Best female vocals on CD

laura fygi,diana krall,shirley horne,holly cole,cassandra wilson are my picks BUT everything has to do with how good it was recorded because there are so many irresponsible recording engineers out there that will break or make the song, performance,and ambience of the recording. i am concerned that many recording engineers MUST use the right recording hardware including cables in order to preserve the emotions in a recording. bottom line shirley horne can sound like janis joplins recordings in the 70s if it is not done right.

Great thread! Canadian Laura Smith has a 'traditional' CD "b'tween the earth and my soul" on which Track 3 "My Bonny" is one of my references. Ditto Emmylou's earlier stuff. Iris Dement & Margo Timmins rate for emotive spirit. Don't forget the Celine Dion "Power of Love" (title track) - her music is much reviled but ohh! the voice - you want to hear top-end female extension? - here it is. Mary Black & the new Macy Gray (yeah, the music sucks, but again, that voice rates with Holiday and Joplin).

MUST OWN! Rachelle Ferrell - Astonishing! Six-octave range. Her latest album "Individuality" can be found in the Jazz section but it seems a bit more like R & B (but still "jazzy"). Rachelle makes Divas like Mariah, Celine and even Aretha sound like they've got sore throats! Get this album and listen to Track 11. What a range folks. Check link below for Amazon
listing of the CD.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004W55E/o/qid=984983804/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_pm_1_1/107-3732860-9672514

alternative rock ('they say'). Soooooo sweet...

Bwhite, with all due respect, NOBODY makes Aretha sound like she's got a sore throat. To put Mariah(?) and Celine(???????) in the same sentence with Aretha; well, I don't know what to say. Have you heard much of Aretha's work; specially pre-'90's? Would be glad to offer recommendations. By the way, vocal range means squat as far as artistry goes; although Aretha has it. Ever notice how limited Sinatra's range was? Anyway, none of these are my favorite vocalists. Another time. Cheers.