Jackie Wilson is the man when it comes to vocalists. Of all the great soul singers, he may have had the most impressive range. I listen to his stuff all the time, and he never misses a note, and his tone is always perfect. The fact that he could take on those over-arranged MOR songs throughout his career prove his technical skill.

I think he was a such a great natural singer that he tended to phrase his lines in an odd way. But anyway, that voice was so great that it overpowered the music behind it most of the time.

Try singing a long with Jackie Wilson and you'll quickly realize how crazy he was.

Also, some other guys I really like are:

-Sam Cooke: great clarity in his voice
-Stevie Wonder: another amazing singer, never misses a note
-Mississippi John Hurt: sounds like he's talking to you in the same room.
-John Fogerty: his voice can grate sometimes but he never disgraces his R&B roots
-Stuart Staples: of the British band Tindersticks. Just go listen to it and you'll know what I mean
-Britt Daniel: Spoon has one of the best rock vocalists working today

Here is a vote for Neko Case.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
I've just been listening to some scattered tracks from the band Hem, and their singer has got to have the most impeccable female voice that I've ever heard. Listening to the song "Half-Acre" her voice just blows me away every time.

I got Hem's "Rabbit Songs" a few weeks ago and I'm really liking it. It's one of my favorite albums now.

I think Gwen Stefani's voice, when she softly coos, is very sexy.

I think My Morning Jacket's Jim James has a great voice, same with The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

I second Bixler, he's fantastic. The part at the end of "Cosmonaut" by At The Drive-In where he freaks out is one of my favorite moments in music.

Jeff Mangum is amazing, not in a typical fashion, but this guy is an instrument.

Oh and Britt Daniels.

The opinions in this topic can be debated endlessly but I like to get some new ideas and musical leads from it. Here are a few of my favorites.

Jimmy Gnecco (The Ours) - often compared to Buckley. Different style though.
Andrea Bocelli - Listen to L'attesa or Tu Ci Sei
Jim Croce – Extremely underrated. Another talented artist, taken WAY before his time.

I always love Jim Croce because he wrote real, honest, and personally beautiful songs. His voice was perfect for his style of music.

I have always been impressed with great artists who sang their hearts out and reached the limits of their vocal range; Billy Joel, Jeff Buckley, Freddy Mercury, Peter Paul and Mary, Art Garfunkel, to name a few.

Then again, some artists such as Nick Drake simply for their soft, pure delivery and gentle beauty can be great. A singer like Drake held a much different voice from a Buckley and could never open up and belt out Hallelujah or Lover, You Should Have Come Over. I think singers like Sufjan Stevens fall into that category as well. They just have voices that perform well within their style of song, and are enhanced by the quality of the songwriting.

Thom Yorke
Jeff Tweedy
Thurston Moore
Interpol's singer...dont remember his name

Right now I love:

Will Sheff (Okkervil River)
Cat Power
Neko Case
Corin Tucker!!
Jim James
(Paul Banks is the guy from Interpol; yeah he's good)
Antony

All time favorites:
Robert Plant (NOT solo)
David Byrne

All are, I think, perfect for their style of music. I don't think Plant or Corin would make any sense at all in any other band.

If you don't buy Plant as my favorite all time vocalist, then smoke something you shouldn't and watch "How the West Was Won." Likewise with Byrne and "Stop Making Sense."

This is my list. I think for the most part my criteria is powerful vocals, but as you will probably notice the list tends to be a little confined to one genre. So I can expect retorts

Stevie Wonder
Marvin Gaye
James Ingram
Bryan Abrams (from the soul group Color Me Badd)
Tony! Toni! Tone!
Barry White
Joe
John Legend
Hall & Oates (blue-eyed soul)
Kool & The Gang

Freddie Mercury (the reason I isolated him is because he doesn't really belong in the group, but his vocals really impress me regardless)

Alicia Keys
Aretha Franklin
Mariah Carey

I didn't want to repeat myself too much, although I probably will, so after I went through all 5 pages, I thought of some of my own:
Billie Holiday- She was only mentioned like two or three times but I absolutely love her voice. It is one of the most raw, intense, personal and emotional voices of all time. She blows Ella Fitzgerald right out of the water.
There are also the other greats like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Maria Carey and more contemporary artists like Alicia Keys, Björk and the underrated Jill Scott, who may have the best female voice of our time.

As for males:
Ray Charles- When you think of Billie Holiday’s male counterpart, Ray Charles comes to mind. Practically responsible for the birth of soul music, Charles possessed an unrefined and soulful voice that was easily spotted anywhere.
Stevie Wonder- A follower of Charles, Wonder is a musical genius. Besides the fact that he was immensely talented at many instruments, his voice alone is absolutely perfect. All his music is indisputably vibrant and colorful and after adding that gorgeous voice, his music would come alive.
Michael Jackson- A follower of Wonder, Michael Jackson is also one of the best all of time. Through all of his recent problems, his music cannot be ignored and neither can his voice. I once read that someone said he had “the voice of an angel” and he truly does. A smooth, soft, touching voice; Jackson was truly something special.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon- Whether or not it's fair to group them together, they were the voices of the Beatles. Two legends, their voices are also easily identifiable and incredibly great. I find it hard—although many will disagree—to say which one is “better,” but each of their voices are amazing in their own right.
There are other greats that are soon to be legends, if they aren’t already, like Sting's amazing voice, Thom Yorke, Brian Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Kurt Cobain, Jack White, Conor Oberst, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Beck, and of course, Jim James.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FragileKidA,

"Tim Buckley (Jeff's dad who was way better in my estimation...folk-songwriter with free jazz influences ha)"
It's a little unfair to make this assertion when Tim Buckley had a longer career span over which to release a variety of records. Jeff only had one when he was alive. Jeff had to get over the pressure of his parentage before he could get started on his career. Grace is an ASTOUNDING album, Sketches for my sweetheart the drunk shows such potential. What more treasures would he have released had he lived longer? Who knows? Such a shame. If you need convincing of his beautiful talent, listen to his re-write of Leonard Cohen's Hallejulah - an amazingly confident thing for a young singer to do on their debut, and he not only pulls it off, he makes his the definitive version. Also listen to his voice on the Peter Pears song on that album, Corpus Christi Carol. His voice soaring both strong, bell-like and delicate. Listen to his take on Lilac Wine - it stands shoulder to shoulder with Nina Simone's. ALL this plus more on one debut album. I can't think of another singer who pulls this off, and makes it sound so effortless and natural. Damn I wish he had stayed on shore that night. What a terrible thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. Rikard:
Rod Stewart
McCartney (such versatility!)
In loving memory: I loved John Lennon's voice!
Also in loving memory: Marvin Gaye
Van Morrison
Bob Seger
Sheryl Crowe
Pink

Yeah, McCartney's voice is iconic - it's got a brown quality, something comforting and familiar

My favorite vocalist are:
1. Reba McEntire
2. Anita Baker
3. Madonna
4. Whitney Houston (Prior to Crack)
5. Oddly, Eartha Kitt
6. Jennifer Hudson Third Season American Idol (Never made an album, unfortunately)
7. Jennifer Holiday
8. Nancy Wilson (Original Singer of "In the Heat of the Night")
9. Josh Grobin
10. Mariah Carey (Sometimes in moderation)
11. Beyonce
12. Jayzee
13. Blackeyed Peas

quote:

Originally posted by MusicLover25:
My favorite vocalist are:
1. Reba McEntire
2. Anita Baker
3. Madonna
4. Whitney Houston (Prior to Crack)
5. Oddly, Eartha Kitt
6. Jennifer Hudson Third Season American Idol (Never made an album, unfortunately)
7. Jennifer Holiday
8. Nancy Wilson (Original Singer of "In the Heat of the Night")
9. Josh Grobin
10. Mariah Carey (Sometimes in moderation)
11. Beyonce
12. Jayzee
13. Blackeyed Peas

I pretty much like singers with a certain presence or unique vocal style.

Hey great lists,

But i'm putting my money on

Prince

check out the feeling in "Something in the Water" or the range on "Adore" to name a few examples of a great vocal artist.

Others:

Jeff Buckley
Nat King Cole
Amel Larrieux
Billie Holiday
Sade
Al Green
Frank Sinatra
Maria Callas

and many others that I should feel bad about not remembering right now.

How lame am I?

Posting two in a row on the same thread.

Anyway, while I was smoking meth I forgot to mention

Jarvis Cocker - How theatrical and emotive can a vocalist be before we recognize their talent?

and

Jane Siberry - "Calling All Angels" is enough to make a career for me.

Gotta add my two cents, in no order:
Greg Dulli-The Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers
Brian VanderArk-The Verve Pipe
Liam Gallagher-Oasis
George Michael-Seriously, don't forget about his version of Somebody to Love, or his cover of Papa was a Rollin Stone. Plus, you cannot deny Father Figure.
Richard Ashcroft
Chris Cornell
Eddie Vedder
Pat Monahan-Train-I don't care, this guy can flat out sing. One night when I couldn't sleep caught him singing with just a piano player the Train song "when i look to the sky" on Carson Daily and he blew me away.
Jeff Buckley-Duh.
McCartney and Lennon.
Robert Plant
Bono-U2-Serious Pipes
Michael Stipe-REM
And I could go on and on and on and....

Joanna Newsom - Her voice has become my favourite
Avey Tare - Maybe its voice, maybe delivery. Incredible vocals. Leaf house is a vocal gem.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billie - gorgeous, worn vocal style.
Braden J. McKenna - Similar to Animal Collective. Try and looks this kid up. His music is so amazing and he is so underground that he is melting in the earths core.
Blood Brothers - Best vocals in hardcore.
M. Ward - Pure syrup.
Phil Elvrum (Microphones, Mt. Eerie) - Most penitrating vocals in all of music.
Mike Wexler - Nice wierd vocal style. I love him.
Mark Kozlek - I don't know about the spelling but the Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon frontman has some soothing vocals for sures.
and Tom Waits.