Soulful Country Voices

[WhySoSerious?]

Which artist are most capable of infusing country music with soul and passion.  It's a much different type of soul than the typical description in R&B music, but it's killer nonetheless. 

Here are who I think have the most expressive voices:

ALISON KRAUSS: Her voice is so pure, and that is what is always emphasized, but I also love her restraint.  She gives just enough and never goes over the top. 

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "New Favorite"

REBA MCENTIRE:  She could sing the phonebook and make it sound compelling.  She wrings every drop of emotion out of her lyrics.  There's a reason she holds the record for Female Vocalist of the Year trophies.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "I Wish That I Could Tell You" (And if you want to see a killer live performance of "For My Broken Heart", watch this:  fancyreba.com/relay/broken3heart.rm)

PATTY LOVELESS:  An awesome song interpreter and while her voice is not a powerhouse, she probably uses what she has better than anyone.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "On Your Way Home"

TRISHA YEARWOOD:  Another great interpreter and she has the chops to compete with the best pop singers around.  She's always pitch-perfect to boot.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "Melancholy Blue" or "On A Bus To St. Cloud"

TIM MCGRAW:  I think he's pretty underrated as a vocalist.  He's limited with regard to range, but when he's in his sweet spot I think he's great.  His interpretation skills more than make up for technical weaknesses.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "Please Remember Me"

LORETTA LYNN:  The entire Van Lear Rose is a testament to her ability to wring truth from lyrics.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "Miss Being Mrs."

I'm missing a ton of people, but those were off the top of my head.  If I think of more, I'll add them.

JOHNNY CASH:  The greatest male country singer of all time.  Period.

DOWNLOAD THIS:  "Hurt"

[nashville22]

Tim Mcgraw is overrated as a vocalist. You have never seen him ever sing acoustic because he can't.

I like Alison, Loretta and Reba for soulful singers. I also believe when Shania just sits with her guitar and an intimate setting she can be the best around. People make these vast assumption that Shania has only sung over produced pop songs but the reality is Shania started off singing Dolly and Willy songs at age 8 in bars with her box guitar. People who bash Shania never do their research. If Shania put out an acoustic album right now with just her, her intimate songs and her guitar then she would shut the critics of Nashville up. The fact is that Shania could care less what the critics say and Shania is planning an acoustic album very soon.
To sum up Alison, Reba, Loretta, Dolly, Willy and Shania can provide the best soul in their songs if they want to.

[WhySoSerious?]

I don't think Tim's particularly overrated.  No one ever really praises him vocally.

I think Shania can be decent, but too many of her songs are tongue-in-cheek and require nothing more than a smile to seem convincing.  If she had more material like "The Woman In Me" or "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is" I'd agree.

[nashville22]

Tcory, that is my point, most of her songs on COO and UP are tonge and cheek and fun but Shania has another side that she has proven since she was age 8.
Look at footage at Shania as a little kid and a box guitar singing Dolly's songs, she nails everyone of them. She sounds more country and more twangy than any country artist in Nashville today.
As you notice Shania doesn't care what her critics say and someday when she wants she will give us the best traditional country album in years. Shania will do it on her time and it will be very soon. Shania has nothing left to accomplish commercially but artistically she has a lot give when she feels it is time.

[KMCB]

nashville22 said:

Tim Mcgraw is overrated as a vocalist.  You have never seen him ever sing acoustic because he can't.

Actually, he does sing acoustically at shows on pretty much every tour. There was also his #1 hit "Angry All the Time." That said, as others have mentioned, Tim is rarely praised for his vocal abilities, though they have developed incredibly over the last several CDs.

I agree about Trisha Yearwood, but I would say her Must Hear song is "I Don't Paint Myself Into Corners Anymore." Wow. Also, when she did "We Shall Be Free" at the post-9/11 country showcase, she brought down the house.

Others:
Travis Tritt
He does "Tell Me I Was Dreaming" acoustically in concert and it is amazing.

Ronnie Dunn
- that is, when B&D aren't putting out the schlop their last few singles have been. Give me more "Ain't Nothin' Bout You" and less "You Can't Take the Honkey Tonk." Please...

Patty Loveless
You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive. Simply beautiful
Ooops. Just saw she was originally mentioned...

Sara Evans
Favorites include "You Don't" from _Born to Fly_ and almost everything off _Restless_, in particular "Tonight" and "Otis Redding."

Wynonna
And for the record, I could listen to "Flies in the Butter" all day long. She's still got it.

Garth Brooks
Let's not forget him! There is a reason he became as big as he did, and I think soul had a lot to do with it...

Fun discussion...

[drock89]

I do agree. Shania's music as of late has been more fun but her "Women In Me"..WOW!! Check it out if you have a chance.

Sara Evans has a gorgeous voice, as does Alison and Dolly.

[WhySoSerious?]

Yes, I should have mentioned Wynonna. "Flies On The Butter" is gorgeous.

I'm iffy on Garth. Sometimes I can see it, but sometimes I think he's more show than anything else.

[singingsparrow]

Johnny Cash is by far the best.

DON'T FORGET JIMMIE RODGERS!

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[EvanJ]

TCorey likes "Where Would You Be" but didn't mention Martina McBride.

[WhySoSerious?]

EvanJ said:

TCorey likes "Where Would You Be" but didn't mention Martina McBride.

Though I think she's amazingly talented and her voice blows me away, she's more a great technical vocalist than song interpreter IMO.

[drock89]

TCorey said:

Though I think she's amazingly talented and her voice blows me away, she's more a great technical vocalist than song interpreter IMO.

If you want a song interpreter than you need to mention Dolly.

[KMCB]

If you want a song interpreter than you need to mention Dolly.

Dolly singing "He's Alive..."

:faints:

[bambas]

If the issue is soulfoul, there will be relased a 4 part gospell collection. The first of it will be Conway Twitty in august release date and the second one will be Loretta.

(I simple don't find the link anymore for the article, sorry)

[MusicRules]

Allison Moorer

It took me a while to appreciate her, but her last 2 or 3 studio albums are awesome.

Plus, she records without studio trickery and doesn't sing into audio-tuning microphones!!!

[MusicRules]

Though I think she's amazingly talented and her voice blows me away, she's more a great technical vocalist than song interpreter IMO.

I agree to a point, however:

Martina mostly sings songs that aren't about her life.  If a man is doing her wrong, you can sure tell it by her delivery.  She's never been in a bad relationship, yet she conveys the anguish pretty well.

[Free2Bme]

This should be interesting. ;)

nashville22 said:

Shania is planning an acoustic album very soon.
.