Seven top music artists

[amelio747]

I's sure this has been done a gazillion times!
Here are mine in no particular order:

Joni Mitchell
Mazzy Star
Janis Ian
Sondre Lerche
Judee Sill
Kate Bush
Tori Amos

What's yours?

PS. Has anyone heard The Puppini Sisters? They've done this 50's barber shop style cover of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights'. It may wear thin but for now, I can't stop playing it!

[RedjackRyan]

My list in no particular order


George Clinton
Natalie Merchant
Chrissie Hynde
Janis Ian
Kenny Blake
Jimmy Ponder
Jimi Hendrix

[sister rose]

ok...here's mine:

Natalie Merchant (go Redjack!) :D
Janis Ian
Shawn Colvin
Tracy Chapman
Marianne Faithful
Chantel Kreviazuk
Katell Keineg


....and so many more....

[amelio747]

I like Natalie Merchant too, though she didn't really catch on here (UK) all that well in the 90's. There only seemed to be a place for "kooky" female singer songwriters!

'Life Is Sweet' is a nice song.

I really should have added Carole King and Bob Dylan to my top list too! I'll just say they are on a par... Oh and Laura Nyro... I like these lists but damn them also ;)

[sister rose]

I like Natalie Merchant too

Awww...you're just trying for a free ride on the Rudie Plane.....errrr...BUS....you'll have to get behind Redjack...he goes first! :D

I like Life Is Sweet and Ophelia is a masterpiece, but Motherland is my favorite album of Natalie's.

Carole King! I forgot about her! Loved her when I was in high school!

Oh...and Joan Baez..another favorite!

[leslie]

do we have to stick w/ living folks? I guess if that's part of the criteria it would be:

Joni Mitchell
Janis Ian
Shawn Colvin
Buddy Guy
Jimmy Buffett
Dar Williams
Keith Jarrett

[amelio747]

I don't think so.
Judee Sill is long gone...

[amelio747]

Sister Rose, did you ever hear Carole King's 'Fantasy' album?
I think it's her greatest (though I've not heard all hers!).

[RedjackRyan]

Thats the trouble with these lists, theres always more people to add!

Mel Torme
Dean Martin
Billie Holiday
George Benson
Marvin Gaye

and oodles more.

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Music, like food makes for such a great topical thread... I mean really it's a sharing of ones opinions that are seldom controversial yet always quite personal... Betty and I attend somewhere in the range of 20 to 30 concerts of all varietys each year and you know with very few exceptions I can think of few concerts that I actually regret attending.... With music, and I think most will agree, your favorite artists and songs are subject to change on a minute by minute review.... Any thought or rememberance or song on the radio can set affoot changes that affect your (or my) entire list.... There are so many great artists that through their music have impacted and changed my life in one way or another... One that remains ALWAYS at the top of that list is Janis Ian... In my opinion a Superstar.

Individual Artists.... Living...

Janis Ian
Billy Joel
Meatloaf
Crystal Gayle
Barry Manilow
Garth Brooks
Elton John

Individual Artists.... Other then Living...

Karen Carpenter
Harry Chapin
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Sonny Buono
Jim Croce
Dennis DeYoung

Groups.... Touring

Earth Wind & Fire
Chicago
Huey Lewis & the News
The Moody Blues
Bjorn Again
The Guess Who
Styx

Groups.... All times.... Not Touring

Spanky & Our Gang
The Beatles
Emmerson, Lake & Palmer
Electric Light Orchestra
Boston
Bee Gees
Pink Floyd

Best Individual concert I've seen in 2006...

Janis Ian.... Pittsburgh Pa

Best Group concert I've seen in 2006...

Bjorn Again.... Allentown Pa

WORST live Individual concert act of the decade that I've seen

Todd Rundgren.... Easton Pa

WORST live Group concert act of the decade that I've seen

The Beach Boys.... Bethlehem Pa

Favorite CHRISTMAS SONG for 2006

Christmas in New York.... Lou Christie

There you have it... Far more info then you wanted to know .... :eek:

Happy Holidays

R. from Pa

[amelio747]

Just been listening to The Innocence Mission and I should really add them...

[leslie]

You're so thorough. I was tempted to do something like that, but just followed suit.

L

[sister rose]

I love Innocence Mission...Karen Peris has such a beautiful voice! One of my favorite groups....as well as

Fairport Convention
The Mary Dream
Early 10,000 Maniacs (with Natalie, of course)
The Rolling Stones
Indigo Girls
The Chieftains

I could probably go on forever.....:rolleyes:

[RedjackRyan]

You're so thorough. I was tempted to do something like that, but just followed suit.

L

Randy has no life and far too much time to type on his hands :) J/K i do enjoy his lists with the extra information and he's pointed me in the direction of a group or two I wouldn't have considered. Still waiting for Bjorn Again to wander through Pittsburgh...not much of an Abba fan, but his recommendation was sterling.

[Jim in Chattanooga, TN]

Boy! That's tough...Only seven???

I'd have to say...

Janis Ian
Jackson Browne
Barbra Streisand
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Gladys Knight
Garth Brooks
Joni Mitchell

Please forgive me...to my "other favorite artists". I know I left you out but this is off the cuff...

[aabram]

In no particular order

Janis Ian
Chieftains
McCalmans
Runrig
Westlife
Fairport Convention
St Mary's Cathedral Choir :D

Sister Rose, I bought one of Tracy Chapman's CDs because I liked the song Fast Car. I STILL like the song Fast Car :D

[sister rose]

I like fast cars.....er, I mean Fast Car....as well...I also like Give Me One Good Reason...I think those are my favorites..Have you heard Tracy's new album (2005) Where You Live? Never Yours is a beautiful song.

[illinoisbill]

OK Here we go:

Janis Ian
Laura Nyro
Patti Smith
Todd Rundgren
Jackson Browne
Patti labelle
Cher

What an eclectic crew!

[aabram]

I like fast cars.....er, I mean Fast Car....as well...I also like Give Me One Good Reason...I think those are my favorites..Have you heard Tracy's new album (2005) Where You Live? Never Yours is a beautiful song.

I haven't played that CD for over a year now, (well, I was too busy listening to and catching up with Janis, wasn't I!) but who knows what 2007 will bring :D .....silver wedding anniversaries,17th birthdays, 21st birthdays, Wiley Dew, a new job, even 18th birthdays, 10 years of ringing (already :eek: ) And thanks for the recommendations :) Got to PM you now :D

[aabram]

Boy! That's tough...Only seven???

I'd have to say...

Janis Ian
Jackson Browne
Barbra Streisand
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Gladys Knight
Garth Brooks
Joni Mitchell

Please forgive me...to my "other favorite artists". I know I left you out but this is off the cuff...

Nobody said you couldn't post on this thread more than once!!!! :D

[aabram]

So here's some more

Wishbone Ash (particularly their first 3 albums, Wishbone Ash, Pilgrimage Argus) Their new album features Stevie Wonder)
Cat Stevens
Simon and Garfunkel
Beatles
Stevie Wonder
Yes
Richard and Linda Thompson

[David from London]

Janis Ian
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Sandy Denny
Joan Baez
Jennifer Warnes
Phoebe Snow
Leonard Cohen

[Darlene]

Top seven with no particular order

Janis Ian
Suzanne Vega
Cat Stevens
James Taylor
Phil Collins
Prince:D
Carole King

And I want to cheat, the one, the only, "The Beatles"

[aabram]

Janis Ian
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Sandy Denny
Joan Baez
Jennifer Warnes
Phoebe Snow
Leonard Cohen

Forgot Leonard Cohen,
Pete Seeger,
Bob Dylan,
Seekers
Peter, Paul and Mary
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Moody Blues :D

[Darlene]

My second top artists1:D

Track Chapman
Peter, Paul and Mary
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Moody Blues
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchel
Janis Joplin

[aabram]

That's the third Tracy Chapman :) Any one else like her????

[Chet]

An all-girls list:

Janis Ian
kdlang
Mayumi Itsuwa
Tracy Chapman
Annie Lennox
Paula Tsui
Anita Mui

[aabram]

Wheeeeeeeeee.... go girl :) :) :) :)

[DaveM]

In no particular order:

Janis Ian
Pink Floyd
Bob Dylan
Claudia Schmidt
The Beatles
The Roches
The Doors

Which forced me to leave out:

Jane Olivor
The Rolling Stones
Judy Collins
Sting (and The Police)
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Pete Seeger
Natalie Merchant

[ponytail]

I'm glad somebody else mentioned Jane Olivor.

Here's my faves list, in two parts:

Living:
Janis Ian
Jane Olivor
Melanie
Jimmy Buffett
Ronee Blakely
Jefferson Airplane
Patti Labelle


Deceased:
Billie Holiday
Dusty Springfield
Patsy Cline
Mahalia Jackson
Janis Joplin
Bing Crosby
Louis Armstrong

And of course plenty of others who wouldn't fit on the list!

[Seth]

Janis Ian
Carole King
Van Morrison
David Bromberg
Laura Nyro
Bonnie Raitt

I am holding off on the Identity of number 7.

[Mieke]

Janis Ian
Dory Previn
J.J. Cale
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (in all different combinations or solo)
U2 (From before Achtung Baby, after that...yuck!)
Joni Mitchell
Dire Straits

[hoops]

shoot this is so cool, i just spent some time last night with a good friend of mine from high school, we used to make these lists and they's go on for pages and pages and days and days...

Janis Ian
Joni Mitchell
Natalie Merchant

that's all ya get outta me :)
peace
hoops

[GodSistah]

I'm not at all sorry that I couldn't stick to seven! :p

Here are the top ten artists that have influenced me as a person and musician!

1. Janis Ian
2. Parliament Funkadelic
3. Prince
4. Teena Marie
5. Erykah Badu
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Tori Amos
8. The Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. The Eurythmics
10. Earth, Wind & Fire

;)

~Andrea~

[Mimi]

listing my personal Janis Top Twenty...

Well, here are my favourite singers:

1. Janis Ian

Chava Alberstein
Melissa Etheridge
Joni Mitchell
Gianna Nannini
Joan Armatrading
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Joan Baez
kd lang

There are others but the ones above mentioned won't change I think.

Mimi

[david uk]

Janis Ian
Marc Almond
Mercedes Sosa
Black (aka Colin Vearncombe)
Sparks
Eva Dahlgren

and many more......:)

[aabram]

Seems as though we all have similar tastes in music with afew variations depending upon which part of the world we're in, David, your list was only 6. You're allowed one more:p

And I haven't even begun yet :eek:

[KarenSews2]

Janis Ian
Cat Stevens
Josh Groban
Judy Collins
ABBA
Patti LuPone
Indianapolis Childrens Choir

[Darlene]

Hay Godsistah, You and I are the only ones to put Prince on our lists. He taught me to look at a different style of music (wet, sexy, fun, blues) he is so talented he can make an album all by himself.

[Oak Kitten]

Janis Ian
Eva Cassidy
Maria Muldaur
Carole King
Laura Nyro
Linda Rondstadt
Mama Cass

[Agnes]

but I'll try anyway.

Janis Ian
Dougie MacLean
Victor Jara
Hayadeh
R. Carlos Nakai
Mari Boine Persen
Stef Bos


Seven you said, right? Well, this is my list for now.

[Dee]

1. Janis Ian
2. Jann Arden
3. Josh Groban
4. Lynn Miles
5. Joan Baez
6. Barbra Streisand (shut up)
7. Eurythmics

[marjan]

Geezz that a hard one to select, my first list would be

Janis Ian
Prince
Abba
Dire Straits
Tina Turner
Pink Floyd
Katie Melua

[Amy in Vermont]

Janis Ian
Joan Baez
Cheryl Wheeler
Tom Rush
Bill Staines
Bonnie Raitt
Kate Wolf

[hoops]

dee i love your babs comment...she is cooooooool and you don't have to be...wait, i'm gay, oh but i'm female so...what was i saying? oh yeah i love babs too
peace
hoops

[Dee]

Well Hoops,

Cool is a very subjective word, as it is with any artist in any expressive medium.

As she sang in an opening number from her 1994 concert:

One day you're hailed for blazing trails
Next day you're nailed for fingernails
Either they cheer or they jeer
But I'm here

Not sure why she’s a “Gay Icon” really, but before Janis Ian, I followed Barbra’s career with equal exuberance. At one time I had nearly every one of her albums and movies. Now I have just a few of her best albums and movies. In fact, I just spent birthday money my mom sent me on a 3-disc set of her DVDs. My boyfriend cannot stand her, but I don’t subject him to her. LOL

[GodSistah]

Hay Godsistah, You and I are the only ones to put Prince on our lists. He taught me to look at a different style of music (wet, sexy, fun, blues) he is so talented he can make an album all by himself.

darwoods, I LOVE Prince! Extremely talented and versatile in his musc! And look, Marjan has him on her list too!

;)

~Andrea~

[DaveM]

Thank heaven--someone else knows who Bill Staines is! I still have one of his LPs, released on the (very) short-lived Coffeehouse Extempore label. Are you a "Prairie Home Companion" fan, by any chance?

Another longtime favorite--a performer who should be a household word but for some reason is not: James McMurtry. If you haven't heard his stuff, do check it out. You'll thank yourself.

[corolla girl]

My favorites are:

Janis Ian
Barbra Streisand (Janis and Barbra are my favorites)
Carole King
Neil Diamond
Peggy Lee
Bette Midler
Josh Groban

[KarenSews2]

Kathy Gileno
Leslie Dennis
Marcia Gallas

mea culpa

Glad to see others including my boyfriend in their lists. Uh...that would be Josh Groban! :rolleyes:

[leslie]

You're too much! And does Ned know about you and Josh?

L

[Dee]

Glad to see others including my boyfriend in their lists. Uh...that would be Josh Groban! :rolleyes:

I knew there was yet another reason to love you, Karen. :D

[Marcia Drummergal]

Kathy Gileno
Leslie Dennis
Marcia Gallas

mea culpa

Glad to see others including my boyfriend in their lists. Uh...that would be Josh Groban! :rolleyes:

Wow. I feel totally honored Karen. Muchas Gracias!

Marcia :o

[aabram]

Then there's all the great British folk greats

Bert Jansch
Martin Carthy
Watersons
Nic Jones
Steeleye Span
Chris Foster
Cyril Tawney

and all the while, I STILL love Janis best of all :) and that's just the english ones :D Merry Christmas

[sky]

Sorry, I couldn't narrow it down to just 7. There are so many artists that I like. Janis being my current most favorite right now of course.

Janis Ian
Jewel
Sarah Mclachlan
Ani Difranco
Norah Jones
Eric Clapton
Annie Lennox
Indigo girls
Bonnie Raitt
Mellisa Etheridge

And as far as bands-
I have loved U2 for 25 years. I like their old and new stuff. I really like the old Rolling stones, Dave mathews band, and I recently discovered how much I really like listening to Coldplay.

[Michael from Chicago]

Janis
Bob Dylan
Billie Holiday
Anita O'Day
Edith Piaf
Carla Bley
Gene Harris

[aabram]

Mimi, you're right about this being as difficult as listing Janis top 20. There are so many people I HAVEN'T listed so I just keep posting and come back with another round :D OK call it cheating if you like but I'll cheat when it comes to music if I don't have to leave any one out. right now it's
Janis
Janis
Janis
Janis
Janis
Janis
Janis :rolleyes: :D

[Mimi]

What a wonderful surprise, Aabram!
:D :rolleyes: ;)

But I really forgot someone important: Dar Williams

Mimi

[Anna from Dublin]

Somebody listed Paul McCartney in the "not living" category - he is still alive! Just breaking up with Heather!

Janis Ian
Sting
Michael Jackson (yeh, I know; but he is an amazing artist)
Paul Simon
Bette Midler
Barbara Streisand
Joni Mitchell (in her hey day)

[AceOn6]

Hmmm, seven in addition to Janis

BB King
Carlos Santana
Eric Clapton
Claude Bolling
Billy Joel
Aretha Franklin
Bruce Springsteen (or Prince or Dave Brubeck or Dick Dale or The Nylons)

OK that's 11, so with Janis, we've got a nice dozen

[Bryan]

It's easy to list the top four:

Joni Mitchell
Janis
Judy Collins
Joan Baez

Difficult to pick three from all the rest, but:

Phoebe Snow
Flora Purim
The Beatles (I'm surprised to put them here but I can't deny their huge impact)

[aabram]

Somebody listed Paul McCartney in the "not living" category - he is still alive! Just breaking up with Heather!



Paul McCartney is also highly against the Chinese Dog and Cat Fur Trade. Maybe that's WHY he's breaking up with Heather :rolleyes:

Also nobody mentioned Queen yet. Brian May is highly supportive of the rescuing of the Uist Hedgehogs. A needless and pointless cull of the island's 5000 Hedgehogs. Their crime???? Supposedly eating rare birds eggs. AfA has been in the thick of this since the beginning.

Mimi. Thank you. This just proves that Janis still comes out top of the bill whoever else we like, and sorry I started to follow the wrong guys when I could have done so much better for myself. :rolleyes:

[Anna from Dublin]

Why is he highly against the Chinese Dog? What did the Chinese Dog ever do to him? Come to think of it, what is the Chinese Dog?

[lucille]

Roy Orbison
Abba
Fleetwood Mac
Janis Ian
Mary Black
Mark Knopfler
Bette Midler
Neil Diamond
Merle Hagard
Kasey Chambers

[aabram]

Why is he highly against the Chinese Dog? What did the Chinese Dog ever do to him? Come to think of it, what is the Chinese Dog?

Anna go to www.advocatesforanimals.org for more info on the subject. Dogs and Cats are kept in atrocious conditions until killed, but not for their meat, in China. It's HORRIBLE :mad:

[lucille]

... and
kd Lang
The Dixie Chicks