# Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Singers (of the Rock Era) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439 "2008-11-12T23:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/21 "2008-11-13T02:29:58Z")
I can’t believe Peter Guralnick wasn’t on the judges/voter list. That’s downright criminal. Glad to see Etta James on there! And sad to see that Loretta Lynn was not. Bonnie Raitt’s tribute to John Lee Hooker was right on time. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/22 "2008-11-13T02:46:29Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Here’s what they did: Now I understand what happened. When the group gathered for their voting sessions, Yoko destroyed them. Dylan is completely incomprehensible on this list, at least as a vocalist. I would put him near the top of my hundred WORST rock vocalists of all time. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/23 "2008-11-13T02:58:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Dylan is on the list, and Annie Haslam isn’t. > > Yeah, it’s bullshit. Likewise Kate Bush. Obviously list is solely limited to “artists who you are guaranteed to hear on an FM music station if you listen to it for at least an hour.” Singing ability has very little to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/24 "2008-11-13T03:16:16Z")
Well, they asked all those panelists to name their top 20 favorite singers. Their favorites. The list is titled the greatest singers, not best. Greatest implies a lot more than quality of singing. A large number of the panelists are musicians. So, probably a better name for the list would be ‘most influential singers’. But, it’s still silly to argue about people on the list based on singing talent. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/25 "2008-11-13T03:19:26Z")
Based on distinctive-sounding voices that are instantaneously recognizable, I think John Fogerty is way too low at #72. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/26 "2008-11-13T03:33:16Z")
There are plenty of great singers on the list. I kind of disregard the order of lists like this and just look at the overall quality of the list-ees, because the order can be random at best and insane at worst. There are some people who are rightly ranked very high. Then again, I think Howlin’ Wolf is the best singer I’ve ever heard, so I’d have put him much higher than 31. And eight people are ahead of Stevie Wonder - today it’s hard to even find eight singers who weren’t influenced by Stevie Wonder. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/27 "2008-11-13T03:46:21Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > Glad to see Etta James on there! And Howlin’ Wolf. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/28 "2008-11-13T04:02:39Z")
Clearly it’s not about ability, or Pat Benetar would be on it, and Christina Aguilera would not be at 58; I’m not a fan, but the girl has chops. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/29 "2008-11-13T04:16:37Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Clearly it’s not about ability, or Pat Benetar would be on it, and Christina Aguilera would not be at 58; I’m not a fan, but the girl has chops. Technique (“ability”) is only a part of what makes a great singer/musician/etc. When I think of the greatest rock bands, the greatest rock guitarists, the greatest rock drummers, etc., the technically proficient are not the first that come to mind. It’s the artists that put their signature on the genre, that leave an indelible impression in music history, the ones with the most personality. Technique is part of the equation, but that mysterious quality called “soul” is where the art is at. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/30 "2008-11-13T04:48:18Z")
And, as always in any _Rolling Stone_ list, this is the list after head weasel Jann Wenner has exercised his veto power over any artist he personally dislikes. This is the main reason the Rock Hall of Fame has little credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/31 "2008-11-13T04:55:29Z")
Richard Manuel, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello, (none of) CSN, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Allison Krauss I could go on… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/32 "2008-11-13T12:17:03Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Richard Manuel, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello, (none of) CSN, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Allison Krauss But “Y” made it. Neil Young: 37. (Joni Mitchell: 42. That’ll produce some kidding between them.) And then Patsy Cline at 46. Sheesh. It also includes several “needs heavy studio processing to not sound awful” singers like Mariah Carey and Stevie Nicks. This is just a bunch of names that were put thru a blender. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/33 "2008-11-13T12:18:16Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Well I don’t even have to look at the list now that I see that. Freddie at 18? Wrong. Yup,I didn’t bother looking either. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/34 "2008-11-13T12:45:08Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Dylan is completely incomprehensible on this list, at least as a vocalist. I would put him near the top of my hundred WORST rock vocalists of all time. He should be on your list right alongside Neil Young. Great lyricists, yes. High on a list most most influential Rock Era dudes for sure. But greatest singers? 😕 YMMV etc. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/35 "2008-11-13T13:17:44Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Here’s what they did: > Each voter was asked to list his or her 20 favorite vocalists from the rock era, in order of their importance. Isn’t “Who is your favorite singer” an all together different question from “Who do you think was the greatest singer of the rock era?” Who you list as your favorite is based purely on your own personal opinion and individual associations with that artist. What’s more, there have to be some very general guidelines and criteria that the ‘judges’ have to abide by otherwise the poll is no more valid then having them choosing their favorite ice cream flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/36 "2008-11-13T13:37:30Z")
From Rolling Stone’s list of voters: > [@](#): > > Yoko Ono If there is anything that remotely qualifies this hag to pass judgment on music in any form, I don’t know what it is (unless having one of the worst voices in pop music history gives you appreciation for really good ones). “Attica State, Attica State, We all live in Attica State” (dogs rush to hide under beds, plants wilt) Yoko was also on the Rolling Stone voters’ list for the top 200 (or 500) albums of all time, a similar travesty. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/37 "2008-11-13T13:46:34Z")
Yoko Ono? We used to have a contest whereby the person would have to listen to her through headphones and drink a yardglass of cider. Not many could. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/38 "2008-11-13T14:20:18Z")
I also piss on a top singers’ list that includes Christina Aguilera and Karen Carpenter, but not Grace Slick (or Annie Haslam). ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/39 "2008-11-13T15:57:06Z")
3/4 of Blondie were voting and Debbie Harry didn’t make the list? And where’s Pat Benatar? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439/40 "2008-11-13T16:02:35Z")
I see that the Everly Brothers have to share a spot. Unfair. Don and Phil have distinctive voices, and though each is fine, I have to say that Don deserves to be much, much higher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stones-list-of-100-greatest-singers-of-the-rock-era/472439.md?page=3)