Best female vocals on CD

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.

Bwhite, I don't know what came over me. I am not usually this sarcastic nor "snippy". I apologize. The power of music I suppose. Your post mentions one of my favorite singers (Aretha) and two of my least favorite (Mariah and Celine) Celine?? Argh!! To see Aretha compared to those two just got the best of me. Anyway, I will check out Rachelle Ferrell; thanks for the tip.