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A thread of what I’d consider to be my Top 30 favourite vocalists, featuring a track from each act.
Hope you enjoy them
Hope you enjoy them
30. Levon Helm
An ageless, timeless, down home voice. Steeped in depth and emotion, yet also conveying a fun-time growl.
There’s deep sense of sturdiness to Levon’s voice. Like a rugged old farmhouse; weathered all manner of storms, yet remains unmovable
Up on Cripple Creek
An ageless, timeless, down home voice. Steeped in depth and emotion, yet also conveying a fun-time growl.
There’s deep sense of sturdiness to Levon’s voice. Like a rugged old farmhouse; weathered all manner of storms, yet remains unmovable
Up on Cripple Creek
29. Darondo
A one-of-a-kind artist; instantly identifiable by his delivery, which slid from gravelly baritone to wailing falsetto in the space of a measure.
A unique blend of A-grade funk and soul that languished in the vaults for decades. Sadly.
Sexy Mama
A one-of-a-kind artist; instantly identifiable by his delivery, which slid from gravelly baritone to wailing falsetto in the space of a measure.
A unique blend of A-grade funk and soul that languished in the vaults for decades. Sadly.
Sexy Mama
28. Neil Young
What makes Young an exceptional singer is his honesty, conscience and the love he puts into his songs.
Conveying emotional truths like very few can. That quavering lonesome tenor, that scathing snarl.
Ethereal, soulful and utterly unique
Helpless
What makes Young an exceptional singer is his honesty, conscience and the love he puts into his songs.
Conveying emotional truths like very few can. That quavering lonesome tenor, that scathing snarl.
Ethereal, soulful and utterly unique
Helpless
27. Harry Nilsson
An acrobatic vocalist who crafted impeccable, angelically-sung pop tunes. Lush, poignant, playful, fun.
A beloved cult performer, yet wilfully peculiar and elusive - Harry was one of pop music’s most precious gifts
Jump into the Fire
An acrobatic vocalist who crafted impeccable, angelically-sung pop tunes. Lush, poignant, playful, fun.
A beloved cult performer, yet wilfully peculiar and elusive - Harry was one of pop music’s most precious gifts
Jump into the Fire
26. Joni Mitchell
A voice equal parts husky, sweet, bell-clear and high - sometimes all at once. Teamed with an incredible sense of rhythm and pitch.
Ad-libs, interpretation, sage and worldly lyrics. Joni Mitchell’s an artist to her very core
California
A voice equal parts husky, sweet, bell-clear and high - sometimes all at once. Teamed with an incredible sense of rhythm and pitch.
Ad-libs, interpretation, sage and worldly lyrics. Joni Mitchell’s an artist to her very core
California
25. Van Morrison
Morrison uses his voice like an instrument; capable of nuances in tone, rhythm and pitch - as well as improvisations and abstract solos.
A master of unexpected phrasing, who lives inside the song - be it rock, folk, blues jazz or soul.
Warm Love
Morrison uses his voice like an instrument; capable of nuances in tone, rhythm and pitch - as well as improvisations and abstract solos.
A master of unexpected phrasing, who lives inside the song - be it rock, folk, blues jazz or soul.
Warm Love
24. Stevie Nicks
An unselfish vocalist who deftly highlighted the talents of her fellow musicians, instinctively knowing when to step forward or step back.
A light, breathy alto; effortless poignancy, all wrapped up in that mystical golden-hued voice.
Rhiannon
An unselfish vocalist who deftly highlighted the talents of her fellow musicians, instinctively knowing when to step forward or step back.
A light, breathy alto; effortless poignancy, all wrapped up in that mystical golden-hued voice.
Rhiannon
23. Eric Burdon
With his effortlessly low baritone and hard-edged blues delivery,
Eric always had a very powerful voice.
Raw, versatile, gritty, imposing: one of the most distinctive, and revered, vocalists of the 1960s UK blues boom.
We Gotta Get out of This Place
With his effortlessly low baritone and hard-edged blues delivery,
Eric always had a very powerful voice.
Raw, versatile, gritty, imposing: one of the most distinctive, and revered, vocalists of the 1960s UK blues boom.
We Gotta Get out of This Place
22. John Lennon
Lennon’s style was evocative, visceral and direct; showing a tremendous honesty in everything he did.
Soothing one minute, sharp-edged and raucous the next.
One of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest talents - by some distance.
Twist and Shout
Lennon’s style was evocative, visceral and direct; showing a tremendous honesty in everything he did.
Soothing one minute, sharp-edged and raucous the next.
One of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest talents - by some distance.
Twist and Shout
21. Jim Morrison
Unhinged aggression, mystical whispering, barroom hollering.
Thrilling, sensual and intense: Jim’s vocals were all mood, attitude and sex.
An original too, as he was basically a crooner, and a crooner had never fronted a rock band before
Been Down So Long
Unhinged aggression, mystical whispering, barroom hollering.
Thrilling, sensual and intense: Jim’s vocals were all mood, attitude and sex.
An original too, as he was basically a crooner, and a crooner had never fronted a rock band before
Been Down So Long
20. Billie Holiday
Never rushed, seductively calm. All elongated phrasing and improvisational mastery.
Teenage prostitute, abusive marriages, heroin addiction; enough heartache to fill a songbook - and you can hear that heartache in that extraordinary voice.
Strange Fruit
Never rushed, seductively calm. All elongated phrasing and improvisational mastery.
Teenage prostitute, abusive marriages, heroin addiction; enough heartache to fill a songbook - and you can hear that heartache in that extraordinary voice.
Strange Fruit
19. Steve Marriott
Delivering thunderous belters, convincingly handling delicate ballads - all with an extraordinary degree of soulful grit and skill for one so young.
One of the most incredible voices in the history of rock.
Tin Soldier
Delivering thunderous belters, convincingly handling delicate ballads - all with an extraordinary degree of soulful grit and skill for one so young.
One of the most incredible voices in the history of rock.
Tin Soldier
18. Paul McCartney
Precise and controlled. As gifted a balladeer as he is an agile screamer.
Beautiful, sophisticated ballads; raw, dirty larynx-shredders, he had the whole range of vocal ability.
Few voices have had the impact of McCartney’s, and few ever will
Helter Skelter
Precise and controlled. As gifted a balladeer as he is an agile screamer.
Beautiful, sophisticated ballads; raw, dirty larynx-shredders, he had the whole range of vocal ability.
Few voices have had the impact of McCartney’s, and few ever will
Helter Skelter
17. Nina Simone
Blessed with a glorious honey-coated, adenoidal, affecting voice.
She could belt out barroom blues, croon cabaret and explore jazz — sometimes all on a single record.
Nina Simone could sing anything, period
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
Blessed with a glorious honey-coated, adenoidal, affecting voice.
She could belt out barroom blues, croon cabaret and explore jazz — sometimes all on a single record.
Nina Simone could sing anything, period
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
16. Ray Charles
Fusing blues, jazz, R&B, gospel and country into something totally unique.
Growls, groans, call and responses, yelps. He could croon with the best of them, but his voice was as grimy as sin.
This man could sing - and then some.
I Can’t Stop Loving You
Fusing blues, jazz, R&B, gospel and country into something totally unique.
Growls, groans, call and responses, yelps. He could croon with the best of them, but his voice was as grimy as sin.
This man could sing - and then some.
I Can’t Stop Loving You
15. Frank Sinatra
Sinatra is all understatement; relaxation and ease. Masterful phrasing; clear baritone.
Subtle, charming and profound - the most emotionally rewarding of all American singers.
Frank was born with that voice, but life taught him how to sing.
One for My Baby
Sinatra is all understatement; relaxation and ease. Masterful phrasing; clear baritone.
Subtle, charming and profound - the most emotionally rewarding of all American singers.
Frank was born with that voice, but life taught him how to sing.
One for My Baby
14. Fred Neil
Music filled with beauty and wonder. A spectacularly deep baritone, luxuriously low and lazy - capable of bringing you to tears.
An overlooked, underrated, recalcitrant genius.
The greatest singer-songwriter you’ve probably never heard of.
Little Bit of Rain
Music filled with beauty and wonder. A spectacularly deep baritone, luxuriously low and lazy - capable of bringing you to tears.
An overlooked, underrated, recalcitrant genius.
The greatest singer-songwriter you’ve probably never heard of.
Little Bit of Rain
13. Dion
Street-tough, cool, wayward cult hero.
His vocal style is immediately identifiable; strong and rich, with blues inflected phrasing.
From doo wop on Bronx street corners, to baring his soul on acclaimed singer-songwriter albums. Dion has never stopped.
Runaround Sue
Street-tough, cool, wayward cult hero.
His vocal style is immediately identifiable; strong and rich, with blues inflected phrasing.
From doo wop on Bronx street corners, to baring his soul on acclaimed singer-songwriter albums. Dion has never stopped.
Runaround Sue
12. Elvis Presley
Hair, hips, sneer. But most importantly - that voice. A unique multi-faceted instrument it was too.
A crooner at heart, but when that extra gear was needed, it was there.
Whispers, sighs, grunts and groans; his range was exceptional.
That’s All Right (Mama)
Hair, hips, sneer. But most importantly - that voice. A unique multi-faceted instrument it was too.
A crooner at heart, but when that extra gear was needed, it was there.
Whispers, sighs, grunts and groans; his range was exceptional.
That’s All Right (Mama)
11. Tim Buckley
An enduringly complex artist gifted with a spectacular, multioctave voice, who honed a distinct hybrid of folk, jazz, R&B and funk.
Simple devotional songs of understated beauty, showcasing his rich tenor and emotive phrasing.
Dolphins
An enduringly complex artist gifted with a spectacular, multioctave voice, who honed a distinct hybrid of folk, jazz, R&B and funk.
Simple devotional songs of understated beauty, showcasing his rich tenor and emotive phrasing.
Dolphins
10. Rod Stewart
A raspy crooner who brought so much soul to rock ‘n’ roll, gliding between aching ballads and bawdy rockers.
Not blessed with a great range; but his use of inflection and authenticity marks him out as, possibly, the best rock voice of the early 1970s.
Angel
A raspy crooner who brought so much soul to rock ‘n’ roll, gliding between aching ballads and bawdy rockers.
Not blessed with a great range; but his use of inflection and authenticity marks him out as, possibly, the best rock voice of the early 1970s.
Angel
9. Little Richard
Driven by pounding piano, gospel-influenced vocals and sexually charged lyrics. Showmanship personified.
Falsetto shrieks, hollers and whoops, flamboyant garb, pure rhythmic joy.
Without Little Richard rock ‘n’ roll wouldn’t exist. It’s that simple
Lucille
Driven by pounding piano, gospel-influenced vocals and sexually charged lyrics. Showmanship personified.
Falsetto shrieks, hollers and whoops, flamboyant garb, pure rhythmic joy.
Without Little Richard rock ‘n’ roll wouldn’t exist. It’s that simple
Lucille
8. Janis Joplin
Wild and uninhibited, yet focused and deliberate.
Joplin’s gravelly rasp represented an entirely different approach for female vocalists.
More about passionate abandon, and nuanced phrasing, than perfect pitch.
Cry Baby
Wild and uninhibited, yet focused and deliberate.
Joplin’s gravelly rasp represented an entirely different approach for female vocalists.
More about passionate abandon, and nuanced phrasing, than perfect pitch.
Cry Baby
7. Curtis Mayfield
Mayfield’s soft voice brought a new level of intimacy and intensity to soul music. An incredibly clear, mellifluous falsetto. A voice of pure honey.
Songwriter, composer, musician; but it’s his unmistakable voice he’ll be remembered for
We Got to Have Peace
Mayfield’s soft voice brought a new level of intimacy and intensity to soul music. An incredibly clear, mellifluous falsetto. A voice of pure honey.
Songwriter, composer, musician; but it’s his unmistakable voice he’ll be remembered for
We Got to Have Peace
6. Johnny Cash
His sound was unmistakable; a flexible blend of country, rock ‘n’ roll and folk music. Known for his rich, stentorian baritone - one of the most recognisable sounds in music.
If Mount Rushmore was a voice, it would be Johnny Cash’s voice
God’s Gonna Cut You Down
His sound was unmistakable; a flexible blend of country, rock ‘n’ roll and folk music. Known for his rich, stentorian baritone - one of the most recognisable sounds in music.
If Mount Rushmore was a voice, it would be Johnny Cash’s voice
God’s Gonna Cut You Down
5. Sam Cooke
He had an incomparable voice. Power, phrasing, finesse; he could sing anything and make it work.
Possessing an incredible natural talent and effortless silk-smooth delivery that has never been surpassed.
Sam Cooke was born to sing.
A Change is Gonna Come
He had an incomparable voice. Power, phrasing, finesse; he could sing anything and make it work.
Possessing an incredible natural talent and effortless silk-smooth delivery that has never been surpassed.
Sam Cooke was born to sing.
A Change is Gonna Come
4. Marvin Gaye
There is no sound quite Ike Marvin Gaye. Soft, gentle, yet powerful - and always from the heart.
A four-octave vocal range that could glide between simple, subtle and lush. That’s what makes him immortal; the emotion that he evokes.
What's Going On
There is no sound quite Ike Marvin Gaye. Soft, gentle, yet powerful - and always from the heart.
A four-octave vocal range that could glide between simple, subtle and lush. That’s what makes him immortal; the emotion that he evokes.
What's Going On
3. Stevie Wonder
There’s a richness to his voice. An almost supernatural confidence and sense of self.
Stevie’s lack of sight must heighten his other senses. His ability to imagine and feel; making his music very visual, very graphic and very moving
He's Misstra Know-It-All
There’s a richness to his voice. An almost supernatural confidence and sense of self.
Stevie’s lack of sight must heighten his other senses. His ability to imagine and feel; making his music very visual, very graphic and very moving
He's Misstra Know-It-All
2. Al Green
One of the last of the great soul singers. Mouthwatering vocals, pristine falsetto, sitting at that perfect point between romance and sex.
Joyful, vulnerable, soulful. There’s no doubting that Green means every word and syllable he’s intoning
How Can You Mend...
One of the last of the great soul singers. Mouthwatering vocals, pristine falsetto, sitting at that perfect point between romance and sex.
Joyful, vulnerable, soulful. There’s no doubting that Green means every word and syllable he’s intoning
How Can You Mend...
1. Aretha Franklin
Aretha’s voice had everything; power, technique, honesty, total confidence. You know something that God made, and Aretha was a gift from God.
When it comes to expressing yourself through song, no-one can touch her.
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Aretha’s voice had everything; power, technique, honesty, total confidence. You know something that God made, and Aretha was a gift from God.
When it comes to expressing yourself through song, no-one can touch her.
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
