her point is that singers typically start out mimicking recorded singers and then eventually find their own voices (most of the time). Its technical.
The book explains her personal evolution from singing with her family (professional Latino musicians who owned a hardware store in Tucson) to her pop days (says she did not really like the music but I do!) to her Pirates days where she says she learned to actually sing. Frankly, as much as I truly do LOVE and revere Buddy, her versions of his stuff is KILLER!
For my money, she is among the best, along with Emmy Lou and for me, Ronnie Spector, but that’s another story for another day (there are those who think that "Be My Baby" is the quintessential song of its type).
She actually rates Bonnie Raitt as one she thinks has a great voice over hers. For me, I like the song and then the singer. Today, I find that there are very few top-selling singers who can actually sing. In the ’30’s-50’s we had great vocalists who could actually "sing."
Today, the scene in "Pitch Perfect" where Anna Kendrick is singing the pool shows either that she has a hell of a voice or good post-production and vocal sweetening. Kinda wish she would make a blues album...
Finally, find me another Patsy Cline, please. Not sure if she is a great "technical" vocalist, but she sure can perform Willie’s great song better than anyone else, IMO.
Cheers!
If you read Linda Ronstadt’s book, she will tell you that she can identify the popular singer a newer singer is imitating in about 30 seconds. Her point is that singers typically start out mimicking recorded singers and then eventually find their own voices (most of the time). Its technical.
The book explains her personal evolution from singing with her family (professional Latino musicians who owned a hardware store in Tucson) to her pop days (says she did not really like the music but I do!) to her Pirates days where she says she learned to actually sing. Frankly, as much as I truly do LOVE and revere Buddy, her versions of his stuff is KILLER!
For my money, she is among the best, along with Emmy Lou and for me, Ronnie Spector, but that’s another story for another day (there are those who think that "Be My Baby" is the quintessential song of its type).
She actually rates Bonnie Raitt as one she thinks has a great voice over hers. For me, I like the song and then the singer. Today, I find that there are very few top-selling singers who can actually sing. In the ’30’s-50’s we had great vocalists who could actually "sing."
Today, the scene in "Pitch Perfect" where Anna Kendrick is singing the pool shows either that she has a hell of a voice or good post-production and vocal sweetening. Kinda wish she would make a blues album...
Finally, find me another Patsy Cline, please. Not sure if she is a great "technical" vocalist, but she sure can perform Willie’s great song better than anyone else, IMO.
Cheers!