AW's "Top 100 Singers"

III · Nov 18, 2008

Since so many folks hated Rolling Stone's Top 100 Singers list, let's compile our own. We'll use the same rules as Rolling Stone. Any AW member can vote. Post your top 20 in order in this thread. I'll compile the final results. Deadline is end of day Wednesday, 11/19. Let's say any singer from around 1950's forward.

You can post additional comments in this thread, but only one vote per AW'er. Will our list be better than Rolling Stone's? We'll find out on Thursday.

AW Top 100 Singers - RESULTS

Rank, Name, Points

Freddie Mercury 159
Aretha Franklin 81
Elvis Presley 79
Frank Sinatra 73
Van Morrison 72
Jim Morrison 71
Linda Ronstadt 69
Paul McCartney 68
Stevie Wonder 66
Annie Lennox 65
Ray Charles 63
Roy Orbison 63
Patsy Cline 59
Whitney Houston 56
Otis Redding 54
Elton John 52
Tina Turner 49
Robert Plant 47
Tracy Chapman 46
Billie Holliday 43
Tori Amos 42
John Lennon 39
Dean Martin 38
Eddie Vedder 38
Michael Jackson 38
Steven Tyler 38
Ann Wilson 36
Billy Joel 35
Christina Aguilera 35
Stevie Nicks 35
Johnny Cash 34
Loreena McKennitt 34
Ozzy Osbourne 33
Kate Bush 32
Marvin Gaye 32
Roger Daltrey 32
Ella Fitzgerald 30
Greg Allman 30
Celine Dion 29
Barbra Streisand 28
Bjork 28
Neil Diamond 28
Bob Seger 27
Etta James 24
Jeff Buckley 24
Tom Jones 23
Bing Crosby 22
Joe Cocker 22
Steve Winwood 21
Sting 21
Johnny Rotten 20
Pavarotti 20
Ronnie James Dio 20
Shannon Hoon 20
Callas 19
Chloë Agnew 19
Elizabeth Fraser 19
Klaus Meine 19
Leonard Cohen 19
Martha Reeves 19
Peter Steele 19
Sam Cooke 19
Bonnie Raitt 18
Bruce Springsteen 18
Eric Clapton 18
Jerry Garcia 18
Órlagh Fallon 18
Pat Benatar 18
Tracey Thorn 18
Yuri Shevchuk 18
Connie Dover 17
Hank Williams 17
Helen Terry 17
Ian Gillian 17
Joni Mitchell 17
Mike Patton 17
Sade 17
Warren Haynes 17
Alanis Morrisette 16
Andrea Bocelli 16
Buddy Holly 16
Diana Krall 16
Grace Jones 16
Janice Joplin 16
Joan Armatrading 16
Joey Ramone 16
Mariah Carey 16
Martina McBride 16
Natalie Merchant 16
Adam Duritz 15
Cat Stevens 15
Scott Weiland 15
Al Green 14
Dickey Betts 14
Robert Smith 14
Rod Stewart 14
Waylon Jennings 14
Alison Moyet 13
Gene Pitney 13
Joss Stone 13
Louie Armstrong 13
Neil Young 13
Dave Faulkner 12
Gordon Downie 12
Peter Gabriel 12
Brian Wilson 11
Eric Adams 11
Paul Simon 11
Prince 11
Chris Isaak 10
Levi Stubbs 10
Willie Nelson 10
Brad Delp 9
David Gilmour 9
Joey Belladonna 9
Michael Hutchence 9
Mick Jagger 9
Norah Jones 9
Bon Scott 8
Deborah Conway 8
John Popper 8
Karen Carpenter 8
Kelly Clarkson 8
Little Richard 8
Bob Dylan 7
Bob Marley 7
Dug Pinnick 7
Eric Woolfson 7
James Brown 7
John Bell 7
Johnette Napolitano 7
Judy Collins 7
Justin Timberlake 7
Mary J. Blige 7
Reid Genauer 7
Steve Perry 7
Alicia Keys 6
Dave Matthews 6
Emily Saliers 6
Geddy Lee 6
John Fogerty 6
Luther Vandross 6
Charlotte Church 5
David Bowie 5
Diana Ross 5
Ian Curtis 5
K.D. Lang 5
Nanci Griffith 5
Ray Gillen 5
Steven Page 5
Bruce Dickenson 4
Lisa Gerrard 4
Rob Thomas 4
Sebastian Bach 4
Tommy Shaw 4
Ed Kowalczyk 3
James Taylor 3
Jerry Lee Lewis 3
Layne Staley 3
Ray Davies 3
Robbie Williams 3
Sammy Hagar 3
Alice Cooper 2
Chuck Berry 2
Crystal Gayle 2
Don Henley 2
Dwight Yoakam 2
Jacques Brel 2
Sara K. 2
Sinead O’Connor 2
Smokey Robinson 2
Buck Dharma 1
Corin Tucker 1
Edith Piaf 1
Eric Himan 1
Handsome Dick Manitoba 1
James Blunt 1
Simon le Bon 1
Vaughn Monroe 1
Vince Gill 1

Cranky · Nov 18, 2008

Okay, I'll play along.

1) Aretha Franklin
2) Sam Cooke
3) Ray Charles
4) Freddie Mercury
5) Whitney Houston
6) Christina Aguilera
7) Linda Ronstandt
8) Van Morrison
9) Marvin Gaye
10) Paul McCartney
11) Otis Redding
12) Celine Dion
13) Little Richard
14) Mary J. Blige
15) Luther Vandross
16) Diana Ross
17) Jeff Buckley
18) Patsy Cline
19) Hank Williams
20) Steve Perry

sunna · Nov 18, 2008

Hmmm. This takes thought.

1) Aretha, of course

2) Van Morrison
3) Yuri Shevchuk
4) Etta James
5) Janice Joplin
6) Freddie Mercury
7) Robert Plant
8) Joss Stone
9) Roy Orbison
10) Otis Redding
11) Joe Cocker
12) Elvis
13) Whitney Houston
14) Reid Genauer
15) Frank Sinatra
16) Neil Diamond
17) Christina Aguilera
18) Prince
19) Ray Charles
20) Johnny Cash

III · Nov 18, 2008

I'm sure this'll change before it's all said and done, but here's my list.

Freddie Mercury
Elvis Presley
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
Steven Tyler
Roger Daltrey
Bruce Springsteen
Robert Plant
Ozzy Osbourne
Ray Charles
Bob Seger
Brad Delp
Tina Turner
Dug Pinnick
Robert Smith
Steven Page
Sebastian Bach
Tom Jones
Chuck Berry
Mike Patton

mscelina · Nov 18, 2008

Hmm. Interesting. I'll give it a whirl.

1. Billie Holliday
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Annie Lennox
4. Sade
5. Paul McCartney
John Lennon *I'm a purist; I have to tie them*
6. Jim Morrison
7. Kate Bush
8. Peter Gabriel
9. Frank Sinatra
10. Bing Crosby
11. Tina Turner
12. Elton John
13. Roy Orbison
14. Johnny Cash
15. K. D. Lang
16. Aretha Franklin
17. Ed Kowalczyk (Live)
18. Stevie Nix
19. Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)
20. Simon le Bon (Duran Duran just b/c of one song.)

aka eraser · Nov 18, 2008

Not an easy task....

1 - Van Morrison
2 - Roy Orbison
3 - Ray Charles
4 - Bob Seger
5 - Joan Armatrading
6 - Freddie Mercury
7 - Elvis Presley
8 - Gene Pitney
9 - Tracy Chapman
10- Aretha Franklin
11- Levi Stubbs
12- Otis Redding
13- Annie Lennox
14- Etta James
15- John Fogerty
16- Roger Daltrey
17- Robert Plant
18- Rod Stewart
19- Sinead O’Connor
20- Greg Allman

deepprincealain · Nov 18, 2008

This is tough. Some of the musicians Rolling Stone polled for their list are people who ought to be on. I'm tempted to vote for people I feel I ought to like, rather than the people with the really great, unique voices.

1.) Tori Amos
2.) Paul McCartney
3.) John Lennon
4.) Annie Lennox
5.) Jim Morrison
6.) Tracy Chapman
7.) Adam Duritz
8.) Eddie Vedder
9.) Ozzy Osbourne
10.) Brian Wilson
11.) Bjork
12.) Loreena McKennitt
13.) Billie Holiday
14.) Aretha Franklin
15.) Frank Sinatra
16.) Kate Bush
17.) Sting
18.) Diana Krall
19.) Sara K.
20.) Eric Himan

III · Nov 18, 2008

darkprincealain said:
This is tough. Some of the musicians Rolling Stone polled for their list are people who ought to be on. I'm tempted to vote for people I feel I ought to like, rather than the people with the really great, unique voices.

Yeah, I started with two lists - one ranking them as icons and one ranking how good I consider their actual singing and performing and then I kinda merged the lists. One thing's for sure, narrowing it to 20 makes you realize how many great singers you had to leave off your list.

KTC · Nov 18, 2008

1. Jeff Buckley
2. Leonard Cohen
3. Bjork
4. Helen Terry
5. Freddie Mercury
6. Jim Morrison
7. Van Morrison
8. Alison Moyet
9. Gordon Downie
10. Elton John
11. Paul Simon
12. Billy Joel
13. Robert Smith
14. Bob Marley
15. John Lennon
16. Natalie Merchant
17. Joni Mitchell
18. Neil Young
19. Aretha Franklin
20. David Bowie

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Nov 18, 2008

1. Tom Jones
2. Chloë Agnew
3. Órlagh Fallon
4. Connie Dover
5. Loreena McKennit
6. Sting
7. Waylon Jennings
8. Patsy Cline
9. Tina Turner
10. Rod Stewart (old, not young)
11. Dean Martin
12. Norah Jones
13. Prince
14. Bonnie Raitt
15. Karen Carpenter
16. Annie Lennox
17. Roy Orbison
18. Frank Sinatra
19. Smokey Robinson
20. Vince Gill

Ken · Nov 18, 2008

1) Paul Robeson
2) Paul Robeson
3) Paul Robeson
4) Paul Robeson
5) Paul Robeson
6) ...

edt

20) Dean Martin ;-)

OneTeam OneDream · Nov 18, 2008

Not one mention of

Dean Martin

tsk tsk

III · Nov 18, 2008

OneTeam OneDream said:
Not one mention of

Dean Martin

tsk tsk

Then make a list and put him on it.

And just for the record, only complete lists with 20 different names will be included in the counts.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Nov 18, 2008

Dean's been listed here at least twice.

gypsyscarlett · Nov 18, 2008

Oh, frell this was hard.

1. Pavarotti
2. Callas
3. Elvis
4. Patsy Cline
5. Sinatra
6. Stevie Nicks
7. Johnny Cash
8. Diana Krall
9. Bing Crosby
10. Kate Bush
11.Willie Nelson
12. Loreena McKennitt
13.Jim Morrison
14.Judy Collins
15. Ray Charles
16. Tori Amos
17. Springsteen
18. Tina Turner
19. Freddie Mercury
20. Billie Holliday

OneTeam OneDream · Nov 18, 2008

Ol' Fashioned Girl said:
Dean's been listed here at least twice.

Yeah, my fault, I read the first couple, then commented.

1. Dean Martin
2. Frank Sinatra
3. Jim Morrison
4. Tori Amos
5. Alanis Morrisette
6. Scott Weiland
7. Eddie Vedder
8. Louie Armstrong
9. Mariah Carey
10. Stevie Wonder
11. Christina Aguilera
12. Mick Jagger
13. Ray Charles
14. Justin Timberlake
15. Dave Matthews
16. Aretha Franklin
17. Johnny Cash
18. Jerry Lee Lewis
19. Crystal Gayle
20. Vaughn Monroe

mscelina · Nov 18, 2008

Crap. Who can I take off? I forgot all about Pavarotti believe it or not.

*ponders list*

Cranky · Nov 18, 2008

I skipped Pavarotti because I was thinking popular music, not opera or anything like that.

Judge, can we get a clarification? Cuz he definitely gets a spot in my top three.

robeiae · Nov 18, 2008

1) Marvin Gaye
2) Martha Reeves
3) Linda Ronstadt
4) Ian Gillian
5) Buddy Holly
6) Hank Williams (not Jr.)
7) Gregg Allman
8) Steve Winwood
9) Aretha Franklin
10) Otis Redding
11) Barbra Streisand
12) Neil Diamond (yes, Sara--I said NEIL DIAMOND)
~~13) Gene Kelly~~
13) Dean Martin (Frank can't sing)
14) Stevie Wonder
15) Steve Perry
16) Steven Tyler
17) Bowie
18) Mercury
19) Sting
20) Paul Simon (good call, Kevin)

Btw, this isn't really the order I would use. But I need to influence the polls...

gypsyscarlett · Nov 19, 2008

Cranky said:
I skipped Pavarotti because I was thinking popular music, not opera or anything like that.

Judge, can we get a clarification? Cuz he definitely gets a spot in my top three.

Well, I'm not the judge. Just a lowly voter. But if I can throw in my opinion, any list that is called, "The Best Singers OF ALL TIME" must include Pavarotti.
It would be like having "Best Actor of All Time" and not including Olivier.

In other words- neither Pavarotti or Callas are budging from my list!

Just try to argue with me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONUCPKdGcrk

JJ Cooper · Nov 19, 2008

Personalities aside:

1) Michael Jackson
2) Tracey Chapman
3) Stevie Nicks
4) Elton John
5) Andrea Bocelli (cut from a different jib than Pavarotti, which is what I like)
6) Cat Stevens (would have been number one had he kept singing)
7) Al Green
8) Whitney Houston
9) Joe Cocker
10) Freddy Mercury
11) Paul McCartney
12) Michael Hutchence (INXS)
13) Bon Scott (original lead singer AC/DC)
14) Bob Dylan
15) Alicia Keys
16) Charlotte Church
17) Rob Thomas
18) Robbie Williams
19) Stevie Wonder
20) James Blunt

poetinahat · Nov 19, 2008

This post is a work in progress. I'll come back and fix it before the deadline. Cultural bias admitted.

(Other folks have some great selections; if I've admitted them, it doesn't mean I disagree. A list has to begin and end somewhere, though.)

John Lydon / Johnny Rotten
Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Tracey Thorn (Everything but the Girl)
Annie Lennox
Grace Jones
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Joni Mitchell
Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus)
Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs)
Chris Isaak
Johnny Cash
Deborah Conway (you non-Aussies *must* hear this voice)
James Brown
Robert Plant
Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
Roger Daltrey
Kate Bush
Jacques Brel
Edith Piaf
Neko Case
Loretta Lynn
Elvis Presley
Janis Joplin
Patsy Cline
Cassandra Wilson
Lena Horne
Muddy Waters
David Bowie
Bing Crosby
Frank Sinatra (yes, he could sing... and boy, he could phrase)
Morrissey
Sarah Vaughan
Grace Slick
Aretha Franklin
Dave Vanian (The Damned)

Inkdaub · Nov 19, 2008

Hmmm...

Shannon Hoon
Peter Steele
Pat Benatar
Stevie Wonder
Mike Patton
Freddie Mercury
Elvis
Anne Wilson
The Chairman of the Board
Ed Vedder
Roy Orbison
Ozzy
John Popper
Johnette Napolitano(just popped up on my shuffle and demanded immediate placement)
Van Morrison
Ray Gillen
Lisa Gerrard
Layne Staley
Dwight Yoakam
Corin Tucker

...twenty is hard.

JJ Cooper · Nov 19, 2008

Rob, I read Debra Conway and a shiver went down my spine - how could I omit her?

JJ

III · Nov 19, 2008

mscelina said:
Crap. Who can I take off? I forgot all about Pavarotti believe it or not.

*ponders list*

Please feel free to edit through the end of the day with much hair pulling and gnashing of teeth if need be.

Cranky said:
I skipped Pavarotti because I was thinking popular music, not opera or anything like that.

Judge, can we get a clarification? Cuz he definitely gets a spot in my top three.

I'd say it's your list, put whoever you want on it as long as they were alive and singing after the 1940's. The Rolling Stone list seemed limited to singers of Popular music (rock, soul, r&b, c&w, pop), but I think that was implied rather than expressly stated. For AW we'll keep it open.

AW's "Top 100 Singers"

rockin the suburbs

rockin the suburbs

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Fish Whisperer

rockin the suburbs

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Hand? What hand?

Been a long time...

rockin the suburbs

Hand? What hand?

Ma fin est mon commencement

Been a long time...

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Touch and go

Ma fin est mon commencement

.

Numbers are beautiful

wrapped in plastic

.

rockin the suburbs