Best ever female vocalist

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Wed May 06, 2020 3:44 pm

In these days of equality,surely it's only right that the ladies get their own thread as well.

As always the choices will no doubt be subjective,so don't go apes**t at another poster,if you disagree with their picks.

So i'll select 5 to kick us off.

1) Aretha Franklin-top by a long way,she also transcended the genre,which not many artists can do.
2) Whitney Houston-her career was sadly cut horribly short,but she still packed an awful lot into her 48 years on this planet.more than many will achieve in double that time.
3) Billie Holiday-again a life cut short,but her influence is still felt today.
4) Judy Garland-again someone who transcended her industry.
5) Amy Winehouse-bit left field this one,but she made a huge impact in her short-lived career,and Back to Black will be remembered as one of the classic albums in decades to come.Again a career tragically curtailed by addiction issues,like so many before her.

So over to you.

Corky · Post by **Corky** » Wed May 06, 2020 3:56 pm

Funny isn't it but when Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight were sat together at some award or other and were asked who was the best ever singer, I guess by a bit of a mischievous journalist, they both said in unison Linda Jones. They weren't wrong.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Wed May 06, 2020 3:57 pm

Aretha Franklin...Dusty Springfield.. Carol king it's to late Baby.Sadly Minnie Ripperton didn't Live Long enough....Lady Gaga.

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Wed May 06, 2020 3:57 pm

Here's a lucky 13 who I really like. Joan Armatrading I think is fantastic, and have been listening to a lot of her older stuff recently. Seen her live numerous times:
Joan Armatrading
Aretha Franklin
Ella Fitzgerald,
Sarah Vaughn
Billie Holiday
Bonnie Raitt
Natalie Merchant
Etta James
Irma Thomas
Eva Cassidy
Eddie Reader
Debbie Harry
Lucinda Williams

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Wed May 06, 2020 3:58 pm

Cher has to be somewhere up there...
Tina Turner...
Nina Simone...
Paloma Faith...
And I have a bit of a crush on
Katie Melua....

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:01 pm

Elizabeth Fraser when she was in her prime.

1Simpleton · Post by **1Simpleton** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:13 pm

Some good opening ones not sure who I'd rate first Whiney or Judy Garland. I know they ain't the best but Cerys Matthews and Alanis Morissette. If your talking artists Madonna

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:14 pm

Barbra Streisand
Eta James
shakira

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:15 pm

Another for Joan Armor-plating here..Kate Bush, Patty Smith, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Annie Lennox, Grace Slick, Janice Joplin....and many more...

Greenmile · Post by **Greenmile** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:15 pm

Jenny Lewis

1Simpleton · Post by **1Simpleton** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:16 pm

Forgot about Annie Lennox would rival Whitney

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:21 pm

Mel B or Mel C (I always get them mixed up) from the Spice Girls. Cant remember which of them the good one was but she was referred to as the ginger one by most people.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:23 pm

Karen Carpenter.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:23 pm

There were so.....many tbf and most being mentioned above....mama cass... julie cruise...subo...cher...Mary Hopkins...Cilla..

Vintage Claret · Post by **Vintage Claret** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:25 pm

All great names mentioned so far but one that hasn't and is/was the only female singer with a voice that actually makes the hairs on the back of my neck tingle (in a good way) when I hear it is Karen Carpenter.

Edit: electroclaret beat me to it

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:27 pm

Dusty Springfield
Beth Hart
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Stevie Nicks

Erasmus · Post by **Erasmus** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:40 pm

Sandy Denny, and I also liked Christine Perfect when she was with Chicken Shack. I'd Rather Go Blind and When the Train Comes Back.

ceborame · Post by **ceborame** » Wed May 06, 2020 4:48 pm

It's Judith Durham for me

SalouClaret · Post by **SalouClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:04 pm

Sam Smith

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:12 pm

Lady Gaga has a brilliant voice.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:20 pm

Barbra Striesand.....no one else comes close.

Claretitus · Post by **Claretitus** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:28 pm

Absolutely, Streisand for me, all the way.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:40 pm

Claretitus wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 5:28 pm
Absolutely, Streisand for me, all the way.

And done over about 7 decades, close thread Striesand is the greatest female vocalist ever.

Tricky Trevor · Post by **Tricky Trevor** » Wed May 06, 2020 5:46 pm

Streisand all the time
Celine Dion in second, even if her songs are naff.
Whitney third.

redwasp · Post by **redwasp** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:05 pm

Last three posters have it, Streisand by a mile. Listen to " Hideaway". A fantastic recording.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:07 pm

I saw Whitney Houston live and have to say her voice that night was close to perfect. Her mum and auntie (Cissie Houston and Dionne Warwick) aren’t bad either.

Lord Rothbury · Post by **Lord Rothbury** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:11 pm

Sandy Denny
Ann Briggs

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:11 pm

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 5:46 pm
Streisand all the time
Celine Dion in second, even if her songs are naff.
Whitney third.

I'm glad i don't live next door to you!

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:12 pm

Can't believe i missed Shirley Bassey.

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:13 pm

redwasp wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 6:05 pm
Last three posters have it, Streisand by a mile. Listen to " Hideaway". A fantastic recording.

but more than last 3 picked BS as the choice, but like all forms of art it's very subjective.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:19 pm

Aretha Franklin ( by a margin )
Honorable mentions for Dusty Springfield, Darlene Love, Karen Carpenter,, Roberta Flack and Norah Jones !

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:19 pm

KateR wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 6:13 pm
but more than last 3 picked BS as the choice, but like all forms of art it's very subjective.

You may disagree, but there's no need to say they picked bullshit.

Claretlad · Post by **Claretlad** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:19 pm

Barbra Streisand....Shirley Bassey....Nina Simone.

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:22 pm

FactualFrank wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 6:19 pm
You may disagree, but there's no need to say they picked bullshit.

I just knew as I pressed submit that some wag would pick up on that one

Burypaddy · Post by **Burypaddy** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:26 pm

Agree totally with electro and vintage only one karen carpenter, got everything they have made and listen to this, front page of the daily mirror the day she died!!! Yes been mocked all of my life!!!

Burypaddy · Post by **Burypaddy** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:27 pm

Do like diana ross and wife bought me tickets for july but thats not going to happen!!!

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:39 pm

Brenda Lee had a wonderful and unique voice. I saw her live in Bradford in 1963, I think it was. Absolutely incredible, she was a marvellous part of my youth.

redcloud203 · Post by **redcloud203** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:47 pm

Aretha Franklin

Delores O'riordan

Sinaed O'connor

Wiyalla

Tricky Trevor · Post by **Tricky Trevor** » Wed May 06, 2020 6:55 pm

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑
Wed May 06, 2020 6:11 pm
I'm glad i don't live next door to you!

If you lived next door to me you wouldn’t hear them if I turned it up to 11. We are isolating.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Wed May 06, 2020 7:02 pm

CT above said Whitney Houston's aunt was Dionne Warwick. A common mistake (even in quizzes): they are actually cousins.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Wed May 06, 2020 7:17 pm

Aretha Franklin and Etta James for me
Whitney Houston was nothing but a shouter.
Honourable mentions for Melanie Safka and the London Grammar singer (don’t know her
name)
Janice Joplin did those bluesy vocal gymnastics, something that Robert Plant could never match

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Wed May 06, 2020 7:35 pm

Aretha, Dame Kiri.

Lambo · Post by **Lambo** » Wed May 06, 2020 7:40 pm

Very difficult as there's so many but here's mine in no particular order:-

Eva Cassidy
Katie Melua
Judith Durham
Grace Slick
Stevie Nicks
Amy Winehouse
Joni Mitchell
Joan Baez
Joan Armatrading
Aretha Franklin
Billie Holliday
Whitney Houston

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Wed May 06, 2020 7:51 pm

Again depends on one's taste.

I will add Patsy Cline, Judy Collins and Edith Piaf to the list.

Thumbs up for Karen Carpenter, Sandy Denny, Dusty Springfield and Celine Dione.

Terrier · Post by **Terrier** » Wed May 06, 2020 8:17 pm

I also have tickets to see diana ross in july and sadly agree it will not happen which is a pity as she is one soul star i wanted to see as we have seen a lot of others, the one female vocalist i was not keen to see after my daughter had bought the tickets was paloma faith, trust me if you ever get the chance to get to her concert go as she is brilliant!

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Wed May 06, 2020 8:34 pm

Billie Holiday,
joni Mitchell a close second

Middle-agedClaret · Post by **Middle-agedClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 8:47 pm

Some good choices.
My own favourites include:

Maggie Bell - whether with Stone The Crows or her later solo work.
Dido.
Nancy Griffith
Elkie Brooks
Nico (in her Velvet Underground days)
Marianne Faithfully (especially “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan”

Middle-agedClaret · Post by **Middle-agedClaret** » Wed May 06, 2020 8:50 pm

Wretched predictive text - I know her surname is “Faithfull “

Foreverly Claret · Post by **Foreverly Claret** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:00 pm

HELEN REDDY closely followed by Dusty Springfield

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:30 pm

There's only two that I choose to listen to with any real regularity. However good the vocalist is, I won't want to listen if I get little to nothing out of the music. Neither, I'd say are great but I listen to Martha and the muffins (still) after n years. One of the Martha's is now a university professor.
I also like Heledd Watkins and hms morris. It helps that she also plays guitar the way she does. At times they are quite manic but rarely dull. See "morbid mind" and the live version of "arth" at maes b Festival a few years back.