Best female vocals on CD

I agree with so many of those mentioned...Margo Timmins, Ella, Holly Cole, early Linda Ronstadt, Sarah Mclaughlin,k.d.land(fantastic live!). How about Stevie Nicks on "Rhiannon" and "Silver Spring", and also some of the Indigo Girls.

Holly Cole must be on this list. Check out "Dark Dear Heart" for her pop style or "Don't Smoke in Bed" if you prefer jazz. Many people are enamored with this Canadian artist on first hearing. She's one of my top 3 favorites and I've been buying female vocal CD's for 16 years.

I do not know if she has already been mentioned but I recall listening to Laura Nyro in the early 70's and finding her vocals to be quite moving. I have not searched for her on CD but will do so soon. My wife picked up a CD by Vonda Shepard who sings in the bar on the "Ally McBeal" television show. I am not familiar with the show but enjoy her singing and find that she reminds me of Carol King on some of the cuts. Also interesting is Marlene Dietrich - "Live at the Cafe de Paris". It takes a few songs to get past the recording quality (Sony) but eventualy draws your complete attention. This is a little off the track but last night I listened to Gram Parsons "GP/Grevious Angel" a compilation of 20 songs dating as far back as 1973 and featuring Emmylou Harris on backup vocals and it was super, Gram as well as Emmylou. I heard Diana Krall for the first time on the television last week and liked it though I would prefer to just listen and not see her perform. Just ordered one of her CD's from BMG. This is a helpful thread for those of us not in the know and has given me a nice list of things to pick up. Thanks.

Second the votes on Holly Cole - love the entire Don't Smoke in Bed disc. And Diana Krall recordings are rich and lush. Carly Simon is good. Her 3 CD set has some nice rare work. Sara Brightman is good on some numbers too but occasionally she decides to be a real show off and shrieks the upper octaves like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Diana Krall, Holly Cole, and Sara Brightman are all great. I would add to this distinguished list Rickie Lee Jones for her album "POP POP" which is outstanding. In the classical arena I would list Kathleen Battle for her "Live at Carnegie Hall" CD. But this is just for classical music lovers. That is what makes choosing a "Best female on CD" so difficult.