Your favorite vocals album

Please pick the album that, when you're in the mood for great vocals, you play the most. If you must choose a greatest hits, go right ahead. But I'd rather we stick to regular releases.

Over the course of their careers, Aretha, Sinatra and Al Green laid down more great vocals than my artist choice. Nevertheless, I have to go with:

Dusty Springfield--Dusty In Memphis

Dusty's breathy, vulnerable vocals are simply stunning on this flawless selection of songs. I only wish Rhino's treblomatic mastering did her full justice.

What's your choice?

 

Oh Boy! This is a tough one, there are so many that I like/listen to; but I have to go with Aretha's 'Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You', with 'Lady Soul' very close behind. I have both on MFSL; and they sound just fantastic!!

 

Yes, Aretha's Never Loved a Man...was on my list too.

Some of my other favourites:

Al Green's big three-Lets Stay Together, I'm Still in Love With You, Call Me.

Otis Redding-I've always had a soft spot for The Immortal Otis Redding album.

"Early" Beach Boys of course. Just about anything right up to the early 70s albums where Carl featured prominently on lead vocals.

James Brown Live at the Apollo Vol 1.

Greetings From LA-Tim Buckley

The Real Ellen McIlwaine

Tom Waits-Small Change

Van of course.......nothing soothes my soul more than Into The Mystic, Crazy Love, Warm Love, Gypsy Queen etc.

Sorry I've picked more than one!

 

It depends on the mood but Otis Redding "Live In Europe" really gets the fingers and toes snappin and a tappin.

Ray Charles "The Genius Hits The Road" Oh Yea!

Louis Prima "The Wildest" ...thanks Steve!!

also have to cast my vote for Dusty Springfield--Dusty In Memphis...smooth, earthy.

and...

and...

and...

 

Mine is John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. What a voice.

 

Well, these are not favorites per se, but I like'em a lot:

Leon Redbone--Lazy Bones
The new CD by Allison Krauss (great voice)

and Underneath It All--No Doubt (wish my girl talked like that)

 

I've got the Mo Fi twofer Lady Soul & Aretha Now so it counts as one. My favorites,Ain't No Way and I Say A Little Prayer.

 

This IS tough. So, like most other folks I'll have to thow a few out there.

Art Garfunkel - Breakaway
Lavay Smith - One Hour Mama
Leonard Cohen - Songs Of
Ella - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie
Billie Holiday - From The Original Decca Masters
Manhattan Transfer - Vocalese
Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily

I don't know this album by Leon. Are you sure of the title?

 

Hey Steve there's 5 of us that would buy a Gold disc of this now.

 

I think you counted me before Larry. But I would buy two if it made a difference.

 

Off the top of my head ...

What's New - - Linda Ronstadt

Dinah Jams - - Dinah Washington

 

This is amazing!! If you don't own it....get to own it.

Jane Siberry "Maria"

 

Blossom Dearie (1st LP)
Ella Sings either Cole Porter or Rodgers & Hart
In The Wee Small Hours (Frank)
Anita Sings The Most (Anita O'Day)

 

Other than all my favorite Rock, Pop Vocal, Doo Whop Vocal CDs etc. I absolutely Love The Ray Anthony "Capital Collector's Series" CD. The Vocal harmony is wonderful and relaxing. As is the Modernaires, Pied Pipers etc.

 

Carole King - Tapestry

Joni Mitchell - Blue

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

 

Excellent choice Claus and I would agree.

Also Don Henley: End Of The Innocence

 

@Dave

End of Innocence is a very good record, but too much Mainstream (IMHO)...

I also would add the records from Nick Drake and Phoebe Snow's debut... very imitate records.

 

@Claus,

Some of us like mainstream.

Aldo Nova: Fantasy

 

Ditto!

 

I must admit I immediately thought of the Louis Armstrong track "We have all the time in the world" and it brought a tear to my eye One of joy I must add.

So Louis Armstrong is the man in my books - sorry Frank.

Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega and
Joni Mitchell - Blue and if I am in a surreal mood
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

All the best - Andrew

 

Jane Oliver
Van Morrison

 

Ella Fitzgerald: The Jerome Kern Songbook
Frank Sinatra: She Shot Me Down
Barbra Streisand: The 2nd Album
Arthur Prysock: Today's Love Songs - Tomorrow's Blues

Victoria de Los Angeles: On Wings Of Song

 

Judy at Carnegie Hall (Judy Garland)
Latin a la Lee! (Peggy Lee)
Give Him the Ooh-la-la (Blossom Dearie)
The Singing Reed (Lucy Reed with Bill Evans)
Together (Maxine Sullivan)
Sassy Swings the Tivoli (Sarah Vaughan)
The Intimate Ella
The Stockholm Concert 1966 (Ella Fitzgerald/Duke Ellington)
Sinatra - Basie: An [sic] Historic Musical First
Swingin' the Stardards (Bobby Darin)
The Vocalist (Louis Armstrong)
The Jazzin' Bing Crosby, 1927-1940
Roots of Early Soul on Savoy Vol. 10 (Mildred Bailey)
Autumn in the Air (Sue Raney)
Close Enough for Love (Shirley Horn)
Blue Afternoon (Tim Buckley)

 

Lawrence Schulman wrote:

If only the sound quality of the recording matched the performance! Anyone know if there are differences between domestic US/European/Japanese issues? I bought the Japanese CD when it first came out (I actually think the Japanese edition was the first to be available in Europe) and there is one thing I really hate about it: Ella's voice is totally buried under the orchestra - much like the original issue of "Judy At Carnegie Hall". Also, it's quite obvious that it hasn't been mastered from the original tapes (way too much hiss). I usually play one or two songs from this great album and then switch to another Ella live album (e.g. "Ella In Hamburg"), because I just can't stand the lack of dynamics. This whole thing sounds like a fantastic audience tape from row 10 or so.

Arne