Photo:Linssen/Redferns/Retna

One of the most interesting aspects of singing is that the instrument is contained within, and ultimately there’s nothing to lean on except the vocalist’s own skills and talents. Those moments of inner exploration are captured in this special gallery that accompanies the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Click below to see Kurt Cobain, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke and others caught in candid moments in the studio, complete with reflections from the photographers.

• Gallery: Great Singers in the Studio

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