Greatest R&B Artists (Revision Version)

[Zach]

A sensible viewpoint.

[ManPerson]

James does have influence over Stevie, but since it's an R&B-focused list, I don't think his mammoth influence on hip-hop, rock, and popular music at large should count as much as his influence on R&B styles specifically (which of course is still absolutely huge).

I'd also like to add that I strongly disagree with the notion that influence on non-r&b styles shouldn't count as much as influence on r&b itself. As long as the influence stems from r&b (and where else would it stem from in JB's case?), I think that if anything it should count even more. Isn't it a greater feat to influence music from areas outside your own comfort zone?

I more or less agree with this.

Fwiw, here's how I'd rank the top 4 artists in the criteria
Popularity
1. Stevie
2. Aretha
3. James/Ray
Acclaim
1. Stevie/Aretha/James
2. Ray
Influence
1. James
2. Ray
3. Aretha
4. Stevie

Based on this, I'd say
1. James Brown
2. Stevie Wonder/Aretha Franklin
4. Ray Charles

[Zach]

I really do think James would have to be at least a notch lower in acclaim, considering Stevie's and Aretha's are more comprehensive in terms of both critical and industry recognition.

While James' work is universally celebrated, his albums and songs, with a few exceptions, did not receive the same level of consistent critical adoration across decades as Stevie's landmark works. Stevie's albums (Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life, etc.) are considered milestones of artistic and critical success in ways James' discography is not typically discussed. James earned some key awards (e.g., Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award) but not at the same volume or diversity as Stevie or Aretha, who both hold numerous Grammys in a wide variety of categories.

[ManPerson]

Kind of feels like punishing James Brown for being more of a singles artist, and even if Stevie and Aretha have slightly more acclaimed discographies, I think James Brown makes up for it in the live arena.

[Tim]

D'Angelo RIP.

[ManPerson]

RIP, Voodoo and Black Messiah are both fantastic albums, and I should really get to listening to Brown Sugar.

[Zach]

Small discography, but damn, is it legendary. R.I.P. to the top talent of his generation.

[ManPerson]

R&b artists in the top 100 of the rock artists revision, borderline artists are in italics
1. James Brown
2. Michael Jackson
3. Chuck Berry
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Ray Charles
6. Aretha Franklin
7. Fats Domino
8. Prince
9. Little Richard
10. Marvin Gaye
11. Sam Cooke
12. Diana Ross/The Supremes
13. Beyonce
14. The Temptations
15. Mariah Carey
16. Whitney Houston
17. Otis Redding
18. Sly & the Family Stone
19. Janet Jackson
20. Smokey Robinson/The Miracles
21. Donna Summer
22. Bo Diddley
23. Curtis Mayfield/The Impressions
24. George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic
25. Rihanna
26. The Drifters
27. Al Green

[Tim]

Did a similar exercise a while ago but a couple of these might be a real stretch. Borderline artists in ().

1. James Brown
2. (Michael Jackson)
3. (Chuck Berry)
4. Stevie Wonder
5. (Ray Charles)
6. Aretha Franklin
7. (Jimi Hendrix)
8. (Fats Domino)
9. (Prince)
10. (Little Richard)
11. Marvin Gaye
12. Sam Cooke
13. (Diana Ross & The Supremes)
14. (Beyoncé)
15. (Bob Marley & the Wailers)
16. The Temptations
17. (Mariah Carey)
18. (Whitney Houston)
19. Otis Redding
20. Sly & the Family Stone
21. (Janet Jackson)
22. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
23. (Donna Summer)
24. (Bo Diddley)
25. Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
26. George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
27. (Rihanna)
28. (The Drifters)
29. Al Green