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Thread: Audiophile: Favourite female singers

  1. #1
    Craftsman
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    Audiophile: Favourite female singers

    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?

  2. #2
    Master
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    Some of my favourites: Elis Regina, Amy Winehouse, Esperanza Spalding, Anita Baker, Bebel Gilberto, Chantae Cann, Kandace Springs

  3. #3
    Master
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    Dusty Springfield. Kate Bush. Carole King.

  4. #4
    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!)
    Last edited by hughtrimble; 14th August 2019 at 23:44.

  5. #5
    Grand Master SimonK's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by SimonK; 15th August 2019 at 00:10.

  6. #6
    Thomas Reid
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    Joni Mitchell
    Judy Collins
    Joan Baez
    K.D. Lang
    Nina Simone

    Best wishes,
    Bob

  7. #7
    Grand Master
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    Joni Mitchell is one of my favourites, I can listen to her all day.

  8. #8
    Master CamCG's Avatar
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    The queen of popular song, Ella Fitzgerald.

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

  9. #9
    One of the best recent singers is Hannah Reid from London Grammar - just beautiful and moving.

  10. #10
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    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

  11. #11
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    Judith Durham

  12. #12
    Grand Master Foxy100's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vulcangascompany View Post
    One of the best recent singers is Hannah Reid from London Grammar - just beautiful and moving.
    Yup, and Beth Gibbons.
    "A man of little significance"

  13. #13
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    Alice Merton, Freya Ridings

  14. #14
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    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.

  15. #15
    Grand Master TheFlyingBanana's Avatar
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    For a blast from the past The Carpenters sound great on decent equipment. She had a beautiful voice.
    So clever my foot fell off.

  16. #16
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    Whilst not Jazz; I am a big fan of Alt-Country singer Lydia Loveless. Probably not everyone’s cup of tea though.

  17. #17
    Master
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    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).

  18. #18
    Master
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    I'll add Annie Haslam

  19. #19
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    Randy Crawford

    Trintje Oosterhuis

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  20. #20
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    But if you're pushed for time and want a go to outstanding female vocalist and multi instrumentalist then Rhiannon Giddens is your woman. (Americana Folky bluegrass)

  21. #21
    Natalie Merchant is the top of my list.
    Kate Bush (although not for the vocal quality)
    PJ Harvey (although not for the vocal quality)

    Then I go a bit Soul :
    Gladys
    P P Arnold
    Susan Phillips
    Alice Clark
    Barbara Jean English
    Joyce Bond

  22. #22
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    A few curve-balls from me...

    Dionne Farris
    Caro Emerald
    Fergie (of Black Eyed Peas fame)
    Kacey Musgraves
    Janelle Monae
    Katie Melua
    Nina Simone
    Sophie B Hawkins
    Suzanne Vega

  23. #23
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    Great suggestions and thank you. I will listen to every single suggestion over the next few.....months!

  24. #24
    Some of my favourite female vocalists are:

    Roberta Flack
    Randy Crawford
    Karen Carpenter
    Sade

    and Lola Jane who is a really good young singer

  25. #25
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    Tanita Tikarim...... 50 just the other day.....

  26. #26
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    As mentioned by chime101 - Natalie Merchant. Either as part of 10,000 Maniacs or as a solo artist.
    Heather Small. Either as part of M People or as a solo artist.

  27. #27
    Natalie Merchant
    Freya Ridings
    London Grammar
    Eva Cassidy
    Norah Jones
    Diana Krall
    Dixie Chicks
    Adele
    Sade
    Annie Lennox
    Sarah McLachlan
    Mary J. Blige
    Tracey Chapman
    Alicia Keys

  28. #28
    Master alfat33's Avatar
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    Audiophile: Favourite female singers

    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

  29. #29
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    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.

  30. #30
    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

  31. #31
    Master blackal's Avatar
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    Ann Wilson.
    Pat Benatar
    Martina McBride

  32. #32
    Craftsman trott3r's Avatar
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    another note for PJ Harvey first 3 albums. some obtuse lyrics at times

  33. #33
    Many excellent singers already noted. One glaring miss so far, Lauryn Hill.

  34. #34
    Grand Master
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    Another shout for Sade and Tracey Chapman.

  35. #35
    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
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    Not really 'favourites', but singers I listen to for their abilities, rather than the song:


    Beth Orton.

    The Dixie Chicks for their fantastic harmonies.

    Bonnie Raitt.

    Alison Krauss.

    Edit: Why has no-one mentioned Diamanda Galas so far?
    ______

    ​Jim.

  36. #36
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    As mentioned - The Bee Good Tanyas. This song was used in Breaking Bad and was immediately Shazam'd.


  37. #37
    Master
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    Jessye Norman.

  38. #38
    Master AM94's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vulcangascompany View Post
    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

  39. #39
    Master subseastu's Avatar
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    Some fantastic suggestions that I'll have to look into. A few that stick out in my mind are:

    Emeli Sandé
    Alicia Keys
    Beth Gibbons of Portishead

  40. #40
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    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
    Last edited by snowman; 15th August 2019 at 11:35.

  41. #41
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    https://youtu.be/GvYarluqINA

    Dido and “white flag”


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  42. #42
    Master
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    Norah Jones as a few have mentioned.

  43. #43
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    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

  44. #44
    In addition to others already mentioned :

    Beth Hirsch
    Tracey Thorn
    Angel Olsen

  45. #45
    Craftsman bdkelly72's Avatar
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    Lana del Rey..

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  46. #46
    Master Neilw3030's Avatar
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    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

  47. #47
    Craftsman
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    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.

  48. #48
    Master
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    Not just a female group but The XX's female singer has an incredible voice

  49. #49
    Master vRSG60's Avatar
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    Dusty Springfield
    Carole King
    Chrisse Hind
    The 2 from First Aid Kit
    Carly Simon
    Martha Reeves
    Last edited by vRSG60; 15th August 2019 at 13:10.

  50. #50
    Journeyman Bryan Munich's Avatar
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    How about Uncle Earl. All female blue grass --- excellent.

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