I recently decided that this site needs a lists page, so over the next few months, I’m planning to publish lists one at a time. I’m not trying to be objective with these – I regard them as a list of favourites. It’s impossible to achieve objective rankings in any music list, let alone one this broad, so consider it a list of ten vocalists I enjoy. I’m concentrating on post-1960 popular music, so I’m not considering people like Ella Fitzgerald, Luciano Pavarotti, or Frank Sinatra.
Presenting, in alphabetical order:
Sandy Denny
Fairport Convention Denny attained prominence with Fairport Convention, fronting their ephocal 1968 and 1969 albums with her commanding yet expressive voice. After leaving Fairport Convention, she embarked on an overlooked solo career, which ended prematurely after her struggles with drugs and alcohol.
The Queen Of Soul was a commanding vocalist, a force of nature whirling through standards like ‘Respect’. Bonus points for standing in for Luciano Pavarotti in the 1998 Grammys, and delivering ‘Nessun dorma’ (and 1998’s ‘A Rose Is Still A Rose’ was a great comeback effort).
Elizabeth Fraser
Cocteau Twins The ethereal voice behind the Cocteau Twins, Liz Fraser gave their best work an other-worldly beauty. She was a sought after guest vocalist, with her best known performance on Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’.
Gaye started his career in Motown as a session drummer. He became a headliner, notable for his duets with Tammi Terrell and albums like What’s Goin’ On and Let’s Get It On. Gaye had three distinct voices – according to Wikipedia, “his smooth, sweet tenor; a growling rasp; and an unreal falsetto”. He became expert at multi-tracking himself – all the vocals on ‘What’s Goin’ On’ are performed by Gaye.
Grande is the natural successor to the divas of the 1980s and 1990s, like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, who had great voices but were often stuck with sentimental and straightforward material. Grande’s effortlessly beautiful voice is never overbearing, has more upbeat material to work with, and doesn’t resort to histrionics so often.
Al Green
The Reverend Green’s voice could soar from a likeable tenor into a effortless falsetto, effortlessly beautiful, and carnal and spiritual at the same time.
John Lennon
The Beatles All of The Beatles could sing well, but Lennon was the vocal star with his engaging voice. Paul McCartney was technically the better singer, with a bigger range, but Lennon had the ability to infuse his voice with feeling, often his sardonic wit. George Martin stated that Lennon was masterful at double tracking his vocals, a technique that sounded great on psychedelic records like ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Just like his records with The Beatles, his solo career captured diverse vocal moods, from the rawness of ‘Cold Turkey’ to the smoothness of ‘Woman’.
Freddie Mercury
Queen Mercury was a natural showman, with a rich, three octave voice and an unusual vibrato. While he was the vocal star, his Queen colleagues Brian May and Roger Taylor were also strong singers, and the three of them combined beautifully for big sounding and elaborate harmonies.
Faith No More Patton’s fearless approach to music making helped him explore the twisted potential of his voice. While he started with the rap-rock of Faith No More’s The Real Thing, Patton’s subsequent work has often ventured into the avant-garde, giving him the opportunity to experiment with his voice. He’s noted for his extreme vocal range of 6 and a half octaves. Unusually, he experienced a marked change in his voice during his recording career, dropping from an adolescent squeal on 1989’s The Real Thing to a guttural growler on 1992’s Angel Dust.
The Beach Boys The Beach Boys had an ensemble of excellent vocalists – Brian Wilson’s falsetto and Mike Love’s bass were both features of their sound. But it was the gorgeous, pure mid-range of Carl Wilson that emerged as their strongest instrument, anchoring key songs like ‘God Only Knows’ and ‘Good Vibrations’. He even made moments of the tacky late period hit ‘Kokomo’ worthwhile.
Graham Fyfe is probably the only music blogger to appreciate Neil Diamond and Ariana Grande. Aphoristic Album Reviews features reviews and blog posts across a growing spectrum of popular music.
43 Comments
Very nice, diverse list!
Wow you cover a lot here. Never seen a Beach Boy, Mike Patton and Ariana Grande in the same list before
Would make for an interesting vocal ensemble, it’s a shame Carl died when Grande was in nursery school.
Great list. Carl Wison is an excellent choice. That song alone gets him in… You have a great range in the list Aphoristical.
I’ve been looking at a few lists like Rolling Stone, and Carl isn’t mentioned much. Maybe votes get split between the group.
I did a post (in fact two) on this topic a while back so easy to regurgitate that list. Like you, I make no claim to these being an objective ‘best,” just my personal favorites.
1 – John Lennon
2 – Bruce Springsteen
3 – B.B. King
4 – Stevie Wonder
5 – Gregg Allman
6 – Janis Joplin
7 – Mick Jagger
8 – Ray Charles
9 – Bob Dylan
10 – Elvis Presley
We only have one in common. I feel like I always take Wonder’s singing for granted, like he’s so good that I don’t notice, it that makes sense.
Yeah. And I think we are separated not only by continents but also generation. Mine leans heavily towards classic rock. And I am rethinking that I should include Aretha.
Mine’s pretty heavy on 1960s and 1970s too, 7/10 are from those decades. It’s just that you go earlier and I go later than those two decades.
Yes I dig Elvis, thank you ver-uh much.
I don’t know if he’s transcended generations as well as say, The Beatles or Johnny Cash.
Probably not. But to the point of your post, still a great vocalist.
Fraser has such a distinctive voice, could say that about all your picks! I half expect Sandy. Surprised Ariana Grande is on here though I remember you enjoy contemporary pop. Some of my personal favorite post-1960 male vocalists include Leonard Cohen,Johnny Cash, and Ric Ocasek(The Cars). Three females singers I appreciate are Enya, Kate Bush and Shirley Manson. On another day I might give you a different answer.
Kate Bush was on my shortlist, and I thought about The Cars’ Ben Orr.
(Not in any order)
Jim Morrison
Janis Joplin
Elvis Presley
Felix Cavalieri (The Rascals)
Roger Daltrey
Robert Plant
Alan Clarke (The Hollies)
Eric Burdon (The Animals)
Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)
Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs)
(Bonus)
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
Jimi Hendrix
Jack Bruce (Cream)
Paul McCartney
Johnny Rivers
Great list, and love the variety. I’ll have to think about a full list, but in terms of female vocalists have always loved Maria McKee from the short lived ill fated Lone Justice plus some solo works. Was just listening to some Janis Joplin on another blog and while not my favorite I think she had a great blues voice. Completely agree with Aretha.
I like Janis Joplin’s voice, although wish she had a deeper back-catalogue to experience it on. Never hear Lone Justice at all, just know the name – what are they like?
They came out of LA in the mid 80s – their self titled first album could be called cow punk – at the nexus of roots rock and country. Maria McKee had that classic female country voice but also could belt out the rockers. Check it out if you can. Not sure what happened – by the second album Shelter she was the only original member left and it was more mainstream / alternative rock sounding. Band broke up after that. She has put out some solo albums over the years that sadly I have not followed – might look them up now. Just think she has a really beautiful unique voice.
Arethaaaaa!
Franklinnnnn!
That Marvin Gaye vocal has so many knocks and pops…..they couldn’t put up a pop screen?! Still it didn’t a dime! What a vocal
A fine list of chanters, as my gran would say. I think my own list would be heavy on vocalists from the last 30 years… but let’s see, shall we.
Sinatra
Scott Weiland
Mark Lanegan
Johnny Cash
Perry Farrell
Neko Case
Jim James
Josh Homme
Chris Goss
Shannon Hoon
I don’t actually know that last two from that list, but the ones that I really like as vocalists and considered for this list are Case, Lanegan, and James.
Chris Goss is from Masters of Reality. He’s the only constant there. Incredible voice. Shannon Hoon was Blind Melon’s unique voice (incredible lyricist, too). If you don’t know either, I’d recommend jumping into Sunrise on the Sufferbus (Masters) and Soup (Blind Melon). Exceptional albums.
My wife has the Blind Melon album, just didn’t recognise the name.
Great list, especially with the very underrated Elizabeth Fraser!!! I would only add Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Nico, David Byrne, and maybe the Shangri-Las (their harmonies are what makes them so amazing, I shall lump them in as one!), but your list is comprehensive as is!
Pretty hard to be comprehensive with ten people, but thank you. Bowie’s a bit like Lennon – not amazing technically, but instantly recognisable and lots of charisma.
Great to see Patton and Liz Fraser in there. But you have just stunned me with your Grande inclusion…
It might look like a silly choice in a few years time, but I like her as a diva type voice who doesn’t sing boring torch songs all the time.
Alison Moyet and Annie Lennox
Always interesting what moves people . I was just enjoying some Al Green a while ago.
Let’s stay together, CB.
I’m here for ya. So many good voices out there.. Billie Holiday, Otis Redding, Johnny Hartman, Jack Bruce, Van Morrison, Merle Haggard, Rick Danko … just the tip of a big iceberg for me.
Nice mix of vocalists – Ms. Fraser was new to me this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on a top 10 list for me in the future!
Mrs J and I have been debating this for some time……….and this is after we omitted Eliza Carthy, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Thom Yorke, Christine Collister, Paul Rodgers, Jennifer Warnes, Christy Moore, Damien Rice, John Lennon, Robert Plant, Linda Thompson.
Sandy Denny (the best)
James Dewar (the greatest white soul / blues singer – check out About to Begin)
Amy Winehouse (every performance from her heart and unique)
Jeff Buckley (the chameleon who can sing every style brilliantly)
June Tabor (the best interpreter of folk and contemporary songs since Sandy)
Michael Jackson (lifts every song he sings, even the poor material….leaving aside the personal issues!)
Adele (great performer and singer of rock, soul, torch songs and excellent covers)
Luke Jackson (a friend from Toronto said OK guitarist, good lyric writer, great singer – check the live album Solo Duo Trio)
Dusty Springfield (great white soul singer, subtle, great quality)
David Bowie (technically so-so but distinctive, confident and the voice a key part of so many songs)
Thanks for you and your wife for submitting your list. I should probably go through and reformat this list sometime – maybe break it into female and male. Dusty Springfield would have a really good chance of making the female list. I think. I always mean to check out June Tabor since I generally like folk-rock. and I’ve just been playing some James Dewar.
I didn’t think that I ever did a list on this post but I just looked and I did do one. That’s a good suggestion to do separate male and female lists because on the list I made there was only one girl and all the rest are boys, which is weird because I like a lot of female singers, although they’re usually not the same ones that everybody else likes. A lot of the ones that everyone thinks are great I don’t think much of. For instance, Dusty Springfield and Sandy Denny hardly even register with me. Yet so many people think real highly of them. All I know is it’s gonna be mostly people from out of the past and nobody current , Because I really cant stand the singing styles of today. I think they’re horrifying. lol.
With June Tabor, if you want 2 tracks only, try And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (I can’t get through her version without blubbing) and Finisterre from Ashore. If 2 albums, the 2 with Oysterband particularly Ragged Kingdom, which sounds like it was engineered and mixed with fairy dust even on the PJ Harvey and Dylan covers and the great version of Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Jimmy Dewar is massively underrated and, for a rock and blues singer, he had am amazing soul timbre…… and perfect for seduction – About to Begin, For Earth Below, Daydream……..
Not really in order, but kind of.
Men: top tier
Jim Morrison (The Doors)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)
Elvis Presley
Jimi Hendrix
Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
Richard Butler (The Psychedelic Furs)
Roger Daltrey (The Who)
Harry Nilsson
Jack Bruce (Cream)
second tier:
Eric Burdon (The Animals)
Alan Clarke (The Hollies)
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
Fats Domino
Johnny Rivers
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Levi Stubbs (The Four Tops)
Al Green
Eric Clapton
Women: top tier
Janis Joplin
Deborah Harry
Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)
Joni Mitchell
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
Polly Jean Harvey (PJ Harvey)
Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Ella Fitzgerald
Aretha Franklin
Pat Benatar
second tier:
Anita O’Day
Billie Holiday
Kim Deal (The Breeders, The Amps)
Enya
Kate Bush
Barbra Streisand
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Diana Ross
Dionne Warwick
I forgot a whole bunch of them. I gotta add these ones;
David Bowie
Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers)
Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
Gordon Lightfoot
Stevie Wonder
Tommy James
I also forgot Paul Rodgers and Chrissie Hynde.
I’m starting to think Carl Wilson too . I’ve been listening to a lot of Beach Boys stuff that I never really listened to very carefully before, and to tell the truth I never was quite sure who was singing on all the Beach Boys records. At first I just thought it was always Brian, except for the deep voiced songs. I would never know when it was Carl or Dennis singing. So but now I think there’s no doubt he was great. Or maybe it’s just because he sings on my favorite ones.
Dennis is pretty wobbly but I always enjoy him anyway. Carl is the best singer in the band though – he didn’t really start singing lead until about 1965 because he was so young.
Aphoristic Album Reviews is almost entirely written by one person.
Graham Fyfe is probably the only music blogger to appreciate both Neil Diamond and Ariana Grande. Based in Fleet Street (New Zealand), he's been writing this blog since around 2000. Aphoristic Album Reviews features reviews and blog posts across a growing spectrum of popular music.
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Very nice, diverse list!
Wow you cover a lot here. Never seen a Beach Boy, Mike Patton and Ariana Grande in the same list before
Would make for an interesting vocal ensemble, it’s a shame Carl died when Grande was in nursery school.
Great list. Carl Wison is an excellent choice. That song alone gets him in… You have a great range in the list Aphoristical.
I’ve been looking at a few lists like Rolling Stone, and Carl isn’t mentioned much. Maybe votes get split between the group.
I did a post (in fact two) on this topic a while back so easy to regurgitate that list. Like you, I make no claim to these being an objective ‘best,” just my personal favorites.
1 – John Lennon
2 – Bruce Springsteen
3 – B.B. King
4 – Stevie Wonder
5 – Gregg Allman
6 – Janis Joplin
7 – Mick Jagger
8 – Ray Charles
9 – Bob Dylan
10 – Elvis Presley
We only have one in common. I feel like I always take Wonder’s singing for granted, like he’s so good that I don’t notice, it that makes sense.
Yeah. And I think we are separated not only by continents but also generation. Mine leans heavily towards classic rock. And I am rethinking that I should include Aretha.
Mine’s pretty heavy on 1960s and 1970s too, 7/10 are from those decades. It’s just that you go earlier and I go later than those two decades.
Yes I dig Elvis, thank you ver-uh much.
I don’t know if he’s transcended generations as well as say, The Beatles or Johnny Cash.
Probably not. But to the point of your post, still a great vocalist.
Fraser has such a distinctive voice, could say that about all your picks! I half expect Sandy. Surprised Ariana Grande is on here though I remember you enjoy contemporary pop. Some of my personal favorite post-1960 male vocalists include Leonard Cohen,Johnny Cash, and Ric Ocasek(The Cars). Three females singers I appreciate are Enya, Kate Bush and Shirley Manson. On another day I might give you a different answer.
Kate Bush was on my shortlist, and I thought about The Cars’ Ben Orr.
(Not in any order)
Jim Morrison
Janis Joplin
Elvis Presley
Felix Cavalieri (The Rascals)
Roger Daltrey
Robert Plant
Alan Clarke (The Hollies)
Eric Burdon (The Animals)
Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)
Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs)
(Bonus)
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
Jimi Hendrix
Jack Bruce (Cream)
Paul McCartney
Johnny Rivers
Great list, and love the variety. I’ll have to think about a full list, but in terms of female vocalists have always loved Maria McKee from the short lived ill fated Lone Justice plus some solo works. Was just listening to some Janis Joplin on another blog and while not my favorite I think she had a great blues voice. Completely agree with Aretha.
I like Janis Joplin’s voice, although wish she had a deeper back-catalogue to experience it on. Never hear Lone Justice at all, just know the name – what are they like?
They came out of LA in the mid 80s – their self titled first album could be called cow punk – at the nexus of roots rock and country. Maria McKee had that classic female country voice but also could belt out the rockers. Check it out if you can. Not sure what happened – by the second album Shelter she was the only original member left and it was more mainstream / alternative rock sounding. Band broke up after that. She has put out some solo albums over the years that sadly I have not followed – might look them up now. Just think she has a really beautiful unique voice.
Arethaaaaa!
Franklinnnnn!
That Marvin Gaye vocal has so many knocks and pops…..they couldn’t put up a pop screen?! Still it didn’t a dime! What a vocal
A fine list of chanters, as my gran would say. I think my own list would be heavy on vocalists from the last 30 years… but let’s see, shall we.
Sinatra
Scott Weiland
Mark Lanegan
Johnny Cash
Perry Farrell
Neko Case
Jim James
Josh Homme
Chris Goss
Shannon Hoon
I don’t actually know that last two from that list, but the ones that I really like as vocalists and considered for this list are Case, Lanegan, and James.
Chris Goss is from Masters of Reality. He’s the only constant there. Incredible voice. Shannon Hoon was Blind Melon’s unique voice (incredible lyricist, too). If you don’t know either, I’d recommend jumping into Sunrise on the Sufferbus (Masters) and Soup (Blind Melon). Exceptional albums.
My wife has the Blind Melon album, just didn’t recognise the name.
Great list, especially with the very underrated Elizabeth Fraser!!! I would only add Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Nico, David Byrne, and maybe the Shangri-Las (their harmonies are what makes them so amazing, I shall lump them in as one!), but your list is comprehensive as is!
Pretty hard to be comprehensive with ten people, but thank you. Bowie’s a bit like Lennon – not amazing technically, but instantly recognisable and lots of charisma.
Great to see Patton and Liz Fraser in there. But you have just stunned me with your Grande inclusion…
It might look like a silly choice in a few years time, but I like her as a diva type voice who doesn’t sing boring torch songs all the time.
Alison Moyet and Annie Lennox
Always interesting what moves people . I was just enjoying some Al Green a while ago.
Let’s stay together, CB.
I’m here for ya. So many good voices out there.. Billie Holiday, Otis Redding, Johnny Hartman, Jack Bruce, Van Morrison, Merle Haggard, Rick Danko … just the tip of a big iceberg for me.
Nice mix of vocalists – Ms. Fraser was new to me this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on a top 10 list for me in the future!
Mrs J and I have been debating this for some time……….and this is after we omitted Eliza Carthy, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Thom Yorke, Christine Collister, Paul Rodgers, Jennifer Warnes, Christy Moore, Damien Rice, John Lennon, Robert Plant, Linda Thompson.
Sandy Denny (the best)
James Dewar (the greatest white soul / blues singer – check out About to Begin)
Amy Winehouse (every performance from her heart and unique)
Jeff Buckley (the chameleon who can sing every style brilliantly)
June Tabor (the best interpreter of folk and contemporary songs since Sandy)
Michael Jackson (lifts every song he sings, even the poor material….leaving aside the personal issues!)
Adele (great performer and singer of rock, soul, torch songs and excellent covers)
Luke Jackson (a friend from Toronto said OK guitarist, good lyric writer, great singer – check the live album Solo Duo Trio)
Dusty Springfield (great white soul singer, subtle, great quality)
David Bowie (technically so-so but distinctive, confident and the voice a key part of so many songs)
Thanks for you and your wife for submitting your list. I should probably go through and reformat this list sometime – maybe break it into female and male. Dusty Springfield would have a really good chance of making the female list. I think. I always mean to check out June Tabor since I generally like folk-rock. and I’ve just been playing some James Dewar.
I didn’t think that I ever did a list on this post but I just looked and I did do one. That’s a good suggestion to do separate male and female lists because on the list I made there was only one girl and all the rest are boys, which is weird because I like a lot of female singers, although they’re usually not the same ones that everybody else likes. A lot of the ones that everyone thinks are great I don’t think much of. For instance, Dusty Springfield and Sandy Denny hardly even register with me. Yet so many people think real highly of them. All I know is it’s gonna be mostly people from out of the past and nobody current , Because I really cant stand the singing styles of today. I think they’re horrifying. lol.
With June Tabor, if you want 2 tracks only, try And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (I can’t get through her version without blubbing) and Finisterre from Ashore. If 2 albums, the 2 with Oysterband particularly Ragged Kingdom, which sounds like it was engineered and mixed with fairy dust even on the PJ Harvey and Dylan covers and the great version of Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Jimmy Dewar is massively underrated and, for a rock and blues singer, he had am amazing soul timbre…… and perfect for seduction – About to Begin, For Earth Below, Daydream……..
Not really in order, but kind of.
Men: top tier
Jim Morrison (The Doors)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)
Elvis Presley
Jimi Hendrix
Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
Richard Butler (The Psychedelic Furs)
Roger Daltrey (The Who)
Harry Nilsson
Jack Bruce (Cream)
second tier:
Eric Burdon (The Animals)
Alan Clarke (The Hollies)
Pete Ham (Badfinger)
Fats Domino
Johnny Rivers
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Levi Stubbs (The Four Tops)
Al Green
Eric Clapton
Women: top tier
Janis Joplin
Deborah Harry
Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)
Joni Mitchell
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
Polly Jean Harvey (PJ Harvey)
Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Ella Fitzgerald
Aretha Franklin
Pat Benatar
second tier:
Anita O’Day
Billie Holiday
Kim Deal (The Breeders, The Amps)
Enya
Kate Bush
Barbra Streisand
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Diana Ross
Dionne Warwick
I forgot a whole bunch of them. I gotta add these ones;
David Bowie
Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers)
Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
Gordon Lightfoot
Stevie Wonder
Tommy James
I also forgot Paul Rodgers and Chrissie Hynde.
I’m starting to think Carl Wilson too . I’ve been listening to a lot of Beach Boys stuff that I never really listened to very carefully before, and to tell the truth I never was quite sure who was singing on all the Beach Boys records. At first I just thought it was always Brian, except for the deep voiced songs. I would never know when it was Carl or Dennis singing. So but now I think there’s no doubt he was great. Or maybe it’s just because he sings on my favorite ones.
Dennis is pretty wobbly but I always enjoy him anyway. Carl is the best singer in the band though – he didn’t really start singing lead until about 1965 because he was so young.