Best Ever Albums

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

craola — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:38:45 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 04/10/2017 21:38

Liz Fraser and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
pretty much everything either one did.

i've heard no better female vocalist than Liz.
and no better male voxer than Nusrat.

not saying they don't exist, but i ain't not never haven't even heard em if they do.

er, i'm obviously partial to Wong Fei, Susanne Sundfor and Bjork as well.... runners up, perhaps?

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Daydreamer — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 12:48:29 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 04/10/2017 16:48

Vocalists:

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Steve Perry

3-10. Jeff Buckley, Eddie Vedder, Michael Kiske, David Bowie, Daniel Gildenlow, Roy Orbison, Brandon Flowers, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, David Coverdale (there's more than 8 here but these aren't ranked so I couldn't decide).

Only Mercury and Perry are high and above, I'd have to think about others.

Best vocal albums is an interesting topic and I will think about it before I come up with some choices.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 16:21:27 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/08/2017 20:21

Also, just a minor point, but I edited my initial post to read: "My criteria is not purely based on technical polish..."
whereas before (including in Fischman's quote) it read "not purely based on talent/technical polish". First one is correct, second one is misworded. Shouldn't have implied there is less talent involved. Just for some maybe not the traditional "pop/soul/R & B" music idea of talent.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 16:13:40 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/08/2017 20:13

Fischman wrote:

AfterHours wrote:

I am not sure my post will be worthwhile because our criteria seems so different, based on your selections.

My criteria is not purely based on talent/technical polish, but emphasizes much more the vocalist's ability to immerse the listener into his/her own experience, into the emotional/conceptual experience and content being conveyed. And also emphasizes very singular talents, vocalists that sound and use their instrument in ways that no one else can/does. Most of your selections are technically very good and inarguable in that regard, but (imo) many of them don't really posses the theatrical/dramatic abilities (or just didn't use them) necessary to accomplish such a transforming experience. For, instance, I find Mercury fairly superficial despite his enormous talents. Beyonce could hardly be more superficial and less creative (with only rare exceptions in her work). Some (many?) of the selections probably could've done more of what I'm referring to, but unfortunately consumed their careers in "standards" and overly rigid song formats that inhibited such potential expressiveness.

In any case, if you do find yourself curious at such adventurous vocalists, the likes of which you will never experience anywhere else, I would add the following (not necessarily in order):

Tim Buckley (Lorca, Starsailor, Happy Sad, Goodbye and Hello, Blue Afternoon) <--greatest "Rock" vocalist of all time
Diamanda Galas (Litanies of Satan, Diamanda Galas) <-- at your own risk, not for the faint of heart ... If you want to hear her rendition of more standard fare, she performed (by far) the greatest version of Gloomy Sunday in history, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWlgX0dDuo
Van Morrison (Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece, etc) <--Don't know how he isn't on your list, as he seems to meet what you're looking for, but is vastly superior to almost all your selections imo
Nico (Desertshore, Marble Index, Velvet Underground and Nico) <--wholly unique to rock history
Lisa Gerrard (Check out her work with Dead Can Dance, several amazing vocal performances)
Enya (Watermark, etc)
Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, etc) <--again, wholly unique to rock history ... sounds both happy and sad simultaneously, both pained and meditative ... inimitable ...
Captain Beefheart (Trout Mask Replica, etc) <-- I doubt you'll agree but very few singers can "become" so many states of mind, so many psychological distortions of personality ... He is a force of nature
Mark Stewart (Pop Group: Y, solo works, etc) <-- different in sound, but similar description as the above
David Thomas (Pere Ubu, etc) <--ditto
Sinead O'Connor (The Lion and the Cobra is a much better example of her extraordinary talents than the album you chose)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea especially) <--very few are more emotionally invested or lose themselves as entirely in their songs. Warning: he doesn't give a damn about polish, he is too swept up and possessed by what he is singing to care about delivering a perfect melodic line or what-have-you
Mick Jagger (Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers especially are the epitome of his style)
Tom Waits (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, many other songs/albums)
Nick Cave (From Her To Eternity, The Good Son, many other songs/albums)
Grace Slick <-- surprised not to see her, though I suppose, even though popular, is quite outside the box
Mary Margaret O'Hara (Miss America is an unbelievable display of a unique synthesis of styles and her incredible talents)
Janis Joplin <-- Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Joni Mitchell <--Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)

Anyway, there's many more, but I'll leave it at that, fwiw

What I think of as the "best" are those rare few who can do both at a very high level: exhibit the qualities you emphasize (uniqueness, emotional immersion) and display a high degree of technical vocal mastery.

The one on your list which I think epitomizes this (and I was certainly remiss in not including her on my list) is Grace Slick.

I would agree that this can be even more extraordinary. It also depends how one defines technical mastery.
I mean, all of these exhibit unique traits of technical mastery. I can assure you it is impossible to sing like Jeff Mangum (try it, try holding the the melodies and lines like he does amidst such forceful vocalizations! It will seem "diaphragmically" impossible, to coin a word!). But I assume you mean, within your criteria for "technical mastery", more technically "polished" right? That being the case, imo, Tim Buckley is the ultimate example of both worlds. Grace Slick, too, as you mentioned, and of course Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Elizabeth Frazer, Lisa Gerrard, Sinead O'Connor, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Enya... Also, you might be surprised how "polished" most of the others can sound when they want to (including Beefheart!).

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Fischman — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 16:02:46 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 04/08/2017 20:02

AfterHours wrote:

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Skinny — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 13:37:56 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 04/08/2017 17:37

Yo yo yo imma come in the thread some time this week with my favourite rap vocalists and why. My descriptions of (fo example) slick rick and scarface and dizzee finna blow minds. They're better vocalists than your dads favourite singer. Im drunk but dont discount rappers as great vocalists.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 13:30:28 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/08/2017 17:30

I am not sure my post will be worthwhile because our criteria seems so different, based on your selections.

My criteria is not purely based on technical polish, but emphasizes much more the vocalist's ability to immerse the listener into his/her own experience, into the emotional/conceptual experience and content being conveyed. And also emphasizes very singular talents, vocalists that sound and use their instrument in ways that no one else can/does. Most of your selections are technically very good and inarguable in that regard, but (imo) many of them don't really posses the theatrical/dramatic abilities (or just didn't use them) necessary to accomplish such a transforming experience. For, instance, I find Mercury fairly superficial despite his enormous talents. Beyonce could hardly be more superficial and less creative (with only rare exceptions in her work). Some (many?) of the selections probably could've done more of what I'm referring to, but unfortunately consumed their careers in "standards" and overly rigid song formats that inhibited such potential expressiveness.

In any case, if you do find yourself curious at such adventurous vocalists, the likes of which you will never experience anywhere else, I would add the following (not necessarily in order):

Tim Buckley (Lorca, Starsailor, Happy Sad, Goodbye and Hello, Blue Afternoon) <--greatest "Rock" vocalist of all time
Diamanda Galas (Litanies of Satan, Diamanda Galas) <-- at your own risk, not for the faint of heart ... If you want to hear her rendition of more standard fare, she performed (by far) the greatest version of Gloomy Sunday in history, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWlgX0dDuo
Van Morrison (Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece, etc) <--Don't know how he isn't on your list, as he seems to meet what you're looking for, but is vastly superior to almost all your selections imo
Nico (Desertshore, Marble Index, Velvet Underground and Nico) <--wholly unique to rock history
Lisa Gerrard (Check out her work with Dead Can Dance, several amazing vocal performances)
Enya (Watermark, etc)
Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom, End of an Ear, etc) <--again, wholly unique to rock history ... sounds both happy and sad simultaneously, both pained and meditative ... inimitable ...
Captain Beefheart (Trout Mask Replica, etc) <-- I doubt you'll agree but very few singers can "become" so many states of mind, so many psychological distortions of personality ... He is a force of nature
Mark Stewart (Pop Group: Y, solo works, etc) <-- different in sound, but similar description as the above
David Thomas (Pere Ubu, etc) <--ditto
Sinead O'Connor (The Lion and the Cobra is a much better example of her extraordinary talents than the album you chose)
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea especially) <--very few are more emotionally invested or lose themselves as entirely in their songs. Warning: he doesn't give a damn about polish, he is too swept up and possessed by what he is singing to care about delivering a perfect melodic line or what-have-you
Mick Jagger (Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers especially are the epitome of his style)
Tom Waits (Rain Dogs, Swordfishtrombones, many other songs/albums)
Nick Cave (From Her To Eternity, The Good Son, many other songs/albums)
Grace Slick <-- surprised not to see her, though I suppose, even though popular, is quite outside the box
Mary Margaret O'Hara (Miss America is an unbelievable display of a unique synthesis of styles and her incredible talents)
Janis Joplin <-- Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Joni Mitchell <--Did I really not see her on your list or did I just miss it?
Elizabeth Frazer (Cocteau Twins)

Anyway, there's many more, but I'll leave it at that, fwiw

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Komorebi-D — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 07:20:04 GMT

Author: Komorebi-D

Posted: 04/08/2017 11:20

I agree with most aforementioned but I have to include Robin Pecknhold, even if it's just for myself and everyone disagrees:

Link

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Fischman — Fri, 7 Apr 2017 19:35:04 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 04/07/2017 23:35

Daydreamer wrote:

Fischman wrote:

Geoff Tate (Queensryche) -- Operation: Mindcrime

I think Tate's voice was much better on The Warning, he was ridiculously good there.

Sounds like I need to dust off my copy of The Warning and give it another spin.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Daydreamer — Fri, 7 Apr 2017 18:24:27 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 04/07/2017 22:24

Fischman wrote:

Geoff Tate (Queensryche) -- Operation: Mindcrime

I think Tate's voice was much better on The Warning, he was ridiculously good there.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Fischman — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:19:36 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 12/21/2016 19:19

XY
Ronnie James Dio (Ronnie and the Prophets, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio)-- Heaven and Hell (Sabbath)
Justin Hayward (Moody Blues, Blue Jays, Solo) -- Days of Future Passed (Moodies)
Rik Emmett (Triumph, Solo) -- Thunder Seven (Triumph)
Roger Daultrey (The Who, Solo) -- Who's Next (Who)
Rick Medlocke (Blackfoot) -- Flyin' High
Geoff Tate (Queensryche) -- Operation: Mindcrime
Steve Walsh (Kansas) -- Leftoverture
Jon Butcher (Jon Butcher Axis, Solo, Barefoot Servants) -- Wishes (Solo)
Son Seals -- Living in the Danger Zone
Geddy Lee (Rush, Solo) -- 2112

XX
Sass Jordan -- Rats
Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation) -- The Unforgiving
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship, Solo) Surrealistic Pillow (Airplane)
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) -- Karmacode
Ann Wilson (Heart) -- Little Queen
Karen Carpenter (Carpenters, Solo) -- Anything. She could sing the users manual to your new cordless drill and it would sound beautiful.
Stevie Nicks (Buckingham Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Solo) -- Rumours
Sarah Vaughan -- Sarah Vaughan
Connie Dover -- If Ever I Return
Loreena McKennitt -- Elemental

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

jhuik — Sat, 4 Jul 2015 11:32:05 GMT

Author: jhuik

Posted: 07/04/2015 15:32

sp4cetiger wrote:

Challenge accepted:

Sing Like You Mean It

Okay, I like this. I will try to review suggestions some time but I do have a life outside of BEA (believe it or not).

I do want to say that Linkin Park is not my favourite band, either -- a few people take exception to that selection. But Chester Bennington has amazing range: rapping, singing and screaming. The long scream on Given Up is really amazing. And ask anyone who's ever tried screamo, it is not for people with weak vocals.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

AAL2014 — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 23:47:27 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 07/04/2015 03:47

I play the drums, but if I think about it, the next thing I focus on in a song is the singer.

A few of my personal favorites with my favorite vocal album for them:

Chris Cornell- Temple of the Dog
Bruce Dickinson- Powerslave
Rob Halford-Unleashed In The East
Stevie Wonder- Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life
Peter Gabriel- The Lamb
Paul McCartney- Abbey Road
Jon Anderson- Fragile
Geddy Lee- Permanent Waves
Freddie Mercury- A Night at the Opera
Robert Plant- Zeppelin 4
Bob Dylan (simply for his ability to express himself through his unbelievable lyrics)- Blood on the Tracks
Myles Kennedy - Blackbird

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Anonymous — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 23:21:28 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/04/2015 03:21

jhuik wrote:

I'll listen to suggestions and occasionally edit this chart, which is only called Great Vocalists at Work, for a reason. Create your own if you can do better.

Challenge accepted:

Sing Like You Mean It

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Anonymous — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 18:58:45 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/03/2015 22:58

sp4cetiger wrote:

Thanks for sharing that Mies -- messy or not, I pretty much agree. I'd be curious to see your list of best vocalists, if you have a chance.

I'm glad that you agree.
Ok, let's see...
(in no particular order)

Lou Reed
Syd Barrett
Iggy Pop
Captain Beefheart
Ian MacKaye
Gerry Roslie
Neil Young
Glenn Danzig
Screamin Jay Hawkins
Hope Sandoval
Bob Dylan
Nick Drake
Nico

I'm sure I'm forgetting many, but anyway these are some of my favourites. I also know I'm not considering some genres, but I will fix that. 😉

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Romanelli — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 16:46:21 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 07/03/2015 20:46

badseed wrote:

Needs more country. Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn are a league above Cash (who, good as he was, is on the border of being kicked off the list in my opinion). Tammy Wynette probably needs to be on there too. Patsy deserves to be highest of the genre, though. Did I see Leann Rhymes on there? She was pretty good. Speaking of Leann, what about Jewel? Not country, I know, I just remember them being at the peak of their fame around the same time in my childhood. I'd take Jewel's singing over Beyonce any day of the week.

George Jones is the finest country singer who ever lived, without question.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

JOSweetHeart — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 16:37:38 GMT

Author: JOSweetHeart

Posted: 07/03/2015 20:37

^^^ To me, the best album from LeAnn Rimes is her album named Family. 😄 😄 😄

God bless you and her always!!! 😄 😄 😄

Holly (a day one fan of LeAnn)

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

badseed — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 03:33:02 GMT

Author: badseed

Posted: 07/03/2015 07:33

I haven't checked any replies, but the obvious answers that come to mind for me are...

Otis Redding (Otis Blue)
Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul)
Jeff Buckley (Grace)
Freddie Mercury (A Night at the Opera)
Marvin Gaye (Here, My Dear)
Sam Cooke (Ain't That Good News)
Patsy Cline (Showcase)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Al Green (Let's Stay Together)

That's all I've really got off the top of my head. 9 vocalists. Let's just make it a top ten and piss everyone off by throwing Adele (21) on there. Suppose I'll see what everyone else said now. I'm sure I left off some good ones.

Just realized you have the chart posted. Very good selections; not shocked your top 2 were mentioned by me. Reviewing the list, I see all ten of mine there and tons of good ones I forgot. Otis is #1 in my book though. The rest is disputable.

I'm with you on leaving Dylan off. When I think "lyricists", he's the best of all time. But "vocalists", he's nowhere close.

Cut the Linkin Park and Boston, I don't really know what else, possibly Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Maroon 5; you're missing Jefferson Airplane, Nick Cave, Lionel Richie, Barry White, Bill Withers, Ben E. King...

I do commend your variety. Maybe I'm asking for too many R&B/Soul singers but regardless, Surrealistic Pillow deserves a nod.

Needs more country. Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn are a league above Cash (who, good as he was, is on the border of being kicked off the list in my opinion). Tammy Wynette probably needs to be on there too. Patsy deserves to be highest of the genre, though. Did I see Leann Rhymes on there? She was pretty good. Speaking of Leann, what about Jewel? Not country, I know, I just remember them being at the peak of their fame around the same time in my childhood. I'd take Jewel's singing over Beyonce any day of the week.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Anonymous — Thu, 2 Jul 2015 23:18:06 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/03/2015 03:18

Thanks for sharing that Mies -- messy or not, I pretty much agree. I'd be curious to see your list of best vocalists, if you have a chance.

Re: Best Vocalists / Vocal Albums Ever

Anonymous — Thu, 2 Jul 2015 17:34:56 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 07/02/2015 21:34

sp4cetiger wrote:

It would be a fine point, indeed. What are yours?

Oh. I'm super late, but anyway..
Hard question btw. I think it's an ensemble of different factors.
One thing I'm sure about is that technical abilities, if can help, keep on a minor level. At least for rock and all its subgenres. (maybe we should have different criteria for different genres)
What stands out about a voice to me is how that voice manages to express or say something unique, new, or anyway it's deeply linked with some messages the singer wants to tell.
Then there is context, influences, etc., but often if a voice could express something new or something very deep in a unique way, etc., artists who want express something similar will look at that voice.
Dylan's voice, which our jhuik seems to dislike, really could express all he wanted to, in a wonderfully unique way: his bare approach in singing linked perfectly with the things he said. Syd Barrett's use of voice managed, among other things, to give us a completely new idea of psychedelic rock: his voice often sounds like it comes from another planet and kinda fairy-tale. Since then, and still today, several artists who want to do psychedelic rock have been taking influence from his use of voice (Soft Boys, Jacco Gardner, Jeffrey Novak..). And I'm just making the first examples to come from my head...
To make an example into the other direction, and staying among rock, I wouldn't put Robert Plant's voice into my list. As much as I love Led Zep, his voice sounds to me a bit cold. He clearly wants to be sexual, but he also seems to keep some distance from it all the time, which comes to me as cold and narcissistic (differently from Iggy, f.e.). Still his voice fits with their music, but it's not as direct as it should be, imo (if we're talking about rock).
Sorry, now my post is very messy and incomplete, other than be very late and prob not very interesting. Anyway, I haven't been thinking about this before, to be honest... so thank you for motivating my lazy brain! 😜