Best female vocalist albums?

[Hdale85]

I'm looking to pick up some new CD's and really want some excellent female vocalist albums. Jazz, blues, pop whatever it is I don't care I just want some of that amazing stuff with vocalists that give you the chills at times So please offer your advice, no suggestion will be overlooked.

Edit: I'm looking for specific albums in general that are your favorites. Specific songs are fine as well but don't just be like "oh so and so is excellent all their stuff is good" I just need something specific to sample before I commit to an entire album

[Johnloudb]

Hi Doug,

I have some favorite female vocalists and some are soft, airy, while others are rough, edgy. So I'll give you my favorites along with those with those qualifications.

;x( Jennefer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat (meduim soft, airy): On this album she sings the songs of Leonard Cohen and this was a collaborative effort between the two, and she sings a duet with Cohen on the cut "Joan of Arc." I can't give this album a higher recommendation. She's a terrific singer. It's something everyone should have in their collection IMO.
At Amazon

Kasey Chambers - Barricades and Brick Walls (edgy): She has a dynamic voice with kind of a twang(?). Definitely different. The music on this is very good, I think.

KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic (nice voice, great range, hits the notes): Russ L recommended this and I really like it. She really rocks. The first four cuts I liked right of the bat. The 5th is really nice too, I think it kind of grew on me. The other cuts I haven't listened to as much but they might grow on me as well.

Lucinda Williams - World Without Tears: My dad likes this, but I haven't heard it.

Mary Chapin Carpenter - Stones in the Road (country style, very nice voice): She's a great singer and this is a very good album. We have a lot of her stuff, she's a very talented singer.
At Amazon

Well, I know there are others but I can't think of any more right now.

[ShadowZA]

These are some of my smooth jazz favourites:

Stacey Kent - The Collection II (my favourite favourite )
Kelly Sweet - We are one
Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
Patricia Barber Live - A fortnight in France
Cheryl Bentyne - Let me off uptown
Norah Jones - Come away with me
Kathy Kosins -Vintage
Tierney Sutton - Dancing in the dark

[Hdale85]

Ah one more thing I don't generally like to get Collection or Best of albums. So with that note, Shadow do you have any particular album(s) of Stacey Kent you like more then others?

Other then that excellent suggestions so far!

[ShadowZA]

Ah one more thing I don't generally like to get Collection or Best of albums. So with that note, Shadow do you have any particular album(s) of Stacey Kent you like more then others?

Other then that excellent suggestions so far!

Great, Doug :T

Stacey's latest CD "Breakfast on the morning tram" is excellent, imho of course.

[bigburner]

Hi Dougie,

Got a big budget? You'll need one...

Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley
Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis
Alison Krauss - A Hundred Miles or More
Bettye LaVette - Scene of the Crime
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Beverley Knight – Music City Soul
Joan Osborne - Breakfast in Bed
Linda Ronstadt - Adieu False Heart
Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back
Shannon McNally - Geronimo
Kasey Chambers - Rattlin' Bones
Kelly Willis - Translated From Love

It's late and that's all I can remember.

Nigel.

[Alloroc]

Here's a few more that I like a lot, but there's so much more...

Madeleine Peyroux - Half The Perfect World

Ani Difranco - anything from her really

Aimee Mann - again anything really

Silje Nergaard - all her stuff is great but have not yet heard her new record.

Ilona Knopfler - Live the life

Some Irish ones you've probably not heard of - and are great and really worth checking out

Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew

Imelda May - Love Tattoo

Grainne Duffy - Out of the Dark (this lady has an unbelievable voice)

I'll have to come back to this...

[wkhanna]

Hey Dougie!
You want ‘Chills Up Your Spine’?
Then you have to get “Canciones de Mi Padre” (Songs of My Father) by Linda Ronstadt.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Canciones-Mi-P...5C/ref=sr_1_4?



The LP has better SQ than the CD, but either will still deliver.

As always, JMHO.

I will have to get back to you with my Ella and Billie recommendations.

[Hdale85]

I tried to find some good Billie Holiday stuff but the cd stuff just doesn't seem to work. I imagine that's something that's just always going to be better on LP. I did find an Etta James CD that sounds very good though.

[Bob]

Looking at the list you gave us regarding what you like I would suggest:

Mary Gauthier-Mercy Now Assuming you are looking for music that creates emotions, not just listening to see how wonderful your system sounds.

Bigburner is right on with:

Bettye LaVette- The Scene of the Crime Backed by members of the Drive by Truckers band.

[Hdale85]

Well really I like anything. I'm very open to music even stuff that's a little "strange" as some may call it. Always open to new things

[Glen B]

Marilyn Scott CDs:

Avenues of Love
Take Me With You
Smile
Walking With Strangers

http://www.marilynscott.com/discography.html

Duboc - Carol Duboc

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=4132317

[David Meek]

A Welsh rock group named Magenta (thanks again Dave) has a lead vocalist, Christina Booth, that is simply stunning. Check out their album Seven, especially tracks 2 and 7.

Sarah Brightman, a Broadway star and contemporary adult singer is also a fine choice. Try her album La Luna, track 12.

addendum: FWIW, the Magenta album may be a bit hard to find. I managed to score a Japanese import, and it sounds truly amazing.

[Stelau]

Katja Maria Werker -- Contact Myself

Her first (of three) Album,she is a German Songwriter
One of the best that i ever heard!!!!
Stefan

[Johnloudb]

Oh ... I forgot Keren Ann (my apologies Keren!). I really, really like her album "Nolita" here

[Chris D]

Yeah, with me watching "Phantom of the Opera" and doing some research lately, I've got Sarah Brightman's La Luna in my Amazon Wish List, too.

Now, the first thing that comes to mind for me, when I think of powerful female vocals that sends chills up your spine, is:

[David Meek]

Jeez Chris, as much as we've talked (okay, babbled or drooled might be more accurate) about Amy Lee, how did I forget!?!?!?!?!? ops:

[y2kavengeres]

Loreena McKennitt - The Mask and Mirror

Book of Secrets and An Ancient Muse are very good albums by her also

[audioqueso]

I know you're asking for album, but if you want to hear one woman REALLY sing, play Jennifer Hudson's "And I'm Telling You". Incredible incredible performance!

My favorite female albums that are so impressive are not in English. Does that matter to you?

[Hdale85]

Well, it's sometimes hard to follow something that I can't understand. And it drives my wife nuts....but maybe that's a good thing?

[Burke Strickland]

Joan Baez: "Diamonds and Rust",
Joan Baez: "Blessed Are" (title songs on both albums are a good beginning point -- and there are many other treasures on each as well.)

Emmylou Harris: "Wrecking Ball" -- actually I prefer the performance of the title song she did on "Best of Session at 54th Street" DVD since the one on this album was "over produced" with background instrumentals that call too much attention to themselves, but her singing on this song and on the "Wrecking Ball" album as a whole is a listening pleasure.

Holly Cole: "Temptation", track 2 (train song), track 11 (Tango till they're sore), track 14 (I want you)
Holly Cole: "It Happened One Night" track 1 (Get out of town) track 4 (Losing my mind),
Holly Cole: "Don't Smoke In Bed" track 1 (I can see clearly now) track 2 (Don't let the teardrops rust your shining heart) track 06 (Everyday will be like a holiday)

[audioqueso]

I understand about the language thing. But in regards to english songs, definitely give Jennifer Hudson's "And I Am Telling You" a try.

[Hdale85]

Looks like that song is on a CD now. And I remember the song from Dream Girls Great song for sure.

[bbecker1983]

Dead Can Dance, features Lisa Gerrard, imo one of the most haunting and unique singers out there. She invented her own language, in a very spiritual means that is.

Des'Re She sung on the soundtrack Romeo+Juliet.

This Mortal Coil - Song of the Siren, awesomely beatuiful and haunting as well.

Lacuna Coil- More talent in the writing then Evanescence..IMO

[Bob]

Joan Baez: "Diamonds and Rust",
Joan Baez: "Blessed Are" (title songs on both albums are a good beginning point -- and there are many other treasures on each as well.)

Emmylou Harris: "Wrecking Ball" -- actually I prefer the performance of the title song she did on "Best of Session at 54th Street" DVD since the one on this album was "over produced" with background instrumentals that call too much attention to themselves, but her singing on this song and on the "Wrecking Ball" album as a whole is a listening pleasure

Great choices, Burke!!

[Bmac]

Sade...Best for Love
Vanessa L. Williams...The Comfort Zone (They should have let her keep the crown.)
Anne Lennox...Why?
Anita Baker...The Best of
Tina Turner...Simply the best

[evilskillit]

You might check out a band called Delerium, specifically the album Poem. Delerium is really great sortof spacey, ambient music. Delerium is the brainchild of a guy name Bill Leeb the thing is he gets a different female vocalist to sing each song on the album and in my opinion they're all very good. I enjoy the music it's self alot as well and while it sounds really good on really good equipment it will also flatter almost any stereo.

Here is the wiki for the album I am talking about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poem_(album)

[Chris D]

Hey, evilskillit, I love your avatar. I'm not sure if there's a bigger background story to those characters, but the place I've seen that before was a poster picture of a couple of those things chasing a kitten across a field, with a funny saying. Do they have a name or anything?

[PewterTA]

Lacuna Coil- More talent in the writing then Evanescence..IMO

I agree, her voice is amazing too... it's just a shame they F'd up the engineering aspect of the disc. There's points where you can hardly hear the vocals when they should be above the music. I love the disc and the music, but whoever mastered/engineered the disc should be shot. Let her voice shine!

I also gotta throw up a nod for:

Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing, Afterglow, and Fumbling towards Ecstay. Good voice, not the best mind you, but the songs just move you and the production on the discs is pretty darn good on most songs.

[evilskillit]

Heh, not to go off topic but yeah Chris D, they're called Domokun, he was the mascot for a japanese satelite company called BS Satelite Systems. He got very popular, got his own cartoons, now he even appears on Nickelodeon. You can buy his stuff at various local stores like suncaost or online. Just google Domokun.

If you like Sarah McLachlan she did a song on one of the Delerium CDs, the album was Karma, the song was called Silence, its my favorite song off of that Delerium album.

Oh and if we're talking about Female Vocalists don't forget Tarja Turunen of Finnish Opera/Metal band Nightwish. If you like Opera, and or Metal you should definitely check them out.

[mackintire]

You asked...you recieved

The funny phrase you are talking about is...

Domokun Demotivations
Either:

"Every time you masterbate God kill a Kitten."

http://files.myopera.com/fammcdon/files/kills_a_kitten.jpg

Or

Bravery: Don't be afraid to stand up against your problems

http://icrontic.com/forum/showthread.php?p=615527

[Alloroc]

Putting the jewels into your jewel case, this CD is a must have all of you seeking the ultimate female vocalist collection on one CD....

Order now and recieve yada yada.....

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/world-s-most-expensive-cd-costs-100000/

[Hdale85]

Hah!

[Chris D]

Huh... funny about Domokun, and I'll look into that vocalist!

[scarpi]

Well you might try Patricia Barber. She sings and plays the piano. She has a trio (piano, bass, drums). Her stuff is jazz but she does her own twist on it and I find her interesting. Her cds are well done with really fantastic clearity. A few of her best cds are in my opinion are Cafe Blue, Companion, and Nightclub. Enjoy! :T

[miner]

My addition to the already growing list

Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin'

[Briz vegas]

Any particular reason why female artists. Have you noticed a gender balance issue in your music collection? Lots of genres out there to choose from. I like a bit of blues influence myself and definitely favour artists that write and play their own stuff.

If you like an alternative flavour to your music then I can suggest from my own collection
The Waifs ("a brief history" is a good place to start)
Beth Orton
Sarah Blasko

or a bit harder
P J Harvey
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Love Outside Andromeda
Concrete Blonde

Or more out there
Kate Bush
Bjork

All good stuff depending on your listening mood

[Smokinghot]

Nancy Sinatra - How Does That Grab you

Her version of Cher's "Bang Bang" on this album is freak'n awesome...!

It's one of my fav reference tracks

[Hdale85]

Yes up until this thread I didn't have a lot of female artists. I'm not quite sure why though?

[HedgeHog]

I couldn't make up my mind for a best female vocalist disc and my dealer recommended this series of discs:


They're called Best Audiophile Voices and it ranges from Vol I to Vol V[I] (so I got them all).

Here's a sample of disc Vol II: http://www.top2music.com/PR27840.htm

-H

[Hdale85]

Hmm I hate getting those various artists albums but I may have to check that one out

I know that Fields Of Gold song by Eva Cassidy is amazing as I've been playing it for the last couple of weeks now

[Briz vegas]

Yes up until this thread I didn't have a lot of female artists. I'm not quite sure why though?

I reckon its those darn uninteresting album covers that put you off.

[generallupo]

A couple you may not have heard of Nomas Land by Metisse, and Speak for yourself by Imogen Heap. Both are less polished then major studio albums but have superbly talented artists.

[GregLett]

Hmm I hate getting those various artists albums but I may have to check that one out

I know that Fields Of Gold song by Eva Cassidy is amazing as I've been playing it for the last couple of weeks now

Those albums are good dougie,you should check them out.

[hifiguymi]

Here are a couple to check out.

Cassandra Wilson - New Moon Daughter
Great jazz vocalist. Her voice is very deep, but full of warmth and she has great control.

Alison Krauss and Union Station - New Favorite
You can pick any of her discs, with or without Union Station, and they are just great. New Favorite is my favorite.

Shawn Colvin - Fat City
Again, all of them are good, but this is the one I like.

There are more, but those are the first ones that come to mind.

Eric