The greatest singer of your era.

[lillythesavage]

For me, after first seeing him at the London Palladium as a 6 year old, it has to be Tom Jones.

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This was ten years ago, at the age of 72, but seeing him perform this on " The Voice " tonight, this performance was live earlier this year, at the age of 82, that voice is still so strong.

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[ulstersubbie]

Being 80/90's here goes:

Siouxsie Sioux

Marc Almond

Annie Lennox

Kim Deal (Pixies/Breeders)

PJ Harvey

[radioman33]

Kate Bush,she’s popular again with a new generation.
Alison Moyet who I didn’t recognise she’s a lot slimmer now.

[Colston36]

Technically, probably Luther Vandross, External Link/Members Only, Saw him in LA. Though Ella Fitzgerald hard to beat. Saw her with the Count Basie band in London.

.

[mr.bluesky]

Freddie Mercury,  the ultimate showman

[Thephoenix]

Probably Matt Monroe and the the fabulous Shirley Bassey.

[contentguy]

David Bowie

Lou Reid

John Lydon

Shakira

Sandi Thom

Varied tastes!

[robsmith149]

Whitney Houston

Shirley Bassey

Ann Wilson

[ulstersubbie]

Probably Matt Monroe and the the fabulous Shirley Bassey.

Monroe was a superb crooner, as good as the American stars of the time.   

[timsussex]

David Bowie

Lou Reid

John Lydon

Shakira

Sandi Thom

Varied tastes!

who is Lou Reid ?

while I love Lou Reed and John Lydon nobody including them (unless they were smoking something) would rate them as greatest singers of their or any era

Obviously Sinatra and I'll nominate Johnny Nash and Bette Midler
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[Marmalade]

So…

Am I right in thinking the thread is not limited to people who can actually sing well then? 

The one I listened to mostly growing up was Bob Dylan (the pre-motorbike accident albums). Then Lennon after he left the Beatles.

Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell were among the memorable ones who could actually sing well though.

[Davey Dykes]

Although not really my era he was releasing records during my lifetime.

You have to include Roy Orbison in this kind of company.

[shiptonlad]

Elvis
Roy Orbison
Gene Pitney

[Thephoenix]

Probably Matt Monroe and the the fabulous Shirley Bassey.

I suppose, going back further I could add Ruby Murray, Norman Wisdom and then Ken Dodd singing "A penis, a penis, the greatest thing that I possess. I thank the lord that I possess, more than my share of a penis". 🎶🎶🎶🎶

[Marmalade]

who is Lou Reid ?

while I love Lou Reed and John Lydon nobody including them (unless they were smoking something) would rate them as greatest singers of their or any era

Obviously Sinatra and I'll nominate Johnny Nash and Bette Midler
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Several greats there. Lou Reed, I felt, and External Link/Members Only and the Velvet Underground, were pretty amazing (especially if you were off your head on substances) but as far as I can tell they were simply creations of his lordship Andy Warhol. Lou Reed seemed to survive after getting cleaned up, hanging out with artists Laurie Anderson, and eventually singing songs the general public actually liked. 

Bowie on the other hand, quite consciously made his own creations, with himself as the subject. Not that any of that lot could sing particularly well.
Sinatra became both. One of the greatest of legends in his own right and a pretty excellent singer. Streisand had a crack at it. Never quite pulled off the image as successfully as Sinatra.

[myothernameis]

Stuart Adamson

[SpaceRaiderDave]

Delbert McClinton

[shaft10]

No greatest singer list (of any era) is complete without

Whitney Houston .. the GOAT

Tina Turner

Cher

and more recently Amy Winehouse, although unfortunately we didnt get to see the best of her .. or maybe we did?

[shaft10]

forgot ..

Maria Carey


Clearly I love female singers 

[lillythesavage]

The last time I saw Tom Jones in concert was 2001, apparently the first time he performed a show in Wales, or so he said on stage. At Cardiff Castle.

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Dylan is a good choice, love some of the 80,s ones, but Tom has been there throughout my whole life and I started listening to old duets last night.

Freddie Mercury was a great performer and singer for too short a time though.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

George Michael had a wonderful voice, he was one of the best male British singers that we have produced, so soulful and he could rock a tune too. He stole the show at the Mercury tribute gig with his version of Somebody To Love.

[binbag]

Jackie Wilson

[Ali Katt]

I think this is interesting the people who's voices we like aren't necessarily great singers in the classic sense. Think about it from dodgy Simon Cowell standards: Lou Reed - monotonal, Tina Turner sounds like she smokes 200 fags a day, Janis Joplin sounds like a man, Kurt Cobain sounds stoned (he probably was), Freddie Mercury - too camp.

[Ali Katt]

No greatest singer list (of any era) is complete without

Whitney Houston .. the GOAT

Tina Turner

Cher

and more recently Amy Winehouse, although unfortunately we didnt get to see the best of her .. or maybe we did?

Happy to fight anyone on this I think Diana Ross is a way better singer than Whitney. They both did the same thing Marvin Gaye did which is singing sexual songs in a sweet way.

It's my personal opinion and I know I'm in minority, but I never liked Amy Winehouse. Her personal life was a mess, she squandered her talent with drink, bad company and drugs and unlike Whitney or Cobain who did the same she wasn't in the same league.

[myothernameis]

Jackie Wilson

  , If you know, you know



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[Marmalade]

Happy to fight anyone on this I think Diana Ross is a way better singer than Whitney. They both did the same thing Marvin Gaye did which is singing sexual songs in a sweet way.

It's my personal opinion and I know I'm in minority, but I never liked Amy Winehouse. Her personal life was a mess, she squandered her talent with drink, bad company and drugs and unlike Whitney or Cobain who did the same she wasn't in the same league.

I think the first three had some talent though I remember the relaxing, repetitive Motown sound more than the individual singers.

I think Winehouse (even if I didn’t like many of her choice of songs much) and Cobain were pretty gigantic. That it came from a fucked up life can’t alter the fact IMO that she could sing and interpret the Blues on a level with probably almost anyone in the history of music.

Cobain for inventing, almost single-handedly, a new genre.

Very interesting examples, over which I suspect there will be far from unanimous agreement, but just my tuppence worth.
 

[berksboy]

David Coverdale

Paul Rodgers

Ronnie James Dio , Rainbow Rising is one hell of a LP .

[Bertiebeenthere]

One of the most beautiful voices IMO has to be the recently departed Judith Durham.
The Sydney Olympics closing ceremony was amazing.
Her state funeral is on Tuesday

[mr.bluesky]

David Coverdale

Paul Rodgers

Ronnie James Dio , Rainbow Rising is one hell of a LP .

Add ex Rainbow singer Graham Bonnet to that list 

[Dickled]

Jeff Buckley.

Dan Fogelberg.

Elizabeth Fraser.

[mr.bluesky]

George Michael had a wonderful voice, he was one of the best male British singers that we have produced, so soulful and he could rock a tune too. He stole the show at the Mercury tribute gig with his version of Somebody To Love.

Have to say Freddie Mercury was irreplaceable as singer for Queen but I agree about George Michael and I think Adam Lambert has done an excellent job so far 👏
Yes Freddie Mercury was camp  but he had a superb vocal range.
For Female singers no one beats Annie Lennox or Dusty Springfield.

[ulstersubbie]

Jeff Buckley.

Dan Fogelberg.

Elizabeth Fraser.

Do you mean Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, if so excellent choice.

[Stevelondon]

, If you know, you know



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😂😂😂

[mr.bluesky]

😂😂😂

I remember the infamous Top of the pops episode with Dexy's midnight runners on singing  "Jackie Wilson said " and a picture of jocky Wilson shown on the screen in the background 

[Dickled]

Do you mean Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, if so excellent choice.

Indeed I did, although I quite liked the statuesque British actress of the same name who graced many black and white comedy films of the 1950's and 1960's. Not such a great singer though. 

[lillythesavage]

Happy to fight anyone on this I think Diana Ross is a way better singer than Whitney. They both did the same thing Marvin Gaye did which is singing sexual songs in a sweet way.

It's my personal opinion and I know I'm in minority, but I never liked Amy Winehouse. Her personal life was a mess, she squandered her talent with drink, bad company and drugs and unlike Whitney or Cobain who did the same she wasn't in the same league.

Agree on Diana Ross, over Whitney, and Anita Baker over both 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I remember the infamous Top of the pops episode with Dexy's midnight runners on singing  "Jackie Wilson said " and a picture of jocky Wilson shown on the screen in the background 

It wasn’t a mistake, it was done deliberately at Kevin Rowland’s suggestion.

[PepeMAGA]

Jeff Buckley.

Dan Fogelberg.

Elizabeth Fraser.

This plus Alison Goldfrapp for me

[Colston36]

Probably Matt Monroe and the the fabulous Shirley Bassey.

65 years ago I used to drink coffee in a cafe outside the Plaza Ballroom in Manchester, at that time run by Jimmy Saville. Opposite was a club I can't recall the name of where Matt Monroe appeared regularly. Someone said "there's a young bird just arrived in town called Shirley Bassey". You couldn't make it up, and I didn't. When the Supremes emerged Mary Wilson was generally rated a better singer than Ross. My business partner and I had a double date with Berry Gordy's secretary and a friend of hers. And in those days date meant sex.

[Thephoenix]

One of the most beautiful voices IMO has to be the recently departed Judith Durham.
The Sydney Olympics closing ceremony was amazing.
Her state funeral is on Tuesday

Yes I  remember hearing her singing every night with The Seekers on a ship from Australia to Southampton in the 60's. They were performing to earn their passage to UK to start their career.

[Steely Dan]

Donald Fagan.

More seriously, I love the voice of Jacqui Abbott. (Beautiful South)

[FLYING BLUE]

Jon Anderson - YES

Peter Gabriel

Steve Perry - Journey

Brad Delp - Boston

David Byron - Heep

Robert Plant

[Thephoenix]

65 years ago I used to drink coffee in a cafe outside the Plaza Ballroom in Manchester, at that time run by Jimmy Saville. Opposite was a club I can't recall the name of where Matt Monroe appeared regularly.

Matt Monro struggled to make an impact at first and carried on with his job as a London bus driver. In the early days he was accused of just copying Sinatra, but I believe he was better and gradually developed his own style, with many hit records and film themes to his name.
His LP 'The Very Best Of Matt Monro' has so many beautiful songs on one record.

Like most men of his era he was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer aged 54.



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[binbag]

A lot of the names mentioned, including many of my favorites,  I would consider great stylists rather than great singers. Not many have great vocal equipment, great range , plus skill, plus talent. Ella, Aretha, Amy are all great singers in my opinion. I'd have to put Tom jones in there too along with Sinatra. And what about Elvis? Could he hit double top as often as Jockie Wilson?

[Billy no mates]

Morrisey had terrible range and pitch, but I have enjoyed listening to him sing more than anyone else.

[mr.bluesky]

Morrisey had terrible range and pitch, but I have enjoyed listening to him sing more than anyone else.

His songs are so bloody depressing though.

[Marmalade]

Do you mean Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, if so excellent choice.

I haven’t found their music to age yet. Amazing sounds. Jeff Buckley also, some long wailing album or other, more of an experience. Freddy M, Georgie M, Dusty all great singers. Peter Gabriel good macho singer. Matt Monroe more my parents’ age, but I listened to Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis, more parents’ choices about the house really.

Morrissey acquired taste, very depressing but a phenomena, Mark E Smith R.I.P.  two not really very ‘likeable’ characters but who made a considerable contribution. I think I prefer the second. Non-political, non- anything else.

Anyone have any favourite opera singers or is that too off thread?

[contentguy]

who is Lou Reid ?

while I love Lou Reed and John Lydon nobody including them (unless they were smoking something) would rate them as greatest singers of their or any

Where’s autocorrect when you need it!

[myothernameis]

Others from my era

Adam Ant
Simon Le Bon

Peter Garret, now dont think everyone knows who Peter Garret is, but I rate him as one hell of a performer, and songs written to his heart

[jackdaw]

In recent months have listened to a fair bit of the Beatles stuff, think they were all really good singers (yes, including Ringo) and their harmony singing fantastic. I suspect Paul McCartney would have an even higher rep as a singer if he wasn’t so amazing as an all round musician.

Surprised nobody has mentioned any opera singers…there’s a wealth of them that are amazing. Growing up I loved the singing of Jussi Bjorling and Victoria de Los Angeles.

From folk music…Sandy Denny…was exceptional, and she would do maybe the rarest trick of all, preserve musicality when volume was pumped up to 11.