Most underrated female recording artists..

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

plus:

 

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. 

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

Teena Marie

Jill Scott

Ledisi

Florence Welch (Florence and The Machine)

 

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.

Neko Case and Dar Williams