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Location: Cicero, NY | Just saw GC on CMT talking about how Roy Orbison was the best - bar none - singer he had ever heard. Not that I don't like Roy but the question started running rampant in my head. Who is / was the absolute best singer I have ever heard? Not biggest selling, nor greatest rock voice; Not the best player, nor the sweetest writer and certainly not "my cousin Eddy who can do Sinatra better than Frank himself. Badda bing - you know what I'm sayin'". I'm talking about a voice that could really make you sit back, shut up and listen.
Then I thought I'd have to throw it out to the OFC panel for discussion. Male and female nominations are welcomed...go!... |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Roger Whittaker, Ann Murray, John Denver, Carly Simon, Barry White, Sandy Patti, The Gatlin Brothers all put together, Mel Torme, Nat Cole, Steve Perry, and me come to mind! |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Female: Sandy Denny, Barbra Streisand, Judy Collins, Annie Haslam, Sonja Kristina.
Male: Michael Crawford, Gary Brooker, Ashley Holt, Art Garfunkel, and whoever the Irish dude is that sings God Bless America at Yankee Stadium. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Ray Peterson (Tell Laura I Love Her).
Absolutely stunning live with a 4-5 octave range. Sent chills down my spine the last time I heard him do "Fever". |
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Posts: 327
Location: Evansville,IN | Definitely not me. I couldn't carry a tune in a bushel basket. :D
Female: Linda Ronstadt, Connie Francis, Janis Joplin.
Male: Roger McGuinn, Gordon Lightfoot, John Sebastian. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I can carry a tune in a bucket but, it has a big hole in it.
Male: Jim Reeves, Elvis, Larry Gatlin,(Brothers included), nothing like family harmony.
Female: Sandy Patty, (her Dad is a trmendous singer as well), Linda Ronsadt, Allison Krause. |
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Posts: 4413
| Wynonna. Julie London. Ella Fitzgerald. Linda Ronstadt.
Lionel Richie. Percy Sledge. Frank Sinatra. Vince Gill. |
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Posts: 349
Location: Snellville, GA | Carly Simon, Karen Carpenter, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Middler...
Gino Vanelli, Justin Hayward, John Denver, Ian Gillan, Art Garfunkle... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Gary Brooker
Greg Lake
Jon Anderson
James Taylor
Ian Gillan
Phil Collins (BEFORE he turned into Celine Dion)
Joe Cocker
Eric Clapton
Harry Chapin
Bonnie Rait
Rosie Clooney
Annie Haslam
Sam Brown
Kristy McColl
Maria Muldaur
Claudia Linnear |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Male: Paul McCartney, Elvis, Glen Campbell, Eric Clapton, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Roger Whittaker, Don McClean.
Female: Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt, Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant, and I guess I have to include for sheer talent (though I can't stand her otherwise), Barbra Streisand.
These may not necessarily be "the best" in terms of training and/or technique, but they are voices that command my full attention whenever I hear them.
Jeff |
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Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | soul/blues= Ray Charles
country= Johnny Cash
Pop/Rock/Gospel= Elvis
female= Linda Ronstadt for pure vocal ability.
alternative/punk/rap/opera= who cares! |
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Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Ray Charles is another one that should've been on my list. It's hard doing this off the top of your head!
Jeff |
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Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | Laura Brannigan |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Kneel Diamond, he's soo good! |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Harry Nilsson. Aretha Franklin. |
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Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | The songs are not my favorites at all by any means, but Karen Carpenter's voice just knocks me over. The unfortunate goody-goody image aside, there's a depth there in her sound that just grabs my soul. She doesn't have the most amazing range or technical ability, but the heart in that voice is an angel's and she will always be one of the greats in my book.
There is a huge # of vocalists who have an impressive range and knock my socks off...far too many to list. S'pose Cliff would have to be on there! |
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Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, James Taylor and George Michael all somewhere in line behind the King.
Patsy Cline, Ann Wilson, Susan Tedeschi and Queen Aretha are all wonderful but Linda Ronstadt makes me sit up straight every time. |
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Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Michael Crawford
Brad Delp (Boston)
David Crosby
Steve Perry
Freddie Mercury
Joni Mitchell
Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wilson
Melissa Etheridge |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The Check's in the Mail, Johnny.
;) |
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Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | Damn Cliff you are right - I wondered where Phil Collins was - and lo and behold on stage in Vegas with a French accent...
Ann Wilson, Annie Lennox, Karen Carpenter, Robert Plant, Dean Martin, Axel Rose, Smokey Robinson - voices that make me listen. |
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Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Selah, all three of them.
Nancy Griffith |
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Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) Oh My Gosh, has this girl got a set of pipes! She is a bit on the edgy side but Wow, what power! In my mind she is one of the two best female country singers around...the other?....
LeAnn Rimes. Have you heard her sing the old Patsy Kline stuff? It's freaking spooky, like ol' Patsy has been re-incarnated.
Speaking of back from the dead, have you heard Joss Stone? This girl does Janis Joplin better than Janis could. Not to mention all her own unique things, she is an awesome blues singer and is only something like 18 years old, quite a future ahead.
Male vocalists. lets see...
Johnny Lang, amazing vocalist. I've also always admired Burton Cummings from the "Guess Who", what a golden voice he has. I have also always liked Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Steve Perry is also incredible....makes my throat hurt just listening to that guy sing, what a range! |
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Posts: 86
Location: Detroit area | Ann Wilson, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, David Gilmour, the dude from Queensryche (Empire was a masterpiece). |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Got to remember Melissa, she can sing. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Not to mention Melissa can do one hell of a Janis Joplin.
Jennifer Warnes...just close your eyes and listen to "Famous Blue Raincoat". |
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Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Melissa is one helluva powerhouse vocalist live! She puts gut-wrenching, sincere feeling into it like nobody's business and can ROCK with the best of 'em! There's nothing pretty about it, the girl delivers with raw, intense power every single time! |
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Posts: 2487
| Ohhh Man. I hate these questions. But I always try them anyway...... Jon Anderson from YES has a voice that is almost angelic at times. Any other voice just does not work with this Music. Randy Travis has a voice that is clear and deep and strong and it draws you in even if your not a big country fan like me. Robert Plant conveys so much emotion it seem he can almost cry and sing low or high at the same time. So, so, many good singers that have a style that is difficult to duplicate by anyone.
I have to say I know Freedy Mercury, from Queen, had "Issues". I will leave this statement "at that".... But ya know weather ya liked his music or not he had an Operetic Range and a clarity that could break glass, and as impressive as some of his songs were, I remember watching the opening of the Olympics in Barcelona back in 90 something???? ...Holy freaking crap he belted out that opening song so perfectly on pitch..... and he held those notes for so long.... I think if he had a big enough PA system he could have cracked the concrete! I know the gigantic crowd went absolutly nuts from the pride and exhileration he threw at them with his voice! It was just that impressive.
Randy |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I remember seeing Queen at a small venue in Houston around '72 or '73. They managed 1 or 2 songs before all their equipment blew out the power/fuse box and the concert had to be cancelled.
However, in that short time, he absolutely blew me away with how incredibly strong his voice was and how he appeared to have perfect pitch. |
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March 2005
Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | Freddy was a huge voice, as much a showman as a voice talent but no question - he commanded attention, bless his soul. Melissa is also a great choice. Raw emotion - gotta love that. How 'bout - AHHH - brain cramp! - Garth Brook's next wife...what a voice on her. Just beautiful as is Allison Krauses', an angels voice for sure. NorthCountry mentioned Randy Travis - man, what a great baritone. Great stuff. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | OK, you're doing country stuff, you got to include Haggard and Vince, each different but equally great. |
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January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Paul McCartney, Stevie Winwood, Stevie Wonder,
Aaron Neville,
Christine McVie, Rickie Lee Jones, |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Raining here, hard, Just went to the shelf and got out a Led Zeppelin DVD. Havin a blast! Dam Another Band I actually had a chance to go and see when I was a Kid. Would-a caught hell from my parents if I went but It was Madison Square Garden and my brother who is 7 years older than me went. HAd a chance to see Pink Floyd back then too..... Choices
RAndy |
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Location: NJ | 1977.
That about right?
Saw BOTH shows :cool: |
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Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Let's see,
Male : Mike Smith (Dave Clark Five), Freddy Mercury, Jay Black (Jay & the Americans), David Clayton Thomas, Donovan
Female : Karen Carpenter, Judy Collins, Eva
Cassidy |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Not to mention Slim Whitman... |
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Posts: 2487
| Yep I was 15.................. Ohh well who knew they were only going to be around for only 10 or 11 years. I'm envious of ya Cliff.
Randy |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Summer of '77 was a GREAT one for me:
Zep, Floyd (twice), Yes (twice), ELP (twice with orchestra - once without), Al Stewart, America, Renaissance (twice), Harry Chapin (three times),
Crosby, Stills & Nash, BadCompany (who sucked, btw). |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | -Allison Krauss (the first breath from her mouth makes my arm hair stand...I'd marry her for her voice alone)
-Retha
-Pasty
-Reluctantly, but, yes, it needs to be said...
...Whitney Houston
-I have to give a nod to Natalie Merchant as well.
-Elvis
-Ray Charles
-Michael Stipe
-Randy Travis
-And though I hate to admit it--- Freddy Mercury |
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December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
-Reluctantly, but, yes, it needs to be said...Whitney Houston
Before she turned into Bobby Brown. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Hey Cliff,
Al Stewart has a new album out and it is X-Suh-LENT!! |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yeah, . . I've heard OF it, but haven't heard it, yet.
thx. |
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February 2003
Posts: 68
Location: Malden, Massachusetts | I'm not afraid to say that, while I agree with most of the preferences here, there is one voice that stands alone as the greatest in my opinion - and I may stand alone in my opinion....K.D.Lang.
"Pulling back the reins" from "Absolute Torch and Twang"
You have to hear it. Great band, too - the Reclines
Unfortunately, she bit the hand that fed and disappeared. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Sine-Aid O'Conner has one hell of a set of pipes.
She does a number (Foggy Dew) on thew Chiefton's Long Black Vail album that will give yer goosebumps goosebumps
(though she has the same hair cut as me :( ) |
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Posts: 2487
| Hey Cliff I made it to see Yes in Mass or Conn back in 77. Can't remember exactly where I went now? I was new to concerts and I was GREEN but Man what a memory. Going for the one was just released and I remember Chris Squire playing that very, very rare White Rickenbacker 8 string bass he used back then. Perhaps we bumped into each other then????
That Jon Anderson is certainly not everyones "cup of tea" of that I am sure but you got to admit he can sing his music in a range that is impossible for 99.9% of the rest of the musical world to copy.
Jeff, I know,....... I feel the Same about "Rockin Steady Freedy", But it's OK, he had one hell of a voice!
Answers to questions like these are impossible to nail down. There are so many great voices and so many opinions about what style is favored.
Fun to type an opinion though. But then that's just my opinion. And then that's just my opinion of my opinion. And then again that would just be my opinion about my opinion of my opino.........
.........make it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Randy |
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March 2005
Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by karmanng:
I'm not afraid to say that, while I agree with most of the preferences here, there is one voice that stands alone as the greatest in my opinion - and I may stand alone in my opinion....K.D.Lang. I might not say that she stands alone but I would agree that kd has a super voice. Still play 'Ingenue' from time to time and she really had a unique groove (and can we leave that right there? ;) ).
I would probably agree with most of the names in this thread with the possible exception of Sinead O'Connor (sorry, JW)- she rates just slightly ahead of Yoko for me. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ....Van Morrison has not yet been mentioned!!! Gotta be one of the all time greatest.
Tracy Chapman too.
Wease...so you're not a Sinead fan...but just ahead of Yoko??? Harsh. Very harsh. |
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Suh-weet singers