Excellent thread - most of my favourites have been mentioned. I am especially attracted to singers who write their own material. In that vein - Kate Bush. Her first album, "The Kick Inside", has some great songs, and "Hounds of Love" is just a spectacular recording.
It's too bad the topic is "best female vocals on CD" otherwise I'd plug Amanda McBroom's "The Rose" on Sheffield Labs direct-to-disc.
