Carrie Newcomer. A bit Folksie, but a voice like honey on silk.
Enya. Well, I like her.
What, no Melissa Etheridge? Kick butt rock AND sweaty steamy stuff, too.
And how about k.d. lang? She’s got a voice that could peel paint across the street, and has a lot of fun with it.
Speaking of powerful voices, Alison Krause would be in the top five.
Also a big second for Janis Ian, from whichever of her incarnations (she’s been doing this for a loooooong time now.)
Do my eyes deceive me, or has no one mentioned Bonnie Raitt?
For the Canadians, I put in a vote for Jann Arden.
And goddamn it, laugh if you want, but if you want to include women who are both great songwriters and singers, you’d be an ass not to include Dolly Parton. I know she’s country (and I also know that opening it up to the country genre would add a whole lotta names here) but c’mon. Dolly has written a kajillion songs.
Are you looking for people who write their own stuff? I’m not sure all the suggested artists here fit that bill.
Rickie Lee Jones, especially “We Belong Together” and “Lucky Guy,” from the Pirates album. I’d also recommend much of the Flying Cowboys album, especially the title track and “The Horses.”
“Limelight,” by Geddy Lee.
Jonatha Brooke - Just about anything by her is going to be good. The War, her duet with Bruce Cockburn, is awesome.
Dear lord, I can’t believe I forgot to mention Eva Cassidy. She died in '98 or so, but is just now getting any sort of notoriety (sp?). She is one of the best singers I’ve ever heard.
The late Ofra Haza would be a nice addition. As would numerous tracks featuring Linda Thompson.
This is gonna be one long CD when it’s done.
I’d like to recommend Kristen Hersh for her excellent solo work and her work with the Throwing Muses.
Heck, why don’t we just list ALL female singer-songwriters?
Gotta mention Laurie Anderson: “Gravity’s Rainbow”, “Langue de L’amour” (certainly misspelled)…
Blossom Dearie
Dinah Washington
Betty Carter
Julie London
I second the Melissa Etheridge, Aimee Mann, and Jann Arden nominations. Personally, I have to add one artist who you either love or hate. I’m not a big fan of hers, but Jewel had some good stuff on her first CD. I’m thinking either “Morning Song” or “Near You Always.”
IMHO, I thought that, if you only listened to tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10 on “Paintings of You,” it was one of the better CDs.
Chrissie Hynde - “Back on the Chain Gang” (with the Pretenders)
Karen Carpenter - she didn’t write most of her music, but her voice is stunning