WTIT Tape Radio Blog brings you today our feature called A DJ’s Take and another one of our "Best of" lists. Today we bring you our Top 10 Female R&B Singers of all time. Please feel free to “take this feature" and do it as a meme to present your opinions. Today, we will share. We will give you the artist and a bit of their bio. Let’s cue up today's A DJ's Take!
10. Donna Summer was born on New Year’s Eve 1948. Her biggest hits were released in the 1970’s. She became one of the premiere female disco singers, but in our opinion she would have succeeded in any era. “Love to Love You Baby”, “It’s Raining Men” and “Last Dance” are some of her huge hits.
9. Gloria Gaynor was born September 7, 1949. She is another of the disco queens of the 1970’s. Her biggest hit was “I Will Survive” and to this day rings true to a lot of folks. “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Let Me Know (I Have a Right)” are another couple of big songs for Gloria.
8. Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1970 in New York City. Her biggest hits include “Always Be My Baby”, “We Belong Together” and “Fantasy”. She popped on the national scene and has almost every conceivable award since. She is currently still a huge force in music.
7. Janet Jackson was born May 16, 1966. Her brothers were already superstars by the time Janet released her first album in 1982. It wasn’t until she hooked up with two of the men behind “Prince” (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) that she became a star. She released the album “Control” in 1986, which yielded five hit songs, videos choreographed by Paula Abdul. Her first nominations and awards came from “Control”. Janet still sells music to this day. But who will ever forget that Superbowl "Wardrobe Malfunction"?
6. Patti Labelle was born May 24, 1944 as Patricia Holt. She was the driving force to Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles in the 1960’s. When the Supremes needed a replacement for Florence Ballard they grabbed Cindy Birdsong from the Bluebelles. Patti and Cindy did not talk for eighteen years because of that. Their biggest hit was “Lady Marmalade” in the 1970’s.
5. Whitney Houston was born August 9, 1963. Considering the magnitude of her talent it will always be her rocky on and off relationship with husband Bobby Brown and drug problems that immediately come to mind at the mention of her name. Her self titled album in 1985 yielded five hit singles. Her last big album was released in 2002. At one point in the 80’s she had seven number one hits in a row breaking a record shared by The Beatles and the Bee Gees.
4. Martha Reeves was born July 18, 1941. She and her two friends were back-up singers to Marvin Gaye in the early 60’s. When Mary Wells didn’t show to record a song, they had Marvin’s back-up singers try it. It became the first hit from Martha Reeves and the Vendellas. Some others include “Dancing in the Street”, “(Love is Like a) Heat Wave” and “Nowhere to Run”.
3. Tina Turner started with husband Ike and had some huge hits with him. “Proud Mary” was the biggest of the era. It was an abusive relationship she later made a movie about that included some of her biggest hits of the 1980’s titled “What’s Love Got to Do with It”. Her Mad Max and the Thunderdome soundtrack was very successful as well. Tina was born on November 26, 1939. Her “Private Dancer” album was a huge 80’s work as well. Her first greatest hits album was titled “Simply the Best”.
2. Diana Ross was as good as a Motown ladies group leader got. Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard and she started the Supremes. Mary Wilson was lead singer until a record contract was at stake. Berry Gordy moved Diana to the lead spot. Mary Wilson would write in her book it was because of Diana and Berry’s personal relationship. However since they broke up in 1970, how many big Mary Wilson hits have there been? The Supremes had hits like “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love” Come See About Me” and on it goes. Diana’s solo career has been big as well. “Touch Me in the Morning”, Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) and “Love Hangover” are some of her solo hits. She played Billie Holiday in “Lady Sings the Blues” and Dorothy in “The Wiz”. Diana was born on March 26, 1944.
1. Aretha was born “The Queen of Soul” on March 25, 1942. No one has ever been a bigger soul artist. She has recorded twenty number one R&B singles. Her biggest and signature song is “Respect”. Other hits included “Chain of Fools”, “Baby I Love You” and “(You Make Me feel Like) A Natural Woman. Steely Day in “Hey Nineteen” complained that a young lady did not know who “The Queen of Soul” was. And I never bought it. I bet even today, all these years later, a nineteen year old knows Aretha. OR perhaps they just don’t like music.We hope that you enjoy this feature.
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1. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles. It never got better than this.
2. "Abbey Road" by The Beatles. John Lennon wasn't thrilled that Paul turned the album into a concept album. He went along with it, and we should be glad he did.
3. "On the Threshold of A Dream" by the Moody Blues. A great album by the most "classical" oriented rock band. (Or if you think "Pink Floyd", I won't argue). Their best work.
4. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen. The Boss has a ton of great ones, but this is the best. From the 80's, President Reagan thought it was "patriotic", he hadn't heard the words to the title cut. 
5. "C'mon, C'mon" by Sheryl Crow. This album sounded like an all time classic the very first time I heard it. Crow's best by far. 
6. "Cracked Rear View" by Hootie and the Blowfish. Sure, it got overplayed, but what an album. I really thought that they might be the band of the 90's until their second album, "Fairweather Johnson" came out. Boy, was that awful.
7. "What's the Story Morning Glory" by Oasis. You would think that I, as such a HUGE Beatles' fan might not care for a 90's-00's band that ripped them off. I always thought that was over stated. Sure, they were heavily influenced, but were not a real "sound alike" band. Great in their own right. 
8. "Congratulations, I'm Sorry" by The Gin Blossoms. My favorite alternative rock group of the 90's, their founding member/song writer died young (by suicide). All of their hit albums came after that but were together relatively a short time. In 2006 they reunited and produced "Major Lodge Victory." 
9. "Sticky Fingers" by the Rolling Stones. Their best album ever. Which is saying quite a bit, since they have had so many great ones. Remember the real zipper on the original LP? 
10. "Imagine" by John Lennon. 'Nuff said. 
11. "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison. The biggest individual Beatle album after the breakup initially. Great double album. (I know it was a triple, but the "jam" third album sucked).
12. "Deja Vu" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young". Not a bad song here, by far the best album the four or three, have done. It won't be topped. 
13. "August and Everything After" by The Counting Crows. Led by Adam Duritz, the best songwritter over the last ten years. They have never had a bad album. Adam writes a blog by the way, on the Crows' website. 
14. "Tommy" by the Who. The first rock opera is still the best. Made into both a show and a movie, the story of Tommy is much better told by listening to the album as you read the words.
15. "Led Zeppelin IV" was not the actual name of Zep's fourth album, but since the name was symbols, that is what we called it. WTIT's number one song of the 70's, "Stairway to Heaven" is on this album.
16. "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere" by Neil Young. While "Harvest" was a much bigger seller I always thought Neil never has been better than this, his follow up to his first solo album, "The Loner." 
17. "A Boy Named Goo" by the Goo Goo Dolls. One of the best bands as modern rock became the rage in the 90's. The band does not release bad albums to this day. 
19. "Tea for the Tillerman" by Cat Stevens. All his 70's albums were great, but this was the best. It is good to see him back with a new album this year. While that album is no "Tea for the Tillerman" is has a great cover of "Don't Let Me be Misunderstood". 
21. "Sports" by Huey Lewis and the News. The best band of the eighties. You've probably seen the photo of Huey and I. I only met him once, but he is a terrific guy.
22. "Beck, Bogart & Appice" a self titled album. Critically well received and the best non-hit album I've ever heard. Jeff Beck from the Yardbirds and Jeff Beck Group, Tim Bogart from Cactus and Carmen Appice the drummer from Vanilla Fudge created this unbelieveable album. They broke up during the recording of their second album. 
23. "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder. Any of Stevie's concept albums of the 70's could be on this list. When pressed, this is my favorite. What an amazingly talented guy. 
25. "Last Mango in Paris" by Jimmy Buffett. My closest friends were all "Parrot Heads" and I never got it. When I went through my first divorce I listened to this album, which is all about relationships. Jimmy is one of my favorite artists now, I have every album he ever recorded. But this will remain my favorite, though my Parrot Head friends insist "Off to See the Lizard" is better.
26. “Rumours” Fleetwood Mac. How I missed this on my first list, I don't know. You cannot hear these songs enough.
27. “Tapestry” Carole King. For a long time, the best selling album of all time. It has to be still in the Top 10.
29. “Damn the Torpedoes”. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. A perfect album. You cannot get sick of this music.
29. “Glass Houses” Billy Joel. Side One is Billy's best rock and roll. Period. 
33. “Goodbye” Cream. When they said "Goodbye" I thought they'd return. I didn't know we'd wait nearly forty years.
34. “Nimrod” Green Day. Best rock band today. And for the last ten years. 
35. “Nick of Time” Bonnie Raitt. I've loved her since her first album in 1972. "Green Lights" maybe my favorite, but "Nick of Time" launched her to super stardom. I kissed her once. Ask me nicely and I might share that story... 
36. “Toulouse Street” Doobie Brothers. Jesus wasn't the only thing "All Right" with this album. 
37. “Sitting In” Loggins and Messina. I was in a record store and this was playing. I thought "Wow. Who is this?" So I asked. I said I want it. He said, "Sorry, sold out." 
38. “Let It Bleed” Rolling Stones. Nothing needs to be said here. 
39. “Yes I Am” Melissa Ethridge. I never thought I'd like a female rocker as much as Pat Benatar. But I do.
40. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” Elton John. They called it his "White Album". It was Elton at his best. 
41. “X & Y” Coldplay. They don't do a bad song or album. This is their most recent. 
42. “Low Spark of High Healed Boys” Traffic. Steve Winwood and the boys at their best.
43. “A Place in the Sun” Lit. My son Ben said I'd love this group and album. He did not lie. 
44. “1984” Van Halen. Eddie can't seem to get along with anybody but I challenge you to name a better guitar player. As good, but not better.
45. “Can’t Buy a Thrill” Steely Dan. The record company took out a full page ad in Billboard before this album was released. It simply said: "Steely Dan. A band you will never forget." They weren't kidding.
46. “The Wall” Pink Floyd. Never a big fan of this band, but I couldn't overlook this album. 
47. “Working Man’s Dead” Grateful Dead. While the Dead were all about concerts, they put together solid albums as well. This was their best.
48. “Street Corner Symphony” Persuasions. In college, Stu (my roomate senior year, of "Sparky & Stu) and I had to listen to this album before we hit the road. It is still fabulous. 
49. “Bat Out of Hell” Meat Loaf. He hooked up with Jim Steinman, the writer of the songs he did with "The Rocky Horror Show". This bad boy rocks.