by Rob Jones

Created on: December 14, 2006   Last Updated: January 20, 2007

I like honest singers who are not trying to sound a certain way, but rather sound the way they sound because their vocal strengths and quirks alike naturally flow out of them. My top 20 favorite singers is a varied list across all musical genres. Sometimes, I like a voice because I'm used to it, that I grew up hearing it. It feels like home. At other times, I am in awe of technical ability, although this is rare. Mostly, I like a voice if it's unique, not following a particular school of singing, or after a certain tradition So here, in no particular order (for how could I possibly rank one higher above another) is my list:

Paul McCartney: From sweet ("Yesterday") to rough ("I'm Down") to downright crazed ("Helter Skelter") McCartney's vocal talent is rivaled only by his superlative instrumental ability. Recommended track: "Maybe I'm Amazed"

John Lennon: For similar reasons as McCartney. Lennon was famously uncomfortable with his own voice, which is why he opted for double-tracking in the studio. But his poignancy on a track like "Julia", and his passion on another such as "Don't Let Me Down" put him in the stratosphere of rock vocalists. Recommended track: "God "

Chet Baker: A jazz vocalist who stood out from the confident crooner stylings of many of his contemporaries, Baker's vocal is a lost, haunted sound of a doomed romantic. His performance on "Time After Time" remains to be my favorite. Recommended track: "Time After Time"

John Lee Hooker: Bluesman Hooker's voice is like melted chocolate over a well-used ashtray; menacing, dangerous and ultimately sexy. Recommended track: "Decoration Day"

Mavis Staples: A ruggedly soulful alto voice, Mavis Staples performances are infused with gospel fire, and a textured tone which provokes emotional reactions in me, most notably on the Staples version of "The Weight". Recommended track: "The Weight"

David Bowie: Known for his reputation as a musical chameleon, Bowie also had many facets of his voice, which gave each of his performances something unique. From the lower registers ("Golden Years", "China Girl") to impassioned theatricality ("Rock n' Roll Suicide"), to the poignant ("Life on Mars"), Bowie is able to nuance his performance in just the right way to serve the song. Recommended track: "Young Americans"

Ella Fitzgerald: The yin to Billie Holiday's yang, Ella's voice is clear and clean, almost impossibly noted for a clarity that remains unmatched even today. Recommended track: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered".

Sam

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