www.CostaRicaTicas.com

2 outliers (either off-trail or 2nd tier):
Lydia Pense--was with the 60's group Cold Blood To gauge her soulfulness, check out "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free". I'm talkin' chills and tears here, gang. A red-haired beauty with those pipes--why she never made it is an eternal mystery to me.
from back in the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fds9ZQU5 ... re=related
Here's her more-recent take on an Etta James classic--one killer band backing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3PMgaah ... re=related

Redbone--Not your garden-variety melismatic* soul--almost monotonic (but then so is the deep Mississippi trance blues of RL Burnside or Junior Kimbrough).Led by the Vegas Brothers. Check out Redbone Live or a precursor CD, Pat and Lolly Vegas at the Haunted House. These guys played in Jimmy Blanton's band, than whom there's no more soulful singer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE3djrVLto0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxb9XubfAUM

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/melismatic

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I'm amazed and gratified that this Topic has such legs. Renews my faith, yes it does. Special shout-out to Brother Express321.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

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If you let the devil ride, he's gonna want to drive

True dat, Brother Boynton, and she's so young, has such room for growth. We'll be watching her career/music choices avidly no doubt. You know what I'd like to see is an album covering hard-nosed female country singers like Gretchen Wilson or the Homewreckers from a soulful perspective--an old and honored tradition (think Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country & Western Vols. 1 & 2).

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

cmon man david freakin bowie. well he has one blue eye anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYEOlxcirX0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S227FFNwl8

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

how about someone who actually was gay for all the homophobes
perhaps the greatest voice ever imho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC4ZOxpu2rs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC4ZOxpu2rs

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

a certain donald fagen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKTaCL8b ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY_FI9J1 ... re=related

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

think you can make a case for this guy too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69labQKuuU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMkFjYRWM4M&feature=fvw

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Being as I'm an expansive kinda guy, I'll accept all manner of entries, no matter how fringe or bizarre (a certain F. Sinatra excepted). But then there's always Frankie...Valli. Here's a greatest hits medley from '67: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6h0Od2F1wk
And a remix on this classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HipdCVg ... re=related <<not for every taste

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

John Denver was always my favorite

Some great selections have been added. I especially found the young Joss Stone interesting. I`ll add another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlbgqmxXNY

I had never considered women before when thinking about blue eyed soul, so I'd never really given this any thought. However, I think one would have to include Dusty Springfield among the greats in the category. Her voice was beautiful an soulful. She was a pioneer song stylist and British to boot.

Ciaociao

Not quite what you're looking for, but you might be interested in Dirty Laundry: the Soul of Black Country a great collection of brown-eyed country, i.e., country classics sung by the likes of James Brown, Ella Washington, Joe Simon, Candy Staton, Betty Lavette, Arthur Alexander and others.

http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Laundry-Soul-Black-Country/dp/B0006B0Q16/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1275674757&sr=1-1

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It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

Joss stone is an amazing talent and she is not bad to look at either.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

Thanks to Brother El Tranquilo for showing the other side of the coin. As soon as the price gets reasonable, I'll get it and a companion volume, More Dirty Laundry.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED