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).

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!

Sdcampbell (thread entry #3) said it all! No Celine FAN here, Frogman, but my track pick still stands. Add to my faves: Susannah McCorkell, Eddi Reader (Fairground Attraction), Tanita Tikaram (German singer in English), and Miriam Makeba. So there!

Bluenose, you will probably like Laura Smith - her 2nd with "My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean"- the best rendition of this song that I've heard - from The East Coast. Also, on The "Heart of Stone" CD Join Mitchell's track is wonderfull! Listen also to Dolores Keane - with John Prine on "In Spite of Ourselves" and several by herself. Regards, Colm (Brampton, Ont.)

Lisa Garrard is the voice on "Gladiator", of course and former lead vocal with Dead Can Dance....she has a couple of her own too. The SDSS sound of the film Gladiator featuring LG's voice in the theatre is the finest I have heard short of a live rendition.

Edorr, I listened to Rachelle Ferrell and was NOT impressed, sorry. Paulwp, Eva Cassidy is a delight! She died in her 30's, though, so we are limited to the 3 CD available. The live one is the best, I suggest, since the variety is wide and delicious. Noe Eva has a voice clear and with emotion, which can be recommended as a "BFV on CD" listing. That's different from average voices which one just happens to like.....ok, I've listed a few.

Paulwp....point taken, and thanks for the Eva Cassidy tips.

And Margo has a new CD titled "Open" with the usual ambiance and breathiness........HHHHHHH,hhhhhhh.

Re: "open" - the Cowboy Junkies new self-produced item - I take BACK my recommendation - it is their poorest to date, with only one acceptably good song. I believe that they may have lost their way!

Edie Brickell is goo, but EDIE READER is fantastic! Try "Mirmana" for starters - an especially clear voice with great productions!

Puresource, just look under "Cowboy Junkies"...I guess that you have not realized Margo is the lead singer of said Canadaian group...kind of a family operation. However, avoid their latest titled "Open"...instead go for "Lay It Down" or "The Trinity Sessions".

Besides, I also like Lucinda Williams' just released album titled "Get Right With God"...no preaching...but a sound and poetry in the "Junkies" idiom. Enjoy!