Best female vocal recording on CD?

Wow, we have many great suggestions above. I would also suggest Buika.

Best
Ari.

Mary Black, Babes in the Woods album. I used to use this as a reference for modifying CD players in years gone by. Currently using Audio Note OTO Signature with modded AN DAC 1 via Marantz CD 17 Mk II KI Special and modded Audio Note K speakers. Having heard Mary Black live, she translates very similarly to CD as does Lisa Gerrard and Loreena McKennitt. Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Sessions,  Sweet, Sweet Jane is another knockout on standard CD format. Holly Cole, album Don't Smoke in Bed, track The Tennessee Waltz and several others on that album are quite special.
Regards Craig

My gosh, this is my first entry on this forum and I must recommend Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat" for strong consideration. It was a staple of audiophiles in the 80's and 90's. One could feel her chest vibrate mid-soundstage. Her voice is very engaging and palpable, her enunciation so nearly perfect, even her inspiration of air was part of the magic. And the emotion she conveyed with each word or phrase was felt in one's marrow. It remains a must hear for anyone being introduced to my system ( Apogee Divas or Scintillas, Krell, Mapleknoll....)

Susan Tedeschi

There is no best female recording, it means you are willing to sacrifice some of other recordings if you look for best female recordings listed here? While I agree some of here listed are indeed "some" of the best, but it just impossible to list them all, I like to go by tracks instead of female artists alone, it’s hard to compare which is the best, each unique in a way that you are not going give up listen to.

My first impression of female voice from Whitney Houston, it came out of radios, though that time when I was child, the time back then was start of 90s, I would say that her voice is not as soulful as Aretha Franklin or Nina Simone, but her voice is kinda unique in it’s own, both technically and emotionally, she kinda create more "well known" recording or live ballads than anybody else, these singers are not much considered as "clean" audiophile", as they sing on the go soulful way as opposed to the likes like Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy, and Katie Melua which I think few tracks like Piece By Piece & Nine Million Bicycles are indeed nice, but some of other Katie’s tracks maybe too young in her presentations, the 3 former white Jazz singers are very well known to audiophiles I assume, here are some of my favourites:

Adele - Hometown Glory
Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All
Aretha Franklin - Ain’t No Way
Astrud Gilberto - It’s A Lovely Day Today
Barbara Streisand - Evergreen
Barbara Cook - My Funny Valentine
Barbara Bonney - Ave Maria
Basia - Third Time Lucky
Cara Dillon - There Were Roses
Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
Chaka Khan - Lullaby Of Birdland
Crystal Gayle - Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
Dana Winner - Moonlight Shadow
Des’ree - Laughter
Diana Krall - I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Dionne Warwick - Alfie (Live from The Mike Douglas Show 1972)
Dionne Warwick - One Less Bell To Answer
Doris Day - It's Been A Long, Long Time
Dusty Springfield - The Look Of Love
Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime (Ella in Berlin 1960)
Enya - I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls
Erma Franklin - Light My Fire
Etta Jones - Don’t Go To Strangers
Etta Jones - What A Wonderful World
Eva Cassidy - Tall Trees In Georgia
Holly Cole - Calling You
Inva Mula - Lucia Di Lammermoor + The Diva Dance
Jennifer Holliday - And I’m Telling You (I’m Not Going)(Live from Radio City Music Hall 1986)
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat
Joni Mitchell - Blue
Judy Collins - Send In The Clowns
Julie London - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
Julie London - The End Of The World
Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles
Katie Melua - Piece By Piece
Kelly Sweet - Dream On
Kelly Sweet - We Are One
KOKIA - ありがとう (泪的告白)
Lady GaGa - Applause
Lisa Ono (小野リサ) - あたしの赤ちゃん (Drume Negrita)(Cuban Children’s Songs)
Lykke Li - Little Bit
Mariah Carey - Hero (Live from concert at Proctor Theatre, New York on July 15, 1993)
Momoe Yamaguchi (山口百恵) - さよならの向う側
Montserrat Caballé - O mio babbino caro (Oh My Beloved Father)(Live from Munich 1990)(Giacomo Puccini)
Nana Mouskouri - Der Lindenbaum (菩提樹)
Nancy Wilson - All Night Long
Nina Simone - I Loves You Porgy
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Ofra Haza - Im Nin’Alu
Patsy Cline - Crazy
Peggy Lee - Sans Souci
Radka Toneff - My Funny Valentine
Radka Toneff - The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Rebecca Pidgeon - Spanish Harlem
Rihanna - Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko)
Rimi Natsukawa (夏川りみ) - キセキノハナ (奇蹟之花)
Sade - Kiss Of Life
Sade - Your Love Is King
Sara K. - What’s A Little More Rain
Sarah Brightman - O mio babbino caro (Oh My Beloved Father)(Live)(Giacomo Puccini)
Sarah Vaughan - Misty
Sissel Kyrkjebø - I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls (Live from Dalhalla Concert)
Suzanne Vega - Luka
Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart
Whitney Houston - I Am Changing (Live from San Francisco 1986)
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love Of All (Live from Arista 15th Anniversary 1990)
Yael Naïm - New Soul
崔萍 - 今宵多珍重
崔萍 - 南屏晚鍾
張露 - 靜心等
徐佳瑩 - 失落沙洲 (我是歌手 I Am Singer)
徐小鳳 - 不了情
王菲 - 矜持
王菲 - 致青春
蔡琴 - 月光小夜曲
蔡琴 - 機遇 I
蔡琴 - 被遺忘的時光
蘇芮 - 奉獻
鄧麗君 - 又見炊煙
降央卓瑪 - 一剪梅
降央卓瑪 - 紅梅贊
降央卓瑪 - 鴻雁
陳永馨 - 三月
陳芳語 - 我愛你你知道嗎？
順子 - 回家

I am not able to list them all I guess, so conclusion there is no best female recordings for me, hmm if got one I would choose Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You, I’m still finding a version as opposed to the market album recording, the sound is more lively, not sure is it some Dolby Digital sound effect on it

Shawn Colvin ....

And of and of course Phobe Snow, by who else, Phoebe Snow. 

Some great artists have already been mentioned.

Here's a few that haven't been:

Sarah Vaughan (USA)
- her SACD with Clifford Brown is sublime. (Japanese remaster)

Beverly Kennedy (USA)
- a jazz singer from the 50's. She only released 4 albums. She killed herself in 1960 at 28 years of age. The Japanese are fanatical about her so there are some very good remasters on CD available now. Her LPs go for +$500 in Japan.

Cara Dillon (IRL) - Live at the Opera House
- available on 24/96 download

Kate Rusby (UK) - Awkward Annie
- I could listen to her Yorkshire accent all day long! 

Granny ring, I also really enjoy Ricki Lee Jones and have been looking for quality vinyl or digital recordings of hers. I used to audition speakers  with an album of hers in the '80s. I am spending more time with Hi Fi again. Do you have a favorite? 

Can't add a lot to a great list of vocalists here, but a minor suggestion, Jane Monheit has a lot of pedestrian stuff out there, but she seemed to find her strength in the "Surrender" album. 
Gardot, Barber, Peyroux, etc. are all great ... might also look at Nancy Moore for interesting interpretations.

Lavay  Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers if you want some jumpin jive.
Mari Muldaur A Woman Alone with the blues and Meet Me where they Play the Blues
And
Esperanza Spaulding.    Esperanza

I’m a huge Rickie Lee Jones fan and know every inch of that record... so I was pleasantly surprised when I read your post! I was even at the live show supporting that album; so I think I may know where you’re coming from... I own and have listened to 95% of all the standards mentioned in this thread... Norah, Patricia B, Holly Cole, etc... many excellent choices... and yes, I have a hi-fi system worth two or three brand new SUVs I could have parked in the driveway instead.

Given this; My favorite all time female vocal track for CD (non-high res) is:
*Barbra Steisand’s Send In The Clowns (track 8) ’Broadway Album’ ... it’s an older recording, but just an astonishing track - both musically, vocally, emotionally and sonically. I even own the vinyl (for the day I go that route!)

Important to know; My system is is based on hi res SACD, Pure Blu-Ray Audio and DVD-A spec. The next track is going to surprise a lot of people:
*Dolly Parton’s In The Sweet By And By from her ’Little Sparrow’ SACD release (Track 13).The entire album sonically is a masterpiece... conceived, recorded, mixed and mastered from the studio mics to your D/A ENTIRELY in DSD. Few pop albums can claim this. It’s not remastered from low or even hi res digital masters or analog tapes; rather, it is the purest of the pure - like Chesky SACDs/DVD-As releases. IMHO this is an example of how good hi-fi content gets. I’m a musician and recording engineer. I have very little consumer gear in my hi fi setup. The heart is a 6-ch Emm Labs mastering DAC, dedicated DSD transport and 6-ch transparent pre. I challenge anyone to find a finer recording than this on VINYL or otherwise. I have heard 100’s and 100’s of great hi-fi albums on vinyl that simply can’t touch this recording... same with other hi res discs (I have a sizable collection). Although sweet sounding, the physical properties of vinyl are severely limiting. Ie: (S/N and dynamic range). Add to this the required encode-decode RIAA eq curve in your preamp to compensate for all this and it just won’t allow vinyl to do what this hi-res recording does... STUNNING 5.1 clarity and an emotional performance that will blow you away. I have played this as my reference recording for almost a decade. I have left friends and dozens of crazed vinyl-heads audiophiles speechless; jaws on the floor.  If you don’t have an SACD (spec) setup w a good DAC this recording alone would be the enough reason to make the plunge.

Honorable mentions:
CD:
Eva Cassidy, Fields of Gold
Sarah McLachlan, Angel, (if you have a player with the HDCD chip, get the ’Angel’ album soundtrack version vs the standard ’Surfacing’ album CD version).

SACD:
*Sarah McLachlan, Answer, album ’Afterglow’ (a relatively new release!)
*Alison Krauss, Ghost In This House, album ’Forget About It’
*Rickie Lee Jones, Stewart’s Coat, album Traffic In Paradise

Enjoy your journey!

ps.. there is track 'Little Sparrow REPRISE' after the Dolly track 13 I mentioned feom
the same same album that demonstrates how good dobro and guitars can get on a hi fi system, so let the disc run and get treated to a reference STRING track as well! Note: these are recordings you can really crank up, so highly suggested, do it and you'll be amazed. 

Tracy Chapman is fantastic. 

Eva Cassidy
Melody Gardot
Shelby Lynn

A "new" Hybrid  SACD of Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Sessions.  Fabulous female voice

Wailin' Jenny's.   3 gals in one brilliant band. Look for the Live album, then play the last track: One Voice. Wonderful!

Ella and Louis with the oscar Peterson quartet

MFLASK how sad you must make comments about artist with that tin ear of yours.

How about  Julie London, Doris Day, and Judy Garland ?  Man, those girls were fantastic in the day.  Oh yes, there are more.

Mazzy Star/Hope Sandoval ...end of story. Period.

tomcy6,

I took your advice and bought the Emmylou Harris Songbird box set. I'm listening to it now, and can tell I won't be disappointed. This really is MY kind of music. While it may not be for everyone, it just suits me. Amazing job of mixing! Thanks.

Mary Stallings. Widely underrated and superb, in my view.

Live At The Village Vanguard would be an excellent start.

Many good suggestions including Eva Cassidy, Melody Gardot, and Holly Cole. I would also suggest Youn Sun Nah - Voyage

Wow, some great suggestions. I am once again reminded that I’m amongst kindred spirits here on AudiogoN! The mention of Joe Boyd (who does really quality work, starting the great label Hannibal Records) has reminded me of an album produced by Boyd containing a female vocalist in reference quality sound---Shoot Out The Lights by Richard and Linda Thompson. Not only stunning sound, but great songs (chronicling the break-up of their marriage), Richard’s incredible guitar playing, and Linda’s (and Richard’s) fabulous singing. An absolute must-own album!

Madeleine Peyroux, "Half the Perfect World" cd
Lizz Wright, "Dreaming Wide Awake" cd
For a single cut from "Lost On The River, The New Basement Tapes", Rhiannon Giddens singing "Lost On The River #20". Hauntingly beautiful to my ears!

+1 Melody Gardot

Also, Rhiannon Giddens

Cecile mclorin salvant. Womanchild

@glennewdick -- good pick with Ruth Moody

Check out her work with the Wailin' Jennys (this is "Arlington" from "40 days")

And while your at it try Heather Masse (another member of the Jennys) with Dick Hyman

Beth Gibbons / Out of Season. It's great from start to finish

Voice of the Xtabay

I found recently a newish female singer playing on Mark Knopflers new album Tracker her names Ruth Moody she has a couple of her own albums out as well she is quite lovely.

I have long considered Joan Baez's medley of "I Dream of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair" and "Danny Boy" to be a good measure of the worthiness of a pair of stereo speakers.  The track is on the "Diamonds and Rust" CD.

BDP24: I thought I was the only one who listened to Dan Hicks' "Striking it Rich" album.  A true gem if you like those kind of tunes.  The Hot Licks vocals make it one of my all time favorite albums.
-John

Sarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From Bones.
The entire album is a classic.
I especially like the title track followed by "Dark Road".
Outstanding.

Rickie Lee has an amazing voice. Very surprised to read your comment? Other voices may be more common sounding, but few have her unique talent. 

Great suggestions here - I can't recall the album name(s) at the moment, but I would add Hallie Loren to the list.  Have heard some really great recordings of hers.

+1 for Carrie Newcomer. She has a warm alto voice.  The music is acoustic/folk, band not solo. It’s not challenging but it is good. I think "Before & After" is a good place to start sound and music-wise.

Some very good ones listed i would add Carrie Newcomer

Rosanne Cash's "10 Song Demo" is not a demo and it is a collection of eleven beautifully written, performed, and recorded songs on CD. I regularly use it for auditioning new or changes to equipment and have listened to it as many as three times in a row because I enjoy it that much. Spare acoustic guitar and piano accompany Rosanne's clear and often haunting vocals. Very highly recommended.

Looking at the responses and it amazes me how many I have never heard of and when I check them out then I wonder why.  Really enjoying Cassandra Wilson a lot here lately, just love her haunting vocal and everything I have of hers is very well done across the board. Don't agree with Nora Jones, Patrica Barber and Diana Krall all are boring.

Finally I must give a shout out for Judith Owen, all her recordings are first rate, maybe start with this ("Train out of Hollywood")

https://youtu.be/7RavSWS_pso

Surprised btw that no-one has mentioned Janis Ian "Breaking Silence" yet -- I know it’s an audiofool chestnut but it really is a superb recording

And finally here’s one to mess with your head

@meiatflask 

I think you're obsessing about recording quality a bit too much -- the true measure of a system should be how well it presents the musical event irrespective of the recording (i.e. it finds all that can be found even in a mediocre recording)

Having said that to address your specific questions

• "Stones in the Road" is an OK recording, nothing special -- personally I actually prefer the live versions of many of these tracks on "Party Doll and Other Favorites" -- this is an honest live recording
• "Between Here and Gone" is an impeccable pop record, highly produced but very well done
• Regarding Nanci -- I agree on Storms (you need to get the Alto Analog LP btw) -- of her more recent stuff I picked out "Other Voices" as it is a very intimate and real sounding recording, if again you prefer a pop production then chose "Flyer"
• "Airs and Graces" is a true vocal master disc, but recognize that this is acapella solo british folk voicing, so may not be to your taste - I never owned a CD of this so cannot goide you to which to choose
• "Against the Streams" is again very nice, realistic recording
• "The Elizabethan Sessions" is a stellar recording throughout -- beware it has men singing on it as well!
• Finally Sandy and Mandy -- the recordings are of their time (early 70s though 80s) -- personally things like "Fotheringay" are my all out reference and the 3CD Hannibal set is as nice a CD as you can hope to find, only bettered by paying through the nose for an Island pink label -- but this is all in the context of your liking Joe Boyd's production style

ps Speaking of Joe Boyd go and dig this out - you'll like it (Songhai 2) -- And frankly you won't go much wrong by buying everything on this list of his work, especially this (The Hank Dogs, Half Smile, which has some more lovely female vocal)

pps Thanks for making me look that last one up, I never even knew the video existed!

I like Loreena McKennitt - "The Visit". Beautiful music well recorded.
Also, Mary Fahl on the self-titled "October Project" album.

A few in frequent rotation on my turntable are:

Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart and Currency of Man
Joni Michell - I like almost everything but the two getting the most current play are Blue and Hejira
Vanessa Fernandez - Use Me
Rumer - This Girl's in Love
Shelby Lynne - The Look Of Love
Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis

They are probably all available on CD as well

Folkfreak, thanks for the recommendations

Folk freak- I put my post up before I read yours.  I have the older MCC  - shooting straight.. and come on come on.  With some of the tracks on the later being pretty good recordings.  What is the recording quality on stones... and between...  I do like Nanci Griffith - but have mostly listened to old stuff- late night grand hotel, poet in window, with storms being the best recording.  What is the recording quality of the new NG.  Which NG and MCC are the best recordings?