So hard to keep this list to only three! But, I will comply.
Jane Monheit
Alison Krauss
Harriet Wheeler
Jane Monheit
Alison Krauss
Harriet Wheeler
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Ella Fitzgerald - who needs no introduction. And someone who could hold her own with anyone and any band leader the very underrated, Rosemary Clooney. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbQjDxA7g-M |
@mustbethemusic, Thank you Rachelle Ferrell, how could I forget about her! I seen her at The Fox in Atlanta back in the day with the George Duke band, talk about a voice. She could and can sing her face off! And sing anything and any genre. Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9RENywt-vc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTY5b3Fpbc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf83djaaTS4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7oLO4xewGs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnLZAVldBlw K.D. Lang Lalah Hathaway (Donny’s daughter) Anita Baker |
For the audiophile who watches Youtube. Briana is one of the finest I ever heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YkK5eSlX7M |
@cd318 THANK-YOU for mentioning Joan and Diamonds. I just bought a new pre-amp (replaced my Lux CL-32's, which were 50 years old and finally gave out) with an Audio Research SP-6B (used of course--all I could afford) and WOW! Huge difference on that song, which is what I use to first listen to a new piece of gear. I will be playing Midnight at the Oasis soon as well to hear it like we used to in the day when I was selling Audio Research/Magnepan systems in my shop. Sold a lot of them with that song, and it is a telling recording. @nonoise6--YES! Everyone should read her book. Linda is, in fact, a very well-trained vocalist who started with talent and went through some weird times--rock 'n roll will do that to you--to eventually come out with both the Nelson Riddle trio of recordings of standards and to honor her personal family history with her Latino recordings. She may have started as a rock singer (she says she really did not like it), but after training to do Pirates in the Park, she learned to be a true vocalist and stretch to use her instrument in many genres. She is a gifted artist and I am sure we are all sad that her genes betrayed her and her beautiful voice so early in life. Also, thanks to the OP for this topic. I have a long list of singers I never heard of that I can now explore, and some that I know well that I can listen to and enjoy again during our extended time at home. Great idea!! Cheers! |
I keep seeing the name of Joan Baez coming up. Certainly a great voice. Clear as any there's been. Just not sure about the material. I wish she'd have cut loose from the crusading a little bit and treated us to a greater variety of material. Of course everyone loves Diamonds and Rust, and I guess they always will. |
When I want black, I go with (of course) Aretha, Ruth Brown, and Irma Thomas. I gotta admit though, Annie Lennox’s vocals on "Would I Lie To You" is about as good as can be expected of a white UK woman ;-) . I love the song; even Blondie drummer Clem Burke (not a favorite of mine) sounds good on it. Great use of brass (horns), too. One real fine white female Blues singer is Lou Ann Barton. Her debut album was produced by the great Jerry Wexler (and Glen Frey!?), Aretha’s Atlantic Records producer. Lou Ann sometimes tours with Jimmy Vaughan. She’s the real deal. Dan Hicks had two female singers in his Hot Licks band, one being the wonderful Maryann Price. Her vocal on the Johnny Mercer classic "I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)" is one of my all-time favorites. It’s found on Dan’s Striking It Rich album, produced by Tommy Lipuma. Fantastic album! |
You’re welcome nonoise. We were going to get to see Rickie Lee this spring prior to #19 at Axpona. Man, I was looking forward to that. Yes, her kicking up the dynamics from a soft note right through to very loud and the same thing on being able to cruise through over an octave of notes to go really high is too cool. I now have about 8 albums BUT...I still listen to the first album over half the time I hear her music. That album has to be in the top 3 of woman singers for musical content, great songs, and of course, her unusual voice that sounds like no other. Bob |
Ofra Haza, sadly, died way too young. Her influence extended to all genres Zehava Ben -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkyorHkaJUA&list=FLo3s50L1lQEDx96RGgD0ZNQ&index=143 Rhiannon Giddens Sooo many, very hard to limit to 3, as others observed; trying to limit it to 3 singers who are fantastic, belong in the top tier, but sadly unmentioned |
Jann Arden Karen Bergquist (Over The Rhine) Neko Case Rosanne Cash Dominique Durand (Ivy) Martha Johnson (Martha & The Muffins) Marti Jones Wendy MaHarry Michelle McAdorey (Crash Vegas) Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde) Hope Nicholls (Fetchin Bones) Sinead O'Connor Sam Phillips Kim Richey Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl) Also, check out Austin guitarist Monte Montgomery's cover of "Sara Smile" when he was a guest on Live At Daryl's House way back in the early days when it was just an internet only show. |
@dorkwad , Thanks for bringing up Rickie Lee Jones. I don't know how I could have forgot to mention her. Saw her live but can't remember if it was Rickie Lee Jones or Pirates, at the Pantages (I think). She was still doing heroin back then and mumbled between songs but when the music started, her voice simply drowned out the horn section. My oh my, the pipes on that girl. All the best, Nonoise |
I left out Cesaria Evora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfh6bbnC-K8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC8aQyUznCs Here’s another by M’Belia Bel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fswcIac6m_I I'm done. |
I am going to disregard "3" also, because I think that a goal of the exercise is that it’s worth getting names out that people haven’t necessarily heard and deserve attention. If I had to pick three that were my favorites, ... well, I can’t really. My list of preferred singers and the songs I most associate with them: Sandy Denny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWVd9xwZBY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3OWOCwvjHU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88b0OYxdtyM Karen Dalton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ZlWK-b_KY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl9skT78iWI Laura Nyro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwn97weAxa0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-n7KY3vl4 M’Bilia Bel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A12sE67BID8 Eva Cassidy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c Jacqui McShee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwqP_yoszCE Kathleen Kim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mtMI_huRtY Grace Slick (Airplane edition, NOT Starship) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lscRNsyEzs4 Abbe Lincoln https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF6q6XKKrik and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dscyklYF-CM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rycQBz_Fexw Maria Farantouri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-GBPx_GXQw Mirella Freni / Teresa Berganza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GUIfwKPS-w Judy Collins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onKhceL303M Hazel Dickens / Alice Gerard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMV3dpsu_xw Wanda Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auJePJvn1K4 Maxine Sullivan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmS-bcT6mSs Ella Mae Morse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ortOAiClE34 Etta Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLaJtXbpRg Lil Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7bexVuBvY4 Hadda Brooks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8DSi3BJDXg Roberta Flack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65lVYE38MzI&list=OLAK5uy_khEQhG8qv_D5A3NIb-i1Vay4QE-JLNUYo Joan Baez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ5qvtZYGtw&list=OLAK5uy_kItjYsm9ivAANuSy6yE_fhxr_TiAen-RQ&index=9 Emmylou Harris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHWMbjyT-T4 Billy Holiday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DGY9HvChXk Janis Joplin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE |
Shirley Horn SHIRLEY HORN! Anita O’Day Dionne Warwick Elis Regina Julie LondonPeggy Lee Tell me Shirley Horn’s The Look of Love isn’t devastating!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW6fs2f4krQAnd here she is playing with her trio at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1992. Wearing WHITE GLOVES while she plays! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vcMfEuffiM She, along with Nat King Cole, was one of the very few who can oh-so-ably accompany herself on piano while she sings. |
