Who has the best voice in folk?

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,joe b
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:16 PM

was directed to this site by another music discussion group, interesting posts.

However, if the subject is 'folk music voices' how could no one mention Dylan? Who has several great voices to choose from.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:42 PM

A few of my favourites:

Sean Keane
Archie Fisher
Roy Bailey
Danny Spooner
Sean Tyrrell
Eleanor Shanley
Hoyt Axton
Tom Rush
Gordon Bok

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:30 PM

Obviously ce, you are unaware of the Childe Ballad, 'Lesbian Lo'. Which, as I recall, went:-

Oh Lesbian Lo, Oh lesbian Lo
I aked for a shag
But you answered me, "No!"

Some people say that Dominc Behan based his song 'Liverpool Lou' on this ancient ballad, but I reckon that's wild talk.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:31 PM

John Thompson of Cloudstreet also tops my list.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:23 PM

Ah yes Marty Robins


Joan Baez
Emmylou Harris

AD

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Rolen
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 06:10 PM

Marty Robbins should be mentioned, if you consider cowboy music to be folk.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:58 PM

Indeed.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:53 PM

Bugger. OK, thread reopened. Irish, Luke. English bloke, Nic. English woman, Sandy. Yank, Woody. OK. Thread reclosed.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:28 PM

Rod Paterson, Nic Jones and Steve Knightly.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Michael
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:25 PM

Yes, Sorry about that, It should have said 'Still performing'.
Apologies to Nic too.

Mike

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Vic Smith
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 02:41 PM

"of all time; Nick Jones, still living; Martin Wyndham-Read"

Nic is still alive -he just isn't singing any more. (well, not performing anyway)

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: The Barden of England
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 02:32 PM

Got to agree with Richard Bridge (apart from his mention of me of course, although I'll try and learn more Folk songs) that Ian Bruce is the voice for me. Try here http://www.ianbruce.org/pages/albums/albums.htm, look for Alloway Tales, and then go to 'Auld Lang Syne' - just sublime. Female for me is Chris While, just heaven.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Michael
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 01:50 PM

Female;
of all time; Sandy Denny, still living; Fay Hield

Male;
of all time; Nick Jones, still living; Martin Wyndham-Read

Mike

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 01:50 PM

Seems to me that folk singers can get away with voices that are less than extraordinary - it's the telling of the story and the way it's told that often are more important than musical quality.

Did Aunt Molly Jackson have a beautiful voice? No.
But wasn't she a marvelous folksinger?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 01:49 PM

I am going to answer this question in a specific way.

a) I am going to exclude all the performers who are no longer alive.

b) I am also going to exclude those performers who are still with us and actively performing but whose voices are way past their prime.

Best Folk Male Vocalist - JUDE ROBERTS from Rosendale, NY

Best Folk Female Vocalist - MARA LEVINE from Milltown, NJ

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: kendall
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 01:33 PM

I've always liked Johnnie Cash even if he did wander off key.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 01:20 PM

Gordon Bok
Kendall Morse
Harvey Andrews
Sara Grey
Caroline Paton
Lisa Null
Dick Miles
Richard Atkins

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:46 PM

Who?

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Alan Sellers
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:28 PM

John Stewart

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:17 PM

best voice does not necessarily mean best singer

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:59 AM

There are so many people I like in the folk world and many of them have very good voices, but if I had to name 4 people who are still alive, then I would have to go for these, becuase of their pureness of voice (is that an acceptable term?).

Where Ravens Feed - Martyn Wyndham-Read

Dave Fletcher Miracle Of Life

Cara Dillon - Garden Valley

I'm Looking for my own Lone Ranger - Judy Dinning

There are many more but hey you can't mention them all. :-)

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Hi Lo
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:56 AM

I gues they would be the ones I most listen to.. Ladies first

June Tabor, Norma Waterson, Maddy Prior, Samdy Denny, Joan Baez, The Macgarrigle Sisters,Delores Keene. Sinead O'Connor

The Gentlemen; Nick Jones, Stan Rogers, John Stewart, Tom Rush (at times) Nick Drake..

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:35 AM

Thank you guest cg. Bonzo3legs, your comment was just wrong and disappointing.

It is fine if you don't like the low husky voice on women, then say it just that way. Applying what you deem to be a lifestyle insult is out of order.

I once had the high soprano voice. My voice (what's left of it) is now at the very low quite gravelly range. Guess what? My sexual preferences have not changed with the voice change.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,EnglishFolkfan
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:33 AM

'Best' doesn't figure when forming my musical opinion but two mature voices who consistently move me to tears of joy and sorrow:

June Tabor

Chris Wood

I am just grateful there are many many more wonderful singers out there who bring me hours of pleasure listening to their recordings and, even better, seeing them live. The stream of upcoming young performers means there will be new voices to delight us, what a great prospect for this genre. :)

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Erich
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:27 AM

Cyril Tawney
Bill Price
Martin Winsor
Mick Ryan (to mention at least one, who is still alive).

Someone mentioned Norman Stewart, is he still around?? I have two fine LPs with him and I appreciate him very much. I tried to google his name but I did not find any trace of him.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,cg
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:12 AM

Fine. I can't stand prejudiced little oiks who fail to understand that vocal pitch has nothing to do with sexuality.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 11:05 AM

Can't stand female singers who sing lesbian low.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Butcher Mitchell
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:18 AM

Anne Briggs
Bess Cronin
Jimmy McBeath
Nimrod Workman
Betty Stevens
Stewart Leslie Goddard
Mike Waterson
Lal Waterson
Alasdair Roberts

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: David Shevelew
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:13 AM

Male- Chris Wood, Nic Jones, Jim Causley

Female- June Tabor, Cara Dillon, Sandy Denny

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: alex s
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 10:09 AM

Tommy Makem, Luke Kelly, Sandy Denny, Vin Garbutt

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: kendall
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 09:45 AM

My oldest best friend, Gordon Bok
Harvey Andrews
Sara Grey
Caroline Paton
Lisa Null
Seamus Kennedy
Richard Atkins

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 09:41 AM

Here is my list of bests (not in any particular order):
a. Phil Ochs
b. Julie Murphy (of Fernhill)
c. Andy Stewart (of Silly Wizard)
d. Connie Dover
e. Cara Dillon
f. Karine Polwart
g. Janis Joplin

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:39 AM

A third female from me would be Anita Carter. Probably the all time best country voice!

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:30 AM

Oops, forgot Martyn Wyndham-Read!
On my way to the naughty chair right now! :0)

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: BobKnight
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:22 AM

Without wishing to start a "what is folk music?" debate, I don't see half the people already mentioned as folk artists. I love Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, but folk artists, nah!!

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:19 AM

I see the incomparable June Tabor already has a following on this thread.

I'm surprised to see no mention of Ian Bruce. I do think of him as "the voice" of the UK circuit. Mike Nicholson has a superbly resonant baritone with lovely colours in.

Harmony - Capella (Lesley and Tony Petty). Tony's unmannered and happily non-operatic tenor soars over Lesley's female almost baritone in a very striking combination.


At a local level John Barden's voice would surely stand out in Kent. I wish he sang more folk songs though.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: freda underhill
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 08:12 AM

Men - Nic Jones, Sean Keane, Martyn Whyndham-Read

Women - Kate Delaney
,Chloe Roweth,Judy Pinder, Christine Wheeler,(all from Oz :-))

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:52 AM

IMHO, no-one has the 'best' voice because everyones' ears differ.

My personal favourites would be:-

Male - Stan Rogers, Jack Hudson, Bob Fox, Dave Fletcher, Allan Taylor.
Female - June Tabor, Joni Mitchell, Flossie Malavialle, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson.

Whether they're the 'best' is a matter of opinion. I my opinion, they are. :0)

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:46 AM

Indeed June Tabor; & Maddy Prior ~~ +++ the two of them together as Silly Sisters.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:42 AM

I'm sure the choics will run into many hundreds, but mine off the top of my head, both living and not

Luke Kelly
Townes Van Zandt
June Tabor
Bob Dylan
Lorna Cambell
Paddy Reilly
joan Biaz
Cyril Tawney
Pete Seeger
Hank Williams
Johnny Cash

If I could only listen to one again it'd be Luke Kelly

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:35 AM

Polly Bolton
Chris While
Kelly While

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: I don't know
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 07:14 AM

John Wright
Sylvia Kelly
Terry Emm
Jon Brindley
Annie (from Essex singers, sorry i don't remember last name)
Matt Shenks
Jackie Leven - best songwriter in my opinion as well.
Plus many of the others mentioned above, it all depends what & where they are singing live/recorded.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 06:30 AM

I miss her too, Tam..maybe one day she'll sneak into the Library and come back here.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 06:15 AM

Crowsister moved house and resolved to attempt a technology free life for a while. She has even taken down her Myspace page.

I have sent a couple of texts, but no reply, making me think she even gave up her mobile phone.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:42 AM

The best Folk voices I know are a few in sessions and singarounds who I'm sure won't thank me for mentioning them here.

I'll second VT on CS as well - her version of Sir Richard's Song was second to none, Bellamy's included.

We were listening to Judee Sill all yesterday in the car; we like Laura Nyro too; and Gillian Welch. I love Ollie Gilbert and Mrs Pearl Brewer, both of whom you can hear on the Max Hunter archive (search for Pearl Brewer under Mrs!).

Revival : Peter Bellamy and Jim Eldon

Tradition: Phil Tanner and Davie Stewart.

Best female Folk Voice of all time bar none : Esme Ryder

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:38 AM

Agree, Al ~~ Sandy Paton whom I list above always sounded better live than on vinyl. I too included Ronnie Drew above with an 'if you like that sort of thing' conditional...

~M~

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 05:37 AM

Of those still performing, I think Mick Ryan takes a lot of beating.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 04:48 AM

I like characterful voices - Bernard Wrigley, the late Tony capstick, Ronnie Drew, Lightnin' Hopkins, Christy Moore, Bob Dylan.

I always used to love Derek brimstone's 'schtick' between songs. Capstick once said to me of Derek, that voice is SO funny......

Some voices record better than they are live. Nic Jones always seemed like that to me.

Some voices are better live than they are recorded. Una Walsh from No Fixed Abode has that great 'the party starts here' quality that somehow the recordings never seem to capture.

Probably the best singer of trad material I ever heard was Fred Jordan, the best contemporary - jack hudson.

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 04:12 AM

And of course...

The Young Coppers
The Older Coppers
The Young 'uns
Jackie Oates

And..of course, of COURSE..

Jim Causley! Yay!
Jim 'n' Jackie with Tuesday Morning on a Monday morning

But then...there's also Barry Lister and all his mates...
The Claque

and.......and...............

Subject: RE: Who has the best voice in folk?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 04:02 AM

Coope
Boyes
&..Simpson

John Tams
John Jones
Dougie Maclean
Bob Copper..and his family
Sandy Denny
Eliza Carthy
Ron Bankley
Bruce Murdoch
Eddi Reader


And of course....The Middle Bar Singers... :0)


An early morning treat....yes, even better than an early morning love making session.. ;0)
Coope Boyes & Simpson - The Cool of the Day

Ohhhhhhhh....    :0)