Every once in a while, Rolling Stone remembers that it’s, you know, a music publication and puts out an entertaining, relevant article for people over the age of 12. Their list of “The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time” is one of those articles. Maybe it doesn’t quite pack the clout it once did, back when real musicians graced the cover and not the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, but I liked the concept and the way the list was formatted. Each singer on the list gets a feature article written by another artist. Here’s the top ten of the list:
1. Aretha Franklin (article by Mary J. Blige)
2. Ray Charles (article by Billy Joel)
3. Elvis Presley (article by Robert Plant)
4. Sam Cooke (article by Van Morrison)
5. John Lennon (article by Jackson Browne)
6. Marvin Gaye (article by Alicia Keys)
7. Bob Dylan (article by Bono)
8. Otis Redding (article by Booker T. Jones)
9. Stevie Wonder (article by Cee-Lo)
10. James Brown (article by Iggy Pop)
You can see the rest of the list on Rolling Stone’s website. Aretha coming in at the top of the list doesn’t surprise me. The woman can sing – and if you listen to her early recordings, you know what I’m talking about. It’s also thrilling that lesser celebrated singers like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding made the list- but I’m a little puzzled that Bob Dylan would be considered a better singer than Stevie Wonder. Sure, he’s a great songwriter, but that voice? Serious nails on a chalkboard. At any rate, it was fun to go through the list and read all the features by other musicians, who are no slouches themselves.
What would your Top 10 be?
All artists from Rolling Stone’s glory days, written (mostly) by artists from Rolling Stone’s glory days.
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone mention Jackson Browne’s name.
Interesting. Of course, it is all subjective, but I surely think that Bill Withers deserves to be in the top 10. His voice just gets to me every time I hear one of his songs.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone mention Jackson Browne’s name.”
Y’know, he’s not one of my fav artists, but I saw him on concert once and it was one of my favorite shows ever. It was a small venue and it was just him on the stage—no opening act or announcer—and a keyboard. He came out, said “hello” and just started taking requests from the audience. He’d finish one song, and ask what we wanted to hear next. It was a really fun, relaxed format.
not that I think he necessarily belongs on a list of the best (although he might; he is talented). But it was just a really laid back, fun show.
Ok, it IS subjective but no Billie Halliday? No Ella Fitzgerald? No Tracy Chapman? No Sinead O’Connor? And Annie Lennox at No.93?? Have no arguments with the top 10 here but a list that doesn’t include those 4 extraordinary voices is just plain negligent imo.
@Lauri – at this very moment I have Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall playing in the background. Most def. on my top 10 of sublime, heart-melting voices. 8)
I don’t have a problem with any of those being in the top 10, but I’ve got about 50 more that I’d like to be in there with them.
I’m always sort of surprised at Sam Cooke always making these lists, he had a very short career and while he had a good voice, it never seemed that special to me.
As for Bob Dylan – ADORE him, fantastic song writer and poet, good musician, cute as a bug, but he has a horrid voice. Somehow in spite of that I can listen to him for hours. Huh.
It upsets me, though, that Ian Tyson is never recognized by anyone outside of Canada. I adore this man. Half of Ian & Sylvia in the 60s, they had a big influence on folk music and wrote songs that were recorded by Elvis Presley, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and others. Ian’s a solo act now but still has the smooth voice and still writes great songs. His newest CD was just released this week and he’s 75 years old.
And why isn’t The Band somewhere around there? %&()$#%^*&@#$^&$
Syko, Sam Cooke’s inclusion and prominence surprised me too. Don’t get me wrong – I love Cooke, but why is he better (or more influential) than Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye?
G, exactly. Billie Holiday or Ella or Nina Simone should make the top ten.
And I love John Lennon, but maybe they should have made it Lennon/McCartney?
Glaring omissions: Sting, Peter Gabriel, Ann Wilson
*syko – The Band is on there. Levon Helm is listed and was their lead singer (and drummer).
I could go on and on about this list forever, but I’ll spare everyone the rambling and list a few glaring mistakes, IMO.
1. Al Green should have been WAY higher on the list.
2. In what universe is Axl Rose considered a better singer than Merle Haggard? Not mine.
3. Bob Dylan over James Brown (and nearly everyone else on this list) is ridiculous, and I bet he’d be the first to admit it.
Axl! I’m happy Axl Rose is on the list, by why in hell is Bjork there? And why is Steven Tyler #99? That’s not right, he should be higher than that.
geronimo – I agree, Tracy Chapman needs to be on there somewhere. I’ve never heard a voice more soothing than hers.
I’m just glad there’s no crap on here like Christina Aguilera or Beyonce. Christina can sing, but seeing her name on this list would just cheapen it.
I can understand why a lot of people wouldn’t understand why Dylan is so high on the list. But if you listen to ‘blood on the tracks’ or other classic records you might even agree. Few people could deliver such quality material with as much passion. I think that’s one reason we don’t hear many cover versions of some of his best work.
And here’s a funny story of Bob recently paying a visit to Neil Young’s
childhood home in Winnipeg.
http://tinyurl.com/5spqm9
Annicka: Christina is on the list…shes #58.
i’m just happy that Celine is not in the top 100!! 😈
Bobby: “Blood on the Tracks” is one of my all-time favorite albums, but I still don’t think Bob can out sing Al Green, et al. That being said, I definitely see where you’re coming from.
Where is Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald?, Bob Dylan best “singer” that Otis Redding?…
Where is Sandy Denny?….the queen of British folk rock? She even wrote her own songs.
This whole list is a joke.
And where the heck is Sarah Vaughan??