Most underrated female recording artists..

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Jackie Ryan/Jazz with Latin influence

Amy Helm/Americana (Levon's daughter) 

Linda Thompson/British Folk-Rock (I think her work with Richard is better than her own solo recordings) 

Courtney Marie Andrews/Contemporary Folk/Americana Singer-Songwriter

Allison Russel (with Birds of Chicago)/ Contemporary Folk with a spiritual perspective

Kris Delmhorst/Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

Lindsay Lou (with the Flatbellies)/Contemporary Folk with Old-Timey influences

Rita Hosking/Contemporary Folk with a Country flavor

Dori Freeman/Contemporary Folk with Classic Country leanings, although her latest (which I don't care for, personally) is more rockish. 

Jaqui McShee with Pentangle/British Folk, Folk-Rock with Jazz influences 

Sloan Wainwright/Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

Maya DiVitry (in Stray Birds)/Americana with Folk and Bluegrass influences 

Terri Garthwaite (with Joy of Cooking) 70s Bay Area band with Blues and Country influences 

Cris Williamson (Women's Music but not just for women)

Some of the names that are being mentioned clearly tells me the majority of you do not know what the word "underrated" means, Kate Bush, Joni, Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt ?

How about 'Female artist never heard of' I think that's what this has turned into.  Now you audiophiles have heard of many more than the average consumer probably 90% of these lady's mentioned wouldn't be recognized by the majority and some should not be on any list. It's amazing how we all have different opinions on what we like. 

Sade

KD Lang

Sinead O’Connor

Hope Sandoval

One that I just started listening to but has been around for a while is Katie Melua, check out her Acoustic Album No. 8. It sounds amazing streaming in hi res.

@brunomarcs 

 "How about 'Female artist never heard of' I think that's what this has turned into.  Now you audiophiles have heard of many more than the average consumer probably 90% of these lady's mentioned wouldn't be recognized by the majority and some should not be on any list. It's amazing how we all have different opinions on what we like".

You presume popularity and artistic merit are one and the same. 

Popularity is objective, artistic merit is subjective..... 

I would suggest Iris Dement and Maria Muldaur's album the " Love Songs of Bob Dylan" which is a  wonderful recording- not necessarily for stunning  vocals chops but for her interpretations of such amazing songs and more often than not making them much better that the original.

I too think this is a great thread. One of the main reasons I follow Audiogon is for artist recommendations and this thread is a corker(English for really really good) I have already ordered some CD, having listened to a number of singers on YouTube.

My own penny, sorry domes worth:

Jonatha Brooke: A great voice and self penned songs.

Judith Owen: A welsh artist, Jazz/SingerSongwriter

Kate Rusby  ) Two of the best English folk artists around at the moment

Cara Dillon   )  "    "    "  

I hope you enjoy.

I will be unpacking this thread for some time to come thank you all for your wonderful insight.

Laura Marling's latest solo offering "Song for our Daughter" for the folkies out there.

One more for the list...

Diana Panton's "Blue" Will Have You Feel Anything But

== From the review above

"Have you ever had one of those moments where you were just settling into you chair, just about all set to start listening to music. You’ve hit the play button on your CD player, but you’re still a moment or two from being truly situated and focused. All of a sudden, the first words and notes are sung and played, and you jerk your head up, stop what you’re doing, and shoot your eyes straight to the space between your speakers -- because what you just heard is recorded so well and the vocals so pure and lifelike that you forget finishing settling in and just stop and listen.

That’s what happened to me just now when I cued up the new CD from Diana Panton, “Blue.”

I confess, I had not heard Diana before this album and was instantly blown away by her beautiful voice and singing style. This has only happened to me twice before, once with Eva Cassidy and the other with Julie London."

This album is not just a one-off recording of songs that conjure up the emotions of love lost. Instead, as I found out, it is the culmination of a three-album journey of love deliberately spaced out over more than a decade by Ms. Panton to reflect the different stages of a relationship. The first album, “Pink” suggests the infatuation of first-time love, while “Red” reflects the passion of true love.

For me, the thought of purposely planning this sort of story over a span time to reflect the lifetime of a relationship reflects genius of an artist committed to her craft, and of making music that means something more than just a collection of songs.
==

Read full review using link above

Here is more on Diana....
Diana Panton - Her Story

Diana Panton - Blue - entire album

This was just posted - well worth your time if you are a fan of "soft" jazz vocals.

Linda ronstadt

bobby gentry

Sabina Classen

Karen Greening (Lee Aaron) metal queen!

Neko Case and Dar Williams

Good picks!!   I'll add Lori McKenna and two classics in Sandy Denny and Judee Sill.

Nanci Griffith was a fantastic genre busting singer,songwriter and peformer.  Her studio albums were for the most part wonderfully recorded.

Mollie O'Brien has a fantastic voice and can sing anything.