Looking for good recordings of female vocals I have not yet tried...

She’s been mentioned before, but it bears reemphasis: Ella Fitzgerald! Arguably the greatest vocalist of any gender or style of music in the history of recording.

In the realm of the living, Kate Bush is a great vocalist.

And do not miss Ute Lemper. Try this:

Very honorable mention to DeeDee Bridgewater.

In the classical realm, there are many great female singers. Maria Callas. Joan Sutherland. Renata Tebaldi. Among living, active sopranos, Lise Davidsen.

Wagner wrote great stuff for the female voice. But perhaps surpassing him in this category is Giacomo Puccini.

I would suggest both of the following are worth purchasing on vinyl:

Kari Kirkland - Wild is the Wind

Margriet Sjoerdsma - A Tribute to Eva Cassidy

Puccini wrote amazing stuff for the female voice.  His operas Tosca, La Boheme, and Madama Butterfly contain gorgeous writing for the female voice.  To my taste, his final opera Turandot is unsurpassed in this category, with two great soprano roles.  Try this:

I have enjoyed Italian singer, Laura Pausini. 

++1 Roberta Flack

Randy Crawford