Have to agree about Eva Cassidy. Most great singers have 2 or 3 genres in which they are virtually untouchable. Also, elements to their vocal giftings. Ms. Cassidy could cross genres like NOBODY else, ever. And she's better than those considered the best in those genres. She sings trad material better than ANY of the Celtic Women, et al, Haley Westerna who lifted EC's version of 'I Know You By Heart' and didn't play the guitar part like Eva did. She sang jazz better than Sarah Vaughn, soul better than Aretha, folk better than...well anybody. Show tunes and standards better than Garland.

Listen to her version of 'You've Changed' or 'I Know You By Heart" on Youtube. They're unrivaled. The list goes on and on. It's almost embarrassing to listen to young singers directly rip off Eva's takes on classic songs in today's marketplace. Faith Hill stole her version of 'Over The Rainbow', virtually note for note, but couldn't pull it off because she sorely lacked Eva's delicate touch.

She is singular. The never has been or will there ever be another w/her breadth of talent. Can you imagine Whitney, Maria or Aretha trying to sing 'Kathy's Song'? They'd butcher it. Any of them would gild the lily to the point where the song would be virtually unrecognizable. As sacrilegious as some would think that is to say. The main thing about her, though was her innate instinct to NEVER lose track of the narrative. Can't say the same about Streisand. She's her own biggest fan.

Not only that she played on and arranged every single track she ever recorded. Her versions of Wayfaring Stranger and Wade On The Water were SCRATCH VOCALS. Can you imagine? SHE thought she could improve on them. There's an old cliche about singing and music in general: Excellence by repetition becomes mediocrity. Cases in point. Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.

Everybody who posts to the Mudcat will disagree about SOMETHING in this post. That's the nature of the beast here. But, if ANYBODY can find another singer in the latter 20th or early 21st century who's better across the board. Bring it on. Edith Piaf? Couldn't sing soul or jazz to save her life. Beverly Sills? Nope. Ethel Mermon? Kristen Chenoweth? Sophie Tucker? Fontella Bass? Jonell Mosser? Linda Ronstadt? Keep 'em comin'. They ALL have limitations. All except Eva. There's no doubt had she taken up opera she'd have killed that as well.

Btw, +1 to the person who posted about Pink. VERY underrated, but a honest to goodness kick-ass singer and a good woman to boot.