Best Female Singing Voice

[TyBo]

Many are saluting Karen Carpenter, and rightly so. I've always had an appreciation for her, even when that wasn't hip. I remember seeing the "We've only just begun" TV commercial back in the day and just digging those marvelous voices (brother Richard arranged), and Karen's singular delivery. She had that certain something. Of course, Aretha could do things ain't nobody never done ... so there really and truly is no "best". So I just enjoy 'em all for what they are.

Here's another one from Judith Hill, "Jammin' in the Basement" with a band that includes her musically skilled parents on keys and bass. Mom plays some tasty licks, and Dad gives a good groove ... RJ Ronquillo adds some smokin' guitar, and Judith is jammin'! A voice we can enjoy here and now:

 

[Frank Vozak]

My vote goes to Karen Carpenter, hands down. If there were a female angel, she would sing like Karen.

Your vote goes to .... ?

For me the angel is Judy Coillins

 

[Geoff Wood]

There is no best. But how about Diamanda Galas, Aretha Franklin, Maria Callas, Yoko Ono, Marni Nixon, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, for starters.

Ono ? Surely you jest ?!!!!

 

[Geoff Wood]

My vote goes to Karen Carpenter, hands down. If there were a female angel, she would sing like Karen.

Your vote goes to .... ?

Too many to say, but Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, Marianne Faithfull, Stevie Nicks, Nora Jones, Janis, spring to mind....

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Ono ? Surely you jest ?!!!!

You were saying?

 

[honeydorick]

Yes, Karen Carpenter, my second choice is Linda Ronstadt.

My 1st 2 choices in the same order.We think alike odviously.Karen was an awsome drummer also.

 

[Geoff Wood]

You were saying?

At least her hands are out of her pants this time ;- )

 

[honeydorick]

Mama Cass Eliot,& Patsy Cline also for me.There's too many to name.

 

[DennisO]

Mama Cass Eliot,& Patsy Cline also for me.There's too many to name.

Wow, brave of you to say Patsy Cline. But I agree with you, she was one of the best.

 

[TyBo]

Behind the scenes at Paisley Park.

 

[Tiavarone]

Madeliene Peyroux.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Here is an acapella cover of Patsy Cline by an up and coming young singer with a lot of guts.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Reba was actually where I first discovered Leland Sklar. My heavy metal guitarist friend and I were in my car and listening to her on the radio, and we were both blown away by the bass on "Is there life out there?"

 

[ElectroVibe]

Roseanne Cash

 

[pjbassist]

Rock - Ann Wilson

Country/Bluegrass - Allison Krauss (absolutely haunting voice)

R&B - Jill Scott

Pop - Oleta Adams

 

[Bassaxist]

.... I wonder if female vocalists have a "list" of favorite male bassists

 

[revd]

Ella Fitzgerald
Nina Simone
Dionne Warwick
Ronnie Spector
Carly Simon
Debbie Harry
Liz Fraser
Amy Winehouse

 

[LBS-bass]

.... I wonder if female vocalists have a "list" of favorite male bassists

It's a little more reasonable to classify vocalists by gender because the quality of male and female voices is usually quite different. It is not reasonable (IMO) to classify other instrumentalists by gender.

I cringe whenever I hear of a band looking for a "female bassist," for example, because I know that the ability you bring to that job will never be the band's primary concern, and therefore that's an ad I would never consider responding to. But female vocalist? Sure. That's telling me something about the register and overall vocal quality that's needed.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Wow, brave of you to say Patsy Cline. But I agree with you, she was one of the best.

Hey, I cited her way back in post #29!

I'm not even a big fan of country OR Western, but Patsy Cline was great regardless of category.

 

[heatheroo1]

in the modern realm, P!nk (AKA Alecia Hart) has a good set of pipes.