Had your fill of vocal histrionics from Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey? Done with Auto-Tune? Or maybe the Adele overkill has you reaching for Advil. No matter the problem, your ears deserve a reboot. And if you don’t know where to find aural redemption, look no further.
Allow us to introduce you to five essential soul sisters who will fill the need for a belter.
Timi Yuro
The first time I heard Timi Yuro, I looked at the speakers and went, “Wow!”
She has a big, almost masculine voice that's full of conviction, and it's showcased to great effect on a compilation titled Timi Yuro: The Complete Liberty Singles. The two-CD set contains all the singles she cut for Liberty Records between 1961 and 1969.
If you need to be convinced further that Yuro is the real deal, check what the legendary Dinah Washington once said about the wee Italian-American singer: “Timi's voice doesn't come from the throat, but from the heart. She doesn't just sing the song, she lives it.”
That's a powerful testimonial, and it perfectly captures the essence of this vocal powerhouse.
Bettye LaVette
I’m betting if Washington was alive today, she would regale Bettye LaVette with the same compliment.
The Detroit native had been recording for more than 40 years, but inexplicably remained under everyone’s radar until an independent U.S. label signed her five years back. She sings with frightening intensity and has the innate ability to get inside a song and make you feel exactly what she's feeling. Proof can be heard on her latest album, Thankful N’ Thoughtful.
Jackie Moore
And if you’re looking for another revelation, invest in Jackie Moore’s recently reissued 1975 classic, Make Me Feel Like a Woman.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native’s album is a solid mix of pop, disco and gritty southern soul that had me hooked from the first to the last track. The selling point, of course, is Moore’s versatile, emotive voice and emphatic delivery that forces you to listen up.
Syreeta
It’s unfortunate that Syreeta is best known for being Stevie Wonder’s former wife, but look past that and you’ll hear a serious pop-soul singer who had a voice that was smooth and soared like Minnie Riperton’s. And even though Syreeta recorded for Motown, the music on her recently reissued One To One CD doesn’t fall into what’s classified as the Motown sound. You’ll hear elements of soul, pop, jazz, gospel and even African music on this collection of mid-tempo tunes and ballads.
Barbara Lewis
Barbara Lewis was an R&B singer from Salem, Mich., who should have been more popular simply because she had a silky smooth, sultry voice and cool delivery. And, unlike most of today’s so-called divas, she wrote most of her songs and never hid behind over-the-top production.
Lewis’s impressive pipes are on display on a two-CD set titled Barbara Lewis: The Complete Atlantic Singles that features the A- and B-sides of the 17 singles she released on the legendary Atlantic Records label between 1962 and 1968.