Sandy Denny (should go without saying)
It doesn’t get better in my view.
Sandy was a wonderful singer and unsurpassed songwriter. Everything she recorded was magnificent, but her solo LPs “Sandy” and “Like an Old Fashioned Waltz” are remarkable works.
Another singer who I adore is Shirley Collins. All of her recordings are worthy, but I was highly impressed with a collection called The Harvest Years.
Other great female artists would have to include Joan Armatrading, Basia Bulat, Martha Johnson, Joni Mitchell, Annie Haslam, Francoise Hardy, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Marie Lloyd, Sonja Kristina, Maddy Prior, Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, Fay Hield, Kate Bush, Mary Black, Shelagh McDonald, Vashti Bunyan, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many more.
An outstanding recording is Cilla Black’s version of “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” - a non album single that is by far and away her best (imo).