Your 5 favorite female vocalists?

[Swish]

Allison Krauss - she has the purest female voice I've ever heard. I can't imagine anyone sounding better than her. She never, ever sounds strained and is never off-pitch.

PJ Harvey - Ok, she doesn't have great pipes, but she has a way of expressing herself like no other female singer I've heard.

k. d. lang - Like Allison, she has perfect pitch and a powerful voice to boot. Roy Orbison, who knew something about singing, said she had "the best pipes in the business", and I can't argue with him. The other thing I like about her is that she uses restraint and is never guilty of vocal excess like the Whitney Houston's and Mariah Carey's of the world, who act like they're on "Star Search" or "American Idol" in most of their songs.

Lucinda Williams - I always lean toward singer/songwriters because I don't think too much credit should be given merely for having a nice voice. Who cares how good you sound if you're singing drivel (that's a shot at Whitney & Mariah)?

Emmylou Harris - she has an amazing catalog of music, much of it as backing vocals for others. Some of her backing on old Gram Parsons tunes are just unbelievable. She's a class act thru and thru.

have changed over the years. I still like all 5 of those ladies, but I would have to put Chan Marshall in there, probably Patty Griffin too, and Bjork.

Swish

[shokhead]

Thought Bjork was a dude?

[JohnMichael]

1. Nina Simone

2. Maria Muldaur

3. Ute Lemper

4. Julie Andrews

5. Sarah Vaughn

Played thru NHT SuperOnes

[Rob B in CT]

1) Ella Fitzgerald (All of the Songbooks)

2) Joni Mitchell (Hejira, Shadows and Light)

3) Jonatha Brooke (Plumb)

4) Alison Krauss (Forget About It)

5) Emmylou Harris (Portraits)

6) Arleen Auger (American Soprano)

7) Laura Nyro (Angel in the Dark)

8) Dusty Springfield (Dusty in Memphis)

Speakers are vintage ADS L-620s that I've enjoyed for about 25 years

[KaiWinters]

Annie Lennox

Aretha Franklin

The Wilson sisters

Pat Benatar

Carly Simon

[Swish]

Thought Bjork was a dude?

I don't know any dudes who look like this.

Swish

[Swish]

have changed over the years. I still like all 5 of those ladies, but I would have to put Chan Marshall in there, probably Patty Griffin too, and Bjork.

Swish

(sigh).

Swish

[Davey]

And how could I forget Niko...

The Japanese singer, right? Wasn't she with Cibo Matto? man, I love that band! Viva La Woman! You got to know your chicken!

[drseid]

Ten singers immediately come to mind in no particular order except #1...

1) Alison Krauss (definitely my favorite)
2) Mary Lou Lord
3) Stevie Nicks
4) Shawn Colvin
5) Maire Brennan (lead singer of the Irish group Clannad -- try out their fabulous Landmarks CD)
6) Aimee Mann
7) Fiona Apple
8) Paula Cole
9) Sade
10)Tori Amos

---Dave

[Swish]

The Japanese singer, right? Wasn't she with Cibo Matto? man, I love that band! Viva La Woman! You got to know your chicken!

Yes. Yep. Sure. Smartass.

Swish

[Dusty Chalk]

Linda R by a mile.

Ronstadt?

[shokhead]

Ronstadt?

Yes indeed.

[nobody]

What the heck...here's a quick list of five...but they'd all change around, depending on my mood...

Patsy Cline
Billie Holiday
Erykah Badu
Etta James
Bjork

of course, leaving out tons of great stuff...

[r m]

This is a great thread - I have picked up some ideas on artists I will try to hear.

Scanning through I haven't noticed anyone mention Katie Melua.

[Hawkeye]

I thought of another female vocalist that y'all might like to explore. Beverly Craven. She sounds a bit like Carly Simon IMO, but nicer looking....oh, much nicer.

[-Jar-]

Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Margaret Fiedler (Laika, Moonshake)
Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields)
Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)

[shokhead]

So of all the ones in this threat,which one would have the best range or which one can hold that note the longest or which one rocks?

[tranemiles]

1.Ella Fitzgerald
2.Shawn Colvin
3.Alison Krauss
4.Billie Holiday
5.Anita Oday

[Dusty Chalk]

Kate Bush is famous for having a three octave range (pitch).

Stylistic range, I have a personal preference for Heather Thompson -- she can coo like a little girl, and then bring it up to a full-blown angry wail. I've seen her pull this off live, up close and personal, in a corner of a Tower Records.

And in terms of longest note -- who cares? I mean, go listen to Whitney Houston or something. "And Aaaaaa-eee-aaaaaah weeeeeeell aaaaaaah-lways love yooooooo-ooooo-oooo-ooooo..." That's fine, but do you have to scare all the little bunnies out of hibernation? Kevin Costner is such a great actor.

[Mr MidFi]

I don't know any dudes who look like this.

Swish

Dude, I used to live in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. I've seen plenty of dudes who look like that.

And yes, it's refreshing to see an old thread like this one. I don't even remember writing my original post...but I'm still pretty happy with my selections.

[bobsticks]

I have to agree with virtually all mentioned, particulartly Alison Krause, Diana Krall, Norah, Billie Holiday, Maria Muldaur, Sade, Hope Sandoval, Liz Fraser...but also Ofra Haza.

[Bernd]

So of all the ones in this threat,which one would have the best range or which one can hold that note the longest or which one rocks?

Kirsty MacColl used to have perfect pitch. She is dearly missed.

Peace

Bernd

[JohnMichael]

As far as extended range I recommend Minnie Ripperton and Cleo Laine. Both also on my favorite female vocalists 6-10 list.

[psyopwak]

Had to add this one. She is very, very good.

Vienna Teng "Dreaming through the Noise"

[hifitommy]

ok, you asked for it----KURT ELLING! start with his album 'the messenger'. its scatting and some of the most intelligent jazz you'll ever hear.

i have now seen him LIVE several times now and even my 26 year old daughter is hooked and she studied music in HS.

then there is giacomo gates. check him out.