Rolling Stone has all these lists, including The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Like most of these things, the list feels way too U.S. centric. That said, it's mostly OK, I guess.
Here's the Top 25:
1. Aretha Franklin. Hard to argue.
2. Ray Charles. OK.
3. Elvis. Hmmm ... not number 1?
4. Sam Cooke. As expected.
5. John Lennon. Nope. #1.
6. Marvin Gaye. I guess so.
7. Dylan. Interesting he made the Top 10. Make that shocking. I'm happy and all, but ...
8. Otis Redding. Fine, whatever.
9. Stevie Wonder. Sheesh.
10. James Brown. Sigh.
11. Paul McCartney. A spot out of the Top 10 is just not right.
12. Little Richard. Sure.
13. Roy Orbison. Absolutely.
14. Al Green. Yes.
15. Robert Plant. About right.
16. Mick Jagger. About wrong. Much higher.
17. Tina Turner. Not surprised.
18. Freddie Mercury. Surprised he made it this high, but he should be higher.
19. Bob Marley. Thank you.
20. Smokey Robinson. Swap with Marvin or Otis, please.
21. Johnny Cash. You bet.
22. Etta James. And give either Marvin's or Otis's position to Etta.
23. David Bowie. Nice.
24. Van Morrison. A relief.
25. Michael Jackson. Well, it's Michael Jackson, right?
Some other notables (well, OK, beefs):
31. Howlin' Wolf. Glad he made the Top 100, but ...
36. Bruce Springsteen. Should be way higher.
38. Elton John. I'm grateful - really - that he didn't land higher, but ...
50. Bonnie Raitt. Always under-rated. Not fair.
61. Roger Daltrey. Not bothered either way, but surprised he wasn't higher.
72. John Fogerty. Not high enough, especially given his impact.
74. James Taylor. No way. Definitely Top 10.
81. John Lee Hooker. Best blues voice ever. Higher, please. Much higher.
93. Annie Lennox. Shockingly low.
96. B.B. King. Maybe take back what I said about Hooker?
On balance, the classic Soul singers beat out the rockers, and the Americans beat out the Brits. Not surprised, I guess, but ...
Like most of these things, the list feels way too U.S. centric. That said, it's mostly OK, I guess.
Here's the Top 25:
1. Aretha Franklin. Hard to argue.
2. Ray Charles. OK.
3. Elvis. Hmmm ... not number 1?
4. Sam Cooke. As expected.
5. John Lennon. Nope. #1.
6. Marvin Gaye. I guess so.
7. Dylan. Interesting he made the Top 10. Make that shocking. I'm happy and all, but ...
8. Otis Redding. Fine, whatever.
9. Stevie Wonder. Sheesh.
10. James Brown. Sigh.
11. Paul McCartney. A spot out of the Top 10 is just not right.
12. Little Richard. Sure.
13. Roy Orbison. Absolutely.
14. Al Green. Yes.
15. Robert Plant. About right.
16. Mick Jagger. About wrong. Much higher.
17. Tina Turner. Not surprised.
18. Freddie Mercury. Surprised he made it this high, but he should be higher.
19. Bob Marley. Thank you.
20. Smokey Robinson. Swap with Marvin or Otis, please.
21. Johnny Cash. You bet.
22. Etta James. And give either Marvin's or Otis's position to Etta.
23. David Bowie. Nice.
24. Van Morrison. A relief.
25. Michael Jackson. Well, it's Michael Jackson, right?
Some other notables (well, OK, beefs):
31. Howlin' Wolf. Glad he made the Top 100, but ...
36. Bruce Springsteen. Should be way higher.
38. Elton John. I'm grateful - really - that he didn't land higher, but ...
50. Bonnie Raitt. Always under-rated. Not fair.
61. Roger Daltrey. Not bothered either way, but surprised he wasn't higher.
72. John Fogerty. Not high enough, especially given his impact.
74. James Taylor. No way. Definitely Top 10.
81. John Lee Hooker. Best blues voice ever. Higher, please. Much higher.
93. Annie Lennox. Shockingly low.
96. B.B. King. Maybe take back what I said about Hooker?
On balance, the classic Soul singers beat out the rockers, and the Americans beat out the Brits. Not surprised, I guess, but ...
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