Top 25 Voices Ever - Finale

We have, my dears, reached the end of the road. In this final stretch, let me remind you that this list is completely subjective, and I don't care for your opinions. Great! Let's do this.


6. Phyllis Hyman - Loved, LOVED, Phyllis's voice. It's a hackneyed expression, but the woman was/is seriously underrated. She could sing anything, was absolutely gorgeous, and hilarious as hell--what more could you ever want in a woman? Unfortunately, as is the case with some of our best voices, her material was often inconsistent. Fortunately, that voice could carry some of the most marginal material.

"Be One"


"Loving You - Losing You"


"Betcha By Golly Wow"



5. Anita Baker - Old mush mouth herself. I'm telling you, the Midwest breeds some serious talent. Please, don't be in the car with me if/when "Been So Long" comes on. I will sing this song from beginning to end, scats and all, LOUDLY, and will not give a tinkler's damn. She was it in the 80s/early-90s, one of those artists whose material will automatically grant or deny "black points." I mean it, think back to the post-Saturday morning cartoon house clean, what was your mother playing? Yep, Old Nita here.

"Summertime (Live)"


"Been So Long"


"Angel"




4. Bobby Blue Bland - The voice of the blues, my dears. That is all. The man's voice in its prime was a magical amalgamation of bitter tears, alcoholic evenings, and pre-Keith Sweat pleading. Unlike most of my musical heroes, I actually saw him in concert. Granted he was at least 70, and I seriously feared for his health when he did his trademark chortle-snort, but I was in the presence of greatness. Nevermind that I was the youngest person there. (Really great Salon.com article linked; read it.)

"Little Boy Blue"


"If You're Gonna Walk on My Love"


"Jelly Jelly Jelly"



3. Patti LaBelle - If I were capable of idolizing people, I'd be all over the Patti thing. No one puts on a show like her. Sure, she'll be dipped to the high heavens, but she has a job to do and those stilettos will come flying off when things get truly serious. Patti will sing anybody under a table, and she doesn't even mean to. She's just doing her. Patti ain't no punk, y'all, for real.



"Over the Rainbow (Live)" -YouTube link because you have to see it.



"Walk Around Heaven All Day"



"You Are My Friend"



2. Sam Cooke - I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain this, and again, Chicago runs this. (Just in case you didn't know.)


"Nothing Can Change This Love"


"Lord, Remember Me" w/ Soul Stirrers



1. Donny Hathaway - You do not know how interested (obsessed) I was with this man's music some years back. I'm not creepy. I just wanted everyone to understand how great he was, that's all. Plus, he was a fellow Libra. Plus, he was a Chicagoan. Plus, his voice could conjure up sadnesses you didn't even know you had. Plus, you can't go a Christmas without hearing at least one of his songs. (Note: New singers, stop remaking "This Christmas"; you sound terrible.) Reader, if you're out there, I need you to know that Donny is more than "Giving Up" and "A Song For You" and "This Christmas"; there's a whole world of Donny that you're missing out on. For that reason, I'm gonna include more than my standard three audio files cuz I expect somebody somewhere needs some schooling.


"Come Back Charleston Blue" w/ Margie Joseph


"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"


"I (Who Have Nothing)" w/ Roberta Flack


"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (Live)"



"Sack Full of Dreams (Live)"



And that's it. I'm done.

Top Five Records © High Fidelity

Lets back away from fine shoes for a moments and return to my other obsession, music. I'm a list monger and circumlocuter. I figured I'd join these seemingly incompatible sides of myself to decide upon my favorite five records by my favorites groups and artists. Let us begin.

These are all in particular order. Let's also pretend that all these songs are snuggled in comfy and mechanically correct quotation marks.


De la Soul
1. Buddy (Native Tongues remix)
2. Oodles of Os
3. Bitties in the BK Lounge
4. I Am I Be
5. Declaration





MF Doom (including aliases)
1. Doomsday
2. All Caps
3. I Hear Voices
4. A Dead Mouse
5. Hoe Cakes






Donny Hathaway
1. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
2. Giving Up
3. Lord Help Me
4. I (Who Have Nothing) w/ Roberta Flack
5. Sack Full of Dreams







Bobby Brown
1. Don't Be Cruel
2. On Our Own
3. All Day All Night
4. Rock Wit'cha (remix)
5. Roni






Raheem DeVaughn
1. Mo Betta
2. You (remix)
3. Where I Stand
4. The Idea of Falling in Love
5. Love Drug







Radiohead
1. The Tourist
2. Idioteque
3. Everything In Its Right Place
4. Jigsaw Falling into Place
5. Lucky






TV On The Radio
1. Wear You Out
2. New Health Rock
3. A Method
4. Wolf Like Me
5. Ambulance






Aceyalone
1. Makeba
2. Mr. Outsider
3. The Hold
4. Tweakends
5. Fortitude








Bobby "Blue" Bland
1. Little Boy Blue
2. If You're Gonna Walk on My Love
3. Members Only
4. Stormy Monday Blues
5. Cry, Cry, Cry







Bjork
1. Unravel
2. Bachelorette
3. Hunter
4. I Go Humble
5. Pagan Poetry







Luther Vandross
1. Don't You Know That
2. Better Love
3. Superstar
4. Wait For Love
5. I Can Make It Better







Sam Cooke
1. Bring it on Home to Me
2. That's Where it's At
3. Lord, Remember Me (w/ The Soul Stirrers)
4. I'll Come Running Back to You
5. A Change is Gonna Come







Alexander O'Neal
1. What's Missing
2. All True Man
3. A Broken Heart Can Mend
4. (What Can I say) To Make You Love Me
5. Hearsay

My Favorite Bobbys

It's February, which means we should be especially appreciative of black folks. Of my favorite Bobbys, I'm appreciative all year round. They bring me joy © Anita. However, some of you need to be put on. Consider this a gift, from me to you, wrapped in red, black, and green paper.




Bobby "Blue" Bland, born Robert Calvin Bland is the greatest blues/soul singer that people don't know. It's a shame too cuz the man is in his seventies and tours about as much as The Roots, which show he loves his fans. There isn't really a cute story that explains how he came into my life; I just pretty much grew up listening to him. My country-ass family (meant as a compliment) played him all the time. At every BBQ, family reunion, holiday, any occasion where music was warranted, Bobby backed us up. Years ago, he was a guest at the African Celebration of the Arts, the big festival in Washington Park, and I went. I was clearly the youngest person there, but the Bobby love was priceless.

Stormy Monday - The guitar solo makes you wanna slap somebody



Members Only - Standard Christmas music in my house


Little Boy Blue - Bobby broke this shit all the way down
DivShare File - 08 Little Boy Blue.m4a






I love Bobby Womack. He's made some of the best songs ever. He has that growl. His voice is rough but smooth. He knows that a "woman's gotta have it." There is no need for anyone to be deprived of his greatness. Partake, people.











Woman's Gotta Have It - It's true, she does


Across 110th Street - That's just too bad
DivShare File - 01 Across 110th Street.m4a

I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much






Last, my biggest celebrity crush ever. I have loved Bobby Brown since fifth grade. I would argue down any chick who dared put Christopher Williams or Al B. Sure on his level. Bobby had more swagger than all of them, and he made one of the greatest R&B albums of all time. For his marriage to that woman, I forgive him. Hell, I'm with her on the whole King of R&B thing, and I dare you to say anything about it (punk).

All Day All Night - One of his more slept on jams
DivShare File - 09 All Day All Night.m4a

Don't Be Cruel - Still not played


Roni