"100 Greatest Singers of All Time" poll in _Mojo_

[Super Soul]

In its October issue, English music magazine _Mojo_ presents a list of
"The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Those who voted were exclusively
professional singers, old and new, representing a wide variety of
genres. What do you think?

I've indicated my personal opinions on the singers with the following
smileys:

Terrible choice! --> 0-:
Excellent! --> (-:
Would definately be on my personal top 30 list --> :-D

-- -- -- -- --
100. k d lang
99. Bruce Springsteen
98. Betty Carter
97. Steve Marriott (The Small Faces)
96. Robert Plant 0-:
95. Kurt Cobain 0-:
94. Chuck Berry
93. Liam Gallagher 0-:
92. Tom Jones
91. Judy Garland
90. Jimi Hendrix
89. Dean Martin
88. Edith Piaf
87. The Gibb Brothers (Bee Gees) (-:
86. Nick Cave 0-:
85. Merle Haggard
84. Luther Vandross
83. Levi Stubbs (Four Tops) :-D
82. Lefty Frizzell (-:
81. Kate Bush
80. Etta James (-:
79. Jim Morrison 0-:
78. John Lee Hooker
77. Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes) (-:
76. Janis Joplin. 0-:
75. Glen Campbell (the Beach Boys and others)
74. Scott Walker
73. Nick Drake
72. Neil Young 0-:
71. Robert Johnson
70. Louis Armstrng (-:
69. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
68. Steve Winwood
67. Smokey Robinson (-:
66. Bob Marley (-:
65. Ray Davies (the Kinks)
64. Mavis Staples :-D
63. Maria Callas
62. John Lydon (the Sex Pistols)
61. Chrissie Hynde (the Pretenders)
60. Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)
59. David Ruffin (the Tempatations) :-D
58. Paul Rodgers (Free and others)
57. Bono 0-:
56. Donny Hathaway :-D
55. Carl Wilson (the Beach Boys) :-)
54. Chet Baker
53. Bobby "Blue" Bland :-D
52. Johnny Mathis
51. Rod Stewart
50. Bing Crosby
49. Howlin' Wolf (-:
48. Muddy Waters
47. Brian Wilson (-:
46. Iggy Pop
45. Luciano Pavarotti
44. Bonnie Raitt
43. Mahalia Jackson :-D
42. Dionne Warwick (-:
40. Gladys Knight :-D
39. David Bowie
38. Tina Turner :-D
37. Sarah Vaughan (-:
36. Peggy Lee
35. Karen Carpenter (the Carpenters)
34. Jeff Buckley
33. Dinah Washington :-D
32. Tony Bennett
31. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
30. Little Willie John :-D
29. Björk 0-:
28. Phil och Don Everly (the Everly Brothers) (-:
27. Dusty Springfield (-:
26. Mick Jagger
25. Patsy Cline
24. Al Green :-D
23. James Brown (-:
22. Jackie Wilson (-:
21. Little Richard
20. Roy Orbison :-D
19. Joni Mitchell 0-:
18. George Jones
17. Nina Simone. (-:
16. Hank Williams (-:
15. Van Morrison
14. Ella Fitzgerald (-:
13. Paul McCartney
12. Nat King Cole :-D
11. Bob Dylan 0-:
10. Otis Redding :-D
9. Sam Cooke :-D
8. Stevie Wonder :-D
7. Elvis Presley :-D
6. Marvin Gaye :-D
5. Billie Holliday :-D
4. John Lennon
3. Ray Charles (-:
2. Frank Sinatra
1. Aretha Franklin :-D
-- -- -- -- --
© EMAP Metro

Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:
Laure Lee, Ronald Isley, Prince, Ronald Isley, Irma Thomas, Lou Rawls,
Denise LaSalle, Erykah Badu, Eddie Kendicks, Maxwell, Millie Jackson,
Barry White, Shirley Brown, Eugene Record, Ben E. King, Teddy
Pendergrass, Jerry Butler, Mavis Staples, Carlyn Franklin, Erma
Franklin, John Edwards, Margie Joseph, Major Harris, Percy Sledge,
Johnny Bristol, Bunny Sigler, Paul Kelly, Solomon Burke, Curtis
Mayfield, Eddie LeVert, Adriana Evans, Candi Staton, m fl.

--
Super Soul

On the 1210: Bobby Lester
_Bobby Lester_ [Columbia, 1970]

[Dean F.]

100. k d lang

Nothing more than a Patsy Cline wannabe. Kinda like Lee Ann Rimes, but with far less arrogance.>Kurt Cobain

Whiny, self-pitying loser who selfishly committed suicide, leaving his wife and baby behind. Eat me, Kurt!

92. Tom Jones

Bleah!

90. Jimi Hendrix

Greatest guitarist, sure, but greatest singer???

87. The Gibb Brothers (Bee Gees)  (-:

They sounded like they sat on vibrators when they sang, for chrissake!

79. Jim Morrison  0-:

Another overrated poseur. "Hey everyone, come watch me be a rebel!"

54. Chet Baker

Much as I love his horn playing, Chet Baker's singing always put me to sleep.

39. David Bowie

I'm sorry. This guy is so overrated, it's not even funny. Who the hell cares about extraterrestrial arachnids?!

30. Little Willie John  :-D

Thank god! This stunningly overlooked talent has finally gotten some recognition outside of record collecting circles.

26. Mick Jagger

Much as I like the '60s-era Stones, Mick Jagger couldn't sing worth a damn.

11. Bob Dylan  0-:

Greatest lyricist, sure, but greatest singer? I don't think so!

10. Otis Redding  :-D
 9. Sam Cooke  :-D
 8. Stevie Wonder  :-D
 7. Elvis Presley  :-D
 6. Marvin Gaye  :-D
 5. Billie Holliday  :-D
 4. John Lennon
 3. Ray Charles  (-:
 2. Frank Sinatra
 1. Aretha Franklin  :-D

Well, at least the top ten makes sense.

Unfortunately, this list has a similar mentality to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame; namely, they went strictly for name recognition. No James Carr? Give me a break!

Anyway, that's my opinion.

--Dean
 

[CoolBrz410]

This list must be someone's opinion on the 100 greatest artists...Well, it
would be a bad list for that to...here are some other names that were omitted
in error in my opinion:

-Minnie Ripperton (How da hell could they leave her out!)

-Chaka Khan (See note with previous name)

-Phillip Bailey (This guy can STILL take you there!)

-Jennifer Holiday (One of the most powerful voices I've ever heard)

-Will Downing (Smooth as butta)

-the Pre-Teen Michael Jackson (Now he sounds like he has a cold when he sings)

-Leon Thomas (If you don't agree, go into a room all by yourself & play, "The
Creator has a Master Plan" & I bet you'll be moved)

-Phyllis Hyman (Sentimental Favorite)

I really don't like these two, but I must admit they got skillz:

-Whitney Houston
-Mariah Carey

Just one man's opinion,
CoolB...@aol.com

P.S. I don't remember seeing Bessie Smith, Nancy Wilson or Joe Williams on that
list....

[Meredith]

Dean F. wrote:

> 87. The Gibb Brothers (Bee Gees)  (-:

> They sounded like they sat on vibrators when they sang, for chrissake!

Yeah Dean, but they wrote some damn good songs.

Kara "just ask anyone who's mending a broken heart..."

[Stoffe]

Quite a few of my favorites are up there. But I can't believe that Curtis
Mayfield wasn't on the top 100!!!

/Stoffe

Super Soul wrote:

> In its October issue, English music magazine _Mojo_ presents a list of
> "The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Those who voted were exclusively
> professional singers, old and new, representing a wide variety of
> genres. What do you think?

--
If you fake the funk, your nose will grow.

[DiePosaune]

I'll give them props for their *writing*, but this is a *singer's* list.

So, rec.funkies, where is Glen Goin's name? And Elvis (in the top 10 even!)?
Maybe on a "Best Moves" list. It sure looks like a popularity contest to me...

[Beast of Bourbon]

On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 17:27:01 +0200, supe...@swipnet.se (Super Soul) wrote:

>63. Maria Callas
>62. John Lydon (the Sex Pistols)

ROFL... Oh, the agony Ms. Callas must be feeling wherever she is...

>60. Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)

First of all, they spelled her name wrong (it's Fraser). Second of all, I'm
stunned that they were intelligent enough to even know who she is. Third of
all, I'm greatly disappointed that she's not in the top ten where she belongs.

>43. Mahalia Jackson :-D

Should be much higher.

>40. Gladys Knight :-D

Should be much higher.

>34. Jeff Buckley

Wow, they gave him props! His death was a cruel, cruel loss.

>29. Björk 0-:

I love her voice, but she's ranked a little high...

>24. Al Green :-D

Should be higher...

>18. George Jones

Wow, they acknowledged him.

>11. Bob Dylan 0-:

??? Puhleez.

> 9. Sam Cooke :-D

Should be in the top five.

> 8. Stevie Wonder :-D

Should be #1.

> 6. Marvin Gaye :-D

Bless their hearts for giving him the props he deserves.

> 4. John Lennon

Now I love JL, but I think even he'd be shocked he's rated so high here.

>Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:

>Curtis Mayfield
>Eddie LeVert

No doubt! And the list is inexcusably missing:
Michael McDonald
Aaron Neville
Philippe Wynne (Spinners)
Peter Gabriel
Russell what's-his-name from the Stylistics
Elton John (at least warrants a mention)

And what's with this anti-hard rock singer bias? A few missing great singers:
Jon Anderson (Yes)
Ray Alder (Fates Warning)
Brad Delp (Boston)
Ann Wilson (Heart)
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) launched a zillion imitators
Steve Walsh (Kansas)
Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow & others)

[Super Soul]

Beast of Bourbon <loc...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> >60. Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)
>
> First of all, they spelled her name wrong (it's Fraser).

Oops. That was *my* misspelling. Sorry about that.

> Philippe Wynne (Spinners)

Hehe, his christian name is spelt "Phillippé". (-:

> And what's with this anti-hard rock singer bias? A few missing great singers:
> Jon Anderson (Yes)
> Ray Alder (Fates Warning)
> Brad Delp (Boston)
> Ann Wilson (Heart)
> Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) launched a zillion imitators
> Steve Walsh (Kansas)
> Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
> Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow & others)

0-:

--
Super Soul

On the 1210: Lou Rawls
"Natural Man" [MGM, 1971]

[Andrew Stewart]

On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 12:58:32 -0400, "Dean F."
<soule...@earthlink.net> wrote:

>> 100. k d lang
>
>Nothing more than a Patsy Cline wannabe. Kinda like Lee Ann Rimes, but with
>far less arrogance.

She has a good voice though.

>Kurt Cobain
>
>Whiny, self-pitying loser who selfishly committed suicide, leaving his wife
>and baby behind. Eat me, Kurt!

He wouldn't have been on my list of Top 100 singers either, even if I
loved Nirvana.

>> 92. Tom Jones
>
>Bleah!

Great booming voice.

>> 90. Jimi Hendrix
>
>Greatest guitarist, sure, but greatest singer???

Agreed.

>> 87. The Gibb Brothers (Bee Gees) (-:
>
>They sounded like they sat on vibrators when they sang, for chrissake!

I thought they sounded like they stood around in the studio squeezing
each other's testicles as they sang.

>> 79. Jim Morrison 0-:
>
>Another overrated poseur. "Hey everyone, come watch me be a rebel!"

Still a good singer.

>> 39. David Bowie
>
>I'm sorry. This guy is so overrated, it's not even funny.

He has a great voice though. Or to be more precise, a number of great
voices, much mimicked by others.

> Who the hell cares about extraterrestrial arachnids?!

Way to reduce one of the most successful and long-running and *varied*
careers in rock and pop down to just the best known album.

>> 26. Mick Jagger
>
>Much as I like the '60s-era Stones, Mick Jagger couldn't sing worth a damn.

His voice has character, but I wouldn't call him a great singer or
have him on this list.

>> 11. Bob Dylan 0-:
>
>Greatest lyricist, sure, but greatest singer? I don't think so!

Agreed.

>> 10. Otis Redding :-D
>> 9. Sam Cooke :-D
>> 8. Stevie Wonder :-D
>> 7. Elvis Presley :-D
>> 6. Marvin Gaye :-D
>> 5. Billie Holliday :-D
>> 4. John Lennon
>> 3. Ray Charles (-:
>> 2. Frank Sinatra
>> 1. Aretha Franklin :-D
>
>Well, at least the top ten makes sense.

What? John Lennon had a great singing voice?!?

>Unfortunately, this list has a similar mentality to the Rock & Roll Hall Of
>Fame; namely, they went strictly for name recognition.

There's a reason why some names are recognised and remembered more
than others, you know.

(np: Best Of Bowie 74/79)
_______________________________________________
"Rock is indeed dead. All that remains now is necrophilia - the combining
of different parts of rock's illustrious past into pleasing new Frankensteins."
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[Meredith]

DiePosaune wrote:

> I'll give them props for their *writing*, but this is a *singer's* list.

Point taken.

Kara "but, it was worth noting"

[Jmutiny]

Glen Goins,Gary Shider,Marvin Junior(The Dells)

[E Johannesen]

My picks for who should have been on the list include Donna Summer, Diana
Ross, and any of the Pointer Sisters - they're far better than Karen
Carpenter in my opinion.

> -- -- -- -- --

> Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:

> Laure Lee, Ronald Isley, Prince, Ronald Isley, Irma Thomas, Lou Rawls,
> Denise LaSalle, Erykah Badu, Eddie Kendicks, Maxwell, Millie Jackson,
> Barry White, Shirley Brown, Eugene Record, Ben E. King, Teddy
> Pendergrass, Jerry Butler, Mavis Staples, Carlyn Franklin, Erma
> Franklin, John Edwards, Margie Joseph, Major Harris, Percy Sledge,
> Johnny Bristol, Bunny Sigler, Paul Kelly, Solomon Burke, Curtis
> Mayfield, Eddie LeVert, Adriana Evans, Candi Staton, m fl.
>
>
>

> --
> Super Soul
>

[WildHepCat]

>Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:

>Mavis Staples

Mavis was on it.

[Super Soul]

WildHepCat <wildh...@aol.com> wrote:

Oops.

She *does* deserve being mentioned two -- correction -- *three* times
though, don't you agree? (-:

--
Super Soul

[WildHepCat]

>Labelle does that vocal histrionics stuff way too much. Yelling and
>screaming
>>for the sake of it.

>Now, yes. But it wasn't always that way. What, you wouldn't say the same
>thing about Whitney Houston?

No. I've heard that she's not great in concert (vocal-wise), but...she's
really more of a technical singer on recordings. Not much feeling, just
hitting the notes. And not good material.

[WildHepCat]

>Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:
>> >Mavis Staples

>Mavis was on it.

>Oops.

> She *does* deserve being mentioned two -- correction -- *three* times
>though, don't you agree? (-:

No doubt about it.

[Wilbe Productions, Inc.]

> Excellent singers who *weren't* on the list:

> Laure Lee, Ronald Isley, Prince, Ronald Isley, Irma Thomas, Lou Rawls,
> Denise LaSalle, Erykah Badu, Eddie Kendicks, Maxwell, Millie Jackson,
> Barry White, Shirley Brown, Eugene Record, Ben E. King, Teddy
> Pendergrass, Jerry Butler, Mavis Staples, Carlyn Franklin, Erma
> Franklin, John Edwards, Margie Joseph, Major Harris, Percy Sledge,
> Johnny Bristol, Bunny Sigler, Paul Kelly, Solomon Burke, Curtis
> Mayfield, Eddie LeVert, Adriana Evans, Candi Staton, m fl.
>
> --
> Super Soul
>
> On the 1210: Bobby Lester
> _Bobby Lester_ [Columbia, 1970]

Another excellent singer who was not on the list "William Bell"
Visit his web pages at: http://www.mindspring.com/~wilbe