Best female vocals on CD

Thanks Joe for starting this essential thread. I recognize many greats, but only recently discovered Eva Cassidy. She is a remarkable artist with clarity and power. Her posthumous album, "Time After Time," released this month will last long in my CDP and even longer in my heart. Oh, and favorite vocalists of mine deserving mention: Weslia Whitfield (jazz/cabaret and outstanding backup), Kate Schrock (Shunyata!), Susannah McCorkle (great jazz/cabaret singer), Mary Black (Irish folk and pop), and Indigo Girls (they count as two). As for those already mentioned, I second: Laura Love (she makes music), Sarah McLachlan, KD Lang, Jennifer Warnes, Lisa Gerrard, Shirley Horn, and most definitely Diana K and Aretha. But if you haven't heard Eva Cassidy yet, treat yourself to this great soul asap!:-))))

Might be interesting to start another thread following up on this one, maybe call it the "Damn shame" thread and list all the people with incredible vocal gifts that have wasted them with bad choices of material and arrangement. Could start off with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey ana Leann Rimes. Any other contenders?

I don't know the music of Leann Rimes well enough to comment, but I absolutely agree with Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey as being in the "damn shame" category. Here are two women with outstanding vocal instruments and very few memorable songs between them. Hopefully as they mature they will achieve a better perspective brought about by concern for their "place in history". Although it looks like Whitney has more worldly problems to worry about now.

I love most of the Jazz singers mentioned so far, but I feel I need to toss in a couple other genres to make things fair. First of, Bjork really has done some amazing work. Second, I don't know the lead singers name, but Sneaker Pimps is great female modern techno/pop. Also Poe is pretty great. Let me just mention Holly Cole again. Also I saw Natalie Cole for Unforgettable but I think I like Stardust even more (they both are great). I also that Mrs. Big (I think that was her name) who sang the female part in Meatloafs 'I Can Do That' on Bat out of Hell 2 was great.

--Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth (especially on "Dirty" and "Washing Machine") --Tori Amos (especially on "Choirgirl Hotel" and "Venus Orbiting") --P.J. Harvey (especially on "To Give You My Love" and "Is This Desire?")