Audiophile: Favourite female singers

[andytyc]

I recently fell in love with music again. I had packed away my hifi when I moved house years ago and it stayed in my garage for years. Took them out to sell on gumtree as my new place is completely Sonos wired. Decided to test them before selling and that was it. 6 months down the line, I've got a hifi room, every component has been changed (all components of gumtree and eBay - absolutely amazing value bettered only by the sound) and I hardly watch TV anymore.

Favourite music is female vocals, piano, a bit jazzy is fine.

Currently love Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Anne Bisson, Tracy Chapman, what else am I missing?

[monogroover]

Some of my favourites: Elis Regina, Amy Winehouse, Esperanza Spalding, Anita Baker, Bebel Gilberto, Chantae Cann, Kandace Springs

[seabiscuit]

Dusty Springfield. Kate Bush. Carole King.

[SimonK]

My faves in no particular order

Eva Cassidy
Sarah McLachlan
Lykke Li
Elkie Brookes
Norah Jones
Joan Osborne
Aimee Mann
Sade
Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention
Paloma Faith

But head and shoulders abover all other female singers is, for me, Karen Carpenter.

[rfrazier]

Joni Mitchell
Judy Collins
Joan Baez
K.D. Lang
Nina Simone

Best wishes,
Bob

[walkerwek1958]

Joni Mitchell is one of my favourites, I can listen to her all day.

[Mr Nuttington]

Moya Brennan was pretty special at times. I remember seeing Clannad live in Southampton years ago. The interval was interesting; the band all disappeared and Moya just stood alone in the middle of the stage and sang with no accompaniment. It was haunting and truly spine-tingling.

Moya's younger sister (Enya) wasn't too shabby either.

[LuvWatch]

My top two female singers chosen by Simon, and I would add a heavy dose of Emmylou Harris and Linda Rondstadt

My faves in no particular order

Eva Cassidy
Sarah McLachlan
Lykke Li
Elkie Brookes
Norah Jones
Joan Osborne
Aimee Mann
Sade
Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention
Paloma Faith

But head and shoulders abover all other female singers is, for me, Karen Carpenter.

[mondie]

This is a great thread that has certainly turned into a who's who of female vocalists. I would add two more into the mix.

Firstly Skin from Skunk Anansie, if you want to hear pone of the most stunning acoustic concerts featuring Skins incredible voice and range this is a must-have album which is extremeely well produced too:



Secondly, a South African singer called Miriam Stockley. She is best known as the lead vocal perfomer for Adiemus, a Karl Jenkins project but also has a few solo albums which contains some gems amonst some more average songs.

[gary1064]

Many superb suggestions so far, some more below, with suggestions for especially well recorded/produced albums:

Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat (an album of Leonard Cohen covers, really excellent).
Mary Black - No Frontiers (check out the amazing acoustic bass on Columbus).
Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing.
Gwyneth Herbert - All The Ghosts.
Tina Turner - Foreign Affair.
Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones (Chuck E's in Love)

Pretty much anything by Everything But The Girl.

I could go on...

[hughtrimble]

Sarah Vaughan (both early and later years)
Audra Mae
Nathalie Stutzmann
Grace Love
Aurora
Silja Sol (often backing the above)
Sharon Jones

Honestly, Adele and Ariana Grande have phenomenal voices. Just a shame most of their songs don't really show it (especially the latter!)

[CamCG]

The queen of popular song, Ella Fitzgerald.

I doubt she ever recorded a vocal which was less than sublime.

[vulcangascompany]

One of the best recent singers is Hannah Reid from London Grammar - just beautiful and moving.

[barreti]

I’ve spent a fascinating hour copying and pasting names from this thread into Spotify. What a great idea for a thread.

I’ve been a big fan of Paloma Faith for years but she has already been mentioned so here are a couple of others

Duffy - not jazzy but a fantastic voice and I’m dying to see her live one day.
Joss Stone

[redkite]

Judith Durham

[Foxy100]

One of the best recent singers is Hannah Reid from London Grammar - just beautiful and moving.

Yup, and Beth Gibbons.

[craig1912]

Alice Merton, Freya Ridings

[joe1978]

Modern - Jorja Smith, this girls voice is amazing think Amy Winehouse but more relevent on today's music scene rather than imitating.
Indie Folky - Aldous Harding, live she's as mad as a box of frogs but the quality of her most recent album Designer makes up for that in spades.
Also applies to Anna Calvi
Very Folky Fazeley Ford nothing new from her but stumbled across her on a Spotify playlist and blown away.
Jazzy - look for Cleo Sol and Nilüfer Yanya and you shouldn't be disappointed.

[Senninha]

Some great suggestions here, quite a few I'd forgotten. I now feel like firing up some music rather than going to work....!

I'll suggest a couple of slightly unsual ones on the femal vocal front. One is Fiona Apple, maybe try "When the pawn...". The other is the Cocteau Twins - Liz Fraser's voice is incredible at times. Best to try might be some of the tracks from "Heaven or Las Vegas" (4, 9 & 10 I like, but the whole album is among their most accessible).

[AM94]

One of the best recent singers is Hannah Reid from London Grammar - just beautiful and moving.

Unfortunately, not live. I'd agree with the recorded material but live she can struggle.

One that hasn't been mentioned is AURORA... quirky but worth a listen. Think contemporary Kate Bush.

Sarah McLachlan has been mentioned as have many other great options.

Florence Welch, has she been mentioned?

What about Tori Amos?

Again, some quirky options: Imogen Heap, Lykke Li and Nicola Hitchcock (specifically her work with Mandalay)

What about Lisa Gerrard? I'm also not sure whether Sarah Brightman has been mentioned?

Lastly, set the 'crazy' to oneside... Sinead O'Connor

[valleywatch]

How about,

Joan Armatrading.

[TimeThoughts]

I find that you cant beat Ella Fitz on a jazz classic to bring out the very best on a high end audio rig.

As mentioned above; The London Grammar lady is sublime.

[GOAT]

Sissel kyrkjebo

[sean]

As mentioned by chime101 - Natalie Merchant. Either as part of 10,000 Maniacs or as a solo artist.

Natalie's hi-res 'Natalie Merchant' album is a wonderful listen on decent equipment.



Mo-Fi re-released her solo debut Tigerlily on LP a few years ago. It's a more uptempo record than the later eponymous release, and very nicely produced.



And back in 10,000 Maniacs, Verdi Cries is an excellent showcase of her singing.

[Owl1]

How about,

Joan Armatrading.

Saw her at Glastonbury she was brilliant also saw Alison Moyet too who was also good , Grace Slick and Clare Torry have to be mentioned .

[amnesia]

Saw her at Glastonbury she was brilliant also saw Alison Moyet too who was also good , Grace Slick and Clare Torry have to be mentioned .

I've always thought that Alison Moyet sounds like Jimmy Somerville.

Or maybe it's the other way around...

[snowman]

I've always thought that Alison Moyet sounds like Jimmy Somerville.

Or maybe it's the other way around...

You were playing one of them at the wrong speed!

M

[AM94]

I've always thought that Alison Moyet sounds like Jimmy Somerville.

Or maybe it's the other way around...

Not so much Somerville to my ears but definately Andy Bell... but then I think that was Vince Clarke's plan.

[Owl1]

I've always thought that Alison Moyet sounds like Jimmy Somerville.

Or maybe it's the other way around...

I'm sure Jimmy Somerville was up her skirt while she was on stage as she kept moving strange ..

[Sinnlover]

Whilst not Jazz; I am a big fan of Alt-Country singer Lydia Loveless. Probably not everyone’s cup of tea though.

[Robertf]

Randy Crawford

Trintje Oosterhuis

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[alfat33]

I’ll add Natasha Khan/Bat for Lashes, Laura Marling and Norah Jones. I think that no-one’s mentioned Dusty Springfield either :).

I agree with plenty of the previous suggestions.

Edit: Just seen that Norah and Dusty are already listed

[verv]

First Aid Kit - stay gold album (waitress song or silver lining)
I also like early Lana Del Rey - Born to Die paradise edition album (Ride or born to die)

Apart from those two Ella, Nina Simone and KD Lang are supreme female vocalists IMO but they've been said already.

[simoscribbler]

Some wonderful Americana contenders (often Canadian...)

Kathleen Edwards
Gillian Welch
Cowboy Junkies
Be Good Tanyas
Red Molly
Lori McKenna
Courtney Marie Andrews

And two of the greats: Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson

[blackal]

Ann Wilson.
Pat Benatar
Martina McBride

[trott3r]

another note for PJ Harvey first 3 albums. some obtuse lyrics at times

[crazyp]

Many excellent singers already noted. One glaring miss so far, Lauryn Hill.

[snowman]

A few of my favourites have been mentioned, but some are still missing

Tracey Thorn
Sara Bareilles
Joan Wass (Joan as Policewoman)
Suzanne Vega
Shakira (although not so much her more recent stuff...)

Some that I really like, but suspect some will not:

Florence Welsh
Macy Gray
Jaqui Abbott
Sheryl Crow
Sarah Cracknell - St Etienne
Caro Emerald
Jess Glynne
Anastacia
Romy Madley Croft - The female singer from 'The XXX', although I can't stand the male's voice!

M

[cypermethrin]

https://youtu.be/GvYarluqINA

Dido and “white flag”


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[bobdog]

Norah Jones as a few have mentioned.

[IanV]

Another vote for Alecia Keys. Sounded awesome through my Cyrus CD7Q, Sugden A21 amps and PMC floorstanders, 'til I recently had another kid and the hifi has been banished to a cupboard under the stairs :O

[eagletower]

In addition to others already mentioned :

Beth Hirsch
Tracey Thorn
Angel Olsen

[bdkelly72]

Lana del Rey..

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[Neilw3030]

Randy Crawford, rainey night in georgia
Linda Ronstadt, blue bayou, just heavenly
Bjork, mad as a box of frogs
Lykke Li, early stuff
Debbie Harry, early punk stuff was fresh at the time
Ella Eyre, lovely voice
Sharon Jones, so mellow
Alison Goldfrapp, so dreamey
Sa Dingding, foriegn language
Dion Warwick, classic

[weedram]

As well as many of the fantastic artists already mentioned above, I am listening to these women a lot at the moment:

Joy Williams
Sarah Jarosz
Sara Watkins

I saw the two Sara(h)'s performing in London as part of I'm With Her earlier this year - stunning performance.

[bigweb]

Not just a female group but The XX's female singer has an incredible voice

[vRSG60]

Dusty Springfield
Carole King
Chrisse Hind
The 2 from First Aid Kit
Carly Simon
Martha Reeves

[MrSmith]

Gillian Welch, particularly the ‘Time (The Relevator) album.
Most have heard her before singing ‘I’ll fly away’ on the O Brother where art thou? Film soundtrack

[Bryan Munich]

How about Uncle Earl. All female blue grass --- excellent.

[magirus]

Lots of my favourites in here already. Been listening to Sarah Jarosz lately . . .