OT: female vocalists

[72gmc]

I need to branch out, music-wise. Female vocalists seem a good place to start, but my knowledge is old school--like Chrissie Hynde and Ann Wilson for rock, Lucinda Williams for folk/country, and Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday for jazz.

Likes: the deep, whiskey-and-cigarettes female voice.
Dislikes: not much.

Suggestions? Please educate me.

[Grant McLean]

http://www.myspace.com/zero7official

just a shot in the dark...


g

[zeroking17]

double talk


...

[zeroking17]

Likes: the deep, whiskey-and-cigarettes female voice.



gmc, I'm in the same boat as you and don't really know what today's sonic youth have on their ipods. But whatever it is, can it be better than whiskey-cigarattes-heroin(e) Marianne Faithfull?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N_rNz2oAGA


...

[Bauch]

My reco is to check out Amy Winehouse. She is a UK chanteuse with a serious old-school vibe and the kind of vocal tone I think you're looking for. She has two tracks that are getting a lot of airplay on Indie radio, both terrestrial and satellite, namely "Love is a Losing Game" and "Rehab."

[fierte_poser]

Diana Krall
Norah Jones
Allison Krauss (no whiskey or cigarettes here, but possibly the purest female vocalist out there atmo)

[KevinK]

If you like 30s - 50s standards, check out Chantal Chamberland (http://www.chantalchamberland.com). Her "Serendipity Street" and "Dripping Indigo" CDs are wonderful. Her deep, sultry, alto voice does wonders to these old songs.

I also agree that Allison Krauss has the voice of an angel...

Kevin

[davids]

Corin Tucker. Carrie Brownstein.

Sleater-Kinney. An acquired taste that could not be more worth acquiring. Like the finest Scotch Wisk(e)y,atmo...

http://www.spacecityrock.com/issue10/images/sleater-kinney1.jpg

[72gmc]

Sleater-Kinney.

A taste I've already acquired, and thanks.

I agree on Alison Krauss. There's a lot to be said for a voice that's just clear as a bell.

I never bothered with Fiona Apple until I heard those bootlegs a while back. Now I'm going back in time on her recordings.

[goonster]

Not really the "whisky and cigarettes" set:

Harriett Wheeler (Sundays)
Karin Peris (Innocence Mission)
Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Beth Orton*
Madeleine Peyroux
Tracey Thorn (Everything but the Girl)

(*= may have indulged in the occasional cigarette and dram ;) )

. . . and of course Billie, Sarah and Ella.

[72gmc]

Harriett Wheeler (Sundays)

"Here's where the story ends" is still great stuff.

[Bill Bove]

Tish Hinojosa. In English or Spanish.

[pale scotsman]

:
Harriett Wheeler (Sundays)


+1

Aimee Mann too.

[old_school]

Off the top of my head …

Diana Washington, Etta James, Ella Johnson, Sugar Pie Desanto, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone, Dee Dee Bridgewater

[michael white]

I have the same tastes.

The best true whiskey-and-cigarettes female singer going is probably Neko Case. Incredible voice.

other school of hard knocks women singers, more established, would include Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash . . .

[flydhest]

Cassandra Wilson.

Please, try. Her album "Blue Moon Daughter" has old school vocal jazz and covers of more modern songs that have been arranged to be jazz.

In particular, her cover of Hank Williams' "I'm so lonesome I could cry" . . . ooh.

[julia]

neko case, +1

and jesse sykes & the sweet hereafter

smoky, dark voice
moody, soaring songs - grounded in the here & now but mysterious. solid band with a guitar sound like a western movie at times; spacious & yearning

albums:

my girl
restless burning
like love, lust & the open halls of the soul

[rnhood]

A few more worth considering:

Holly Cole ("Don't smoke in Bed" if you need a place to start)
Eva Cassidy ("Live at Blues Alley" - everyone should own a copy)
Patricia Barber ("Companion" if you need a place to start)
Cowboy Junkies ("The Trinity Session" - a classic)

[Bill Bove]

Sue Foley, great blues. Rory Block, a blues history lesson.

Nobody mentioned the queen of the rode hard, put away wet female singers, Bonnie Raitt.

[michael white]

As I walk along I wonder what went wrong
With our love, a love that was so strong
And as still walk on I think of the things weve done
Together while our hearts were young

Im a walking in the rain, tears are falling and I feel a pain
Wishing you were here by me to end this misery
And I wonder, I wo wo wo wo wonder
Why, why why why why why she (you) ran away
And I wonder where she (you) will stay
My little runaway, a run run run run runaway

[atmo]

tanita tikaram rocks atmo.

http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/biot1/tika1.jpg

[JohnS]

I don't think you can get any more cigarettes-and-whiskey than Janis Joplin. My favorite is Dusty Springfield.

[sbornia]

Some new, some already mentioned:

Jane Monheit
Lavay Smith (and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers -- gotta love that)
Dar Williams
Jill Sobule
Gillian Welch
Kate Rusby
Natalie Merchant (of 10000 Maniacs)
Mary Coughlan - smoky irish voice
Regina Spektor - new to me, great sound

[LH2]

+1 Neko Case...

Maybe try the Yeah Yeah Yeahs...

Kate Bush & Tori Amos are both cool too.

[DRZRM]

I figured someone would beat me to Neko Case, she sure has some pipes, and I hate country...seriously, but listen to her albums all that time. She also does some work with the Canadian band the New Pornogrophers, which is how I learned about her.

Check out the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxMgfdXbqtU

Also, get on the bandwagon before they explode, the next big techno pop thing will be (tell yer kids about them) Dragonette! They are opening for Duran Duran in Europe or something, it's like the bastard child of Garbage and Pat Benetar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQwJOVOtZpY

[Bill Bove]

Nanci Griffith.

Patty Loveless.

Indigo Girls.

Mary Chapin Carpenter.

[mjb266]

I saw cowboy junkies in Glenside, PA and I can tell you she's got wiskey covered...maybe heroin from the way she was strung out...

[Ray]

Plenty of good suggestions already, but a few lesser known great ones:

Shannon McNally (bluesy rock)
Kelly Willis (country-ish)
Joss Stone (blues, R&B - a bit too much affect, but a LOT of talent)
Eleni Mandell (uniquely quirky - everything from punk to country mixed in)
Aimee Mann (great songwriter, vocals have their own unique sound too)

Someone else mentioned Patty Griffin - her brand new album is great. Also a strong second to Alison Kraus, Bonnie, Rory Block, Roseanne Cash, Patty Loveless. I have a weak spot for old Joni Mitchell too - but it was the songs at least as much as the singing. And Aretha - nobody better.

-Ray

[72gmc]

a coworker has Neko Case in his shared iTunes folder but I'm not authorized to listen to his iTunes purchase.

Cheapskate! Buy the album!

[mosca]

I was just thinking that Rickie Lee Jones doesn't get much mention anymore. I'm still undecided about her new record, but Ghostyhead has a nice experimental edge to it, and Evening of My Best Day has become one of my favorite listens. She's a true original.

[Archibald]

You guys have to knock back a few extra shots of Geritol with Viagra chasers to stay awake listening to that sheet? Jeezus.

Patricia Day (Horror Pops)
http://horrorpops.com/images/bios/pat_profile2.jpg

Peaches
http://www.kindamuzik.net/gfx/peaches-live1-0404.jpg

That's a start, just to get your blood pumping.

[obtuse]

archibald-
leave these poor old guys alone. they need some muzak from the good ol'days.

obtuse

[atmo]

ladies and gentlemen -
the fabulous stains atmo...
http://static.flickr.com/90/241651074_e213270412_o.jpg

[GoJavs]

The New P's are fantastic....The Laws have indeed changed.
:)


I figured someone would beat me to Neko Case, she sure has some pipes, and I hate country...seriously, but listen to her albums all that time. She also does some work with the Canadian band the New Pornogrophers, which is how I learned about her.

Check out the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxMgfdXbqtU

[obtuse]

the smears.

obtuse

[loewer]

Rosanne Cash, Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne...

[mike p]

Annie Lennox
Janis Joplin
Anita Baker
Allison Krauss
Toni Childs


Depending on the mood your in.


Mike

[Kevan]

Here's an unusual one: Casey Chambers

An Aussy with a voice that could have come from Lubbock

http://www.kaseychambers.com/

Otherwise, I think you got the hit list.

[Johnnyg]

The Neils (no longer together, Boston area) The Cranberries (out of Ireland)

[Kevan]

The Story, Grace in Gravity.

For you dog lovers, listen to Dog Dreams.


http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,169689,00.html

[Archibald]

Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs!
http://www.spockman.com/YeahYeahYeahs6a.jpg

The Come Ons
http://www.sympathyrecords.com/catalogue/images2/SFTRI670.gif

The Donnas
http://photojustin.com/images/TheDonnas_101404_3967.jpg

The Detroit Cobras
http://www.boudist.com/images/detroit_cobras.jpg

Holly Golightly
http://www.underexposed.org.uk/hollygolightly/hollygolightly2.jpg

Mr. Airplane Man
http://bugjar.com/pic/images/40f83edd555daMrAirplaneMan1.JPG

Life is too short to listen to crap. :banana:

[72gmc]

Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics? You surprise me, Obtuse. I figured you for a Vanity 6 kind of guy.

[julia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaggs

[BarryG]

Annie Lennox
Joan Osborne
Dolores O'Riordan (in her lilty best)
Jennifer Warnes

[72gmc]

Sorry, I can't go Jennifer Warnes. The soundtrack to Dirty Dancing is on heavy rotation in Hell.

But I do appreciate the suggestions. Met your man at the expo, Julia, and he didn't strike me as a Shaggs listener.

[mosca]

..

[julia]

But I do appreciate the suggestions. Met your man at the expo, Julia, and he didn't strike me as a Shaggs listener.

if steve heard the shaggs his head would explode. mine did, too, but i went back for more. . .

[CNote]

.

[manet]

.

[cadence90]

Also:
Teresa Salguiero (Madredeus)
KT Tunstall
Edith Piaf
Gianna Nannini and Laura Pausini
Omara Portuondo
....

[cadence90]

Also:
Teresa Salguiero (Madredeus)
KT Tunstall
Edith Piaf
Gianna Nannini and Laura Pausini
Omara Portuondo
....

[DRZRM]

Manet,

Not to offend anyone, but does this seem like the type of board that everyone will just recognize PJ Harvey from pictures without a title? Good call though! Has anyone said Liz Phair (earlier, not later, albums)?

[manet]

LUCINDA EFFIN WILLIAMS

[manet]

Manet,

Not to offend anyone, but does this seem like the type of board that everyone will just recognize PJ Harvey from pictures without a title? Good call though! Has anyone said Liz Phair (earlier, not later, albums)?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Hall_at_Louse_Point

[cadence90]

gracehttp://www.herbgreenefoto.com/gallery/jefferson_airplane/grace-2.jpg

[rbtmcardle]

Diana Krall
Norah Jones
Allison Krauss (no whiskey or cigarettes here, but possibly the purest female vocalist out there atmo)


+1 Diana Krall and Norah Jones, especially Krall

Hard to find but Esther Satterfield is a sure bet

[aLexis]

meshell ndegeocello

Kate Bush

good call on the Peaches.

go see Lucinda soon, her voice dies a little bit each show (saw her last Friday)

not really in the Female Vocalist category per se, but I must give props to a still ripped and still rocking, Joan mfn Jett.

[onekgguy]

surprised to see only one other person (Mike P) mentioned Tony Childs. great voice but not sure if it's what you're looking for...

next to you (streaming audio) (www.kevinandtammy.net/mp3/nexttoyou.asx)

next to you (mp3) (www.kevinandtammy.net/mp3/nexttoyou.mp3)

Kevin g

[csm]

Lucinda is in Harrisburg the end of the month. I already have tickets.

[mike p]

surprised to see only one other person (Mike P) mentioned Tony Childs. great voice but not sure if it's what you're looking for...

next to you (streaming audio) (www.kevinandtammy.net/mp3/nexttoyou.asx)

next to you (mp3) (www.kevinandtammy.net/mp3/nexttoyou.mp3)

Kevin g


I can't believe no one mentioned Annie Lennox!

Mike

[merckx]

Lisa Gerrard.

Sex for the ears.

[julia]

LUCINDA EFFIN WILLIAMS

+100

[Louis]

.
For me there are two: Janis Joplin and Natalie Merchant by a mile.

Here's my little Aimee Mann 'Til Tuesday story I posted a while back on Frank's "Best Live Concert" thread: Aimee Mann concert story (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=204101&postcount=3)
.

[julia]

Manet,

Not to offend anyone, but does this seem like the type of board that everyone will just recognize PJ Harvey from pictures without a title? Good call though! Has anyone said Liz Phair (earlier, not later, albums)?

PJ is the queen
early Liz Phair rocks me - she's still radical

[obtuse]

if you're into mime music and have the exact oppisite taste in humanity as my wife.....(amanda's a pal of mine; yet my wife would happilly stab her in the head with a sharpened car bumper.)

obtuse

[onekgguy]

I can't believe no one mentioned Annie Lennox!

Mike

Mike...i'm a big Annie fan too but i thought the OP was looking for something more sultry...i could be wrong.

Kevin g

[MarleyMon]

Perhaps you might enjoy Jesse Havey of The Duhks (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8373896&MyToken=2eaea90a-50bb-420b-bd5c-1082cbf1707a)

I like Kristin Andreassen (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=46370659&MyToken=01922323-4239-4874-9164-e6e5f99328c2)
She is part of Uncle Earl (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=17077984)

[93legendti]

I need to branch out, music-wise. Female vocalists seem a good place to start, but my knowledge is old school--like Chrissie Hynde and Ann Wilson for rock, Lucinda Williams for folk/country, and Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday for jazz.

Likes: the deep, whiskey-and-cigarettes female voice.
Dislikes: not much.

Suggestions? Please educate me.
These aren't branch outs, but some you mgiht like them if you like Wilson and Hynde:

Sass Jordan--but only her "Rats" and "Racine" cd's. Her other cd's are pretty lame pop, top-40 stuff. These 2 cd's have gusty blues rockers and ballads and feature Stevie Salas' guitar work.
Susan Tedeschi's 1rst cd is real nice.
Koko Taylor has some real nice blues cd's.

[vaxn8r]

How about:

[bcm119]

Lucinda

Hope Sandoval (of mazzy star)

PJ Harvey

[RIHans]

Diana Krall
Norah Jones
Allison Krauss (no whiskey or cigarettes here, but possibly the purest female vocalist out there atmo)
And I hear there is a new Joni Mitchell disk. I'm sure it's jazzy and I'll like it!

[72gmc]

Mike...i'm a big Annie fan too but i thought the OP was looking for something more sultry...i could be wrong.

Kevin g

I didn't mean to narrow the field with the smoky voice preference, just tossing out a starting point. Feel free to go wide of the mark. Truth be told I was listening to Liz Phair when I typed the original question. Then Heart's "Mistral Wind". A big hair arena rock type day.

Loving all of the suggestions. Now I have a list to work with.

[bironi]

Aretha
Ella
Marian Anderson
Laura Nyro
Bonnie Raitt
Joni Mitchell

and others mentioned prior :beer:

[BarryG]

.

[stevep]

eva cassidy

[YO!!!]

Maria Muldaur {her cover of Dylan love songs Heart of Mine is great}

Lucinda {tickets for Saturday's show}

Jennifer Warnes

Koko Taylor

Marcia Ball

Uppity Blues Women

Nanci Griffith

Kim Carnes

Iris Dement

[Tom]

Mary Gauthier. "Drag Queens and Limousines", "Mercy Now", "Wheel Within a Wheel"... lotsa good stuff there.

Oh, heck, Eliza Gilkyson if for no other reason than "Man of God"

Dar Williams for covering Fred Eaglesmith "Wilder Than Her"

Lucinda Williams for the voice

Madeline Peyroux for the voice

Shemekia Copeland for the voice

Maria Muldaur - her cover of "Southland of the Heart" is like she wrote the tune herself, I've seen her twice down at the Van Dyck in town here and in a small room it's a real treat.

[manet]

.

[milhouse]

bikini kill, and this catchy stuff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU1CDSP7FRk)

[IFRider]

The Donna's rock, Lucinda Williams, Diana Krall.

Some not mentioned;

Jazz - Jane Monheit, Nancy Wilson (with Cannonball Adderly), Karrin Allyson, Nina Simone, Patricia Barber (check Modern Cool)

Rock - Kate Bush, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, Shawn Colvin (latest is very good), Aimee Mann

Country - Emmylou Harris

[BarryG]

Suzanne Vega deserves a mention. (and she actually hasn't been previously mentioned, unlike several other "unmentioneds")

[Archibald]

Don't know how I forgot about "Nouvelle Vague." Very cool, very hip, very French. Their covers of the Dead Kennedy's "Too drunk to f***" transforms the song (seriously, give it a chance) and the Buzzcocks "Ever fallen in love" and the Cramps "Human Fly" are nothing short of amazing. :banana:

http://www.europa-freilichtbuehne.de/termine/img/nouvelle_vague.jpg

Lucinda Williams just seems so damn generic to me.

[michael white]

this thread is getting pretty far afield and repeating itself,
but if you're going to throw in Mazzy Star or PJ Harvey, ya gotta put in this honky-tonk diva too . . .

[MassBiker]

Two bands (female vocalists) worth checking out are:

"Skin" from Skunk Anansie

Lisa Kekaula from The Bellrays

I was gonna mention Detroit Cobras but Archiblad got them.


:beer:

[Birddog]

Another vote for Amy Winehouse. I stumbled across her last week and this is the song that caught my attention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFVM5pVTwkM

I read somewhere that she is negotiating to sing the next James Bond movie theme song.

Birddog

[Russell]

Patsy Cline
Jesse Sykes
PJ Harvey
Marianne Faithful

[wtex]

Here's an unusual one: Casey Chambers

An Aussy with a voice that could have come from Lubbock

http://www.kaseychambers.com/

Otherwise, I think you got the hit list.

Dude, I wish.

+1 on Neko Case and Madeleine Peyroux. Can't believe we haven't mentioned Cat Power yet, she was the first that came to mind.

[ss-jimbo]

Shawn Colvin
Sarah Dashew (Austin Local)
Sarah Harmer
Nanci Griffith
Murmurs
Michelle Shocked
Mercedes Sosa (that's whiskey and smokes for you, just in Spanish)
Maria McKee (older and newer, but not so much the middle)
Laura Minor
The Be Good Tanyas
Shelby Lynne
Adrienne Young
Miriam Makeba

These run from folksy to country to smokey to international. Some may have been mentioned previously, but I wanted I only glanced at most posts. These are all on my iPod, along with others.

[72gmc]

Can't believe we haven't mentioned Cat Power yet

I should have mentioned her in my original post. Been Yeah Yeah Yeah-ing for a while... I'll go listen to Taking People now.

[pjm]

Jonatha Brooke. How she isn't more famous is beyond me. Get her DVD/CD, Live In New York. Great band, and the recording in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround is fantastic. :)

New CD coming soon. Listen....
http://www.jonathabrooke.com/music/careful-what-you-wish-for

[jeh]

http://www.lyrics.com/w/waitresses,_the/the.best.of.the.waitresses.jpg

joanna newsom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNT67rryO5U

cub:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFKThNh5Vqk

exene cervenka:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkMVfF2Rdug


but they can't hold a candle to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFGTnZ1bOsE

seriously.

and to all of you neko lovers, you can't have her. she is mine. QED and stuff.


-j

[Bud_E]

Etta James
Astrud Gilberto
Sarah Vaughan
...and I'm a sucker for Peggy Lee

(apologies if these have been listed already)

[rwsaunders]

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin and the Indigo Girls. I'm in heart with Lucinda Williams. My wife claims that I'm a thespian trapped in a man's body.

[Fat Robert]

not yet listed:


isobelle campbell

kelly willis

caitlin cary

tift merrit


yeah, i'm a wuss

bite me

[Fat Robert]

julie miller

[sspielman]

Marti Jones

[davids]

I am far from my music collection right now, so I am certain I'm missing a few good candidates. But here's someone who hasn't been mentioned:

Jenny Toomey

Her record, Antidote, is a masterpeice. Read about it here (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9yamqj5qoj6a), and then buy it!

[mosca]

Miho Hatori. If you don't have both Cibo Matto albums, you are missing out. And she's done some great bossa-nova-type stuff with Smokey Hormel. And she has a new solo record that I haven't heard yet, but will boldly recommend anyway!

[72gmc]

No worries FatBob, I'm adding them to the list for my inner wuss. It's a long, long list now.

[cw05]

Mindy Smith...a voice from heaven.

[wtex]

I am far from my music collection right now, so I am certain I'm missing a few good candidates. But here's someone who hasn't been mentioned:

Jenny Toomey

Her record, Antidote, is a masterpeice. Read about it here (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9yamqj5qoj6a), and then buy it!

ooh, good call, saw her and her writing buddy Franklin at SXSW a few years back, packed house, great show!

[Fat Robert]

rosie flores

[catulle]

Liberace.

[crf]

Mary Gaultier.

[Tom]

julie miller

Anybody that is credited for "trash can lid" on the album liner notes is OK in my book.

[a100mark]

how is it that no one has mentioned Amy Ray, specifically of course! You can't get any rapsier than that......good southern drawl and all.

[mgd]

late to this, but nobody mentioned sally timms, solo or with the mekons.

[bozman]

yoko ono anyone? anyone?


i like these:
kate bush
alison krause
nina simone
indigo girls
emmylou harris

[edouard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c5MnsnWDes&mode=related&search=

[edouard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbUnfvq7uzQ

[csm]

Saw lucinda wed. wow. she was incredible. played the forum in harrisburg, pa.
she sounded great.

[cadence90]

A beautiful version of one of my all-time favorite songs.
Copenhagen, 6/2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr9ttOkqq04)

Welcome back Patti!

[davyt]

Everyone that's been mentioned so far. And lest we forget...

Christina Amphlett (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxesIxgMX28)
Siouxsie Sioux (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBm-m67d3Bg)
Patty Donahue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEVLaqoC7E)

[rsl]

Sorry, no energy right now to read all the responses, but a few favorite female vocalists: Neko Case, Natalie Merchant, Tift Merritt. Only the first borders on the gravelly end of the spectrum, but I definitely like the music of each of you're a folk or alt-country fan.

[ti_boi]

Maria McKee

[ti_boi]

Aimee Mann


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko8i8O5QUIU

[Frankwurst]

Racheal Yamagata :beer:

[chuckroast]

Emmylou Harris is an American treasure.

[Dekonick]

Mentioned before, but only once I think...

Edith Piaf - an experience.

and dont forget the banshees...

and -

Freddy Mercury and QUEEN :p

[saab2000]

-Souixsee Souix
-Mazzy Star (at least the singer part Hope Sandoval, though of course one doesn't exist without the other)
-Gianna Nanini
-Natascha (Swiss)
-Natalie Merchant
-Nena (yes, she sings more than '99 Luftballons')

These are some of my faves.

[paczki]

No one mentioned Cat Power. Exactly what you say you're looking for, and I think the whiskey and cigarettes are real (like with Amy Winehouse).

[KeithS]

Etta James, can't miss there.

Edith Piaf, The French Sparrow. No Regrets - "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien"! Bourbon and unfiltered smokes. From Wikipedia "she drank heavily to combat the pain of depression, and injected herself with morphine/cortison shots to suppress pain supposedly from rhumatism". A french Billie Holiday, I think Lady Day had a touch of the rhumatism too.

You've recieved other great advice here too - Emmylou Harris, doesn't get any better. Allison Krause. She's great, her band - Union Station is marvelous, saw her here in Mpls in the spring. A moving experience.

[rounder]

If i was gonna fall in love it would be allison krauss. If i was gonna watch someone play it would be lucinda williams.

[jamesau]

Some great recommendations here. Here's one that hasn't been mentioned:
Esther Ofarim is an Israeli folk singer who sings beautifully in several languages.

Then there's the far other-end of the spectrum: Mrs. Miller is great to end the party or get the kids out of bed on a Saturday morning. Just listen to Downtown but be forewarned: this requires a good and active sense of humor to appreciate.(http://franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=77).

I guess it's cruel and crass of me to mention Ofarim and Miller in the same thread, but there, I did it.

[rounder]

I think Lucinda Williams is really great but i would go with Alison Krauss...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL5zCH-6eqw

[Fixed]

bow your heads bros ..royalty imho
enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNSp7MaADM&mode=related&search=

[rounder]

lucinda williams is also great...here it's mainly dogs playing though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL5zCH-6eqw

[rounder]

That was a great video of billie holiday...thanks.