# Recommend good, torch-ey female vocalists! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268 "2012-04-19T14:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/21 "2012-04-21T07:02:09Z")
Maria Muldaur. Her version of “Santa Baby” is easily the best. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/22 "2012-04-21T08:10:23Z")
I can’t help you, but can you enlighten me on what “torch-ey” means and where it comes from? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/23 "2012-04-21T14:28:27Z")
[Torch song](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torch_song). I saw Nicole Atkins singing “[The Way it Is](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1LsbfHPNrQ&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TLdgQby2LRov0)” a few years ago on Letterman’s show and fell in love with her voice immediately (the [Letterman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_NVsPM87eI) clip is also on YouTube). She’s only released two albums, the first of which (_Neptune City_) is pretty good, the second (_Mondo Amore_) not as good, but still worth a listen. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/24 "2012-04-21T15:33:54Z")
Dianne Schuur. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/25 "2012-04-21T20:26:23Z")
Would [**Julia Fordham**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Y2cF90wbs) count? ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/26 "2012-04-21T22:55:50Z")
[Ute Lemper.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCswMKnMHtU) ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/27 "2012-04-21T23:02:17Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > [Ute Lemper.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCswMKnMHtU) God, no matter how many times I see her doing that it gives me chills: truly a masterclass on How It’s Done. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/28 "2012-04-22T00:00:03Z")
I’ll second Nicole Atkins. Check out that letterman clip. It’s amazing. And I love Eva Cassidy, but she is sadly, no longer with us. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/29 "2012-04-24T04:23:59Z")
And consider Renee Olstead: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WA-4iawLy9I/maxresdefault.jpg "Renee Olstead - A Love That Will Last") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA-4iawLy9I) Not to mention Corinne Bailey Rae: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wkEeNpWMvgk/hqdefault.jpg "Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkEeNpWMvgk) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/30 "2012-04-24T05:32:58Z")
> [@Anonymous\_Coward](#): > > Imelda May is wonderful > > [Knock 1 2 3](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmACjhjksXg) > > [Inside Out](http://youtu.be/_CRnai8nCIU) Speaking of, my Pandora ‘Imelda May’ channel did me the favor of introducing me to Devil Doll which may (for some songs) fit the OP. [Union Square](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZAsRNOdZI) [You Put A Spell on Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psDTTxks2HM&feature=relmfu) [King of Brooklyn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsKlT1obXDU&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/31 "2012-04-24T14:14:11Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Speaking of, my Pandora ‘Imelda May’ channel did me the favor of introducing me to Devil Doll which may (for some songs) fit the OP. > > [Union Square](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZAsRNOdZI) > > [You Put A Spell on Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psDTTxks2HM&feature=relmfu) > > [King of Brooklyn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsKlT1obXDU&feature=related) She’s featured on \*\*Jeff Beck’s Rock n’ Roll Party \*\*CD/DVD featuring rockabilly and Les Paul-type 40’s pop-jazz. Really good. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/32 "2012-04-24T22:12:39Z")
another vote for [k. d. lang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHZXJJN4_Mg) See what I did there? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/33 "2012-04-29T22:28:17Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Look up some video of New Orleans singer Meschiya Lake. You’ll thank me. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/34 "2012-04-30T02:26:29Z")
For a real old-school shiver, Carmel McCourt’s [“Bad Day”](http://youtu.be/u3TMc22m7tE) is a great listen, even though she doesn’t have your typical torch voice. Try Jevetta Steele’s pretty amazing [“Calling You”](http://youtu.be/U4fYqLPmCpM) too. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/35 "2012-04-30T02:36:42Z")
The Style Council’s [“Paris Match”](http://youtu.be/uAdal53PKmk) (with Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn on vocals) was always a go-to torch song on my old radio show. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/36 "2012-04-30T12:09:48Z")
Well if you are going to mention Tracy Thorn, then surely you must mention ‘Missing’. Maybe a little bit too up tempo but here is a slower version [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/z_9brVm54as/maxresdefault.jpg "Everything but the Girl - MISSING (Slow version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_9brVm54as) I can’t think of a particular Mary Black song, but she must have something in her repertoire - this one would not quite be it but its still pretty fine all the same [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AM6LiAtnyuc/hqdefault.jpg "Mary Black－Only a Woman's Heart") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM6LiAtnyuc) I imagine Natalie Marchant has something but just can’t think of anything at the moment. Shame you have to stick to living artists - listen to Sandy Denny - a song about leaving someone - getting to the point of decision [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HnWfOMl7VOc/hqdefault.jpg "SANDY DENNY - I'm a dreamer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnWfOMl7VOc) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/37 "2012-04-30T13:03:49Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Yes, but dead singers rarely tour. Barring Keith Richards, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268/38 "2012-05-03T15:07:21Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Barring Keith Richards, of course. Of course - hence the “rarely,” as opposed to “never.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-good-torch-ey-female-vocalists/619268.md?page=1)