Best Vocalist(s) of All Time

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Kent Gray, Sep 16, 2020.

  1. fenderesq

    fenderesq In Brooklyn It's The Blues / Heavy Bass 7-7

    Location:
    Brooklyn - NY
    Not; can't and won't say no... but easy? That I'm not sure about. It's hard to so easily dismiss:

    Sinatra
    Ella
    Billie
    Nat Cole
    Al Green
    Sarah Vaughan
    Amelia Rodrigues
    Aretha
    Mavis Staples
    Otis
    Elis Regina

    Among others who may or may be thought of as the best vocalist of all-time, but I don't think it's a closed question. I might even add Jack Bruce and James Carr among those who should be included in the conversation.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
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  2. TheMovieRad

    TheMovieRad If you want to count me, count me out

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Probably some opera singer from 500 years ago
     
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  3. 4-2-7

    4-2-7 Forum Resident

    Location:
    SF Peninsula
  4. Crimson Witch

    Crimson Witch Roll across the floor thru the hole & out the door

    Location:
    Lower Michigan
    Partial list, in no particular order :

    Billie Holiday
    Carmen McRae
    Jackie DeShannon
    Tammy Wynette
    Peggy Lee
    Evie Sands
    Sam Cooke
    Tina Turner
    Pink
    Ben E. King


    I'm not going to name them all, but if I can think of any others not yet mentioned I'll post them.
     
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  5. 4-2-7

    4-2-7 Forum Resident

    Location:
    SF Peninsula
    Beth Hart

     
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  6. MusicFan57

    MusicFan57 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Orlando
    Frank
    Elvis
    George Michael
     
  7. 4-2-7

    4-2-7 Forum Resident

    Location:
    SF Peninsula
    Sade

     
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  8. chervokas

    chervokas Senior Member

    Sam Cooke is my favorite singer. And this is my favorite recorded Sam Cooke performance:

     
  9. chervokas

    chervokas Senior Member

    Another favorite of my would be Sarah Vaughan:

     
  10. Galaga King

    Galaga King "Drive where the cops ain't"

    Harriet Wheeler of the Sundays immediately comes to mind.
     
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  11. Bill007

    Bill007 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Boynton Beach, Fla
    Female:
    Streisand
    Karen Carpenter
    Male:
    Marvin Gaye
    Macca
    All Around Rock:
    Daltrey
     
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  12. Mullin

    Mullin Forum Resident

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Paul Rodgers
    Linda Ronstadt
    Steve Winwood
    Brad Delp
     
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  13. Dukes Travels

    Dukes Travels Forum Resident

    I agree. Its about uniqueness, how well they connect with the song etc imo.
    Whitneys performance of I will always love you moves me in different ways to THIS. Both brilliant.
     
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  14. cdollaz

    cdollaz Forum Resident

    Location:
    Richmond, TX, USA
    Elvis Costello
     
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  15. Panther

    Panther Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    Interesting list. If you were to get most music-school vocalists to study these singers, the conclusion would be that none of them are good singers. Even by 'rock' standards (I'm not familiar with Steve Wynn, so leaving him aside), none of these people are "good" singer with impressive range, tone control, or dynamics.

    Yet, I agree with you in as much as all of these vocalists are excellent at communicating the song within the contexts they exist in.
     
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  16. peteham

    peteham Senior Member

    Location:
    Simcoe County
    11 Favourite Male Vocalists:
    Paul McCartney
    John Lennon
    Peter Gabriel
    Elton John
    Greg Lake
    Pete Townshend
    Phil Collins
    Burton Cummings
    Elvis Presley
    Mike Nesmith
    Dave Gilmour

    11 Favourite Female Vocalists:
    Linda Thompson
    Kelly Hogan
    Carole King
    Sandy Denny
    Christine McVie
    Annie Lennox
    Dinah Washington
    Grace Slick
    Gayle McCormick
    Karine Polwart
    Nina Simone
     
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  17. ralph7109

    ralph7109 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Franklin, TN
    Norah Jones needs be in here somewhere but the thread has already devolved into “who is your favorite singer?”.
     
  18. Panther

    Panther Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    I personally think Sam Cooke is the best. He checks every box on anyone's list. His voice was a force of nature (but he never 'over'-sang).

    Other bests, for me, are: Gladys Knight, Sinéad O'Connor, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Joan Baez, young John Lennon and young/mid-era Paul McCartney, David Ruffin, Levi Stuffs, Björk, Máire Brennan, Gordon Lightfoot.

    (I really like Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye, but I think people over-rate them a bit as compared to some others!)
     
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  19. polchik

    polchik Forum Resident

    this blew me away when i saw it ... still does!

    CSNY w Tom Jones
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIDzA0YDso8

    this too ...

    tom and janis
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZmiefQ5y4U
     
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  20. Spear and Magic Helmet

    Spear and Magic Helmet Forum Resident

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Most examples of Sam Cooke given Are the smooth version meant for the white audiences. Live at the Harlem Square Club is the one to seek out. This is just one small sample, but the whole record is one the most spine tingling performances of all time.
     
  21. Kent Gray

    Kent Gray Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Missouri
    You can tell CSNY were impressed with Jones - even though he was from a different universe than they were. Still, mutual appreciation for their talents. Stills was going to town too.
     
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  22. jwoverho

    jwoverho Licensed Drug Dealer

    Location:
    Mobile, AL USA
    I posted both clips on Facebook recently to blow my friend’s minds.

    They both show that if Tom had gone in a different direction, he could have been one of the great rock vocalists. As it is, he’s still one of the best vocalists ever.
     
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  23. Kent Gray

    Kent Gray Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Missouri
    Definitely agree about young Lennon. His vocals didn't hold up very well as he aged. Too much screaming, I think.
     
  24. Archtop

    Archtop Soft Dead Crimson Cow

    Location:
    Greater Boston, MA
    Eva Cassidy and Sarah Vaughan. I have patently refused to listen to any version of Over the Rainbow since I first heard Eva's version. My wife and I were at a wedding reception a few years back and it came up and I excused myself. When my wife asked what was up "I'll be back in about 4:30" was my response.

    Eva owns that tune in perpetuity IMO.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
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  25. polchik

    polchik Forum Resident

    yeah they totally look like they're all havin' a blast .... you can feel it in the music too!
     

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