As a spin-off from the definition thread, so we can unashamedly talk about what we like. Also, a good way of getting recommendations from other posters, I reckon.

For a long time, it's been Walter Pardon's "The trees they do grow high." However, since I heard Joseph Taylor's "Lord Bateman," I'm just blown away every time I listen to it (which has been a lot). The power of the vocal, the ornamentation that doesn't get in the way of the lyric. Everything.

As far as revival singers go, it's got to Mike Waterson doing "Tam Linn." The way he alters the tone of his voice for the different verses. And that pause he puts in -- "a voice said [pause] 'Lady, how dare you pluck a rose....?"