You need to define what you mean by "best female recordings". Do you mean audiophile recordings, or recordings of great artistic merit? Do you mean pop, jazz, or opera? Since you didn't specify any parameters, I'll try to suggest some titles. Obviously, these reflect my own listening tastes and biases, but I think all of the albums or artists are worth hearing. Audiophile recordings: 1. Amanda McBroom's albums on Sheffield ("Growing Up In Hollywood Town", etc.) and Gecko ("Dreamin") 2. Jennifer Warnes: "Famous Blue Raincoat" 3. Chesky Records albums by Sara K. and Rebecca Pigeon 4. Sheffield's recording of Thelma Houston on "I've Got the Music In Me" Pop/Folk: 1. Barbra Streisand's recordings (you pick - I prefer the earlier albums, but the recording quality is better on later albums) 2. Joan Baez: early recordings on Vanguard, and "Diamonds and Rust" 3. Joni Mitchell: "Blue", and "Night Ride Home" 4. Dinah Washington Blues: 1. Anything by Koko Taylor 2. Katie Webster's album "Swamp Boogie Queen" 3. Etta James: "Seven Year Itch", and "Life's Been Rough on Me" 4. "Sing It!" with Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, and Tracy Nelson (one of the best female blues recordings in the last several years - each woman is featured on different cuts, and all have great voices). Jazz: 1. Recordings by any of the great female jazz vocalists such as Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Ernestine Anderson, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Sheila Jordan, Morgana King, etc. 2. Albums by Diane Schurr 3. Recent albums by Diana Krall 4. Cassandra Wilson's "Blue Skies" and "Blue Light 'Til Dawn" 5. Kendra Shank's album "Afterglow", and Sunny Sumter's album "Sunny" (Both are on the Mapleshade label. Call 1-888-CDMAPLE to order direct at about 1/3 off store prices). Both of these recordings could also be listed in the "audiophile" group, because they are superbly recorded. Opera: 1. Kirstin Flagstad (from 1920's and 30's) 1. Joan Sutherland 2. Kiri Te Kanawa 3. Leontyne Price 4. Maria Callas 5. Birgit Nilsson 6. Jane Eaglen 7. Victoria de los Angeles 8. Renata Tebaldi
