Sorry for posting again but Terri Nunn's "let Me Be The One" is also Fantastic!
She was the singer for Berlin.
What a good CD and voice.

Heart Like a Wheel by Linda Ronstadt is another great one. But the all time best female album has to be Tapestry.

Well, Agnetha isn't at least mentioned yet...

Tapestry - Carole King
Albums by Aretha,Dusty,Billie,Ella,Nina are others that come to mind, but can't remember the titles.
So many great female artists past and present I admire so much.

That put me off my dinner tonight.

The Kick Inside by Kate Bush. Self-penned, brilliant debut from a 19 year old. Sheer class.

Debut album Melissa Etheridge
first album Tracy Chapman

all albums mari Boine Persen

Wandering Spirit Mick Jagger

Jeroen

Glad to see that someone mentioned Sass Jordan's 1st album earlier. I've enjoyed that one for years.

Kudos to corriecas for bringing up Melissa Etheridge's debut as well as Tracy Chapman's though I might lean towards Tracy's 2nd album myself.

Two who I don't remember seeing listed would be
Beth Hart - Screamin' For My Supper
Ana Popovic - Still Making History

Although it's a compilation album, I've also got to mention Alison Kraus - Now That I've Found You

Not sure which Diana Krall album I'd put up for consideration but, along with Alison Kraus, she's on the short list of women I'd like to have sing me to sleep each night... Talk about some sweet dreams! Which thus makes me want to mention Patsy Cline...

Also much love for Eva Cassidy's "Live @ Blues Alley" album.

Enough!

Peace,
Mr DJA

Not by a female artist but a great album cover featuring a female:

This one isn't bad either...........



__________________________

Anybody heard this extraordinary singer?

Or this bizarre album of operatic versions of Beatles songs?

Quote
uhbuhgullayew
Not by a female artist but a great album cover featuring a female:

Got it on vinyl!

Still great some 50 years on!

Roll Away The Lynsey De Paul

Previously mentioned Kirsty Macoll, Lisa Germano, Ricky Lee Jones, EmmyLou, Chrissie, Joan, Horses, I nod my head too.

Not mentioned these two lost classics -- Martinis and Bikinis by Sam Phillips




I Need Love

And the very underrated first LP by the Boss's main squeeze:




Lucky Girl

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Aimee Mann - Magnolia Sountrack
Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing, 99.9 F, Nine Objects of Desire
Regina Spektor - Live In London
Fiona Apple - Tidal

Not flagging this up as a best female artist album ,but I bought this [www.amazon.co.uk] last year and liked it a lot ,dug it out this week and though I would tell you guys of it.
Nice voice very American influenced,countryish but enjoyable listen.She is from Liverpool if I recall,saw her on a couple of tv interviews last year and she seemed a genuine enough girl.
Any way check her out you might like her too.

Ever hear of American recording artist Petra Haden? She covered the entire album The Who Sell Out--completely a cappela [Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out; Bar/None, 2005].












Petra Haden onstage with The Decemberists.

My top picks are:
Joni Mitchell----BLUE
Joni Mitchell----Court & Spark
Joni Mitchell---Hissing of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell---Miles of Aisles
Joni Mitchell--Night Ride Home
Amy Winehoues---Back in Black
Joni Mitchell--Ladies of the Canyon
Adele----21
Linda Ronstadt----Hasten Down the Wind
Janis Joplin---Pearl
Bonnie Raitt- Nick of Time
Bonnie Raitt--Slip Stream
Karla Bonoff--All My Life, The Best Of
Bonnie Raitt--Road Tested

For me, I'd have to go with either Cher - Heart of Stone, or Sinead O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.

3 albums come directly to my mind:

Donna Summer - Bad Girls
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

I'm a little undecided on this


Sinead O'Connor - Gospel Oak EP; Edie Brickell - Picture Perfect Morning; Stevie Ann - Light Up;

Leona Naess; Eleni Mandell - Snakebite; Anne Dudley - Ancient And Modern;

Mary Cutrufello - When the Night is Through; Holly Palmer - Tender Hooks; Kirstin Candy - Another Sweet Mess;


Honorary mentions go to:
Trixie Whitley for her work in the group Black Dub,
Meegan Voss for her work in the group The Verbs.

Plus, it's hard to argue with this one:

Tina Turner - Simply the Best.

Vicki Anderson "Mother Popcorn" (compilation, 2004)
Blondie "Plastic Letters" (1978)
Foxy Brown "Chyna Doll" (1998)
Maria Callas "Norma" (live performance, La Scala, Milan, December 7, 1955)
Ingrid Caven "Helle Nacht" (1998)
Creatures "Anima Animus" (1999)
Betty Davis "Betty Davis" (1973)
Karen Elson "The Ghost Who Walks" (2010)
Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" (1983)
Eve "Scorpion" (2000)
Marianne Faithfull "Rich Kid Blues" (rec. 1970, rel. 1984)
Charlotte Gainsbourg "IRM" (2009)
The Gossip "Standing In The Way Of Control" (2005)
Billie Holiday "Lady In Satin" (1958)
Moloko "Statues" (2003)
Róisín Murphy "Ruby Blue" (2005)
Portishead "Dummy" (1994)
The Pretenders "Pretenders" (1980)
Siouxsie "Mantaray" (2007)
The Tourists "Luminous Basement" (1980)

Lots of fine artists in this thread, but no one has mentioned Tori Amos. Little Eartquakes, From the Choire Girl Hotel, Scarlet´s Walk, great stuff.