New Rolling Stone List: 100 Greatest Singers of All Time
The most recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine lists the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in an effort to get all of us blogging our raves and rants. Mission accomplished.
I actually have to give the Rolling Stone crew some props for this list because I personally think it’s a harder one then “100 Greatest Guitarists” or “100 Greatest Albums.” I wouldn’t really even know where to begin especially when you consider how different genres of music can be – for example, a soul singer, in my opinion, always has the edge over a rock or country vocalist just by the very nature of the genre they inhabit.
So who snagged number one? Aretha Franklin. Followed closely by the likes of Ray Charles, Elvis Presley (my first problem with the list), Sam Cooke, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan. Some heavy hitters indeed. Before we get into the inevitable debate in the comments section let me throw in my two cents about the Top 10.
- Elvis Presley (#3) – OK, I can see it. But not sure he deserves the number three spot ahead of Cooke or Gaye. Presley is an obvious game changer and his vocal style was something that white America locked onto but let’s be honest, his style is one derivative of African American blues singers. I know that’s the argument that you hear about Presley all the time, but I think it’s valid. Top 10? Yes. 3? NO.
- John Lennon (#5) – This is probably just preference and very subjective, but I tend to agree with Stranger Jay that as far as The Beatles go, McCartney was the better songwriter and vocalist. McCartney occupies slot #11, but dare I suggest a flip? Yes, I expect a lot of pushback from you guys. Let me have it.
- Bob Dylan (#7) – OK, OK. Everyone relax. All respect to Mr. Dylan, a clear cultural icon of our time. And I supsect the reason he made top 10 is because he is some kind of anti-singer. In other words, he proved that delivery can make up for any kind of tonality – it went hand in hand with his message and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with Bono’s (sigh, I know) assessment that “He busted through the artifice to get to the art.” But that success is my very problem with him being number seven on the all-time greatest SINGERS list. Singers, not songwriters Bono. Dylan might even be the greatest artist of our time, but I bet if you told him he was number seven on the list of all-time greatest singers he’d chuckle and list thirty or so people he’d expect to be in front of him. Dylan is in front of Al Green for godssake. An oversight in my opinion.
OK, now it’s your turn. What did you think? Share your thoughts on the Rolling Stone list (John Lee Hooker is only #81?!?!) if you dare…
MP3s:
- Aretha Franklin – “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone”
- Ray Charles – “I Got a Woman”
- Elvis Presley – “Hound Dog”
- Sam Cooke – “Bring it on Home to Me”
- John Lennon – “Gimme Some Truth”
- Marvin Gaye – “Baby, Don’t You Do It”
- Bob Dylan – “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
- Otis Redding – “Respect”
- Stevie Wonder – “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”
- James Brown – “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”
Al Green, Muddy Waters were robbed. Van the Man was down too far.
Overlooked were Sandy Denny, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Arthur Alexander, Cassandra Wilson
You know, hating on Bono has sorta jumped the shark. Sure, he’s a cocky fucker, but U2 are one of the few arena-level acts of modern time who also managed to maintain their musical integrity. Just sayin’.
You say Elvis Presley didn’t deserve the nod over Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye? I agree, but what’s ironic is that Elvis was someone Sam was in awe of, and he predicted Elvis’ success early in his career. Once he saw how Elvis did an Army stint and immediately returned to top form, he warned people to “watch out for that boy. He’s gonna be bad!” Years later, Elvis and Sam would turn out to be the top two artists in RCA’s Pop music stable.
Erik Greene
Author, “Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family’s Perspective”
http://www.OurUncleSam.com
This is why I love blogging – thanks to everyone for commenting. As I said this has to be the hardest list to tackle out of all the lists that Rolling Stone has done. As to Bono – I agree U2 is an arena-level act that has managed to keep their integrity relatively speaking, and it’s way too easy to hate on him (haha look at South Park), but I just felt his evaluation of Dylan was off and am kind of confused why he gets to comment on things so often – Bono’s more qualified to comment on Coldplay (I see a lot of parallels between the bands and think Coldplay could be the next U2). Sam’s Neph: what can I say? I love your uncle! Elvis deserved top 10 but not ahead of Sam.
@arvid: I think there’s a tacit bias towards “big” names. Of the names you mentioned, most people have only heard one of them (Denny), and I doubt they even know that they did.
@HaD: Hating on Bono is always acceptable. They made two excellent albums and a few other good ones, but nothing meaningful in the past 15-20 years. Love the “jump the shark” reference though – one of my favorite expressions.
@Sam’s Neph: Elvis is one of my favorites, but his influence will always be bigger than his musical contribution. On the other hand, your uncle was possessed of one of the best voices to ever grace vinyl.
I also read a great quote from your uncle about Dylan that is germane to this conversation. When he played Dylan for Bobby Womack, Womack said he didn’t understand it. Cooke explained “From now on, it’s not going to be about how pretty the voice is. It’s going to be about believing that the voice is telling the truth.”
All i gotta say…is where are the ladies on this list?? VERY male heavy…
I agree that soul should have an edge over country and rock because of the voice itself. Yes there are country and rock singers that stir emotion but the voice of a soul singer comes from somewhere far beyond, deeeeeeeep within. Sam Cooke should tackle that number 2 and david ruffin should at least be top 15. Bob Dylan and The Beatles are arguably the best songwriters to grace this earth, not SINGERS!!!
for me bono and freddy mercury are the best singers of all the time.
Freddie Mercury to me is the greatest singer of all time. Think about it no one else beside Freddie can actually sing queen songs everybody else who tries to seems to just screw the songs up.
I agree. Freddie is a great singer and so is Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin. I really dont think Aretha Franklin should be first on this list
Huh, where is Ian Gillan? Just listen to Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” from their In Rock studio album, or their Made in Japan live album – and then tell me he is not # 1.
rooling stones list’s is very,very poor.Where is ian gillan on this list.He is most immpresive rock singer.you cannot compare freddie,plant or elvis with him.in comparison whit him they sound ridicule…..
Although Christina Aguilera has a decent voice, she doesn’t know what to do with it. She has no control over her voice when she starts “belting” if that’s what you want to call it. If they’re gonna put Christina on the list, I only have one question. Where’s Beyonce??? Homegirl can sing circles around Christina anyday, anytime, anywhere, any kind of way she wants. I would love to see them hit the stage together.
Elvis Sang circles around these guys. He was reaching the highest point in his career before he died. Look, I respect Ray, Elvis Presley’s range and strength far outweighed Ray. Michael Jackson should be before Ray and a lot of others. Aretha Franklin ahead of Mariah Carey? One question, why? Aretha could yell out the notes, but Mariah can sing them out. Aretha Franklin was great, but better then Mariah? How?
Note to Dave: Elvis did indeed had great tone and timber, but (sorry), as with most of the great “crooners”, not much of a vocal range. …And when you say Elvis “sang circles around these guys”, were you including Ian Gillan in that statement? If you were, you clearly have not really listened to his work, particularly his earlier work with Deep Purple in the ’70s (as he aged, sadly, his voice did not keep up to pace …on that “note”, I will give you this – right up to the end, Elvis sounded great) .
For me the number one singer of all time is obvious…Marvin Gaye. To be honest, I just don’t see anyone fucking with him. He is THE untouchable vocalist. It’s especially confusing when John Lennon is placed higher than him. Lennon was possibly the greatest songwriter of all-time (I prefer McCartney), and as a musician I wouldn’t argue with him at #1 let alone #5…but as a vocalist…he wasn’t even that good. None of The Beatles were (Which is why I also don’t like McCartney at #11). If I was to get into all of my problems with this list we would be here all day, as I’m sure most of us would, so I won’t. I’ll just list my top 10:
1-Obviously…Marvin should be #1.
2-Lennon and McCartney shouldn’t even be on the list
3-Whiteny Houston needs to be top 10 at least.
4-Art Garfunkel and David Ruffin should be higher.
5-Bob Dylan has one of the most atrocious voices in music history…get him out of here.
6-Lauryn Hill anybody?
7-Hank Williams (as singer, musician etc.) sickens me…ugh
8-All popular American singers. There are great opera, foreign and unpopular singers who could easily make this list. Either include them or change the title of the list.
9-Bruce Springstein…probably shouldn’t be on the list…definietely not #36.
10-Bob Marley was a great artist…not neccesarily a great singer.
11- (It’s not 10, so what) No Chris Cornell?…unnacceptable.
Freddie mercury 18? Robert Plant 15? Elvis shouldn’t even be on the list Paul demoted him to the jester in 1991 it should be 1) Freddie Mercury 2) Robert Plant and 3) Roger Daltry (or Dahltry I can’t spell it) and Paul was Better than John
Anthony Kiedis should be on this list, his voice really makes the band pull together and sounds all around amazing. They are my favorite band however so this may be a bit byassed haha
mercury 18??? the hell with that?? he is the best singer all time, john was definetely better than paul, paul voice dont give you chills like john does, anyways theyre too on top, whitney houston should be top 10 , elvis is overrated, dylan too
Its impossibly HARD to take any “Greatest Singers ever” list aeriously if Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson and Sarah Vaughan are nowhere to be found!!. Pure BS list…
Its impossibly HARD to take any “Greatest Singers ever” list seriously if Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson and Sarah Vaughan are nowhere to be found!!. Pure BS list…
I have no idea who were the people in charge of such a decision, Idon´t agree with most of the rank, seriously, how can you believe that Paul or John (beatles) are great singers? sure they are talented but great singers? I don´t think so. we have a lot of amazing voices, what about Steve Perry (journey) in 76 place? that is simply ridiculuos!!!! He is one of the best singers EVER!!! Anyway, everyone has a personal opinion.
Some names I think should have been included, and high on the list: Frank Sinatra, Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Warren Zevon, Barry White, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Eric Burdon, Basia, George Harrison, Paul Simon, Minnie Ripperton…I could keep going.
Though, even with the names in use there, I would rank Roy Orbison much higher than 13; probably number 1
Where’s Frank Sinatra? Why is Mary J Blige last? and I hate to say it and i sure ill get plenty of people who disagree but Axel Rose is a pretty amazing singer overall.
Frank Sinatra is still my main concern…
This isnt the first time Rolling Stone has put out some disappointment and it wont be the last.
100 Greatest Artists Of All Time list has The Sex Pistols (where’s the talent? does it deserve 59?) Dr. Dre (at 54?) but yet it lists The Eagles at 75 (seriously that far behind?) aswell as Pink Floyd and The Red Hot Chili Peppers are NOWHERE to be foundd on this list.
This magazine needs to pay better attention…
WHERES FREDDIEMERCURY?
Bob Dylan is a great songwriter, mediocre singer…and John Lennon was a much better singer/songwriter than Paul McCartney, John was cutting edge, McCartney was sugary sweet