Most underrated female recording artists..

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.

Neko Case and Dar Williams

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

Linda ronstadt

bobby gentry

Sabina Classen

Karen Greening (Lee Aaron) metal queen!

Diana Panton - Blue - entire album

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

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

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.

 

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 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.

 

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

@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. 

 

 

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.

Sade

KD Lang

Sinead O’Connor

Hope Sandoval

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. 

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 ?

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)

.

@jerryg123 'I am not going out on a limb here that Tiana Lemnitz did not face much of it until after May 1945.'

Not sure whether this could be proven either way.

Not sure I am onboard with your selection @goofyfoot in fact I am behind the boat on water skis wondering how this thread just " jumped the shark" to a prominent fascist. Fascism by definition is a forcible suppression of opposition so I am not going out on a limb here that Tiana Lemnitz did not face much of it until after May 1945.

Because I mentioned Tiana Lemnitz who was a prominent Nazi, I feel compelled to add that I know she associated herself with the Nazi view early on. Whether or not she did this to find work or whether she honestly believed in the demagoguery, I make it a rule to generally give artists some extra latitude in this regard. Herbert von Karajan joined the party twice and was not an anti semite. Alfred Cortot assisted the Nazi’s during the invasion of France but he was just considered a coward. Given the nature of the music profession, I believe artists were extremely vulnerable a afraid and rightly so. It was a deceptive time with some horrible things that were either kept hidden or ignored. It is difficult for me to recommend a former Nazi but her artistry is so impressive that I mention her for that reason alone.

Tiana Lemnitz and for those of you who’ve never ever heard of her;

 

Joanie Sommers - the biggest range and the most beautiful voice for sure, I have ever heard

Frazey Ford - the indie queen

Sally Carr - no words, her voice will do it

I saw some Hungarian names: Zsuzsa Cserhati was a super-talent, and Zalatnay a distant 2nd, and a whirlwind, nevertheless, 

Christina Rosenvinge

Well, I think you forgot to not mention Hannah Joy of Middle Kids she is a talented singer songwriter and a novice composer from what I gleaned from a interview a few years back. Complex and nuanced Indie rock, especially with latest LP, that will take a couple listening sessions before it sounds right but it is definitely worth the effort.

 

 

@jeffrey75 There are many more.including the ones you mentioned. I could add Beth Ditto, Dominique Durand (Ivy), Jenny Lewis, Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy, Bat for Lashes, Ani Defranco, Debbie Harry, Ari Up (Slits), Grace Jones, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Tracy Tracy (The Primitives), Cindy Williams and Kate Pierson (B52s) . . . But I won't. :)

Neko Case and Dar Williams

I'll venture here. My take on female vocalists is a bit different because it is about the music they write and sing and not necessarily if they are considered great vocal talents. Molly Rankin (Alvvays) The Raincoats Deborah Iyall (Romeo Void) PJ Harvey Aimee Mann Cherry Glazerr Sad13 (solo and Speedy Ortiz) Courtney Barnett Elizabeth Frasier (Cocteau Twins) Kerry Alexander (Bad Bad Hats) Victoria Legrand (Beach House) Lyn Byrd (Comateens) Patti Smith Sonya Madan (Echobelly) Marijne van der Vlugt (Salad) Justine Frischmann (Elastica) Mary Timony (solo and several bands, currently Ex Hex) Corin Tucker (Sleater Kinney) Shirley Manson (Garbage) Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females) Phoebe Bridgers Julien Baker Lucy Dacus Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) Julia Jacklin Juliana Hatfield Kate Bush Joni Mitchell Alison Mosshart (The Kills) Lene Lovich Nina Hagen Jill Cunniff (Luscious Jackson) Miki Berenyi (Lush) MIYNT (don't know the singer/songwriter's name) Pip Blom Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) Ambrosia Parsley (Shivaree) Siouxsie Sioux Annie Clark (St. Vincent) Suzanne Vega Tori Amos Tristen (Tristen Gaspadarek) Kristin Hersh (Solo and Throwing Muses) Tonya Donnelly (Throwing Muses and Belly) Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice) Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak) Alison Moyet (Yazoo) Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Exene Cervenka (X) Bjork Fiona Apple Liz Phair Annie Lennox Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief) Margaret Glaspy I guess that's enough even though there are a ton more.

Minnie Ripperton, Girl Group in ‘60s, Psychedelic Rock, Pop/Soul.

Teena Marie

Jill Scott

Ledisi

Florence Welch (Florence and The Machine)

 

Teena Marie — incredible soul singer who happened to be White. “Fire and Desire”

Jill Scott

Ledisi at the Kennedy Center

Minnie Ripperton — from girl group in the 1960’s to psychedelic rock to Soul/pop. Maya Rudolph’s mother. 

Ruth Moody (sang with Mark Knopller on "Tracker")

plus:

 

Try some Holly Cole, female jazz singer Canada. Best album to start Don't Smoke in Bed or Dark Dear Heart.

Very good band and excellent vocalist. Also known as The Holly Cole Trio.

Going off the straight and narrow here with

Sade Adu

Linda Ronstadt "Underrated"?! Doesn’t everyone appreciate her? Well, except for Elvis Costello ;-) . Am I taking the question too literally?

Those who like Iris DeMent LOVE her. How about Lou Ann Barton? Tammy Wynette? Mavis Staples? Ruth Brown? Arlene Smith (of The Chantels. Listen to her sing "Maybe" to have your mind blown)? Darlene Love? Emmylou Harris? Sure, appreciated, but not enough so. Kasey Chambers? Julie Miller? Sam Phillips? Maryann Price? Listen to her sing "I’m An Old Cowhand" on Striking It Rich by Dan Hicks And His Hot Licks. So salacious!

Great thread! I've got some listening to do. One that I'll mention is Diane Schuur. I did a quick search here on Audiogon and found discussion so I'm not really confident in my complaint that she's underrated. I do find her voice to be exquisite and I don't see a whole lot about her, so I get the impression that I'm more positively impressed than most. 

Thank you for those who have dug a bit deep and recommended some less famous names. 

I have: 

Maydie Myles: Her version of The Look of Love is worth exploring for that one song alone. 

The Swingle Singers (A cappella) adaptation of Nick Drake's River Man is a female vocal piece of magic.

Gwen McCrae's take on Misty Blue should be taken out and dusted off just for the reminder of what a great pairing of song and singer that recording is. 

I don't care, let the haters hate, but Madonna's recording of Little Star is sweet and passionate and quite real. 

Amanda Bergman from Sweden is less about vocal perfection and instead has a style that is captivating. Subtle but excellent backing band. Try Falcons and Golden for starters. 

Something traditional: Dutch singer Trintje Oosterhuis takes on the Burt Bacharach songbook. Start with Anyone Who Had a Heart and hear her go from a raspy whisper to full on afterburner. 

Now approaching 30 years ago (got that makes me feel old) Everything But the Girl recorded Rollercoaster which is just Tracey Thorn's voice and mostly acoustic guitar and bass. Great stuff.

Back to unknown: Dobet Gnahoré is a singer from the Ivory Coast and her West African songs are a fresh take on modern music.

Canada's Feist had a few hits, then faded, but is well worth rediscovering. Can't go wrong with the entire Let it Die album

Enjoy the journey!

 

 

Linda Ronstadt hands down! 

Just listen to her discography. 

Listen to Judith Hill. "20 feet from Stardom' documentary features her spectacular talent.

Lani Hall has got an amazing Ethereal voice.

One more add I forgot, Big Mama Thornton.  Old blues singer who gets lost in the mist of times.

KD Lang

Eva Cassidy

Forgot Patsy Cline

MoonW,

Thanks for the time spent giving us lazy folk an easy compilation.

Whose on the the late comers?

 

 

Sharleen Spiteri of Scottish band Texas, First three records: Southside, Mother’s Heaven, Ricks Road then White on Blonde and her solo effort Melody.

Andrea Corr. With the Corrs of course and solo “Lifelines” doing wonderful covers.

Nena (yes the 99 Luftballoons singer) still going very strong at 61, an amazing career.

Try Radka Toneff, Fairy Tales.

One of the very few singers who comes close to rivalling the matchless Eva C.

@unreceivedogma,  impressed you’ve heard Sandy Denney and Karen Dalton.  You get around!

@moonwatcher

Make sure you capture #s 5-10 from me. I am sure hardly anyone here knows who they are, especially the two from Peru. The others are from Mexico (the Billy Holiday of Mexico), Cuba/Miami, Hungary and the Congo.

@unreceivedogma no problem. Love Eva Cassidy too....Also whoever recommended Chantal Chamberland get a +1 from me. Note, I think two people mentioned her, but both misspelled it. From Tidal, the above spelling is correct.