Woman tone

[martin manning]

There are so many but when the rubber meets the road, i.e. my paycheck turns to actually buying and then playing over and over, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt do it for me. In particular Bonnie's voice on her first 4 albums is just ridiculous. I had only known her for her whisky and cig's voice until one day on a whim I picked up her first few albums. Sheesh... beautiful. Shame she lost that through the years (long before she got "old" if you will). Don't get me wrong though...nothing wrong with roughness in one's voice female or male. Love that too.

This kind of nuance is what I was thinking of when I started the thread. After listening to a bunch of You Tube I noticed how much huskier Eta James' voice became over time. It's absolutely true that a voice with some character is much more interesting and identifiable. I'm struck by the similarities between human vocal characteristics and the tones coming from electric guitars and amps- everything from sparkly clean to rough and gritty in both cases. There is a great contrast in the Tennessee Waltz duet by Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones linked above, and I think the early Eta James had an airy quality similar to Jones'.

[TNblueshawk]

I don't know the totality of Etta's voice in terms of her decades of singing with respect to albums etc... but I'm a fan. I wore out, still will at times, her Life, Love and Blues. Admittedly the backing music is just ridiculously funky and I dig funky blues beyond words...but her delivery and voice is stellar.

I agree, the changing voice of one artist over the years is really cool and enjoyable. I know in many cases it is really a necessity (cough.. Gregg Allman ) but many times it is a choice too. Unlike most other body parts aging can be great on the vocal cords!

[martin manning]

I agree, the changing voice of one artist over the years is really cool and enjoyable. I know in many cases it is really a necessity (cough.. Gregg Allman ) but many times it is a choice too. Unlike most other body parts aging can be great on the vocal cords!

Now if we were discussing the finer points of other body parts, this thread would be considered blatantly sexist! Wait... maybe it is anyway? Got to get a female perspective... Where's Jana when you need her?

[John_P_WI]

Here is a lady who has the whole package:


With Jeff Beck and Blue Lou on sax:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nv9zJif2G8


With Beck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxHTUuktmAQ

[martin manning]

Great singer! And, I've never seen Jeff Beck play in that style before.

I finally got around to watching the 18 South vid that Telentubes posted... Jessi Alexander is great, and in that cover of "Woodstock" she mixes her own style with Joni Mitchell's very nicely.

In "The Last Waltz," Joni Mitchell is heard before she is seen, lending her vocal accent from behind a curtain. That was brilliant theater, and you know exactly who it is right away.

[martin manning]

Tracy Chapman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2kEx5BLoC4

[sliberty]

Melissa Etheridge can be pretty powerful too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_SEmcFVG-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaY5-LGYJKc

[boots]

Great thread! I saw the title and thought it might be a support group for husbands of menopausal wives. But female singer - that's good too.

One of my faves is Grace Potter. Also Melissa Etheridge. And I recently discovered Beth Hart. They are all very powerful.

But they are all just modern day followers of the great Janis. I think Janis might be the most incredible vocalist of all time, male or female.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Anyone remember Thelma Houston's rendering of Don't Misunderstand, from one of the Lincoln Mayorga & Distinguished Colleagues albums?

Just found it on youboob:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LnFyqsKRvDc

[Reeltarded]

Here is a lady who has the whole package:

Deep voice. Adam's apple...? Just askin'...

[cbass]

Here is a lady who has the whole package:

Deep voice. Adam's apple...? Just askin'...

I like ladies with a nice adams apple and big strong hands

[LeftyStrat]

Just for reel and cbass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmLk2vSXXtk

Hey, the chorus is sung in "woman tone"

[martin manning]

More classic woman tone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPXQkZE6hA

[dano-rator]

Has anyone mentioned Geddy Lee?

[martin manning]

Back on topic, there is a film coming out called "20 Feet From Stardom" about back-up singers. There was a piece on NPR about it last week, and a segment on CBS Sunday Morning today featuring Merry Clayton, the former Ray-Lette who was called in the middle of the night to sing on Gimmie Shelter. When she was called to sing on Sweet Home Alabama, her husband had to talk her into it, telling her it was her duty to sing it, and "sing the crap out of it" too. I think this is a different style, and someone who is really good at it might not make the best lead singer, and vice versa.