Rolling Stone Top 100 Singers of all time

[joe68]

Way too low for our girl!!!



100 Mary J. Blige
99 Steven Tyler
98 Stevie Nicks
97 Joe Cocker
96 B.B. King
95 Patti LaBelle
94 Karen Carpenter
93 Annie Lennox
92 Morrissey
91 Levon Helm
90 The Everly Brothers
89 Solomon Burke
88 Willie Nelson
87 Don Henley
86 Art Garfunkel
85 Sam Moore
84 Darlene Love
83 Patti Smith
82 Tom Waits
81 John Lee Hooker
80 Frankie Valli
79 Mariah Carey
78 Sly Stone
77 Merle Haggard
76 Steve Perry
75 Iggy Pop
74 James Taylor
73 Dolly Parton
72 John Fogerty
71 Toots Hibbert
70 Gregg Allman
69 Ronnie Spector
68 Wilson Pickett
67 Jerry Lee Lewis
66 Thom Yorke
65 David Ruffin
64 Axl Rose
63 Dion (not Celine)
62 Lou Reed
61 Roger Daltrey
60 Björk
59 Rod Stewart
58 Christina Aguilera
57 Eric Bourdon
56 Mavis Staples
55 Paul Rodgers
54 Luther Vandross
53 Muddy Waters
52 Brian Wilson
51 Gladys Knight
50 Bonnie Raitt
49 Donny Hathaway
48 Buddy Holly
47 Jim Morrison
46 Patsy Cline
45 Kurt Cobain
44 Bobby "Blue" Bland
43 George Jones
42 Joni Mitchell
41 Chuck Berry
40 Curtis Mayfield
39 Jeff Buckley
38 Elton John
37 Neil Young
36 Bruce Springsteen
35 Dusty Sprinfield
34 Whitney Houston
33 Steve Winwood
32 Bono
31 Howlin' Wolf
30 Prince
29 Nina Simone
28 Janis Joplin
27 Hank Williams
26 Jackie Wilson
25 Michael Jackson
24 Van Morrison
23 David Bowie
22 Etta James
21 Johnny Cash
20 Smokey Robinson
19 Bob Marley
18 Freddie Mercury
17 Tina Turner
16 Mick Jagger
15 Robert Plant
14 Al Green
13 Roy Orbison
12 Little Richard
11 Paul McCartney
10 James Brown
09 Stevie Wonder
08 Otis Redding
07 Bob Dylan
06 Marvin Gaye
05 John Lennon
04 Sam Cooke
03 Elvis Presley
02 Ray Charles
01 Aretha Franklin

[vermicious knid]

Thank God, now I know that the 45th best singer ever is Kurt Cobain! I had been racking my brain trying to figure that out, but now Rolling Stone's expertise has saved me the trouble. And I knew that James Taylor deserved to be somewhere within the 65 to 75 range, but they've nailed it down for me. Thanks Rolling Stone. Whew!

[louielouie2000]

Way too low for our girl!!!

You have to admit she's in very good company with that entire list though! I would almost consider this a list of the most distinctive singers of all time... not necessarily the BEST. For instance, people like Springsteen and Fogerty are not necessarily "great" vocalists in my mind, but they're surely unique and unforgettable. Besides than that, what would classify them as 'great?' Neither have much of a range or anything like that. Same could be said of Stevie... her voice is undoubtedly one of the most unique in the history of pop music... but is it really one of the hundred greatest of thousands of years of humanity? Hardly. People like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and even Roy Orbison have much "greater" voices in my mind, regardless of what I think of their recorded works.

[GypsySorcerer]

Rolling Stone's lists are always crap, and this one doesn't disappoint.:rolleyes:

How can you have a "greatest singers of all time" list and not include Barbra Streisand, Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra? This list isn't called "greatest singers of rock." :shrug:

Where the frick is Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald? Or Ann Wilson for cripe's sake? Louis Armstrong?

[shackin'up]

:eek: No Eddie Vedder??? No Mark Lanegan???what a craplist.

[mylittledemon]

RS sucks. I disagree with about 6 out of the top 10.

[SmileAtYou]

You have to admit she's in very good company with that entire list though! I would almost consider this a list of the most distinctive singers of all time... not necessarily the BEST. For instance, people like Springsteen and Fogerty are not necessarily "great" vocalists in my mind, but they're surely unique and unforgettable.

I agree. Bob Dylan is an out-of-this-world poet and songwriter, but I still wouldn't classify his voice as all time top ten...

[michelej1]

You have to admit she's in very good company with that entire list though! I would almost consider this a list of the most distinctive singers of all time... not necessarily the BEST.

Exactly. That's how Dylan got to #7. They're looking at distinctive voices and their unique ability to interpret a song.

Michele

[gretchen]

Uh, what the fedge??!!! Steve Perry is waaay too low on that list! And Christina Aguilera????http://img2.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/sick/sick0022.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-sad-smileys.php)Pukus Welby , M.D.!!! What the hell is she doing on that list? Kurt Cobain, plech. And, Annie Lennox should have been higher!

Where are:

Chrissie Hynde
Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
Justin Currie (Del Amitri)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Ian McCulloch (Echo & The Bunnymen)
Peter Murphy (Bauhaus, brill solo work)
Mark King (level 42)
Paul Weller (The Jam , Style Council, brill solo stuff)
Lindsey Buckingham
Robbie Robertson
Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Ian Astbury (The Cult)

[galestreet]

In my heart, Stevie Nicks is off the charts, a real singer and the greatest at that, my favorite so I am glad she was on their list but 98 ain't too accurate imo.:angel:

[louielouie2000]

In my heart, Stevie Nicks is off the charts, a real singer and the greatest at that, my favorite so I am glad she was on their list but 98 ain't too accurate imo.:angel:


I've been thinking about this list a good deal today... show how badly we need new Mac/Stevie music to chew over :lol: . But anyway, I was thinking this shows how the tides might be turning for Stevie in regards to public sentiment and music critics. I don't think she would have made this list even 10-20 years ago. She really hasn't ever been taken entirely seriously by either critics or the masses. But maybe this is a sign that is changing. Frankly, I'm surprised and pleased Stevie is on the list at all. Just think about the article back in '81 where Rolling Stone proclaimed her the Queen of Rock. That whole interview really was border line poking fun at her, and her airy fairy princess persona. I think RS has given props to Fleetwood Mac more for their cultural impact than they've ever given any real credibility to their music as well. They love to talk about how the Mac's inbred, druggie, dramatic ways changed the face of the music biz, but they don't talk much about how their music has impacted the world, new artists ever since, etc. I mean 30 years later, Fleetwood Mac itself, much less music journalists, are finally just now admitting that Tusk was an extraordinary album, Fleetwood Mac's creative pinnacle and best album. It just wasn't taken seriously at the time either. So to wrap up my ramblings... I'm glad Stevie was on this (albeit) silly list, and I think it can only mean good things for her and Fleetwood Mac, period. What do they call it in regards to presidents, Revisionist History? :eek:

[jedw]

98th is a bit of an insult.

look at some of the people on this list, they dont all sing "sweetly"
#64 Axl Rose - sounds like a corpse.

Stevie - maybe not everybodies cup of tea, but then neither is anybody on the list.

[DavidMn]

Another name thats not on this list that should be is Harriet Wheeler, lead singer of the Sundays. If any of you have heard this amazing talent sing, you'd know what I'm talking about.:nod:

[BombaySapphire3]

Another glaring omission IMHO is Linda Ronstadt ..while not a rock singer in the Nicksian sense ,as far her voice itself goes she is tehcnically better than 95% of those that did make the list.:shrug:

[Chrislit18]

Bob Dylan's voice is crap. Just saying. He is a great songwriter, but his voice is scratchier than any singers should be.

That being said, it's a stupid typical Rolling Stone list. I saw this on Yahoo Bullitens yesterday, and they have contemporary artists and older artists [including Keith Richards if I'm not mistaken] vote on this, they all wrote down thier top 20 and the list was made that way.

Stevie, while I personally enjoy her singing because it sounds real to me, I don't think her voice is in the top 100. Christine McVie has a MUCH better voice than Stevie does, and she is not on this list what so ever. So I think we should be happy Stevie is on here at all. And again anyone who said distinctive over best had the right idea. It seems the most 100 well known voices over the 100 best voices.

Send a letter to Rolling Stone anyone :p

[JbbyStew86]

this is the typical list output for rolling stone. they put about 75 percent of the most popular musicians in a list which 50 percent of which dont belong in, and THEN fill the rest with old artists that they claim fit in. this is mostly a ploy to appear intelligent, drawing on people most havent heard of and relying on the fact that they came first.

stevie was probably put in this list because at one point in time, rolling stone called her the queen of rock. its safe to put her three from the bottom of the barrell, but she at least got the nod. IMO shes got the weakest voice of the entire band over the span of their careers. christine's has always remained generally the same, lindseys has gotten deeper, but not worse. stevie's got worse in TITN.

i dont think its "revisionist history". if it was, they would have put christine on the list. its just the status quo from a music magazine which has spent the last twenty years reducing itself to mediocrity.

[chriskisn]

I agree. Bob Dylan is an out-of-this-world poet and songwriter, but I still wouldn't classify his voice as all time top ten...

You are right of course. Dylan should be above and beyond the list. :)

[joe68]

98 | Stevie Nicks


Photo: Putland/Retna Born
May 26th, 1948
Key Tracks
"Landslide," "Dreams" (Fleetwood Mac) "Stand Back" (solo)
Influenced
Natalie Maines, Sarah McLachlan, Courtney Love


Sheryl Crow calls Stevie Nicks' voice a "combination of sheer vulnerability and power," and Courtney Love swoons over "that ridiculous beautiful tone." Nicks' strong, deceptively versatile voice — by turns husky, warm, velvety and childlike — has provided the color and texture for songs ranging from smooth and mysterious Fleetwood Mac hits such as "Rhiannon" and "Dreams" to solo rockers like "Stand Back." "She's so tiny, and this big, deep voice comes rattling out, and I think that's very sexy," said Debbie Harry of Blondie. Nicks has influenced and mentored a wide generation of younger female singers, from the country of the Dixie Chicks to the sweet pop of Vanessa Carlton. "Her voice soothes me," says Love, "gives me something to aspire to and leaves me feeling courageous."

[Angel69]

Number 25- Michael Jackson? They put him above Whitney Houston? Not to mention Stevie?! Patti Labelle is not my cup of tea but she sure as hell sings better than Michael Jackson.

[michelej1]

Send a letter to Rolling Stone anyone :p

And I think that's why Rolling Stone likes to do these lists. They love to get all the feedback about who didn't make the list and who should have. They like to generate the conversation and controversy. I don't know how many magazines it sells, but now that we have the internet, I'm sure every list they posts gets them a lot of traffic.

That's probably the main goal.

Michele

[Moz]

IMO shes got the weakest voice of the entire band over the span of their careers. christine's has always remained generally the same, lindseys has gotten deeper, but not worse. stevie's got worse in TITN.


I love Stevie, but this is the gospel truth, yo.

[joe68]

Others who did not make the list:

Tom Petty
Billy Joel
Paul Simon
Ann Wilson
Carly Simon
Sheryl Crow
Sting
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Bryan Ferry
Elvis Costello

[wolfontherun]

Woo hoo you go Stevie.

They rated Iggy Pop ahead of our Stevie? Hmmmmmmmmmm?

[wolfontherun]

I love Stevie, but this is the gospel truth, yo.

This is utterly and completly rediculous!

[JohnL]

[QUOTE=JbbyStew86;784151]stevie was probably put in this list because at one point in time, rolling stone called her the queen of rock. its safe to put her three from the bottom of the barrell, but she at least got the nod. IMO shes got the weakest voice of the entire band over the span of their careers. christine's has always remained generally the same, lindseys has gotten deeper, but not worse. stevie's got worse in TITN.

Although I admit Stevie had a rough patch in the late 80s and early 90s, her voice has always been the most interesting in the band. If anyone;s voice has deteriorated to date, it is Lindsey. Most of his songs are recorded in a whisper these days and when he tries to belt out the old tunes like GYOW, he just can pull them off anymore...and it is more of just hitting the notes in the original keys. His rock voice is mostly a scream these days.

[starshine]

I don't think its too bad...heck really RS seems to not like Stevie much (other than the '81 cover story) /meaning solo Stevie.....so the fact that she made this list at all is remarkable really. I don't think Natalie Merchant was on it either. I really like Natalie's voice......I'm happy that Paul Rodgers made it /what was he like 55....he really should be well lower.....cause his voice is totally awesome. Not really a big fan of lists.....it is what it is......:shrug:

[baboles]

98 | Stevie Nicks


Photo: Putland/Retna Born
May 26th, 1948
Key Tracks
"Landslide," "Dreams" (Fleetwood Mac) "Stand Back" (solo)
Influenced
Natalie Maines, Sarah McLachlan, Courtney Love


Sheryl Crow calls Stevie Nicks' voice a "combination of sheer vulnerability and power," and Courtney Love swoons over "that ridiculous beautiful tone." Nicks' strong, deceptively versatile voice — by turns husky, warm, velvety and childlike — has provided the color and texture for songs ranging from smooth and mysterious Fleetwood Mac hits such as "Rhiannon" and "Dreams" to solo rockers like "Stand Back." "She's so tiny, and this big, deep voice comes rattling out, and I think that's very sexy," said Debbie Harry of Blondie. Nicks has influenced and mentored a wide generation of younger female singers, from the country of the Dixie Chicks to the sweet pop of Vanessa Carlton. "Her voice soothes me," says Love, "gives me something to aspire to and leaves me feeling courageous."

And why isn't Debbie Harry on the list? She's a big rock icon. She can belt it out with the best of them. Check out those early 1977-78 performances! Whew!

[michelej1]

If anyone;s voice has deteriorated to date, it is Lindsey. Most of his songs are recorded in a whisper these days and when he tries to belt out the old tunes like GYOW, he just can pull them off anymore...and it is more of just hitting the notes in the original keys. His rock voice is mostly a scream these days.

I might have agreed with this after the SYW tour and listening to Shut Us Down and then UTS, but I definitely don't think it's true after hearing Lindsey's voice this last tour. His voice was quite strong and true.

Of course, his voice is not as distinctive as either Stevie or Christine's. Michele

[Enchanted_Stevi]

WAAAAAAAAY to low for Stevie:mad::shrug:

[Moz]

Although I admit Stevie had a rough patch in the late 80s and early 90s, her voice has always been the most interesting in the band. If anyone;s voice has deteriorated to date, it is Lindsey. Most of his songs are recorded in a whisper these days and when he tries to belt out the old tunes like GYOW, he just can pull them off anymore...and it is more of just hitting the notes in the original keys. His rock voice is mostly a scream these days.

Have you even listened to GOS? As far as I can remember, there aren't any whispery vocals.

[newyawka]

BOB DYLAN MADE THE TOP 10?!

He sounds like a bee in a bottle! :lol:

[DWIG]

Patti Smith and Tom Waits above Mary J Blige and Stevie Nicks???????

(I love both those artists, but get real!)

Stevie should have been in the top 10 at least

Where was Linda Ronstadt? Emmylou? Shawn Colvin?

I know these things are pretty tongue in cheek - and don't really mean an awful lot, but come on ......we are talking seriously talented vocalists here (Stevie & Mary i mean!)

Dave

[LukeA]

Patti Smith and Tom Waits above Mary J Blige and Stevie Nicks???????

(I love both those artists, but get real!)



When it comes to singing, some people value character over melisma.

[michelej1]

Josh Board of the San Diego Weekly Reader comments on the list:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/daily-crasher/2008/nov/14/100-best-singers-1-great-drummer/

98 Stevie Nicks...great voice, but I just don't like her solo stuff. With Fleetwood Mac, amazing. I've heard Gold Dust Woman a million times, and could hear it a million more.

[Moz]

BOB DYLAN MADE THE TOP 10?!

He sounds like a bee in a bottle! :lol:

ROTFLMAO. :laugh:

[cratesok6]

I'll throw these names out there:

Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
Joan Baez
Judy Collins
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship)
Jerry Garcia

[louielouie2000]

I'll throw these names out there:

Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
Joan Baez
Judy Collins
Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship)
Jerry Garcia

The thing is with these things, you can only get 100 artists on these lists. That will always leave somebody great out. That's why I'm saying I'm surprised and thankful Stevie made it at all. The fact that people like Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Grace Slick, Ann Wilson, and Billie Holiday aren't on there, but people like Axl Rose and Iggy Pop are on the list, tells you something too. To quote Billy Joel:

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers
'Cause it's always been the same old scene.
There's a new band in town
But you can't get the sound from a story in a magazine...
Aimed at your average teen

In other words, Rolling Stone's word doesn't mean a THING to me ;) .

[aleuzzi]

Uh, what the fedge??!!! Steve Perry is waaay too low on that list! And Christina Aguilera????http://img2.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/sick/sick0022.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-sad-smileys.php)Pukus Welby , M.D.!!! What the hell is she doing on that list? Kurt Cobain, plech. And, Annie Lennox should have been higher!

Where are:

Chrissie Hynde
Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
Justin Currie (Del Amitri)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Ian McCulloch (Echo & The Bunnymen)
Peter Murphy (Bauhaus, brill solo work)
Mark King (level 42)
Paul Weller (The Jam , Style Council, brill solo stuff)
Lindsey Buckingham
Robbie Robertson
Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Ian Astbury (The Cult)

And where, oh where, is Christine McVie?

[cratesok6]

The thing is with these things, you can only get 100 artists on these lists. That will always leave somebody great out. That's why I'm saying I'm surprised and thankful Stevie made it at all. The fact that people like Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Grace Slick, Ann Wilson, and Billie Holiday aren't on there, but people like Axl Rose and Iggy Pop are on the list, tells you something too. To quote Billy Joel:

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers
'Cause it's always been the same old scene.
There's a new band in town
But you can't get the sound from a story in a magazine...
Aimed at your average teen

In other words, Rolling Stone's word doesn't mean a THING to me ;) .

Very true. And the fact that so many great names didn't make this list is a huge kudo to Stevie.

[THINKABOUTIT]

Rolling Stone are full of it more and more...in the last few years anyway, with their political covers and articles on classic albums that tear them apart. I believe they trashed Zeppelin originally. I agree guys...this list is so bogus! It's difficult to rate "singers"....it should have been best "Songwriters" of all time!! Then we wouldn't have Whitney Huston above Stevie!! LOL

[Steviefan49]

Rolling Stone are full of it more and more...in the last few years anyway, with their political covers and articles on classic albums that tear them apart. I believe they trashed Zeppelin originally. I agree guys...this list is so bogus! It's difficult to rate "singers"....it should have been best "Songwriters" of all time!! Then we wouldn't have Whitney Huston above Stevie!! LOL

Amen to this one Marissa.. IMO, RS is one of the biggest JOKES there is! It's gone to hell for sure! LMAOOOOO:p

[BombaySapphire3]

Where was Linda Ronstadt? Emmylou? Shawn Colvin?



Dave

Shawn Colvin in the same breath as Linda and Emmylou!Shawn is a good niche artist but to be mentioned along with the other two as if she were somehow their peer.?no ****ing way.

[wolfontherun]

Shawn Colvin in the same breath as Linda and Emmylou!Shawn is a good niche artist but to be mentioned along with the other two as if she were somehow their peer.?no ****ing way.


Shawn who?

[SmileAtYou]

We must not forget that this is the same magazine who once dubbed Stevie the "Queen of Rock and Roll"....
http://www3.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/b256d5473403091c2c0a25144ff06d7c5g.jpg (http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=yywyuqh4mzy&thumb=4)

[Phoenix]

Shawn Colvin in the same breath as Linda and Emmylou!Shawn is a good niche artist but to be mentioned along with the other two as if she were somehow their peer.?no ****ing way.

Thank you. I have NEVER and will NEVER understand how she has been able to turn "sunny came home" into this endless career where people still care.:eek::sorry:
but seriously:shocked:

[DWIG]

Shawn Colvin has written some seriously good music and has a wonderful voice - don't know why she shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Emmylou and Linda R - as she is equally as talented as either of those two brilliant women (forgot to mention Dolly too!!!).
These things are open to opinion - and this is mine - so thanks for letting me air it!

Not to mention the fact that Stevie loves Shawn!
(Another plane went down anybody!!!!)

Dave

[wondergirl9847]

Amy Grant
Neko Case
Gary Puckett
Sandi Patti
Morten Harket
George Michael
Twila Paris

The list is endless of voices that speak to me and that I think are the best singers of all time.

Rolling Stone obviously has a narrow view. ;)

[StandbackStevie]

I am glad to see Stevie Nicks on that chart disappointed thought that Chaka Khan is not on that list also nancy and ann wilson from heart as well also of course lindsey buckingham and christine mcvie as well should be on that list too.:wavey:

i agree with most people glad Stevie is on the list i think she should have been lower on the list as well but also some other i can list here

Chaka Khan
Ann Wilson
Nancy Wilson
Carly Simon
Melanie
Mary Travers from Peter Paul and Mary
Madonna
Tom Petty
Enya
Sarah Brightmann
my list can go on but there is more i can just go on but glad miss nicks got her props coming in at 98

[cratesok6]

Thank you. I have NEVER and will NEVER understand how she has been able to turn "sunny came home" into this endless career where people still care.:eek::sorry:
but seriously:shocked:

Oh Jeez, so she's the one who sang this little ditty? Then I agree ^. Sorry