As i've only just "discovered indie rock", I have no idea who Harriet Wheeler is, but she has a great voice & released one or two very good songs - Here's Where The Story Ends & Summertime. Not one of the greats, but I like her.
If it's top 5 female singers since 1980 ish for me, in no particular order, it's got to be: Adele, Beverley Knight, Annie Lennox, probably Alison Moyet and Kate Bush. Amy Winehouse is brilliant but not sure she's quite worthy of being in that list. Other special mentions to Corinne Bailey Rae, Joan Armatrading (although she probably counts as earlier really) and Ruby Turner.
I saw a Nikki Yanofsky gig recently, 17 year old Canadian jazz singer - breathtakingly good, watch out for her.
Ruby Turner - probably the most under rated female vocalist this country has ever seen
Joss Stone - not really my type of music but a great voice
Carmel - anyone listing Duffy in their top 5 should check out Carmel on you tube
Joan Armatrading - perhaps a better writer than singer
Wendy James - Well, not really much of a singer but had 'talent'
Mmmm, I had a fantastic black and white poster of a topless Wendy James sadly covering herself with her arm. The stuff teenage dreams are made of. Oh yes.
Ruby Turner - probably the most under rated female vocalist this country has ever seen
Joss Stone - not really my type of music but a great voice
Carmel - anyone listing Duffy in their top 5 should check out Carmel on you tube
Joan Armatrading - perhaps a better writer than singer
Wendy James - Well, not really much of a singer but had 'talent'
Mmmm, I had a fantastic black and white poster of a topless Wendy James sadly covering herself with her arm. The stuff teenage dreams are made of. Oh yes.
Just a brief return to this thread to suggest that Joan Armatrading and Kate Bush are arguably seventies and thus more than thirty years.
I know I watched Joan support Bob Dylan at Camberley Blackbush in 1978 and I'm almost 100% sure Wuthering Heights, arguably Kate's signature tune, was released around the same time.
Joss Stone.....Saw her live on Breakfast tv last week, with Dave Stewart.
Kate Bush who brought out an album 70 days ago Len, (but because of her songwriting)
Claire Martin:Top Jazz singer, lovely unassumming major talent in the USA, who sang in a bar for 12 people in Brighton, the following month played at the Albert hall
Elkie Brooks : who I missed at the Blackheath Concert hall in June, and for a 60 year old plus, is still a cut above 99 percent off all others around according to a friend.
In my opinion I would rank Winehouse behind only Sade in that list. But only just. There is no doubt she would have gone on to eclipse Sade. The lyrics she wrote, the way she sang those lyrics and the way she lived her life are all so redolent of Bessie Smith.
Someone that I have appreciated since her death is Nina Simone, I have also realised what a great singer Matt Monroe was. I suppose a bit like Van Gogh who apparently only sold one painting in his lifetime. No doubt that Amy Whitehouse will now be appreciated for her enormous talent rather than concentrating upon her failings. Gives me hope that my incredible singing voice and lovable personality will one day be fully appreciated.
Kate Bush Annie Lennox Louise Wener (from Sleeper) Gabrielle Lisa Stansfield
Including the last two because they sold a ton of records and no one has mentioned them. Chrissie Hynde would go into my top 3 if she's allowed - yes she is American but has spent most of her career in the UK.
Ruby Turner - probably the most under rated female vocalist this country has ever seen
Joss Stone - not really my type of music but a great voice
Carmel - anyone listing Duffy in their top 5 should check out Carmel on you tube
Joan Armatrading - perhaps a better writer than singer
Wendy James - Well, not really much of a singer but had 'talent'
Mmmm, I had a fantastic black and white poster of a topless Wendy James sadly covering herself with her arm. The stuff teenage dreams are made of. Oh yes.
Comments
Hilda Ogden, boy could she hit them high notes!!
Duffy... well, well, well... don't think so.
Ruby Turner - probably the most under rated female vocalist this country has ever seen
Joss Stone - not really my type of music but a great voice
Carmel - anyone listing Duffy in their top 5 should check out Carmel on you tube
Joan Armatrading - perhaps a better writer than singer
Wendy James - Well, not really much of a singer but had 'talent'
one of these?
Beverley Knight
Annie Lennox
Kate Bush
Adele
Just a brief return to this thread to suggest that Joan Armatrading and Kate Bush are arguably seventies and thus more than thirty years.
I know I watched Joan support Bob Dylan at Camberley Blackbush in 1978 and I'm almost 100% sure Wuthering Heights, arguably Kate's signature tune, was released around the same time.
Posh Spice
Scary Spice
Baby Spice
Ginger Spice
Sarah Cracknell
Toni Halliday
Meriel Barham
Sarah Martin
Clare Grogan
Alison Moyet
Ruby Turner
Imelda May
Jaqui O'Sullivan
PJ Harvey
Annie Lennox
Louise Wener (from Sleeper)
Gabrielle
Lisa Stansfield
Including the last two because they sold a ton of records and no one has mentioned them. Chrissie Hynde would go into my top 3 if she's allowed - yes she is American but has spent most of her career in the UK.
Kate Bush
Hazel O'Conner (O.K. last 31 years)
Kate Nash
Alf
Lisa Stansfield
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Maggie Magoo the flatulating mute
Amy Winehouse
Ruby Turner
Sam Brown
Sade
Lulu
Cilla Black ; )
Rikofold - Carmel, top choice
Kate Bush has got to be in with a shout as well
P J Harvey has to be in there somewhere. Brilliant song writer and a Huge influence on a lot of people.