Rhiannon Giddens
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Another new-for-me discovery, Eileen Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL4e6KK5kfo And Margo Timmins has released her own album that showcases her voice more prominently than most Cowboy Junkies efforts: https://www.soundike.com/r2134372-margo-timmins-margos-corner-ty-tyrfu-sessions-vol-1-mp3-download.h... |
There are a few female vocalist which kind of stand out from the crowd, one of them is Diamanda Galas. As to interpretation of Female vocalist giving me goose bumps, if that means literally making the hairs on my back stand up then it must be Tina Turner with 'River Deep Mountain Wide'. The only time I experience hair standing on my back is just a few times when I was a boy growing into adolescence. With that particular song it was first the song itself, when I heard it for the first time, the melody was so stunning which basically comes in two parts and then those vocals giving it justice. Only later on I learned it was made by that famous producer Phil Spector who made her repeat the song zealion times until it was right. But I must make it clear without the song Tina Turner is empty to me. It always the music first, then the vocalist and lyrics. |
Did we mention Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies? Understated; but moving! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZ-biRvTuc |
My preference is to listen to female singers so this thread has been great. I’m surprised Sade has not been mentioned. I am always mesmerized by her singing. Suzanne Vega - not goose bumps, but love the story telling in her songs, Caramel a favorite Dido - WhiteFlag, Life for Rent - acoustic versions, she has many other great songs. Anyone know what happened to her. Lastly, this week I am driving in my car and listening to the radio and heard this voice that was amazing - Alice Merton, check her out on YouTube and listen to the unplugged versions. |
Certainly, Lisa Gerrard, ( IMO the most spectacular voice ... Sanvean is extraordinary ... among many many others ... ) Elizabeth Fraser, ( little exercice: on Youtube listen Song of the Siren from Brian Ferry then, from Robert Plant, and after, see what Liz can do with the same song ... Unbelievable! ) Susan Janet Ballion, ( S.he's S.o crazy ! - I love it! ) Montserrat Figueras Sofie von Otter ... also very good: Sinéad O'Connor, Sarah Mc Lachlan, Grace Slick, Dolores O'Riordan Catherine Ringer, Kate Pierson, Norah Jones, Karen Orzolek, Beth Gibbons, Azam Ali, Liquid voice category: Nana Mouskouri, Karen Carpenter, Ella Fitzgerald, Édith Piaf, Klaus Nomi ... |
I read through these posts and I am glad to see all the names I thought would be there. There are actually a couple I'm surprised are not there but I also think they should not. I have to give a shout out to Cher; after all this time. Jeez she just keeps going and going GOOD. I once went to see her (with Sonny) at a small club and the electricity went out. They sat and made the best of it for awhile and then Cher asked if the audience would like her to try a couple songs; a capella. She sang Summertime and Danny Boy with absolutely no accompaniment or PA. They were just beautiful and have been in love with her ever since. And I have to add; Esther Satterfield (w/ Chuck Mangione_Land of make believe) and Cilla Black, only because Alfie was SO cool. |
Someone mentioned Patti Smith at the beginning of this thread. The song from her that always gave me goose bumps is Wave. Here are some others.... Diana Krall - Case of you Joni Mitchell - Woodstock (performed live just her and the piano) Phoebe Snow - Poetry Man Live (The woman with the four octave voice) Janis Ian - At Seventeen Tori Amos - Icicles Patricia Barber - Autumn Leaves (Performed live at Ladies’ Jazz Festival in Gdynia) Loreena McKennitt - Dante’s Prayer Ariane Lydon - Speechless at Ground Zero Sandy Denny - Battle of Evermore (Led Zeppelin, ZOSO) |
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Here's my current new discovery; Nicole Atkins. I may be influenced by the proximity of our Jersey Shore stomping grounds. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=nicole+atkins&&view=detail&mid=F8465D0B6AF1BFC41077... https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=nicole+atkins&&view=detail&mid=0C3032C81F01E45349F6... |
Jaybe nailed it for #1. Some candidates for #3 (Not the absolute best, but highly under appreciated) Bonnie Raitt. Listen to Cry Like a Rainstorm by Linda Ronstadt (a clear contender for #2). Then Listen to Bonnie's version. Which conveys more emotion? And her "I Can't Make You Love Me" is a classic. For technical perfection as a lead and background singer, I think Jennifer Warnes needs more recognition. Come to think of it, we should do a best background singer thread. |
I’m heavily into the Blues, so a few of my favs... Diane Schuur – Blues for Schuur Karen Lovely - Still the Rain Bonnie Raitt - Million Miles Beth Hart - any Katie Webster - any Sena Ehrhardt - Cold Cold Feeling Valerie Wellington - A Fool for You E.G. Kight - Let the Healing Begin Etta James - Cheating in the Next Room Deborah Coleman - Happy When You're Unhappy Joanne Shaw Taylor - Diamonds in the Dirt Shemekia Copeland - Long as I Can See the Light Susan Tedeschi - Walking Blues The Professor’s Blues Review featuring Gloria Hardiman – Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On |
Lots of great singers mentioned; you can't go wrong with any of them. I'm going to go in a different direction based on my recent experience.
My speakers are relatively high efficiency (96 dB single driver)
and I thought that 300b or EL-34 SET amps would be sufficient in my 14 x 24' room, especially since I don't listen to symphonic music or at high volumes. I have an active bi-amp system with 200 wpc class D power driving dual 10" woofers on each channel, but I still heard some hardness creeping in when I moved the volume up a little that I interpreted as distortion. I decided to pay heed to the comments that suggested that amps that low in output were best paired with a true high eff speaker of 100 dB or more. I can't afford 100 dB speakers like the Audio Classics, so I went to a bigger amp, a 30 watt OTL. My concern about giving up the EL-34 SET's mid-range magic was unfounded. In fact, it was the opposite. The vocals, female or male, are truly goose-bump raising. A quantum leap in SQ. Pretty much no matter what I've put on, I've been stunned. Even my long-suffering wife is impressed. I'm not talking about an amp you need a second mortgage to afford. I spent well under $3K used and I couldn't be happier. PM me if you want a good deal on an SET; I don't think I am going back. |
