Best female vocals on CD

The several (seven?) 3CD boxes in the Collected Dinah Washington prove her to be a real hero: Ella is technically a better singer, and Billie is more instantly recognizable, but Dinah owns you. (These are Collected but not Complete-- there is stuff available both earlier and later, but its muh more uneven). Classical/opera, my own view is that the greatest living voice of any gender is Jessye Norman, but her recordings do not do her justice. As to pop, I'm really impressed with Joan Osborne and Laura Love, both of whom have modest instruments but huge hearts.

.....It's got to be noted that Margo Timmins voice is at once seductive, haunting, and intimate. WOW. Craig

I totally agree w/ Cowboy Junkies and Diana Krall, they are a couple of great singers. I would like to add a couple of really good singers to the list: Amy Grant--Christian singer Mariah Carey--pop Delores O'riordan--the cranberries Dawn Upshaw--Musicals and Opera

All of the above are great. I would like to add EmmyLou harris. Great voice in her early career, great presence later (Spyboy). Also early Joan Armatrading. Unfortunately just listened to a new album and her voice is gone. Nanci Griffith"s earlier albums for the superior production Quality.

If you like Gershwin, try Maureen Mcgovern's "Naughty Baby" which is a live Cd of all Gershwin stuff-great back-up band that play with a lot of feeling! Its an all digital recording. Joe Lienhard