So who was the greatest vocalist of the 20th Century?

Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 20 January 2006

Impossible to answer, of course. However, I can say my favourite vocalists and they'll be of no surprise to anybody.

Female: Shirley Collins
Male: Robert Wyatt

I also think (in no order) Mary Black, Anne Briggs, Vishti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Mary Capin-Carpenter, Sandy Denny, Peter Hamill, Celia Humphries, Kirsty MacColl, Jacqui McShee, Maddy Prior, Paul Rodgers, Richard Sinclair, Melanie Safka and Dusty Sprinfield are excellent.
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by PJT
Male has to be Freddie Mercury, closely followed by Luciano Pavarotti.

The Ladies would be between Maie Callas, Ella Fitzgerald/Kate Bush and Karen Carpenter

Pete
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by Steve Bull
Perhaps Channel 4 will run a poll/list programme and the winners will no doubt be Will Young and Chavs Aloud.

Steve Roll Eyes
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Malky:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ROTF:
please can you recommend what you think is Phil at his best
___________________________________________________

Closing the Dead's October 1990 Wembley show, taking lead vocal on The Band's 'The Weight'


Thanks - I'll look out for it.
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by graham55
Steve

I'd like to play in bed with Chavs Aloud. I don't suppose it'd cost much, as long as I invited a TV crew along.

G
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by dsteady:
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
quote:
Originally posted by dsteady:
Clearly, it's Phil Lesh.
dn'l

dteady, please can you recommend what you think is Phil at his best. I've got most of the Grateful Dead albums up to Blues for Allah.
Thanks, Rotf


Rotf, Sorry, I should have included a smiley with that comment. I too love Phil Lesh and his contributions to music, but I made the comment with full irony, since, I think, even the most diehard Phil phan must admit that his voice is pretty damn shakey. But, to answer your question I'd say that much of his recent Phil and Friends output is very good. "There and Back Aagin" stands out, but as with all things Grateful Dead, it's best to see him live.
daniel


I did get to check out some samples from There and Back Again. Phil's voice sounds stronger than I remember, I particularly liked Celebration, Midnight Train and Welcome To The Underground. I'll try to get hold of the album - thanks for the recommendation. I saw the Grateful Dead only once around about 1969/70 and I was amazed at the time.
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by o.j.
quote:
Originally posted by Earwicker:
quote:
Originally posted by o.j.:
I "forgot" to mention Freddie,

How could you? He was by far and away the greatest singer of the 20th century. An absolutely incomparable talent.

EW
HY Ew !
I wrote : i"forgot"to mention Freddie
I did N O T write:i forgot to mention Freddie

you see the "little" difference Winker

O.J.
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by o.j.:
I wrote : i"forgot"to mention Freddie
I did N O T write:i forgot to mention Freddie

you see the "little" difference Winker

Ah, it all makes sense now. Phew!

EW
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Jono 13
Male: Nick Drake
Ian Curtis
Matt Johnson

Female: Suzanne Vega
Dusty Springfield
Kate Bush

Jono

PS I do tend to find myself agreeing with the anti-Dylan stuff earlier. Very over-rated in the talent department, but not in his influence over other far better performers.
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Lo Fi Si
No votes for Sandy Denny then???? Or even Nico?

Agree about Dylan's vocal ability but without doubt the greatest lyricist in popular music.

Simon
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Mark Tschudin
I second an earlier vote for Emma Kirkby for classical.

Anne Sofie von Otter also for classical - or if you haven't heard it already, I suggest you listen to ASvO meets Elvis Costello on the album "For the Stars". It is superb!

I also second earlier votes for Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen!!

For Jazz, I recently enjoy Cassandra Wilson's voice a lot.

And how about John Lee Hooker for Blues!

And for the German speaking part of the forum: Konstantin Wecker!

Mark
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Tschudin:
Anne Sofie von Otter also for classical - or if you haven't heard it already, I suggest you listen to ASvO meets Elvis Costello on the album "For the Stars". It is superb!

I agree about the singer, not sure about the choice of music though. Try this:

Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Mark Tschudin
Thank you Earwicker, I will.

BTW, have we had any votes for Joni Mitchell yet? I think she deserves a mention.

Mark
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Tschudin:
BTW, have we had any votes for Joni Mitchell yet? I think she deserves a mention.

Mark


Certainly does - still no mention of Roger Chapman or Annie Haslam.
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
still no mention of Roger Chapman

That's because he's got an unpleasant voice.

EW
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Earwicker:
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
still no mention of Roger Chapman

That's because he's got an unpleasant voice.

EW


Not as unpleasent as Freddie Mercury.
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Diode100
ok, if we're not really being serious, how about:-

Frankie Miller
James Carr
Terry Reid
Al Green

Natalie Merchant
Julie london
Etta James
Randy Crawford
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
Not as unpleasent as Freddie Mercury.

Correct. (Phew, I was beginning to think this forum was inhabited by a bunch of Queen fans!)

EW
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Tschudin:
BTW, have we had any votes for Joni Mitchell yet? I think she deserves a mention.

Mark


Certainly does - still no mention of Roger Chapman or Annie Haslam.


I thought I had nominated Annie Haslem but on reflection I was merely recommending someone on another thread to check her out - Annie certainly deserves some recognition here.
Posted on: 25 January 2006 by pe-zulu
Kathleen Ferrier, no doubt.
Posted on: 25 January 2006 by Earwicker
quote:
Originally posted by pe-zulu:
Kathleen Ferrier, no doubt.

A bit limited compared with, say, Janet Baker wouldn't you say?

EW
Posted on: 25 January 2006 by Chris Kelly
Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, for the vocal on "God Only Knows" if nothing else
Posted on: 26 January 2006 by erik scothron
For every vote for Frank Sinatra I offer Nat King Cole - better effortlessly.
Posted on: 27 January 2006 by Sloop John B
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
bob dylan sounds like a cross between a strangled cat and a snear by someone with a partial face paralysis I am astonished that even his most devoted fan would suggest he was the vocalist of the centuary. He wrote a few good songs then murdered them by performing them. My advice: Listen to a properly trained opera singer live for a few minutes and then listen to dylan's thin, sad, impoverished two dimensional cartoon character whine and you may change your mind. I quite like his song 'hurricane' but mainly for Scarlet River. on violin.



It's Dylans phrasing and emphasis, I like. The phrasing of a blues singer, influenced by folk and Celtic traditonal songs.

I did differentiate between best and ones I like the most. It could be a ethnic throwback, there is a lot Dylan has in common with sean nos singers, I like this type of approach. Opera does as much for me as damp loo roll but I don't doubt the skill and virtuosity involved, just doesn't involve me.

Last word to Bob

In ceremonies of the horsemen, Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks, Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.
Posted on: 27 January 2006 by MichaelC
You are all wrong.

Must be Lemmy Big Grin