Two music recommendations

These two singers are definitely of the vintage age, but I highly recommend giving them a listen.

Paul Robeson has a truly amazing voice. He was a favorite of my grandparents, and now that my mother has reminded me, I can hear my grandfather singing along with "Deep River". He's more studied now as a political activist, but his music is still worth listening to.

Marian Anderson is a true contralto, something very rare to hear, with an incredible range. Her music recordings range from spirituals to leider. Some of the older recordings are very faint -- if you've ever heard Caruso on LP you know what to expect. What I like in particular about the CDs I've been listening to is the sheer quality of the voice, unshadowed by the orchestration. Her delivery is unpretentious; after hearing her rendition of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", Kathleen Battle strikes me as rather mannered.

After listening to these voices for a few days, modern recordings sound a little lacking. The more popular voices don't have that intense, unique vocal quality that sticks in your aural memory. And popular rock just sounds tinny.