Singer/Songwriters: Female Voices

No matter the genre (jazz, new age, rock, folk, pop, et al) every song among these priceless Essentials has this in common: It's the product of an exceptional female talent. We begin with the pioneers and elder-stateswomen of the world's musical sisterhood (Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Dolly Parton) alongside those worthy to pick up the torch and carry it forward. Is that a choir of angels? No, it's an avalanche of female virtuosity . . . in Next Steps.

The breathtaking strength and purity of Natalie Merchant's voice distinguished her tenure as front woman for 10,000 Maniacs and remains a trademark. "My Skin" appears on her second solo release, 1998's Ophelia. Another voice that has the power to suspend time belongs to Katie Melua ("Spider's Web"); did you know she appears in the movie Grindhouse? No? Well, she does. Awe turns to rapture when you hear the gorgeous voices in Deep Cuts.

Scot folk heroine Karine Polwart grew up in a small corner of Sterlingshire, but her presence here is big, as she effortlessly guides us through the intricacies of "Hole in the Heart". Fellow Scot Sandi Thom started out in a covers band called the Residents, but went solo after she was spotted by a label owner who had made millions from the fishing industry. Sample his catch with "Sunset Borderline".

What an incredible lineup. Here, in one breathtaking Essentials playlist, we've assembled some of the world's best-known female singer-songwriters alongside names you may not know very well (but soon will) and several artists who are no longer with us but live through their untouchable legacy (Kirsty MacColl, Sandy Denny). The rockin' country of Lucinda Williams, the ethereal Celtic soundscapes of Enya, the pure brilliance of Kate Bush, the folk narratives of Linda Thompson — there's something for everyone in this incredible compilation.