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Who are your three favorite female singers?

I have favorites, but would like to hear from others.  Thanks
whatjd
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,829 posts
 

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!

mustbethemusic
17 posts
 
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Rachelle Ferrell
Patricia Barber
cd318
2,636 posts
 
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.
delpi's avatar
delpi
29 posts
 
Ella Fitzgerald
Stacey Kent
Billie Holiday
richopp
760 posts
 
@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!
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