Rolling Stone List of Greatest 200 Singers of All Time

[Owen Bawn]

But if you're looking for a few of my favorite singers, try these out.
Bess Smith

Archie Fisher

Sara Bareilles

Rachael Price

Rebekkah Nilsson

Stan Rogers

Song of the Candle - Stan Rogers

By Stan Rogers. Album: Turnaround (1978).Feel free to request an upload of any other songs Stan did, I may just have it.

youtu.be

 

[steveclarkus]

Nope. But he is on the list at 19. Just under Celia Cruz at 18. And under Bob Dylan, who is 15, with a very lame, to me, explanation of why, and I am a big Dylan fan.

I’m a huge Dylan fan as well and I think of his voice as another instrument. Dylan’s music just isn’t Dylan’s music without that voice. Dylan did remark that the only one of his songs that was done better than his was done by Jimmy Hendrix - “All Along the Watchtower”.

 

[FarmerTan]

I’m a huge Dylan fan as well and I think of his voice as another instrument. Dylan’s music just isn’t Dylan’s music without that voice. Dylan did remark that the only one of his songs that was done better than his was done by Jimmy Hendrix - “All Along the Watchtower”.

And he did it playing guitar, upside down and backwards. I hope his voice made the list.

 

[steveclarkus]

And he did it playing guitar, upside down and backwards. I hope his voice made the list.

Oh man wasn’t Hendrix just amazing!!!

 

[FarmerTan]

Oh man wasn’t Hendrix just amazing!!!

I STILL have a poster of him from the 70's somewhere in this shack. Maybe early 80's, actually. Wasn't he 27 when he died too? Pray for our young people. It is sometimes hard to safely escape our youth.

 

[Owen Bawn]

Although his voice has been ravaged by time, Ian Anderson once had a unique set of pipes for a rock singer.

 

[The Knize]

I hope his voice made the list.

Hendrix did not make the list. I am a huge fan, liked his voice, and I think I would argue that he should be on a list of the greatest 200 singers, but I do not think I would argue too intensely. Hendrix himself, famously to my recollection, did not really like his voice. To me he was wrong not to.

I have read that Dylan liked Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watch Tower" better than his own on John Welsey Harding, and that Dylan adapted Hendrix's version to his own playing of that song in concert. I agree with Dylan there. I think Hendrix extracted more meaning from that song than Dylan knew he had in it!

I had not heard that that was the only Dylan song Dylan thought someone else did better than he had done it. I am guessing that is not so for Dylan, and I would say it is not so for me at all. For instance, there are a bunch of Dylan songs he recorded but did not release, at least at first. I am guessing that he thought others such a Joan Baez had recorded better versions. Recently, I heard an acoustic version of John Welsey Harding the song by Ron Sexsmith that I thought utterly killed, and I would say was better than the original. (But, Ron S has done that with a number of artists materials, including Elvis Costello, who said Sexsmith taught him how to perform "Everyday I Write the Book."

I saw a recent really good video on You Tube ranking all of the Dylan albums. I thought they had a number of interesting things to say, in passing, about his voice. At once point they referenced the eight or more distinctive Dylan voices. They also made suggestions as to where folks put off by his voice might start as to albums they might more easily get into. I think I have said this before, but I liked his voice(s) through John Wesley Harding a lot, although I would not say he was ever a great singer in a conventional sense, and I do not buy what RS wrote. I liked his voice from time to time thereafter on specific recorded material, but for the most part found it detracted from the material. I suppose sometimes it was interesting and serviceable. The voice he uses on a duet with Willie Nelson of Townes' Pancho and Lefty is sort of bizarre, but somehow really fits the material, I admit, and I love it.

So, Dylan has every right to follow his vision on what voice he should sing in. I am just not always going to like it, and I do not think I am ever going to perceive of him as a great singer compared to a lot of folks out there!

 

[FarmerTan]

Hendrix did not make the list. I am a huge fan, liked his voice, and I think I would argue that he should be on a list of the greatest 200 singers, but I do not think I would argue too intensely. Hendrix himself, famously to my recollection, did not really like his voice. To me he was wrong not to.

I have read that Dylan liked Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watch Tower" better than his own on John Welsey Harding, and that Dylan adapted Hendrix's version to his own playing of that song in concert. I agree with Dylan there. I think Hendrix extracted more meaning from that song than Dylan knew he had in it!

I had not heard that that was the only Dylan song Dylan thought someone else did better than he had done it. I am guessing that is not so for Dylan, and I would say it is not so for me at all. For instance, there are a bunch of Dylan songs he recorded but did not release, at least at first. I am guessing that he thought others such a Joan Baez had recorded better versions. Recently, I heard an acoustic version of John Welsey Harding the song by Ron Sexsmith that I thought utterly killed, and I would say was better than the original. (But, Ron S has done that with a number of artists materials, including Elvis Costello, who said Sexsmith taught him how to perform "Everyday I Write the Book."

I saw a recent really good video on You Tube ranking all of the Dylan albums. I thought they had a number of interesting things to say, in passing, about his voice. At once point they referenced the eight or more distinctive Dylan voices. They also made suggestions as to where folks put off by his voice might start as to albums they might more easily get into. I think I have said this before, but I liked his voice(s) through John Wesley Harding a lot, although I would not say he was ever a great singer in a conventional sense, and I do not buy what RS wrote. I liked his voice from time to time thereafter on specific recorded material, but for the most part found it detracted from the material. I suppose sometimes it was interesting and serviceable. The voice he uses on a duet with Willie Nelson of Townes' Pancho and Lefty is sort of bizarre, but somehow really fits the material, I admit, and I love it.

So, Dylan has every right to follow his vision on what voice he should sing in. I am just not always going to like it, and I do not think I am ever going to perceive of him as a great singer compared to a lot of folks out there!

Perfectly said. Perfect.

 

[Doc4]

If you want my opinion I’ll have to give it to you over a beer in person. Off B&B.

 

[MrSpeedy]

Linda Rondstat at 47 is a crying shame. She should be closer to top 20.

 

[never-stop-learning]

Rolling Stone is still publishing?

 

[The Knize]

Rolling Stone is still publishing?

Apparently so. I am not sure I would have been able to tell you it was, except for the publicity these rankings that come out from time to time get. It is not what it was when Lester Bangs was still around! Apparently, RS founder Jan Wenner sold his last 51% interest in RS in December 2017, I have no idea whether he continued(s) to have any management/editorial role.

In any event, I do not think RS has been very important or good since the mid-70s. Although I really would not be able to speak to whether the as of 2018 new owners have done anything to try to make it better or, for that matter, change the magazine.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the Brit magazines Mojo and Uncut do not make those magazines more available in the States. I suppose it has been a while since I have read a recent issue of either one, maybe since Tower Records closed, but both were excellent efforts, and to me what I would like to have seen RS become or remain. (As I write that I find myself concerned that all three magazines are really Boomer oldies magazines. It is hard to be truly cool at my or RS's ages!) I would truly love to see Mojo or Uncut's versions of the 200 greatest singers. Although I am afraid we would see even more selections I do not know well if at all from the British folk scene and African and "world" popular music.

Publishing RS magazine and allegedly running the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I guess, although the reference there is really to Jan Wenner and not to RS per se, and JW, although one of the founders, is hardly in sole charge of the RRHOF. He is the one who seems to take the flak for the inductees though.

 

[musicman1951]

Nope. But he is on the list at 19. Just under Celia Cruz at 18. And under Bob Dylan, who is 15, with a very lame, to me, explanation of why, and I am a big Dylan fan.

Dylan should get points for often having the worst diction of any singer while trying to sing long consonants - the "L" in deal is my favorite (in Like a Rolling Stone). His voice is great for much of his stuff, as Randy Neuman is for his.

This list is, of course, ridiculous. It would be difficult enough for just rock and roll singers, but all singers? They have jazz singers - where are the Broadway singers. Audra McDonald would be at the top of my list. These lists are always short on criterion, which makes it impossible for them to be anything but ridiculous. But it's still fun to look.

 

[never-stop-learning]

I would truly love to see Mojo or Uncut's versions of the 200 greatest singers. Although I am afraid we would see even more selections I do not know well if at all from the British folk scene and African and "world" popular music.

I really don't have any issues with more British, African and World music. A beautiful voice is a beautiful voice.

Publishing RS magazine and allegedly running the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I guess, although the reference there is really to Jan Wenner and not to RS per se, and JW, although one of the founders, is hardly in sole charge of the RRHOF. He is the one who seems to take the flak for the inductees though.

The RRHOF lost my interest a long time ago. Any entity that delayed inducting Rush as long as they did and then never got around to inducting Yes until after Chris Squire passed away does not deserve my consideration or attention.

 

[steveclarkus]

I STILL have a poster of him from the 70's somewhere in this shack. Maybe early 80's, actually. Wasn't he 27 when he died too? Pray for our young people. It is sometimes hard to safely escape our youth.

Yep he died really young and I believe under suspicious circumstances. Before he became a music pro, he was US Army Airborne. Got booted out for wanking. He wanted out to play music and he did that in spades. I believe he played guitar on an Elvis album as a studio musician. What a fantastic guitarist and singer he was too. I first heard him in my freshman year of college. Ah, Purple Haze! BTW, I have a Bob Dylan poster over my bed.

 

[brucered]

Steve Winwood goes from 38 the last time they did it, to completely off the list? I guess that makes sense, seeing as they had to make room for The Weeknd.

This guy's voice aged very well.

 

[BullGoose]

Bob Dylan. 15. Oh my.....is it April 1st?!

Dylan did say he can hit all the notes that Caruso does and can hold his breath twice as long.

 

[FarmerTan]

Dylan did say he can hit all the notes that Caruso does and can hold his breath twice as long.

Ain't Caruso dead though?

Kinda seems like ol' Bob was in Jamaica, Mon, when he said that!

 

[FarmerTan]

Steve Winwood goes from 38 the last time they did it, to completely off the list? I guess that makes sense, seeing as they had to make room for The Weeknd.

This guy's voice aged very well.

This is proof that RS is on crack.

 

[Legion]

Apparently so. I am not sure I would have been able to tell you it was, except for the publicity these rankings that come out from time to time get. It is not what it was when Lester Bangs was still around! Apparently, RS founder Jan Wenner sold his last 51% interest in RS in December 2017, I have no idea whether he continued(s) to have any management/editorial role.

In any event, I do not think RS has been very important or good since the mid-70s. Although I really would not be able to speak to whether the as of 2018 new owners have done anything to try to make it better or, for that matter, change the magazine.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the Brit magazines Mojo and Uncut do not make those magazines more available in the States. I suppose it has been a while since I have read a recent issue of either one, maybe since Tower Records closed, but both were excellent efforts, and to me what I would like to have seen RS become or remain. (As I write that I find myself concerned that all three magazines are really Boomer oldies magazines. It is hard to be truly cool at my or RS's ages!) I would truly love to see Mojo or Uncut's versions of the 200 greatest singers. Although I am afraid we would see even more selections I do not know well if at all from the British folk scene and African and "world" popular music.

Publishing RS magazine and allegedly running the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I guess, although the reference there is really to Jan Wenner and not to RS per se, and JW, although one of the founders, is hardly in sole charge of the RRHOF. He is the one who seems to take the flak for the inductees though.

Mojo and Uncut are pretty widely available in Australia. Probably more than RS. They used to often come with a free CD on the cover, so I would buy the issues when the CD interested me, or when they did special editions about artists I like.