The greatest female vocalist of all time (pure vocal ability) ?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Rufus rag, Mar 6, 2021.

  1. maccafan

    maccafan Senior Member

    Don't agree at all, for instance Linda Ronstadt wouldn't even rate in my book, no disrespect it's just that I can think of plenty of other females that would absolutely blow her away! She couldn't even begin to challenge this...Baby Jean Kennedy!
     
  2. blackdograilroad

    blackdograilroad Forum Resident

    Location:
    Devon, UK
  3. pig bodine

    pig bodine God’s Consolation Prize

    Location:
    Syracuse, NY USA
    She was the ghost singer for the Carrie Nations in Beyond the Valley Of the Dolls
     
  4. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    A tie between Ella and Aretha.
     
    RSteven likes this.
  5. veloso2

    veloso2 Forum Resident

    Gal costa
     
    bluejimbop likes this.
  6. showtaper

    showtaper Concert Hoarding Bastard

    It's a tie between Dorothy and Betty Wiggin.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. nocturnal-transmissions

    nocturnal-transmissions logic and proportion

    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
  8. louis_anthony

    louis_anthony Vir Fidelis

    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Emmylou Harris - Spyboy

     
    jimmydean likes this.
  9. linklinc

    linklinc Forum Resident

    Most (all?) if these have yet to be mentioned here (I'm pretty sure)...

    ~Linda Thompson (of Richard & Linda Thompson and solo works)

    ~Sally Timms (of The Mekons and solo works)

    ~St. Vincent/ Annie Clark

    ~Lucinda Williams

    ~Georgia Hubley (of Yo La Tengo)

    ~Linda Sharrock (of Sonny & Linda Sharrock)
     
  10. WHMusical

    WHMusical Chameleon Comedian Corinthian & Caricature

    I second Linda and Lucinda!!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  11. jimmydean

    jimmydean Senior Member

    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    if we're talking indie / americana carla torgerson from the walkabouts deserves a mention
     
    linklinc likes this.
  12. blutiga

    blutiga Forum Resident

    Sarah Vaughan
    Cesaria Evora
    Carmen McCrae
    Patti Labelle
    Esther Phillips
     
    Drumaniac - R likes this.
  13. LilacTeardrop

    LilacTeardrop "Roll It Over My Soul...and Leave Me Here"

    Location:
    U.S.
    scousette likes this.
  14. Gary_Stewart

    Gary_Stewart 2 Kings 2:23-25

    Location:
    West Hollywood, CA
    I need to pick me up one of those mic stands. Do you know if there's a version that also turns pages?
     
  15. notesfrom

    notesfrom Forum Resident

    Location:
    NC USA
    It is a specialized course in butler academy that produces that type of mic stand. :) Except that the stand needs to play piano particularly well also, thus a rare breed indeed.
     
  16. LilacTeardrop

    LilacTeardrop "Roll It Over My Soul...and Leave Me Here"

    Location:
    U.S.
    Realized when I was trying to describe a pop/rock singer-songwriter who'd done a side-project which sounded completely different (& better, IMO) to someone that it was more of a stage & screen type of sound... That's not who I'm adding, but it did make me go on to listen to & think this artist definitely deserves a place here:

    Audra McDonald

    Warning: Have a couple of tissues handy! :angel::love:
     
    scousette likes this.
  17. Josef

    Josef Forum Resident

    Location:
    Malmö, Sweden
    Whitney Houston is just awesome. I only really like a few of her songs, but she certainly was great at singing.

    If she was the best? Dunno. Great? Oh yes.
     
    51IS likes this.
  18. Acoustic Warrior

    Acoustic Warrior I Come From The Water

    Location:
    Frankfort Kentucky
    Some wonderful if not obvious choices so far. Here is one I'll add. Anna Maria LaSpina
     
  19. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    :righton:
     
  20. Hexwood

    Hexwood Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Ann Wilson is up there. She can still belt out a tune.
     
    Drumaniac - R likes this.
  21. andy749

    andy749 Senior Member

    Gladys Knight
     
    Mark-T and Petter Premberg like this.
  22. sekaer

    sekaer Forum Resident

    Location:
    United States
    Jenny Lind
     
    danasgoodstuff likes this.
  23. Petter Premberg

    Petter Premberg Forum Resident

    Location:
    Amsterdam, NL
    I don't know about pure vocal ability. But my picks:

    Gladys Knight
    Nina Simone
    Aretha
     
  24. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Forum Resident

    Location:
    North West England
    Linda Ronstadt, she could sing anything, including opera.
     
  25. VinylPhool

    VinylPhool Forum Resident

    Location:
    NY
    Wagnerian Opera - Flagstad in her prime deserves a mention in the same sentence along with the other immortals already named.

    Happy to see a few mentioned Khalsoum. What tracks I have heard by her will rip your heart out and make you wish you understood Arabic.

    Every genre has its immortals with astounding vocal ability. And I sure that there are countless others that are or were among the greats that no one has ever heard of.
     

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