Best ever female vocalist

Volvoclaret · Post by **Volvoclaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:48 pm

This Friday it will be Vera Lynn closely followed by Gracie Fields.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:50 pm

Chrissie Hynde
Debbie Harry
Gladys Knight
Joan Armatrading
Annie Lennox
Amy
Gaga
Nina Simone

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:05 pm

I guess it depends on what sort of music you like but........ in no order

Sandy Denny
Maddy Prior
Etta James
Emmylou Harris
Grace Slick
June Tabor
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Thompson
Norma Waterson

Amongst recent/current performers
Juie Fowlis
Olivia Chaney

Best ever female artist= Joni Mitchel. Shes was a good singer but her greater strength is song writing and guitar accompaniment.

Plenty more terrific female artists who I really like but wouldn't say they were absolute tops as singers.

Mala591 · Post by **Mala591** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:11 pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0wSuKUJMfxU

Hey! Don't forget my favourite

Brenda Holloway

EarbyClaret · Post by **EarbyClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:11 pm

As has been said very much an age/era/taste issue - has Kate bush been mentioned yet?

Patti Smith
Grace Slick
Beth Orton
Sandy Denny
Siouxsie Sioux
Debbie Harry
Dolores O'Riordan
Beth Gibbons
P J Harvey

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:13 pm

My nominations would be:

Dusty Springfield
Agnetha and Anni-Frid (ABBA)
Céline Dion
Whitney Houston
Aretha Franklin
Montserrat Caballé
Ella Fitzgerald
Dame Shirley
Adele
Lady Gaga

SalisburyClaret · Post by **SalisburyClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:25 pm

There was a documentary on this a few years back -
In popular music in the last century, the top two were Ella Fitzgerald and Joni Mitchell as they had the widest octave range.

Hard to argue with - both superb vocalists

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Wed May 06, 2020 10:47 pm

Barbra Streisand

No contest

ralphdpomeroy · Post by **ralphdpomeroy** » Thu May 07, 2020 12:07 am

Martha Reeves
Shirley Ellis
PP Arnold

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Thu May 07, 2020 12:13 am

i vote for a cave girl/woman, or some bronze age female wailing away over a fire, or some modern day european village harmoinst over any of the mainstream dross . all the ones above are just fodder via the record companies pumped into the mainstream.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu May 07, 2020 12:48 am

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 12:13 am
i vote for a cave girl/woman, or some bronze age female wailing away over a fire, or some modern day european village harmoinst over any of the mainstream dross . all the ones above are just fodder via the record companies pumped into the mainstream.

Are there any performers that you do rate?

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Thu May 07, 2020 3:18 am

I don’t think Bette Midler got a mention. Barbara Streisand obviously top though. Unbelievable voice.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Thu May 07, 2020 3:23 am

And what about Helen Shapiro?

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Thu May 07, 2020 3:24 am

And Dionne Warwick?

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Thu May 07, 2020 3:30 am

dermotdermot wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 3:18 am
I don’t think Bette Midler got a mention. Barbara Streisand obviously top though. Unbelievable voice.

IMHO .... Barbara Streisand is no more than half-way up the 3rd Division when it comes to Female vocalists of the last 100 years !

spadesclaret · Post by **spadesclaret** » Thu May 07, 2020 5:02 am

Dolly Parton. Unique voice. Instantly recognisable.

Perhaps not the 'best ever' but certainly a favourite of mine.

Guitargeorge · Post by **Guitargeorge** » Thu May 07, 2020 6:18 am

Joan Baez for me every time

williamjblazkowicz · Post by **williamjblazkowicz** » Thu May 07, 2020 7:31 am

Some great shouts on this thread already. Purely to offer something different to the table, I'll suggest Sia. I've always liked her voice. Best ever vocalist is pushing it in her case but she's one of the better ones today, in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBnLUhWB7g

Brucefanclaret · Post by **Brucefanclaret** » Thu May 07, 2020 7:51 am

Aretha Franklin
Nina Simone
Mavis Staples
Ella Fitzgerald
Annie Lennox
Billie Holliday
Dusty Springfield
Grace Slick

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Thu May 07, 2020 8:03 am

Karen Carpenter.Linda Ronstadt.Aretha Franklin.Norah Jones.

claretonthecoast1882 · Post by **claretonthecoast1882** » Thu May 07, 2020 8:12 am

Amy Winehouse
Roberta Flack
Tracy Chapman
Dolores O'Riordan

djt2006 · Post by **djt2006** » Thu May 07, 2020 8:22 am

Emmylou Harris ... though in my opinion some of her best work was as a backing or duet singer.

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Thu May 07, 2020 9:11 am

Guitargeorge wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 6:18 am
Joan Baez for me every time

Yes, she's up there, cant think why I missed her off the list I did yesterday evening
Super pure crystal clear voice on those 60s recordings (many live) -mainly British/US folk songs /Spanish songs/hymns etc.
In the 70s, voice more mature and still excellent; "Diamonds and Rust" a fab album and really top (autobiographical) title song that she wrote herself & so full of emotion.
Beautiful woman too in appearance and spirit.

redwasp · Post by **redwasp** » Thu May 07, 2020 11:05 am

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and there are some good shouts on here, but Barbara Streisand 3rd division wow SERIOUSLY.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Thu May 07, 2020 11:40 am

Only quickly scanned the thread but I don't think I have seen a mention of 2 of my favourites:

Ann Wilson from Heart who has a powerhouse of a voice.

And Alison Moyet who has a very distinctive sound.

Many of my other favourite female vocalists are don't possess what you would class as a good voice but I like their output - Louise Wener from Sleeper and Wendy James from Transvision Vamp.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Thu May 07, 2020 11:48 am

djt2006 wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 8:22 am
Emmylou Harris ... though in my opinion some of her best work was as a backing or duet singer.

" Love Hurts " with Gram Parsons, springs to mind ...

Billyblah · Post by **Billyblah** » Fri May 08, 2020 12:16 am

Another one for Sandy Denny.

She recorded albums as a solo artist and in bands. One of her finest moments was writing and recording "who knows where the time goes" with Fairport Convention

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Fri May 08, 2020 12:27 am

some great names in the total list I know but am surprised at how many I have never heard of being touted as best ever female vocalist, have obviously had a sheltered life. I guess it's going to be one of those questions that never gets answered except by everyone individually.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Fri May 08, 2020 4:56 am

no such thing as best as there are no rules to judge it by, nobody has mentioned Aguilera who is perhaps the most technically gifted singer of the last 20 years !

Qudos to whowever mentioned Eva Cassidy, she was speicial

Lots of those I would mention have already been mentioned, I'll go a different way and mention someone who had a distinctive voice and I used to enjoy listening to - Lisa Stansfield !

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Fri May 08, 2020 5:56 am

KateR wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 6:22 pm
I just knew as I pressed submit that some wag would pick up on that one

A little night fishing?....

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Fri May 08, 2020 2:01 pm

and the stalker bites again, but then again everyone just knew he would.

Barry_Chuckle · Post by **Barry_Chuckle** » Fri May 08, 2020 2:14 pm

Carol Kenyon
Sade

Both great vocalists

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Fri May 08, 2020 2:22 pm

I like a bit of roughness in my singing so I'll go for Janis Joplin.

bob-the-scutter · Post by **bob-the-scutter** » Fri May 08, 2020 4:08 pm

There's only one. Aretha Franklin.
End of!

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri May 08, 2020 7:18 pm

Cilla Black

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri May 08, 2020 7:25 pm

Patti Smith
Eva Cassidy
Debbie Harry
Aretha Franklin
Adele
Diana Ross
Agnetha Fältskog

ClaretLoup · Post by **ClaretLoup** » Fri May 08, 2020 7:55 pm

Sandy Denny - I still miss her.

Jeremy_Bentham · Post by **Jeremy_Bentham** » Fri May 08, 2020 9:05 pm

. has always enjoyed Andrea Corr’s vocal.

kritichris · Post by **kritichris** » Fri May 08, 2020 11:37 pm

Paloma Faith is underated and no-one's mentioned LP, Laura Pergolizzi, quite unique. i'd also go for Tina Turner and Cher

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Sat May 09, 2020 2:15 am

EarbyClaret wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 10:11 pm
As has been said very much an age/era/taste issue - has Kate bush been mentioned yet?

Patti Smith
Grace Slick
Beth Orton
Sandy Denny
Siouxsie Sioux
Debbie Harry
Dolores O'Riordan
Beth Gibbons
P J Harvey

Yep!

Lord Rothbury · Post by **Lord Rothbury** » Sat May 09, 2020 6:17 am

Big Mama Thornton
Sister Rosetta Tharpe

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Sat May 09, 2020 8:58 pm

dermotdermot wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 3:23 am
And what about Helen Shapiro?

Is she still walking back to happiness?

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Sat May 09, 2020 11:09 pm

Shout out for Stevie Nick's & Florence Welch

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Sat May 09, 2020 11:10 pm

ClaretLoup wrote: ↑
Fri May 08, 2020 7:55 pm
Sandy Denny - I still miss her.

I miss Kirsty McColl a damn fine talent