By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 06:03 pm:

Hope this hasnt been done recently. Best--Jean Terrell;Barbara Streisand;Gladys Knight;Dusty Springfield;Patti LABelle;Aretha Franklin;Darlene Love;Cissy Houston;Cindi Lauper;;;;;;;;;Worst--Connie Francis;Belinda Carlisle;Janet Jasckson

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 06:12 pm:

I think someone put Streisand the Errggh list some time ago.

By Mr. Magic (143.132.244.215) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 07:34 pm:

I think the best feamle voclist are;Patti Labelle, Areatha Franklin, Kelly Price, & Mary J. Blidge.

The worst would be; Ashanti, Amerie, Kelly Rowland(Destiny Child), & Macy Gray

By reddoor (67.24.157.57) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 09:14 pm:

Best: Jean Terrell, Dusty Springfield, all of Expose, Darlene Love, Kim Weston, Brenda Holloway.

Worst....where do I begin....Macy Gray (Yee Gods!), Ashanti, any of Destiny's Child, Janet Jackon, any of the Go Go's. Sadly, this list is way too long!

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

Also,Best--Thelma Houston.

By Lucy (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:00 pm:

Paula Abdul...the worst

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:14 pm:

Best:Mary Wells, Martha Reeves,Kim Weston,Dee Dee Sharp, Aretha Franklin,Patti LaBell,Vicki Anderson Worst:too many to mention most of the new crop after 1980.

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 04:24 pm:

Best:

Aretha Franklin
Gladys Knight
Donna Summer (pick up her Christmas album and take a listen, a wonderful pure voice with no help from "tracking")
Abby Lincoln (great writer also)
Anita Baker
Dianne Reeves
Thelma Houston (why this woman is not bigger, I will never know. I have seen her several times live and she brings down the house each time)
Nancy Wilson (when she isn't whispering)
Dolly Parton (I once heard her sing a religious song called He's Alive and she sent chills up and down my spine, she is underrated as a vocalist)

Worst:

Ashanti
Madonna
Mary J. Blige (She is a talented lady and I love No More Drama and Family Affair, but she has a habit of singing flat)
Avril Lavigne (someone has to explain her to me)
Macy Gray (might sound better live if she would leave the drugs alone!)
And there are too many others to mention.

By stephanie (64.63.221.236) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:21 pm:

You all have taken some of the words out of my mouth..no one thinks Ashanti can sing....LOL

I would have to say best most of the above and Miss Chaka Khan and the late great Linda Jones...

Worst- Macy Gray (I read this chick was an in demand session singer...whats up with that?) I cant believe that, Beyonce (Bouncy) is not that bad she winds up on some lists but she can actually sing, oh another BEST one is Karen Carpenter..this chick can sing the Yellow Pages and make it come alive.

I saw Jean Carn once and was blown away by what she can do, I like Miss Patti but she screams too much for me but she is a good singer and at the time Arlene Smith of the Chantels.
Stephanie

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:46 pm:

i was never a natalie cole fan but one day
i was asked to go to one of her concerts
and i attended. so on that show was the ojays
natalie cole and blue magic(omni in atlanta)
and the ojays was just excellent.eddie levert
sounds just like he do on his recordings.that
man can sing. blue magic was good also.
then when natalie cole took the stage.i was
surprise at how tall she is. but she
started to singing i can't say no. let me
tell you i been listening to miss cole
every since. she sent chills all up my back.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:53 pm:

HEY FAYETTE AND ALL: NATALE COLE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A STAR COMING BACK FROM THE DEPTHS OF DISPAIR TO REGAIN CONTROL OF HER LIFE THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF LOVED ONES!!!...I KINDA HAVE A CUTE STORY ABOUT ALL THAT... WHICH I WON'T GO INTO HERE...BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY...WHITNEY HOUSTON COULD TAKE A CUE FROM NATALIE AND USE HER AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO GET ONES LIFE BACK TOGETHER!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:56 pm:

StuBass - I wish I could tell you about a little story concerning DR and Natalie. But, that's my girl so I can't tell ya.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 06:58 pm:

But it is soooooooo funny on DR's part. My sweet DR.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:00 pm:

YEAH SIS...I'VE GOT A STORY PERSONALLY TOLD TO ME BY A FRIEND WHO WAS INVOLVED REGARDING NATALIE AND ANOTHER LADY SINGER TO WHICH WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH!!!...FUNNY STORY...BUT IF YOU CAME OUT TO L.A. FOR THE "FUNKS" CONCERT...WE COULD SHARE OUR STORIES!!!...STU

By FAYETTE (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:02 pm:

SEE STUBASS AND SIS YA'LL NOT RIGHT LOL

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:08 pm:

Fayette - Head Angel, (LOL), The story I know is really funny. I cracked up when I heard it from a first hand witness. You know Natalie is a class act. The girl was almost Queen had it not been for Aretha.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:10 pm:

NO SCAMMIN GOING ON HERE FAYETTE...JUST STUBASS TO "ANGEL" TALK!!!...TO ALL YOU FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED A BIT OF ENVY TOWARDS STUBASS...AS YOU CAN SEE...IT AIN'T EASY GUYS!!!

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:10 pm:

sis if you find it in your heart to let me
hear it e-mail it

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

wrong e-mail address here it is

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:13 pm:

Well, I know we are suppose to abide by the wishes of the Head Angel, but I'm gonna think about that for awhile. If my source were to find out I told the story, he wouldn't tell me any more funny stories.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

ok sis you win

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:25 pm:

HAVE A GO AT IT LADIES...PERMISSION GRANTED!!!...STUBASS

By longgonelover (67.24.158.189) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:58 pm:

Best singers are....Kim Weston, Barbara Mason, Betty Everett, Dusty Springfield, Jean Terrell, Chaka Kahn and Ms. Linda Jones!

Worst singers....Lord, there's SO many. Mostly the current crop. Ashanti comes to mind first, Macy Gray, Destiny's Child, Avril Lavigne (huh?), Then there's all those rap singers who try a few sour notes occasionally....Yeow!

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:30 pm:

you all know something i never really thought about it but after reading the worst singers
from you all.i wonder why ashanti try

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:40 pm:

Best: Little Miss Cornshucks, Big Maybelle, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie and the late and great Linda Jones! Worst: Today's crop, I agree.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:03 pm:

Soul Sister - I was just thinking as I read the names of the worse singers named under this thread. It seems the worse singers named are basically current. I guess we really need an American Idol show to try and find genuine singers.

By tyrone (192.128.166.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:25 pm:

Fave Female Singers

1. Diana "The Boss" Ross
2. Whitney Houston
3. Brenda Holloway
4. Tammi Terrell
5. Regina Belle

Worse Female Singers

1. Janet Jackson
2. Madonna
3. Mary J Blige
4. Cher
5. Jennifer Lopez

By Greg C. (166.84.225.22) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

Best: Kim Weston, Ann Nesby, Gladys Knight, Nancy Wilson, Patti Austin, Loletta Holloway, Chaka Khan

Worst: LaToya Jackson, Macy Gray, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez(media creation), Beyonce Knowles(helium & valium)

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:24 pm:

SisDetroit: Right On! Right On! Soul Sister

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:07 pm:

Add to best--Annie Lennox and Ms Etta J.

By drlorne (216.26.218.12) on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 10:17 am:

Best--Diana Ross (the recent dvd release of the Caesar Palace concert ('80?). The power, clarity and beauty of her voice and the joy and happiness of performing.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 03:12 pm:

LOL!!! I also have a first hand story about Natalie and a certain "throw down" diva singer. However to tell the story would be bringing up crap from Natalie's drug past and she has become a beacon for people who have saved themselves from destruction (and she is a nice lady). And the other diva has survived with no diminished vocal power. I just think it interesting that so many people on this thread have a story about the wonderful Miss Cole.

By Eli (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 09:36 pm:

Worst:
Gwen Stefani
Amerie
Ashanti
Carmen Rasmussen(American Idol)
Vanessa Carlton
Avril Levigne
J.Lo.

Best:
Gladys Knight
Yolanda Adams
Patti Labelle
Cece Winans
Streisand
Celine Dion
Taylor Dayne
Whitney.BC.(before crack)

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 09:52 pm:

Hahaha. Eli - I was true to Anita Baker, tried not to get into Whitney, but Whitney won me over big time. But, Body Guard Soundtrack was the last I purchased on her. There is a live video concert of Whitney on a Ship with the troops. I'm telling you, that girl tore down to the bone. Far better than her HBO concert. When I paid big bucks to see her in Auburn Hills, and she was hoarse, I was through with her.

By Linda Di. (66.24.93.80) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 11:28 pm:

Best: Patti LaBelle, Scherrie Payne, Jean Carne, Phyllis Hyman, Cindy Mizelle.

Worst: Mary J., Ashanti, Janet Jackson.

The "worst" singers are the best selling singers. Go figure ...

By Loveunlimited (67.24.156.232) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 11:43 pm:

Best: Jean Terrell, Patti Labelle, Linda Jones, Dusty Springfield, Kim Weston, Martha Reeves


Worst: Ashanti, Janet Jackson, J Lo, Kelly Rowland and the other two in that group...Yuk!

By TonyRussi (68.18.33.86) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 08:32 am:

Linda Di you are so right about Scherri Payne.Up until the mid 70's you had to really be able to sing...there were no gimmicks that could cover it up so it was about being a singer, not a model, not an actress but a SINGER it would be impossible to name all the great ones...besides the Motown,Philly and those previously named there is Carla Thomas, Barbara Lewis,Laura Lee,Gladys Horton,Wanda Rogers,Shirley Alston, Barbara Alston,LaLa Brooks,Darlene Love,Edna Wright,Gwen McRae,Rosetta Hightower(Orlons),Maxine Brown I mean the list from the early days of R& B..Lavern Baker, RUTH BROWN...real singers!These poor children today are being so deprived & mislead.

By StingBeeLee (155.139.50.14) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 10:37 am:

Best;
Aretha Franklin. The Queen stands alone.
Etta James. Sang "At Last" and two years later sang "Something's got a hold on me"; two completely different songs.
Gladys Knight. Had to sing above, around and below the Pips impeccable harmonies.
Dionne Warwick:Class
Dinah Washington: "I'll do 'What A Difference A Day Makes' one time, M*****F*****".
Worst;
Janet Jackson. Weak, weak voice
Mya. High Squeaky Voice
Brittany Spears. Can't sing, can't dance
Paula Abdul, and she's judging singers?
Yoko Ono, was she the reason Van Gogh cut off his ear?
Who was the woman with the swan on her neck? Perhaps if the swan bit her in her throat, her singing would improve.

By Eli (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 10:46 am:

Sis..
Nippy probably had just returned from visiting the Auburn Hills crackhouse!!!It does things to your"froat", so they say.

I once saw 'Nita B. at the Mann Center in Philly , stop the show to try to flaunt her "technical prowess" and tell the soundman
"hey soundman, give me 2db at 6k and while youre at it , why dont you you roll off 3db at 200!!

Pleeeease!!!

By Vonnie (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 05:38 pm:

I think that another person who tried to be a singer and was horrible was Nat King Coles wife Maria. When Nat met her she was a singer, but after their marriage she gave up singing. After Nats death she tried to make a comeback, my ears are glad that did not last long.

By John Lester (213.123.148.8) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 07:55 pm:

My favourite singer is Cal Street. The lady still sends shivers down my spine.

I always think these best and worst lists are a matter of opinion..and I happen to agree with the concensus of opinion here too. However, I love Jam and Lewis so I still buy Janet's albums.

By Wonder B (81.50.37.143) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 06:54 am:

I have to agree with your lists of worst singers... but I cannot see how Glasdys Knight isn't on EVERONE's best singers list...
The woman has been singing longer than anybody in the business (almost :o) and she can still bury any ompetition... I have this BB King super session laserdisc where she sings with Etta James and Chaka, both of which are not renowned for being powerles as far as singing is concerned, but let me tell you Gladys is about two miles over...
My favourite female singer, no doubt...
And if you read her autobiography, then you have to agree that the woman went through a lot, but remained classy at all times...

Wonder B

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 10:10 am:

HOW ABOUT,RUBY OF RUBY AND THE ROMANTICS,MITTIE COLLIER,WANDA RODGERS,THEORA KILGORE,BETTY WRIGHT.AS FOR THE WORSE,WELL I WAS NEVER CRAZY ABOUT JANIS JOPLIN.

By Edgar (200.46.134.106) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

Best: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Thelma Houston, Brenda Holloway, Letta Mbulu, Miriam Makeba, Patti Austin, Táta Vega, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Jean Terrell, Scherrie Payne, Freda Payne, Martha Reeves, Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Riperton, Barbara Acklin, Gloria Gaynor, Joan Armatrading, Donna Summer, Dusty Springfield, Candi Staton, Zulema Cusseaux, Loleatta Holloway, Viola Wills, Stephanie Mills, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner, Ruby Turner, Nancy Wilson, Whitney Houston; Bonnie, Ruth, Anita and June Pointer, Jody Watley, Gladys Knight, Gladys Horton, Barbara Randolph, Dionne Warwick, Kim Weston, Rose Banks, Syreeta, Dianne Reeves, Tamiko Jones, Tammi Terrell, Marilyn McCoo, Janis Siegel, Cory Daye, Alberta Hunter, Valerie Simpson, Chaka Khan, La Lupe, Phoebe Snow, Sade, uf, so many...

Worst: Michael Bolton in drag.

By mjm (65.65.26.7) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:51 pm:

Was Tata Vega ever featured as a lead singer on any of Andrae Crouch's recordings (I consider Andrae Crouch a phenomenal artist of gospel music, the songs he has written are so inspirational)? If she is the "Tata" I think you are referring to, Edgar, then I agree that she is an excellent singer.

By Gabriel (80.182.201.165) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:33 pm:

my best:
Diana Ross
Elis Regina
Patti LaBelle
Billie Holiday
Bessie Smith
Martha Reeves
Aaliyah

its very hard to me to find a woman i can tell she really bad singing.

By Edgar (200.46.12.59) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:16 pm:

mjm, yes, that's the same Táta, the one who sang with the bands Pollution and Earthquire, then had a solo career on Motown, sang all the vocals in "The Color Purple", joined the Andrae Crouch Singers, and re-emerged with "Now I See", a great inspirational album produced for Quincy Jones' Qwest label.

By LA Soul (67.27.64.161) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

The worst female "soul" singer is probably Shirley from Shirley and Lee and Shirley and Company fame. Her voice is thin, nasal, and off-key, but for some reason I still love those records.

By Drlorne (216.26.218.7) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:41 pm:

Hey TonyRussi: Rosetta Hightower---what a nice memory. I always liked the Orlons music and tracked a 45 of hers as Rosetta Hightower, from England. A sweet, sweet voice. Did Dee Dee Sharp end up on the Best list?

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:10 pm:

Best:Sharon Paige (from Harold Melvin fame), Cissy & Whitney Houston, Dionne & Dee Dee Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Dusty Springfield, Etta James, Mariah Carey


The Worst:Macy Macy Macy (I cringe)

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:30 pm:

How could I forget Yolanda Adams & Etta James under best. Yes Bobby, Whitney before the C.P.

By littlevoice (65.238.140.174) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:41 pm:

The Best: Jean Terrell, Syreeta, Kim Weston, Dusty Springfield, Linda Jones, Anita Baker, all the girls in Expose (Ann Curless, Janet Jurado, Gioi Bruno).

Worst: Ashanti, Janet Jackson, Macy Gray (Yee Gods!), J Lo, Nora Jones (please explain the attraction?) April Levigne....she scares me!

By Twrights (68.36.5.11) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:13 am:

I'm not feeling Whitney at ALL anymore. She has lost her self respect, and the respect of most people that bring her up in conversations. I will also add that Whitney was NEVER the classy person that Clive Davis cleverly made the whole world believe she was....But he was a GENIOUS to prop her up the way he did...until she BLEW IT TO KINGDOM COME........HOWEVER!!! Whitney Houston (VINTAGE WHITNEY)....NOBODY had a voice like that. The lyrics were even corny to most of her early recordings....but that voice was angelic. She'll never be able to sing like that again due to the damage she has reaked on her vocal cords from crack/ooops that's right, she's too rich for that....coke. Anyway, her voice was beautiful.

Of course most of the other ladies mentioned I would agree with. Aretha, Natalie, Etta, Dinah, Anita, Gladys. Etc.


WORST: Beyonce, her crowd, Diana Ross (never could sing) Macy Gray, MADONNA, JANET!!!, Ashanti, Just about all the girl groups and newer singers from the 80's and 90's. Celine Dion has a great voice, I just can't stand to look at her. She's a horrible performer.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:23 am:

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LAURA BRANNIGAN???...SHE HAD SOME NICE MATERIAL...BOTH AS A SINGER AND SONGWRITER!!!...I RECALL A CONVERSATION I HAD ONE DAY IN THE 80'S WITH MY BROTHER...AND GENE PAGE...WHO HAD JUST FINISHED A PROJECT WITH LAURA!!!...HE TOLD US THAT LAURA...WAS...IN HIS WORDS...THE MOST ENJOYABLE ARTIST HE HAD EVER WORKED WITH...AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE MANY GREATS!!!...STUBASS

By Charmedes (142.165.109.50) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 10:33 am:

Attention Grabber: Baby I love you - Aretha Franklin

Attention Deficit: Don't worry Kyoko - Yoko Ono

By Eli (151.197.6.175) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 10:59 am:

The ABSOULTE worst IMO is Lumidee OY VEY!!!!!
Ashanti, Amerie, Avril Levigne, Beyonce, Janet J.

My faves are, Linda Jones, Lorraine Ellison,
Mary J. Blige(yeah, thats right)
Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline.

By Rhythm and Blues Showdase (151.204.38.119) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:26 pm:

Janet Jackson actually has influenced many of the female recording artists out there today. She is a complete entertainer. Christina Aguilera,who is a good singer in her own right, Brittany, etc.have all vertually carbon copied Janet's act. There is no way you can put her in a category any where near the worst singer.

By Eddie Welk, Champagne Music drinker (12.47.224.12) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:39 pm:

Michael Bolton tried to get on my cousin Larry's TV show around 1980 when he was singing with a heavy metal band, but they played so loud during the audition, that one of the Larry's trumpet players who was pretty old got a severe migraine headache. Larry said no way would he subject his band to that heavy metal stuff. He wasn't to impressed with Mr. Boltons singing either.

By Musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 03:45 pm:

I have a lot of faves but the ones that bug the HELL out of me are as follows:

Lauren Hill - I'm STILL pulling cotton outta my ears from her "cover" of Killing Me Softly

J Lo - JEEBUS !!! How did we go from Streisand's tour de force perfomances in all types of media to this crap ?

Rosie (from the Originals) - I don't think a worse "hit" was ever broadcast than her "Angel Baby"... OOOOOOOO indeed !

OPEN MEMO TO A & R MEN: PLEASE do NOT sign anymore females who use 8 syllables when the word only has 2. Also please refrain from people who sing from the throat and NOT the gut... There is a VERY small difference from this type of "singing" and whining... sometimes I can't tell the difference.

Da Chef

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 06:00 pm:

Yo Chef:
You're killing me with your post - right on, my brother - right on...

I'll make sure to pass on your open memo to my colleagues in the industry, who might hug me or slug me for this....

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 06:50 pm:

Thank you Kev... and as soon as I get some $crilla from the PoPsie venture, I'm going to hire you as my A & R man for the reissue projects

Da Chef

And the rest of you will be contacted as well... Ya'll are "en fuego" in here !

By Edgar (200.46.132.49) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 07:17 pm:

"En fuego" meaning "drunk" or "on fire"? In Spanish, "Estoy en fuego" (literally "I'm on fire") sometimes means "I'm drunk".

By Eli (151.197.218.227) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 07:52 pm:

Yeah..we're "drunk" with info and inebriated with da funk!!!

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 08:14 pm:

Speak for ya'selves, I like 'ón fire' better! (chuckle)...

By the count (69.14.113.157) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 01:10 pm:

BEST(to be added to the rest)
P.P. ARNOLD
Maxiene Brown
Ruth McFadden
Jackie Smith(The Chantels)
Jennell Hawkins
Lavern Baker
Lorraine Ellison
Carla Thomas
Laura Lee
Little Robbie
Little Jossie
Mary Brown
Tina Turner
Ruth Brown
Sugar Pie DeSanto

"COUNT"