Favourite singers (female only)

I would be interested in a list of favourite female singers from other posters, along with a list of those females that do nothing for you or you think overrated / substandard.

Ace girls. In no particular order.

Mary Coughan
Lisa Ekdahl
Joni Mitchell
Silje nergaard
Abbey Lincoln
Holly Cole
Tierney Sutton
Jane Monheit
Jacqui Naylor
Karrin Allyson
Tina May (simply fantastic live)
Carla Helmbrecht
Stacey Kent (simply fantastic live)
Gillian Welch
Patty Griffin
Shelby Lynne
Gillian Welch
Lucinda Williams
Mandy Barnett
Shawn Colvin
Devon Sproule
Alison Krauss
Shelby Lynne
Rickie Lee Jones
Dionne Warwick
Alison Moyet
Maura O'Connell
Annie Lennox
Paula Cole
Christine Collister
K D Lang
Nina Simone
Eva Cassidy
Joan Armatrading




Bad Bad Bad girls.

Eleanor McEvoy
Billie Holiday

tbc

 

Forum,

For my taste, the following are 'Good Girls'

Judith Durham
Maggie Reilly
Emma Kirkby
Alison Goldfrapp
Miss Connie

Bad Girls?

Anyone who sings down their nose, stage school style

 

As well as most of the aforementioned in my Yes pile I would include
Barb Jungr
Camille O'Sullivan
Marianne Faithfull

In my No pile
Amy Whinehouse
Lily Allen and all those Essex bints that have jumped on the band wagon.

 

But I really like

Eleanor McEvoy
Billie Holiday

and also Maria Muldaur
Ella Fitzgerald
Timy Yuro
Janis Joplin
Etta James
Sue Foley
Kate Nash
Kasey Chambers
Anna Nallick
Mary Gauthier
Stina Nordenstam
Tracey Chapman

 

Wheres the good mans daughter - Björk

I'd have
Alison Goldfrapp
Kate Bush
Joanna Newsom
Jonie Mitchell
Kristin Hersh
Harriet Wheeler
Marianne Faithfull
Mary Coughlan

Not! Kate Nash, Lily (cute as she is), or Cerys Matthews

 

For some strange reason about 90% of my vocal collection appears to feature male singers....

The few females I have/like would be:

Tori Amos
Kate Bush
Elizabeth Fraser
Lisa Gerrard
Trish Keenan (Broadcast)

 

For my good 'uns

Sandy Denny
Vashti Bunyan
Anne Briggs
Ella Fitzgerald
Julie Murphy
Souad Massi
Susana Baca
Nina Simone
Rachel Walker
Cara Dillon
Joni Mitchell, when not being too wanky
Janis Joplin, when not being too wanky
Natalie Merchant
Oumou Sangare
and that one out of Portishead's got a nice tone.

If you want to hear some truly diabolical singing, search out Phoebe Smith.

 

Oh yes, should have included Kate Bush

A couple more 'no's' for me:

Katharine Jenkins
Lesley Garrett - I would rather chew my arm off than listen to her!

 

Also check out:

Aimee Mann
Ani DeFranco
Thea Gilmour
Indigo Girls (I think counts - all female)
Heather Nova

 

NO list of great female singers is complete without Loreena McKennitt

 

My YES list have to include......

Jane Siberry (fabulous!).
Kate Bush.
Stina Nordenstam.
Jerry Burns.
Loreena McKennitt.
Bjork.
Joni Mitchell.
Sinead O'Connor.
Anja Garbarek.
Dorie Jackson.
Toni Childs.
Joan as Policewoman.
Carmel.
Rickie Lee Jones.
K.D.Lang.

The NO section.........
All of the Spice Girls........

 

Nina nastasia
Paula Frazer

 

Good to see Kate Bush getting the mention she deserves. A UK national treasure IMO.

 

I would add
melody gardot
madeleine peyroux
angie palmer
christine collister
to the good list

 

Karen Matheson
Tracy Chapman
Karine Polwart
Annie Haslem
Maddy Prior
Mary Black
Maire Brennan
Sandy Denny
Judy Dyble
Celia Humphreys

Plus lots already mentioned

 

Just to add

Jewel
Sarah McLachlan
Bonnie Raitt

 

a 'must purchase' is the freedom sessions by Sarah McLachlan. Make sure you skip straight to track 2 tho! Track 1 is a data track for PCs.

You will notice on one of the tracks the engineer moves the fader across on the vocal - spooky soundstage effect! See if you can find it.

 

Also, don't forget Sonia; a rare talent. And Sinitta.

...he's got to be....so macho....

They don't make 'em like that any more.

 

I have to agree with the fine gentleman who mentioned Annie Haslam ex. of Renaissance. When she was in her twenties she had THE most incredibly pure voice well fitting of such a prog rock band.
Also, Eliza Carthy. If you're into folk she is a very fine example.​

 

Maddy Prior
Sandy Denny
Liz Fraser
Kate Bush
Linda Thomson
Mary Black
Joni Mitchell