Who is the best vocalist ever

[vinnievin777]

John Waite
Lou Graham
Roger Daltrey
Robert Plant
Jack Russell
Billy Idol
Jeff Tate
John Oates
Freddy Mercury
Rob Halford
Jim Morrison
Paul McCartney
Don Henley
Eddy Vedder
The lead singer of Live (help me out here)
Sting

to name a few

Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7006802-5544745?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. In terms of clarity, no one can beat Karen Carpenter and Marylin McCue.

[arwalden]

2. Karen Carpenter

[donheld]

91. She left us far too soon

[candy]

3. The best vocalisr EVER???? Didn't people sing before the 60's?

Frank Sinatra and Rosie Clooney!

[Vanje]

4. Ella Fitzgerald

and June Tabor

[BlueJazz]

9. Classy Answer!...I rather agree...n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

38. I concur

[Fifth of Five]

52. Ella Fitzgerald is absolutely the all-time best.

Of today's singers, I really like Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt (sp?).
Their voices don't measure up to Ella's, but they both are excellent song stylists.

[RadicalMom]

98. Oh yeah, definitely the Divine Miss M! n/t

[mitchum]

66. Yes, she is

[Maccagirl]

5. Mine are

Male: Roy Orbison
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Smokey Robinson


Female: Karen Carpenter
Patsy Cline
Billie Holliday
Barbra Streisand

[underpants]

6. Actually Michael Stipe has developed quite the voice

If you haven't ever heard him sing "Wichita Lineman" do yourself a favor and find it.

[RagingInMiami]

7. Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley

[Quakerfriend]

8. I'd say Josh Grobin

Listening to him right now, as a matter of fact!

[acmavm]

14. I was wondering why nobody mentioned Elvis. He was incredible.

.

[Left Is Write]

23. Frank Sinatra ranks VERY high on my list.

Perhaps even number one, but Dean Martin ranks right up there too.

[disillusioned1]

54. Didn't I read where Elvis made $40MM last year?

Name anyone else who made that much money after being dead for over 30 years.

[nine23]

10. Maybe not THE best, but Tony Bennett and k.d. lang certainly work well.

[CatBoreal]

11. No one can beat

Mahalia Jackson!

That woman had an amazing voice and she knew how to use it.

It's not Christmas unless I hear her sing Go Tell It On the Mountain.

[name not needed]

12. William Hung

[hang a left]

13. Bonnie Raitt

My personal fave.

[Spinzonner]

29. I like her work very much too

but I'd hardly call her a very good vocalist.

Now her father ...

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. Dionne Warwick.

;)

[NightTrain]

16. Why does your list only consist of white males?

Aren't you familiar with Aretha Franklin? Al Green? Smokey Robinson? Sam Cooke? Mahalia Jackson? Otis Redding? Bobby "Blue" Bland? Geez....

[Left Is Write]

22. And Billie Holliday.

[vinnievin777]

69. list more

that's why it's a thread ---
I like newer singers --actually I like the 80's or what they call oldies in the high schools these days lol. How about Stevey Wonder?

Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7006802-5544745?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[Applepie]

17. My favorite

is Daniel O'Donnell. I am listening to him right now.

[jdots]

18. Ashcroft & Keyes

They set the standard for vocalists everywhere.

[Ruffhowse]

19. Karen Carpenter

[mcscajun]

20. Really...let's diversify the list just a LITTLE bit...

...let's think about Dinah Washington "What a Difference a Day Makes", or Karen Akers, a marvelous cabaret singer in the Piaf tradition.

Let's not forget Nat King Cole, either. (I prefer his rendition of "Unforgettable" to the phony duet with Natalie by far.)

Oh...and how Could I forget Maura O'Connell. Doesn't write a song, doesn't play an instrument...but has the most marvelous sense of picking songs and making them live.

Rock musicians who play guitar and sing lead aren't exactly vocalists in the pure sense of the word, anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love rock, but my musical tastes are broadly eclectic, too. :)

[sleepyhead]

104. I second Maura O'Connell.

I think I'll have to play some of her music today.

[Rocinante]

21. Geddy Lee

:D

[mattclearing]

77. Well, someone has to respond to it.

Too funny.

[Boswells_Johnson]

24. Ian Gillan is the best rock singer!

But I usually listen to singers who sound more like John Hiatt...

[Athletic Grrl]

25. Alison Krauss

One of just a handful that make me stop and just listen.

[bettyellen]

26. Marvin Gaye? Hello, Aretha Franklin?

I can't believe there are no women or people of color on that list.

[msgadget]

100. Kenny Lattimore

Marvin Gaye
Angela Winbush
Barbara Streisand
James Ingram
Jon B
Brian McKnight
Maxwell
Phoebe Snow
Toni Braxton
Anita Baker

[ghostsofgiants]

27. Cedric Bixler Zavala or Matthew Bellamy

[gollygee]

28. Should the question be, "Who is the best MALE vocalist ever?"

white males at that . . .

if just men are involved, I like crooner types like Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole.

[ghostsofgiants]

46. Hey, I mentioned a non-white male.

[vinnievin777]

68. best vocalist

females and males and everything.

Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7006802-5544745?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[The empressof all]

30. Mel Torme

The velvet fog......Frequently overlooked but his voice is absolutely brilliant.

[Diane L]

31. Judy Garland, Steve Perry,Tony Bennett....n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

118. JUDY GARLAND

no contest here.

[Diane L]

32. Forgot someone - Chaka Chan (spelling?)....n/t

[bettyellen]

35. Chaka Khan! Loooove her!

[donheld]

89. You got the love

[LDS Jock]

33. Jennifer Holliday

That lady can flat out sing. I get chills just thinking of her voice. If you have never heard her sing, you should. Best song to try is "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" or if you can find it, her version of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." Either one will make you a believer.

[terrya]

34. Barbara Cook.

God, that woman has a fantastic voice.

[bobthedrummer]

36. I nominate Nina Simone

[Spider Jerusalem]

37. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Pakistani master of qawwali (Sufi devotional music). Absolutely incredible voice.

And even if you haven't heard of him, you may have heard him...Peter Gabriel got him to do vocals on the "Last Temptation of Christ" soundtrack.

[nytemare]

62. Love his music, it transcends language

so sad that he died.

[BrklynLiberal]

39. Bobby Darin

[kodi]

49. yeap.

could sing anything. R & R, pop, folk, and even out-sinatraed sinatra on beyond the sea.

only member of the R & R hall of fame as a singer and song writer.

still pick ella fitzgerald for a pure range of voice.

[City Lights]

40. Frank Sinatra gets my vote.

He's got the most seductive voice I've ever heard.

[catbert836]

41. You're missing Robert Plant

And she's buying a stairway to heaven...

[Contrary1]

42. I don't think there is a "best"...

Much depends on the style of the music itself.
I love the voices of so many of the lead singers
of groups from the 60's, who never made singles.

Many of the Motown performers...
David Ruffin (Temptations)
Levi Stubbs (Four Tops)
Gladys Knight

Andrea Bocelli
Josh Groben

Eva Cassidy had a beautiful voice. If you ever get
a chance to hear her music, you won't be sorry.
Sadly, she passed away before she was noticed.

[fluffernutter]

53. i agree, it depends on the music and my mood.

there are so many greats out there.

[LordshipLadyship]

43. she's a smooth operator

Sade.

[donheld]

92. This is no ordinary love

[Guaranteed]

44. Of OUR generation, my opinion is Bradley Nowell...

I don't pretend to be old enough to have an opinion on anything before Classic Rock, though...

[name not needed]

47. Stolen from an African land, chased out with a knife,

with a face like Bob Marley, and a mouth like a motorbike...

:headbang:

[Guaranteed]

67. Yup...he had some great lyrics, too...

He was probably the most representative figure of his generation, by his lyrics...cept for the heroin stuff (maybe).

[mattclearing]

82. A brilliant artist to be sure, but not a standout vocalist.

I loved Sublime, and Bradley could sing, but best vocalist ever?

40 oz. to Freedom is totally in my top ten albums of all time though.

[Guaranteed]

101. I think he has one of the most natural singing voices

I've ever heard. And while I'm not saying he's the best ever, the guy had serious talent. He used his voice for rhythm AND melody, and, again, his lyrics were just...real.

[DODI]

45. Paul Rogers, Ian Gillian , Pete Townsend from the R&R era

Roger trumps all both Paul and Ian have a certain weight to their voices that I love. I am also very impressed with Jason Mraz (sp). His album does not do him justice. I saw him on Austin City Limits and his voice is incredible!

Old school - I love Ella, Cab Calloway, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Billy Holiday and Bessie Smith

[the Princess]

48. Steve Perry

[loudestchick]

50. Annie Lenox--she gives me chills/ George Micheal--I know, but!

[nytemare]

64. Annie Lennox has some pipes!

She can change her voice from relaxing to warming to icy, it is amazing.

[BigBigBear]

51. Ian Gillan or Greg Lake

...but in fairness, Karen Carpenter was an incredible singer, despite the drek for material.

[ronzo]

90. rock? Gillan was something.

I'm with you. Jesus.

[vinnievin777]

105. My guitarist had me watch this video

and Ian Gillan and Dio were singing with a choir --Dio was really good but Ian Gillian looked like a chef and sang pretty badly.

But I love the son Trashed --great vocals on that

Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-2300153-1657413?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[Liberal_Andy]

55. Harry Nilsson!

McCartney, Daltry, Bowie.

[chaska]

56. David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple.

[datasuspect]

57. wesley willis

rock and roll mcdonalds

[CO Liberal]

58. Nat King Cole and Roy Orbison

Two of the greatest. Ever.

Also...

Dean Martin
Tony Bennett
Perry Como
Margaret Whiting
Rosemary Clooney
Doris Day
Frankie Valli (in his prime)
Jay Black (in his prime)
Tom Jones

[chaska]

59. Lisa Fischer, Glady Knight, Ronnie James Dio

[stupid grin]

60. Bing Crosby

[Bleacher Creature]

61. Ever??? But in my lifetime, it's Freddy Mercury

At least in rock.

[nytemare]

63. Did you mean rock singer or vocalist?

As far as vocalist, Freddy would qualify. His range was amazing.

I just think of vocalists of being more involved in the voice as an instrument, so I think more along the lines of Joni Mitchell, Aretha, Billie Holliday, Annie Lennox, Bette Midler, etc.

There is a relatively unknown vocalist from England named Sheila Chandra, she has an Indian background, and her voice is absolutely amazing, chilling and relaxing.

I suppose Norah Jones is one of the newer singers I would put in that ilk.

:)

[Floogeldy]

65. Well, you said "Who is the best vocalist ever" then listed over a dozen

You didn't say, "vocalists."

But anyway, back in the 1100's, there was this guy named Laird that was incredibly phenomenal. His range, they say, has never been matched. Laird is the best vocalist ever, as far as I know.

[vinnievin777]

71. Thanks for the history lesson

I was just throwing a few out there.
I think by the thread it's all subjective.That said I don't really think you could say anyone on this thread isn't a good singer.
I like all kinds of music except country but music adds to everyone's life so keep listing ---I don't think all the greats have been listed.

Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-7006802-5544745?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[RagingInMiami]

74. Hook us up with a CD

[Floogeldy]

76. Sure thing!

Laird's latest release is "There's A Big Bear Stomping Outside My Opening And All I Have Is This Pointy Stick."

It only costs dos ochue quadliros and you can get it at www.ancientartistswhoneverbathedorlivedpast30.com!

;)

[bobweaver]

70. Male - Nat King Cole. Female - Judy Garland.

[AwakeAtLast]

72. Gotta go with Marian Andersen

Runner-ups: Leontyne Price and Thomas Hampson (sp?)

[New Earth]

73. ok, just a few

Jon Crosby of VAST
Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle
Jimmy Gnecco of Ours.

OZZY OSBOURNE!!!!!!!!!

[bettyellen]

87. wow, two people mentioned jimmy? my friend dated him.........

he was a lying weaselly piece of shit!

[enigmatic]

75. George Jones

Not even close...

[donheld]

78. K D Lang and George Michael

[Ron Green]

79. I can't believe nobody has mentioned...................

Sarah Vaughan.

[mattclearing]

85. Self Deleted

[donheld]

88. "I can't believe nobody has mentioned..................."

[Lexingtonian]

80. Elizabeth Fraser

and Ella F.

[GingerSnaps]

81. Me

Sara Brightman, Kate Bush, Eddy Vedder,Richard Butler, etc.

[nytemare]

112. How could I forget Sarah Brightman?

She has some of the best chill out stuff ever. If you like her you might try listening to Sheila Chandra.

[GingerSnaps]

114. Kate Bush

I keep spelling Sarah without the H and this reason is my best friend in school would bitch when you would put an H on the end of her name.

I will give Sheila Chandra a listen to thanks for the suggestion. My heading was a joke.

[UncleSepp]

83. Kirsten Flagstad

Jes' trying to shake things up :-P

[illbill]

84. Kurt Cobain

The one and only.

[mattclearing]

86. Peter Gabriel

No one sings like him. He has probably the most passionate, distinctive, and distinguished voice I have ever heard.

[tainted_chimp]

95. Great choice!

He's incredible. He has a certain reedy indescribable quality to his voice that just penetrates.

[nytemare]

113. Peter Gabriel is about my favorite artist

I like the way he draws different cultural styles into his music, and his creation of Real World records.

[donheld]

93. The lead singer of Live (help me out here)

Ed <<Kowalski>> Kowalczyk Maybe if i'd spelled his name right the first time i'd have found a better pic

[mattclearing]

94. Kowalczyk, actually.

eom

[donheld]

96. With a name like that

spelling is, well often wrong. my bad :spank:

[vinnievin777]

102. As they say in Poland

Bardzo Gincolia (please help me out here)

Oh yeah that means Thank you

Vinnie Vin and everything

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-2852423-2023849?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[RadicalMom]

97. Luciano Pavarotti, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison,

I'm talking about people's voices here, not the category on a bin in a music store.

[anitar1]

99. Best vocalist Ever

So many --but Frank Sinatra and Eva Cassidy

[vinnievin777]

103. I have a lot of singers to look up

I didn't realize how ignorant I was.

Vinnie Vin and everything

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-2852423-2023849?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[AngryAmish]

106. Aretha Franklin

And what the f is up with Sting?

[eyepaddle]

107. Again this list is oh so subjective

But I've always preferred Dean Martin to Sinatra--I like the angular unanticpated melodies.

And an aquired taste (that few aquire! ) but Rob Halford of Judas Priest.

Ooh, yeah, he doesn't get much out front work, but Sam Clayton of Little Feat--he's there with the horsepower just when you need it :)

And who was it that sang "SuperBowl Shuffle" ;)

(If that wink wasn't enough I'n kidding about that last one! )

[ZoCrowes]

108. Isn't one

Each person has their own unique timbre so I don't you can really call anyone the best. Now you can have your personal favs and mine are:

John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Bono
Marvin Gaye
Billie Holiday
Emmylou Harris
Tony Bennet
Freddy Mercury
Little Willie John
Aretha
Otis Redding
Stevie Wonder
Van Morrison
Jeff Buckley

I could go on for days but if I had to choose one it would be Sam Cooke

[otohara]

109. Joni Mitchell & Boz Scaggs

like butter...

[mr_hat]

110. 2Puff Shaquer.

[DubyaSux]

111. My top 5...

1) Brad Delp - Boston.
2) Sebastian Bach - Skid Row/Broadway. Major league asshole and bigot from what I know, but the boy can get it done
3) Jon Bon Jovi - He's as good as he ever was and gets off his ass to be active in the political process
4) Don Henly - Eagles. He could pick up the New York City Metropolitan phone book, sing it, and still sell a million copies
5) Roy Orbison - 'nuff said.

[NashVegas]

115. Chet Baker

I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Second choice: Louis Armstrong. Whiskey isn't smooth but it's unforgettable.

[Mike Niendorff]

116. There's no way there can be just one.

Styles and modes of performance just vary too broadly for one person to be declared superior to all others, imho. However, for each style and period I think it's definitely possible to at least narrow the list to a few Great Ones. That being said, and with the caveat that I'm primarily a rock-n-roll fan, here are my contributions:

From the "Why the hell hasn't ___ been mentioned yet?" department:

James Brown


From the "Live performances that will leave you speechless" department:

Diana Krall
Eddie Vedder
Kurt Cobain


And, lastly, from the "Should at least be given an honorable mention" department :

Layne Staley (Alice In Chains (r.i.p.))
Sebastian Bierk (aka: "Sebastian Bach" of Skid Row/Broadway) (seconding a previous nomination)
Jeff Keith (Tesla)


MDN

[Tikki]

117. Chocolate is some folks 'Comfort Food'...Dave Edmunds' singing is...

my 'Comfort Sound'. ' All of above" listed here have great voices. I listen to most of them from time to time.

But, when I'm up, down or all around and need to get back to where I once belonged...Dave Edmunds' vocals do it for me.


Tikki

[Skittles]

119. Freddie Mercury

nt

[vinnievin777]

120. Don't forget

Jimmy Jubes.


Vinnie Vin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1932852344/qid=1086103239/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-2852423-2023849?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.vinnievin.com

[RPM]

121. Stipe

No one sounds like him :-)

[MsAnthropy]

122. Eric Burdon of the Animals and War was the best rock vocalist ever

What a voice!

[MissMillie]

123. Patsy Cline!!!!!!!

With Karen Carpenter running a close second.

For the guys, I think of Johnny Matthis and Nat King Cole.

[regularguy]

124. kd lang. Paul Rogers. Sarah Vaughn.

And a million others...