Eric Burdon (#57) - 1960 to the present - Known for The Animals and War
When I heard the story about the song "The House Of The Rising Sun" I couldn't believe it. Eric Burdon, some white soul-singer from England, and his band of Animals, stepped into a recording studio on May 18, 1964 to record their version of a traditional song that had, and has, been covered by dozens, if not hundreds, of other artists. It took one take...ONE TAKE...to record the version that everybody knows as the definitive version of the song. Burdon was only 23 years old at the time. The rawness and soulfulness of his voice was mesmerizing, not to mention the incredible organ that accompanies him. From here I decided to listen to all the Animals I could, buying CD's and compilations that included them. I could listen to "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "We Got To Get Out Of This Place", "Monterey" and "Don't Bring Me Down" all day! Burdon went on to join War in 1969, coming out with more great songs like "Spill The Wine" and a remake of The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black". His voice, still to this day, is unwavering and incredibly soulful. Here's something I found on YouTube from early in his career:
Sam Cooke (#4) - 1951 to 1964
"Darling you-uuuuu, send me. I know that you-uuuu send me. Honest you do, honest you do, honest you do, whoa-ou-whoa-ou-oh"!! I did not know who Sam Cooke was for a great many years of my life. I feel now that those years were incomplete. It is so much better having heard the voice of one of the best soul singers ever! This man was number one, the best, inspiring such singers as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye - all of whom will be on this list! "Twisting The Night Away" makes me smile every time I hear it. "A Change Is Gonna Come", in my opinion, is one of the best vocals ever recorded, and it's been covered a million times. (Well, maybe not a million, but a lot). The great talent of this man was, like Marvin Gaye after him, his incredible ease of sending those sweet tones out through the air; it was like it was second nature. Sam Cooke was cut down early, shot to death by the manager of a Los Angeles hotel when he was just 33 years old. The official story was justifiable homicide, but many believed the manager, Bertha Franklin, conspired with others to murder the singer. Either way, the world lost a magnificent talent on December 11, 1964. Here's Cooke at his finest:
Chris Cornell - 1984 to the present - Known for Soundgarden and Audioslave
So lets talk a little about the Grunge movement in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Most people attribute the success to this style of music to Nirvana and their lead singer Curt Kobain. Yeah, they were good, lots of angst and stuff. But if you wanted to hear raw talent, a voice that shredded your heart and your ears at the same time, you needed to listen to Soundgarden. Heavier than Nirvana, most Grunge wannabes didn't really focus on Chris Cornell and his band. I was different. Chris Cornell grabbed me by the balls and squeezed the minute I heard his voice. Soundgarden's second label album, Badmotorfinger, was one of the first CDs that I completely wore out. I had to buy a second copy. (And they say CDs don't deteriorate). I loved Kim Thayil's blistering guitar, but it was Cornell's wailing that hooked me quick. "Outshined" was MY song of 1991. "Jesus Christ Pose". "Rusty Cage". Fabulous. Then came their next album, Superunknown, and Cornell got to flex his vocal muscles even more. "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun", "Kickstand", hit after hit. But if you want to hear how great this man is, listen to "Fell On Black Days" or "The Day I Tried To Live" off of that album. Cornell has gone on to front other bands and do some great solo work, but I will always remember him, and the way he made me feel, in those early days of the Seattle Sound. Here's Soundgarden live in 1994:
Bruce Dickinson - 1976 to the present - Known for Iron Maiden
In 1981, the heavy metal band Iron Maiden lost their lead singer due to stress within the band and a dispute with their manager. A 23-year old came in to audition for the vacant job. After recording three or four songs in studio, Bruce Dickinson was hired, and the legend started. I realize not a lot of people think of great singers in the heavy metal genre; most thinking that its just a lot of screaming and wailing. Well Bruce Dickinson can scream and wail with the best of them, but in such a way that its not at all irritating or painful. He can hold notes longer than any singer anyone can name. I don't know a lot about octaves or perfect pitch, but it has been said that Dickinson can hit a lot of them (octaves) and has it (perfect pitch). All I know is the man can sing! I have to say I haven't been a huge fan of Iron Maiden, as I only know of their early work in the 1980's, but I can say it was because of Dickinson's phenomenal voice that got me interested. "The Number Of The Beast", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Run To The Hills" and "The Trooper" are all emblazoned in my brain and ears. Take a listen to Dickinson's unwavering voice here after two hours of power vocals:
Aretha Franklin (#1) - 1956 to the present
I'm not sure what else can be said about the "Queen Of Soul". She is regarded by many as the best female singer to ever live. According to Rolling Stone magazine, she is the cream of the crop, number one singer on their list of the top 100 of all-time. It's easy to see, or hear for that matter. Aretha can belt out a song with so much power that it's almost overwhelming. She started recording at the age of 18 in 1960, but didn't become the Queen until 1967 when she released such songs as "Think", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Respect". She soon became the most charted female artist on the Billboard RandB charts, including twenty number one songs. According to people that worked with her for many years, she never sang a song the same way twice. In fact, it's funny to watch the extras on one of The Blues Brothers DVD's. Apparently Aretha's scene in the diner was incredibly hard to film because she kept on changing the way she would lip-sync to the song "Think". John Landis, the director, said the editing took forever! Still, to this day, when Aretha Franklin sings, people stop and listen. Here she is in all her soulful glory:
Marvin Gaye (#6) - 1961 to 1984
Smooth. Soulful. Silky. Stupendous. Just a few words to describe who, I think, was the greatest singer of our time. Marvin's voice was an inspiration to every soul singer that followed him, and probably every folk, rock and heavy metal singer, too! He had a string of hits in the 1960's with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" along with some wonderful duets with Tammi Terrell ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"), Kim Weston ("It Takes Two") and Mary Wells ("What's The Matter With You Baby"). But it was the early 1970's that Marvin Gaye became the Prince Of Soul, releasing monster hits like "Let's Get It On", "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "What's Goin' On". You can "feel" every word he sings...the pain, the pleasure, the pure enjoyment of it all. Marvin was famously gunned down on April Fool's Day, 1984, by his father with a gun that was given to him by Marvin the previous Christmas. He was a day away from his 45th birthday. The world lost a great talent that day, but his songs live on, and will continue to live on for many centuries to come! I often say there are three rules that need to be heeded when out singing karaoke - 1: never try to sing "The House Of The Rising Sun" because of it's perfect first take recording; 2: never try to sing a Queen song because no one can emulate the flair and talent of Freddie Mercury, and 3: never, NEVER, try to sing any Marvin Gaye song because you cannot improve on it! Here is the best singer to ever live singing in front of a bunch of soulless white folk:
Whitney Houston (#34) - 1977 to 2012
So now I'm showing my eclectic taste in music, ain't I ? Miss Houston was never one of my favourite singers because of what she sang, but there is no denying she had one of the most magical voices ever! I know a lot of people compare Whitney to Mariah, coming up at the same time in the mid 1980's, similar types of pop songs and so on, but I always thought Whitney's voice was superior. (And I couldn't stand that high pitched squeal from Mariah!). Even though she had been singing all her life (she sang backup on Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" at the age of 14!), she really became a superstar in 1985 with the release of her first solo album Whitney Houston. Mega-hits from that record included "Saving All My Love For You", "You Give Good Love", "Greatest Love Of All" and the ever-popular, up-beat "How Will I Know". She was a natural; singing, starring in music videos, live performances...all were amazing. One of her only downfalls was her acting ability. In 1992 she starred with Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard", a movie roundly panned by critics, but loved by any woman over the age of 30. Although her performance was horrible, the song "I Will Always Love You" was a monster hit, and she sang the Hell out of it! It was around this time she met and married Bobby Brown, another downfall of hers, as their relationship would be fodder for the tabloids for nearly 20 years. On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found in her bathtub, submerged under the water in an apparent drowning. It was a huge loss, a complete shock to everybody. She will be remembered as one of the greatest singers of all time, and I always will go back to her Super Bowl XXV performance, in 1991, as the reason why I thought she was one of the best! Enjoy:
Not everyone likes Janis Joplin. She lived hard and fast and made no apologies for her recklessness. I get it. But how anybody can deny her being one of the most soulful, powerful singers of the 1960's is beyond me! Everything she sang, she put everything she had into it. Her incredible power came through in every album she recorded. Janis did a lot of solo acts in Texas and San Francisco early in her career, but it was in 1966, when she got together with Big Brother And The Holding Company, that people really started to take interest. The band's first album was released in August of 1967, just after their breakout performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. It was there that a relatively still unknown Joplin blew everyone away. Major hits followed; "Down On Me", "Ball And Chain", "Summertime", "Me And Bobby McGee" and the song everyone associates with Janis, "Piece Of My Heart". In 1969, Janis was asked to sing at a little concert known as Woodstock. She had no idea of the size of the crowd when the helicopter that taxied her there flew over. She became very nervous, and, during a ten hour wait before she went on, shot some heroin and drank like a fish. As a result, many view her performance that night as sub-par. Others have said that a Janis Joplin who is not "on" is still remarkable! On October 4, 1970, Joplin was found dead in her hotel room in Hollywood. She had overdosed on heroin, compounded by alcohol. She was in the spotlight for only a few years, but her legacy as one of the greatest soul/rock voices of all-time has stood the test of time. Here is Joplin's break-out performance in Monterey that just drops my jaw every time I watch it:
Annie Lennox (#93) - 1976 to present - Known for Eurythmics
I remember the first time I saw the video for "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" on MuchMusic. I was about 12 years old and I was both frightened and intrigued by the woman on my television. She had short red hair, dressed like a dude, and could belt out a song like nobody's business! I immediately became a big fan, following the Eurythmics meteoric rise to fame. Huge hits followed; "Who's That Girl", "Here Comes The Rain Again", "Would I Lie To You", "Missionary Man" to name just a few. When Lennox and Dave Stewart decided to stop making music together she turned to a very successful solo career. This is where, in my opinion, she really began to shine. Without the normal, heavy industrial music that accompanied her with Eurythmics, we could now make out what is one of the most beautiful voices around. She had a huge hit when she teamed up with Al Green with "Put A Little Love In Your Heart", but her first solo album, Diva, really elevated her to superstar status. More big hits followed; "Walking On Broken Glass" and "Why" being the biggest. Although she doesn't make many live appearances anymore, and we don't hear a lot about her like we did twenty years ago, every time she does appear is a special moment. No matter what she sings, she gives it her all and always sounds incredible. Below is from Arista Records' 25th Anniversary show. This video will hopefully show why I think this woman is one of the best around!
Freddie Mercury (#18) - 1969-1991 - Known for Queen
If you know me at all, you know how I feel about Freddie Mercury. There was, nor possibly will never be, a rock showman like him. He was a marvel to behold! I never saw him perform live, but I've seen dozens of Queen's live shows on VHS, DVD and YouTube, and I am amazed at his power and presence every single time. That would be something for a mediocre singer, but Mercury was absolutely the farthest thing from mediocre. He was simply phenomenal! Technically, Mercury had a four-octave range, which I hear is pretty good when it comes to singing. His vocal range apparently went from bass low-F to soprano high-F. I have absolutely no idea what that means, but people who do know were impressed. All I knew was I loved it, and the louder, the better! From Queen's very first album, Queen, released in 1973, everybody knew Mercury was a force to be reckoned with. Monster hits came out year after year; "Keep Yourself Alive", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody To Love", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and so on and so on. Queen's and Mercury's lasting legacy will probably be the sports anthem "We Are The Champions" which, in my opinion, is not one of their best songs. But if it introduces younger audiences to the magic that was Freddie, it's all good. Tragically, Freddie Mercury died from complications arising from the AIDS virus on November 24, 1991. He was only 45 years old and had many more years of entertaining the masses ahead of him. It is one of my all-time regrets that I was never able to see him perform live, but, luckily, the invention of YouTube allows me to watch him anytime I want! Enjoy!
Steve Perry (#76) - 1961 to the present - Known for Journey
"The Voice", a nickname given to Steve Perry by Jon Bon Jovi. Rock stars loved him, aspiring singers wanted to sing like him. For good reason, he was simply amazing! He was responsible for turning the band Journey into a monster success after five years of mediocrity. His power and showmanship made Journey one of the biggest bands of the era, starting in 1978 with the release of the album Infinity. Big hits off that album included "Wheel In The Sky" and "Lights", but many more were to follow. For the next ten years, with Perry belting out the tunes, Journey had multiple hits and sold out huge arenas. Some hits included "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", "Any Way You Want It", "Whose Crying Now", "Open Arms" and the ever-popular "Don't Stop Believin'". Perry dabbled with solo albums as well, which led to his departure from Journey. His biggest success came with "Oh, Sherrie", a song written for his then girlfriend Sherrie Swafford. Perry has lived pretty much out of the spotlight for a number of years. His very occasional appearances remind everyone who hears him why he was so special. Lately, rumours have been escalating about a reunion tour, but Journey has maintained some success with their current lead singer Arnel Pineda, a singer who sounds almost identical to Perry. If it ever happens, I'll be in line to hear this fabulous singer live. Here's an early sample of Perry's great voice:
Robert Plant (#15) - 1965 to the present - known for Led Zeppelin and The Honeydrippers
"Hey, hey mama said the way you move gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove". If you can listen to Robert Plant belt out that line and not get hooked, there has to be something wrong with you. There have been very few rock singers that have been able to convey such soul, such sexuality, such sheer power like Mr. Plant. When he and Jimmy Page got together to form what was to become Led Zeppelin, they changed the face of rock music forever. The way the two of them played off of each other was somewhat otherworldly. Plant was always able to match the ever increasing screams from Page's guitar, and it never sounded strained. He could sing a soft song as unforgettably as he belted out the heaviest Zeppelin tunes. When the greatest rock band ever broke up (following the untimely death of their drummer, John Bonham), Plant spent some time making solo albums, then formed The Honeydrippers, a band that, at certain times, had members such as Page, Jeff Beck and Paul Shaffer. Plant toned down his heavy rock vocals to sing such classics as "Sea Of Love" and "Rockin' At Midnight", and still sounded great. In recent years, when Zeppelin has played together again, Plant's voice has sounded a little strained, unable to reach those impossible high notes he did in the '70's. But there can be no mistaking the lasting impression he made on millions of Led-heads, including yours truly. The video below shows Zeppelin at, what I feel, is their absolute best. Watch how Plant plays off of Page's phenomenal guitar playing. This is probably the heaviest blues you'll hear, and it sends a chill down my spine every time!
Elvis Presley (#3) - 1953 to 1977
I suppose there is nothing I can add to the legend that is Elvis, but I'll try to explain why I think he was the most important figure in rock history. He had a lot of people around him in the early years, session musicians and sound engineers, that knew he had a great voice for slow, gospel-type songs. But when those around him started looking back on some of the great blues music made years before, they knew they could update the sound and let Elvis go. What followed was the birth of Rock N' Roll! Hit after hit came out of Sun Records studios; "Hound Dog", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Don't Be Cruel", "Jailhouse Rock", and literally dozens more. He ended up having no less than 31 number one songs in the US and the UK. His voice and his stage presence was like none other and sparked hundreds of imitators. (Would there have been a Tom Jones without Elvis??). He was so popular that the movies came calling, even though he had no training as an actor. He made over 30 movies, every one of them a huge success. He was the first singer that I loved and imitated, even in his later, fatter years, he could still belt out his songs and make thousands of women cry. We sometimes think of Elvis as just an icon, someone bigger than all of us, and he was. But what we sometimes forget is just how great a singer he was. Here's a little Elvis from his remarkable "Comeback Special" from 1968:
Otis Redding (#8) - 1958 to 1967
The world didn't even know who Otis Redding was until 1962, and he was only around for another five years before his untimely death. But in that short time, Redding became one of the premiere soul singers around. Just like Marvin Gaye, you can feel every emotion emanating from his soul when he sings. His breakout song was "These Arms Of Mine", recorded in 1962, which became one of his most successful selling singles. The string of fabulous recordings kept growing; "Mr. Pitiful", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Respect", "Tramp", "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay". But the lasting impression of Otis Redding, for me, will always be his hit "Try A Little Tenderness". His slow delivery at the start, the power that begins to overtake you, the "got-ta, got-ta, got-ta", it's one of the most remarkable recordings ever. And to listen to him sing it live is bone-chillingly great. Although he died at age 26, he left us with some of the best soul music to come out of the '60's, songs that people still listen to and sing to this day. I know when I'm in a bad mood I can always turn to my Otis Redding songs to make me happy! Here is the "King Of Soul" doing his thing, and I don't know how anybody wouldn't want to get up and dance:
Smokey Robinson (#20) - 1955 to the present - Known for The Miracles
Smokey Robinson is Motown, quite literally! Robinson and his Miracles met Barry Gordy in 1957. They became friends and Smokey suggested Gordy should start his own record label. Motown was born and The Miracles were one of the first acts signed, churning out the label's first million-selling record, "Shop Around" in 1960. Smokey's eloquence, his soft delivery, was largely why The Miracles became such a success. He could melt the hearts of women around the world with his voice. Silky smooth and full of soul, he was Motown. The Miracles came out with hit after hit during their time with Barry Gordy; "You've Really Got A Hold On Me", "I Second That Emotion", "The Tracks Of My Tears", "Going To A Go-Go" and their number one hit "Tears Of A Clown". Smokey left The Miracles in 1972 to focus on a solo career, along with writing and producing some of the finest talent in the world. It took a few years before Smokey had a solo hit with "Cruisin'", but what was never lost was his fantastic voice. Here is some early Smokey and The Miracles sounding as good as anything!:
Paul Rodgers (#55) - 1968 to the present - Known for Free and Bad Company
It's one thing to be loved by the music buying public. It's quite another thing to be loved by your peers, especially in the cutthroat business of Rock N' Roll. Paul Rodgers has been cited as an inspiration to such rock greats as David Coverdale, Lou Gramm, John Waite, Paul Young and John Mellencamp who called him "the best rock singer ever". His clear, powerful vocals on such hits as "All Right Now", "Bad Company", "Feel Like Making Love", "Shooting Star" and "Can't Get Enough" are amazing to listen to. But to watch and hear him live is remarkable. His voice carries over all the noise behind him and becomes the reason why so many people loved him. In 2005 he was picked by Brian May and Roger Taylor to tour as a new version of Queen. After having Freddie Mercury as your frontman, being chosen to lead the group was a huge honour. He is still going strong, recently releasing an album of R&B standards and touring the UK, sounding as good as ever. Here's an early live performance by Free, Paul Rodgers in all his soulful rock glory:
Frank Sinatra - 1935 to 1995
Ah, to be Frank Sinatra in the '50's. Men wanted to be him, women wanted to be with him. He was the biggest star in the world, with possible ties to the Mafia, meaning nobody could touch him. What made him so huge? Was it his charm? His movie star good looks? Absolutely, but more than anything was the magnificent voice that came out of him when he crooned. It didn't matter what he sang; jazz, be-bop, blues, pop...it all sounded great. "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Come Fly With Me", "Luck Be A Lady", "Summer Wind", and of course "My Way" and "Theme From New York, New York". Each and every song he sang became a huge hit, not because the songs were so well written, but because HE sang them! One of my favourite things to do is to listen to Frank on a lazy Sunday afternoon, basking in the beautiful tones. There are tons of videos showing just how great this man was, but my all time fave that I found on the YouTube is the one that follows, showing not only is incredible talent to sing, but his great acting ability as well:
Rod Stewart (#59) - 1961 to the present - Known for The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, solo
"Rod The Mod" made his way around Europe singing R&B and Blues songs with anybody he could while just a teenager. At the tender age of 19, he impressed one Long John Baldy, who had him sing in one of his bands. That was the beginnings of a career that has spanned 50 years. Some people enjoy listening to Rod Stewart, some can't stand him, but, for me, there is no denying the incredible soulful tones that come out of him when he sings. When he became the lead singer of The Jeff Beck Group and sang songs such as "I Ain't Superstitious" or "Shapes Of Things" it was easy to tell that he was going to be a huge star. It was one thing to have one of the best Blues/Rock guitarists in Jeff Beck, but then to have that incredible voice blast out those songs...it was beautiful to behold. Stewart then moved on to join the Faces with Ronnie Wood, who, of course, would one day start playing with The Rolling Stones. More rocking soul would follow, and the solo albums started to solidify Stewart's stardom. "Every Picture Tells A Story", "Maggie May", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)", they all felt as good as they sounded. Although he became more of a "pop" artist later on, that soulful growl was always just underneath. I found the following video which I think showcases just how great this man's voice is...and watch the lady on the balcony, too:
Donna Summer - 1968 to 2012
I really never thought too much about Donna Summer growing up. I was first introduced to her with the song "She Works Hard For The Money", which was a big hit at the time, but never rocked my boat all that much. It wasn't until I started listening to her back catalogue that I realized the tremendous talent she had. She was the queen of disco in the '70's, turning such songs as "Bad Girls", "Hot Stuff", "Last Dance" and "MacArthur Park" into monster hits. But anybody can sound good on record, right? It was checking out more and more live performances online where I start to see just how remarkable a singer Donna Summer was. It was completely effortless. Hitting every high note without an ounce of strain. Lowering her voice with no wavering at all. It was a sheer joy to listen to. The following video shows her promoting her movie from 1978 "Thank God It's Friday" which became much better known for the song "Last Dance" than her acting ability (you can watch all the preamble if you want, but I suggest starting at the 2:34 mark):
Steve Winwood (#33) - 1963 to the present - Known for The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, solo
I first heard of Steve Winwood when I was about 14 or so. It was 1986 and he released the multi-platinum album Back In the High Life with such hits as "Higher Love" and "Back In The High Life Again". I liked those songs, and I thought he had a really good voice. As I grew older and started to develop my taste in music, I realized this man that also sang the huge hit "Valerie" was one of the most popular singers in the world, starting way back in the '60's when he was just a teenager. "Gimme Some Lovin'", you know "Well my temperatures rising got my feet on the floor"...that's HIM?!?!? "I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but love you so"....that's HIM TOO?!?!? Winwood was just 14 years old when he joined The Spencer Davis Group and made them a huge success with his soulful voice and wonderful organ playing. He left them at the tender age of 19 to form Traffic, a hugely influential band from the late 1960's with such hits as "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" and "Paper Sun". In 1969 he got together with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech to form Blind Faith, a "supergroup" that recorded only one album, but had an everlasting impact on Blues Rock forever. Their song "Can't Find My Way Home" exemplifies the awesome vocals of Winwood. I loved discovering the roots of Winwood's career, and I listen to his early stuff as often as I can. Here is an incredibly young (16? 17?) Winwood singing "Gimme Some Lovin'":
Stevie Wonder (#9) - 1961 to the present
He started singing for Motown when he was 11 years old. Since that time he has had more than 30 top ten hits, 22 Grammy wins (the most by any male solo artist) and has sold over 100 million albums. He plays the piano, the harmonica, the drums and guitar...and he's been blind since shortly after his birth. Never mind all the accolades, never mind his unbelievably talented instrumentation and lyrics, he can simply just sing the HELL out of a song! "Sir Duke", "Superstition", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "I Wish", "Living For The City"...the list goes on and on. He recorded one of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums of all time in Songs In The Key Of Life in 1976. Even though he became more pop-oriented later in life ("I Just Called To Say I Love You"), you still know in an instant you're listening to a Stevie Wonder song when it's played. He has one of the most distinctive voices in all of music, still, to this day, and he's only 64! An absolute "wonder" to behold! Here he is in the studio re-recording one of his most beloved songs:
Eddie Vedder - 1979 to the present - Known for Pearl Jam
I've talked about how the Seattle grunge movement was a defining time in my youth. Many loved Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana, and I'm not saying I didn't, but with regards to powerful, heartfelt vocals, I always preferred Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder. When the lead singer of the band Mother Love Bone died from a heroin overdose, they started looking for a new singer. Vedder heard the news and made a three song demo for the band. He was hired immediately. The new formation of the band changed their name to Mookie Blaylock, an NBA player that they liked, but were forced to change their name because of legal actions. They decided on Pearl Jam, and named their first album Ten, Blaylock's jersey number. That debut album sold millions of copies (over 10 million as of 2013), and catapulted Vedder and his mates to super-stardom. Radio hits like "Jeremy", "Alive" and "Even Flow" were all over the place in 1991. I was hooked. I bought every Pearl Jam album, for the most part to hear Vedder's awesome vocals. He could scream like nobody else. He expressed the angst in his lyrics perfectly. But more than that, he just sounded freakin' great! As I listened to more and more Pearl Jam, I realized how much more I liked the slower songs, and the great control that Vedder could show. One of my favourite songs, Pearl Jam or otherwise, is "Black" from their first album. Here he is singing that song during a concert in 1992:
So that's the list. I know there are some singers that you may feel should be included on my list, and I'm open to listening to any suggestions. But, for me, these are the cream of the crop, the ones that I can listen to over and over again and never get sick of them!
Rod Stewart (#59) - 1961 to the present - Known for The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, solo
"Rod The Mod" made his way around Europe singing R&B and Blues songs with anybody he could while just a teenager. At the tender age of 19, he impressed one Long John Baldy, who had him sing in one of his bands. That was the beginnings of a career that has spanned 50 years. Some people enjoy listening to Rod Stewart, some can't stand him, but, for me, there is no denying the incredible soulful tones that come out of him when he sings. When he became the lead singer of The Jeff Beck Group and sang songs such as "I Ain't Superstitious" or "Shapes Of Things" it was easy to tell that he was going to be a huge star. It was one thing to have one of the best Blues/Rock guitarists in Jeff Beck, but then to have that incredible voice blast out those songs...it was beautiful to behold. Stewart then moved on to join the Faces with Ronnie Wood, who, of course, would one day start playing with The Rolling Stones. More rocking soul would follow, and the solo albums started to solidify Stewart's stardom. "Every Picture Tells A Story", "Maggie May", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)", they all felt as good as they sounded. Although he became more of a "pop" artist later on, that soulful growl was always just underneath. I found the following video which I think showcases just how great this man's voice is...and watch the lady on the balcony, too:
Donna Summer - 1968 to 2012
I really never thought too much about Donna Summer growing up. I was first introduced to her with the song "She Works Hard For The Money", which was a big hit at the time, but never rocked my boat all that much. It wasn't until I started listening to her back catalogue that I realized the tremendous talent she had. She was the queen of disco in the '70's, turning such songs as "Bad Girls", "Hot Stuff", "Last Dance" and "MacArthur Park" into monster hits. But anybody can sound good on record, right? It was checking out more and more live performances online where I start to see just how remarkable a singer Donna Summer was. It was completely effortless. Hitting every high note without an ounce of strain. Lowering her voice with no wavering at all. It was a sheer joy to listen to. The following video shows her promoting her movie from 1978 "Thank God It's Friday" which became much better known for the song "Last Dance" than her acting ability (you can watch all the preamble if you want, but I suggest starting at the 2:34 mark):
Steve Winwood (#33) - 1963 to the present - Known for The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, solo
I first heard of Steve Winwood when I was about 14 or so. It was 1986 and he released the multi-platinum album Back In the High Life with such hits as "Higher Love" and "Back In The High Life Again". I liked those songs, and I thought he had a really good voice. As I grew older and started to develop my taste in music, I realized this man that also sang the huge hit "Valerie" was one of the most popular singers in the world, starting way back in the '60's when he was just a teenager. "Gimme Some Lovin'", you know "Well my temperatures rising got my feet on the floor"...that's HIM?!?!? "I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but love you so"....that's HIM TOO?!?!? Winwood was just 14 years old when he joined The Spencer Davis Group and made them a huge success with his soulful voice and wonderful organ playing. He left them at the tender age of 19 to form Traffic, a hugely influential band from the late 1960's with such hits as "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" and "Paper Sun". In 1969 he got together with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech to form Blind Faith, a "supergroup" that recorded only one album, but had an everlasting impact on Blues Rock forever. Their song "Can't Find My Way Home" exemplifies the awesome vocals of Winwood. I loved discovering the roots of Winwood's career, and I listen to his early stuff as often as I can. Here is an incredibly young (16? 17?) Winwood singing "Gimme Some Lovin'":
Stevie Wonder (#9) - 1961 to the present
He started singing for Motown when he was 11 years old. Since that time he has had more than 30 top ten hits, 22 Grammy wins (the most by any male solo artist) and has sold over 100 million albums. He plays the piano, the harmonica, the drums and guitar...and he's been blind since shortly after his birth. Never mind all the accolades, never mind his unbelievably talented instrumentation and lyrics, he can simply just sing the HELL out of a song! "Sir Duke", "Superstition", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "I Wish", "Living For The City"...the list goes on and on. He recorded one of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums of all time in Songs In The Key Of Life in 1976. Even though he became more pop-oriented later in life ("I Just Called To Say I Love You"), you still know in an instant you're listening to a Stevie Wonder song when it's played. He has one of the most distinctive voices in all of music, still, to this day, and he's only 64! An absolute "wonder" to behold! Here he is in the studio re-recording one of his most beloved songs:
Eddie Vedder - 1979 to the present - Known for Pearl Jam
So that's the list. I know there are some singers that you may feel should be included on my list, and I'm open to listening to any suggestions. But, for me, these are the cream of the crop, the ones that I can listen to over and over again and never get sick of them!
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