Best female vocals on CD

Frogman, I personally am not the biggest Aretha fan, but my wife IS... My wife is a singer and HATES with PASSION Celine and Mariah as well (as do I). But.. society today has somehow lumped their likes in with the great Aretha. I do have quite a few Aretha CD's at my house... Including her MFSL gold versions. IF you have recommendations on better recordings or something, I would LOVE to hear it.

Anyhow.. Check out Rachelle Ferrell and let me know what you think. I would LOVE to hear it!

Bwhite & Frogman: Distinguish between the bitchin' vocals and the lousy music! That's the only way Celine can make it in here. Now let's talk Nina Simone!

Celine Sucks

Stereokarter, while I agree that the distinction between technical prowess and the quality of the music being sung is an important one, this thread is about RECOMMENDATIONS of great (best) female vocals on CD. To me, it's pointless to recommend a recording by someone with great "chops" if I can't stand listening to it; wether it be because the music sucks or as in this case, because the singing lacks any semblence of soul. I can't claim to, nor want to, be able to explain why Celine's singing leaves me cold at best and at worst annoyed. It just does. That is why I can't recommend her records. Barbara Streisand sings similar material and is IMO much more fun to listen to; she is also every bit if not more the accomplished technician. While I admire your willingness to defend someone being criticized, I am a bit perplexed by your taste for Nina Simone. She is in my book, a very different kind of singer from Celine; very soulful if not as good a technician. I'd rather listen to her anytime. Cheers.

Best (favorite) fvocd: JAZZ : Shirley Horne With Strings "Here's To Life". Amazing CD. Talk about creating a mood. Incredibly romantic and soulfull singing beginning to end. The CD is best listened to in it's entirety; each track better than the previous. Very tasty piano playing by Ms. Horne also. Runnerup: Sarah Vaughn "Live From Japan" CLASSICAL: Kathleen Battle "Schubert Lieder" w/James Levine. The great Karl Leister on clarinet a bonus. Glorious singing. Runner up: Victoria de Los Angeles "Songs of Spain".POP: Janis Joplin "Big Brother and The Holding Company". Scary. Runner up: Joni Mitchell "Court and Spark" Cheers.