I listened to The Carpenters albums all the time, and went to a lot of their concerts because we had a family connection . I never met them, but was so devastated when Karen passed away, that I literally have just started listening to them again last year. Karen had a very unique voice, and one that made her sound older than her years, plus I think she had an "old soul"...she was quite young , but Rainy Days and Mondays seems sung with a lifetime of experience behind it...my favorite of theirs.As a casual listener from way back, I have learned a lot on this forum about the music of the Carpenters; Karen being it's heart and soul. So I was wondering . . .
Since Karen's passing, are there other female singers whose style you appreciate and tend to listen to? They don't necessarily need to compare to her sound or style (who could, really). I am open to suggestions of different singers to listen to and thought since we all already have a love for Karen's voice in common, we could offer suggestions for further listening.
I am a HUGE Basia fan, from the beginning of her international career in the 80's. I also like other artists who really make you listen to the lyrics, like Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, and Heart's Nancy Wilson.
Who do you listen to?
Because of this, I have had to find other voices. I always loved her music, but I actually didn't know she started singing again after a break in the 90s; this year I re-discovered Melissa Manchester, and I just adore her! She is re-recording her hits on a project called Re:View which has been rolling out as singles, but will be a CD when it is done, and the arrangements and vocals are gorgeous. She put out videos with the singles, and Midnight Blue is a musical conversation with her younger self...the other videos are kind of relating the songs to the time we have been going through. Fire in the Morning (wonderful) was included as a gift to fans who loved it. I really prefer the ladies to be a bit older, because as they age their lower register gets richer, sometimes they drop the key of the song as well. But MM is a singer with a lot of different sounds, and a lot of different musical interests. She is the exception to that lower voice thing on her first single that never got put on an album...I just love her version of Never Never Land...I immediately thought Norah Jones , before there was a Norah Jones! But the vocal colors on that song are amazing! So if you haven't listened to her since the 70s, you would be surprised at what she has been up to...more pop albums, writing theatre musical scores, and a choral suite that is almost done, and still performing. In October she will be formally inducted into The Great American Songbook Hall of Fame for New Standards. If you like that kind of music, check out her albums Tribute (the ladies) and The Fellas.
I have also been super-fan of Linda Eder since she blew the competition away on Star Search back in the 80s. Not a household name, but she should own a bucketload of Grammy's for talent. After Star Search she went to Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde, has recorded 18 albums, sings mostly standards and Broadway, but is great at pop and country-pop, and fabulous at swing. Judy Garland was her inspiration to sing, she doesn't mimic sound like Judy, but has a tribute album, and is currently singing that as it is Judy's Centennial year. My favorite album is It's Time...and it is a vocal Master Class! (she does those and teaches Skype lessons). Check out Man of La Mancha for a show stopper, Vienna for one of the most romantic songs, Bring Him Home, As If We Never Said Goodbye...her album If You See Me is one of her latest and one of the very best! The only reason that you have not heard of her, is that she is a "Reluctant Diva" Minnesota farm girl, who got nervous with too much fame, and prefers to live a more simple life riding horses, and driving into NY to perform, she does concerts around the country (which are often BETTER than the recordings...the real deal).
Ann Hampton Callaway is also a Diva who I have come to know this year...primarily known as a jazz singer. But she is a singer /songwriter with a gift for melody and a love of lyrics. She travels around the country singing songs from The Great American Songbook, and Divas that she loves shows. I love her renditions of melissa Manchester's Come In From The Rain...gorgeous! She also performs with her Broadway sister, Liz Callaway.