The Bay Area boasts a long and storied history of outstanding vocalists, one that touches upon pretty much every musical genre under the sun.
These 20 essential vocal albums showcase the breadth and wealth of the offerings, representing some seven decades of incredible music and providing many hours of listening enjoyment for all kinds of music fans.
1. “Merry Christmas,” Johnny Mathis (1958)
We’ll kick off the list with one of the most enduringly popular holiday albums of all time. It came out nearly 70 years ago, and it remains such a wonderful showcase for the San Francisco-raised vocalist who has had more than 70 hits on the Billboard charts. Listen to “Silent Night, Holy Night,” and you’ll hear what made him a legend.
Johnny Mathis arrives at Heathrow Airport in London Nov. 21, 1962. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
2. “Surrealistic Pillow,” Jefferson Airplane (1967)
Grace Slick is the most powerful vocalist — male or female — in Bay Area rock ‘n’ roll history. And she’s never been better than on the Airplane’s landmark second studio album, hitting heights that few in the genre have ever reached on “Somebody to Love,” “White Rabbit” and other key songs that helped set the soundtrack for the Summer of Love.
3. “Any Day Now,” Joan Baez (1968)
Untold thousands of artists have covered Bob Dylan, yet nobody has done it in more consistently excellent fashion than this legendary folk singer. The longtime Peninsula resident focused strictly on the Dylan songbook for her ninth studio album, which is filled with pristine and heartfelt versions of such classics as “North Country Blues” and “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.”
4. “Let Us Go into the House of the Lord,” Edwin Hawkins Singers (1968)
This is a glorious collection of gospel music, recorded by the Oakland-born Hawkins and other talented singers at Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley. There’s so much for gospel choir fans to love here, but the album is best known for producing the gospel standard, “Oh Happy Day” — an international smash hit that went on to sell a staggering 7 million copies.
5. “Dance to the Music,” Sly & the Family Stone (1968)
Other Sly albums (like “Stand!” and “There’s a Riot Goin’ On”) are often ranked higher, but it’s really this second album that delivers the best vocal work of the band’s career. All four of the main voices — belonging to Sly, Freddie and Rose Stone as well as legendary bassist Larry Graham — meld together wonderfully across the course of two sides of gloriously psychedelic soul-funk.
6. “Toulouse Street,” the Doobie Brothers (1972)
Everything just jells for San Jose’s greatest rock group on its second album. That’s certainly true of the vocal work, with singers Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons leading the group through such first-tier gems as “Listen to the Music,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway” and, best of all, “Jesus Is Just Alright.” The harmonies (with help from excellent bassist Tiran Porter) are so on point.
The Doobie Brothers perform in concert at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
7. “Silk Degrees,” Boz Scaggs (1976)
Scagg’s best-selling — and overall best — album delivers such stunners as “Lowdown,” “What Can I Say,” “Harbor Lights,” “Georgia” and “Lido Shuffle.” Throughout the 10 tracks, which collectively run just over 40 minutes, Scaggs’ vocal work remains absolutely pristine.
8. “Worlds Away,” Pablo Cruise (1978)
Arguably the most underrated Bay Area band of all time, Pablo Cruise could craft a great radio-friendly pop hit with the best of them in the ‘70s. So much of that has to do with the sturdy vocals of David Jenkins, who definitely delivers the goods on the band’s hit fourth album.
9. “Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables,” Dead Kennedys (1980)
This might not be a record many think of when the topic of great vocal work comes up. Yet, what singer Jello Biafra accomplishes on the DK’s legendary debut album is nothing short of a tour de force, as he twists and turns his voice in so many expressive fashions while handling material that ranges from slyly satirical to straight-up incendiary. It’s nothing short of a punk-rock master class in singing.
10. “Earthshaker,” Y&T (1981)
Oakland native Dave Meniketti doesn’t often get his due, when it comes to the conversation about the Bay Area’s greatest rockers. Yet, it’s hard to debate his place among the region’s all-time best rock vocalists (as well as guitarists) as you listen to Meniketti showcase his strong voice and dynamic range on “Rescue Me” and other cool cuts from Y&T’s third studio album.
11. “Break Out,” Pointer Sisters (1984 rerelease edition)
The Oakland siblings take turns under the spotlight, with Anita and June each handling lead vocals on four songs and Ruth stepping out for three. Each one does a superb job in that role. Yet, the biggest selling point is how the sisters’ voices so joyously come together and support each other on this collection of synth-soul-pop tunes. (P.S. We prefer the 1984 rerelease edition, as opposed to the 1983 original, because it includes “I’m So Excited.”)
Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters performs at City Of Hope Honors Halston CEO Ben Malka With Spirit Of Life Award at Exchange LA on Oct. 10, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for City of Hope)
12. “Heart Shaped World,” Chris Isaak (1989)
Even if this album only consisted of “Wicked Game,” it would still deserve a spot on this list. Isaak’s vocal work is flawless on that haunting number, softly surging and brooding with both longing and restraint alongside James Calvin Wilsey’s gorgeous guitar work. Other album highlights include the title track and “Don’t Make Me Dream About You.”
13. “The Revival,” Tony! Toni! Toné! (1990)
The Oakland outfit took its game to the next level on its sophomore outing, following on the momentum built with the 1988 debut “Who?” and delivering a soulful platter that spent more than 60 weeks on the pop charts on the way to reaching platinum-plus sales figures. The two Wiggins brothers — D’Wayne and Raphael (who later went by the last name of Saadiq) — nicely split up the lead vocals on this collection of R&B goodness.
14. “Funky Divas,” En Vogue (1992)
One of the finest R&B/pop albums in Bay Area music history, this record borrowed from all sorts of different of different genres — from doo-wop to hip-hop — as it showcased the mighty vocal work of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones and Dawn Robinson. The highlights are abundant and most certainly include “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Free Your Mind” as well as the cover of the Curtis Mayfield-penned Aretha Franklin smash, “Giving Him Something He Can Feel.”
15. “Steppin’ Out,” Gospel Hummingbirds (1992)
The Oakland outfit flies high here, mixing amazing vocal harmonies and uplifting lyrics on such memorable cuts as “That Same Thing” and “He’ll Be Your Friend.” This thoroughly enjoyable album — the first of two released on Blind Pig Records — was nominated for a Grammy award for best traditional soul gospel album in 1993.
16. “All Eyez on Me,” 2Pac (1996)
Tupac Shakur went into Southern California’s Can-Am Studios in late 1995 and emerged with one of the decade’s most important albums. When he unleashed these two discs of powerful West Coast hip-hop in February 1996, the listening public responded in rapturous applause, snatching up more than a half million copies during the first week of release alone. Some seven months after the album’s release, 2Pac was killed in a drive-by shooting.
17. “Lost & Found,” Ledisi (2007)
The Oakland-raised artist’s third album proved to be her breakout effort, reaching the top 10 of the R&B charts and producing a number of popular singles that nicely showcased Ledisi’s soulful vocal work. This sparkling collection of modern R&B tunes also helped Ledisi earn a 2008 Grammy nomination for best new artist, a category that Amy Winehouse ended up winning (also over Taylor Swift) that year.
18. “Hear My Prayer,” Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (2011)
The most acclaimed Bay Area gospel choir of the last 30-plus years has delivered so many top-notch recordings. So, really, just take your pick from the discography. Our choice, however, is this 2011 outing, which finds artistic director Terrance Kelly leading the talented group through one uplifting number after another.
Artistic director Terrance Kelly directs the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir during a concert at the Mill Valley Film Festival, where a film about the acclaimed chorus premiered. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group archives
19. “Live at Jazz Standard,” Paula West (2012)
The great Bay Area jazz/cabaret artist delivers an absolute vocal clinic, wowing listeners with her gorgeous work on “Baltimore Oriole,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Softly As in a Morning Sunrise” and, perhaps best of all, “Wichita Lineman.” West is supported throughout this winning live set — recorded at the now defunct Jazz Standard club in Manhattan — by the wonderful George Mesterhazy Quartet.
20. “High Maintenance,” Saweetie (2017)
This debut EP ran just 22 minutes, but that was enough to announce to the world that the Bay Area was home to yet another great rapper — Saweetie. The Santa Clara hip-hop star is absolutely magnetic on the mic, drawing in fans with her equally memorable voice and lyrics.
