Mica's masterwork, criminally underpromoted. She just gets better with age, yet even as a teenager, she knew no one could teach her anything about singing. You know what, she was right!

Still the archetypal "white soul voice" - could anyone better her Look Of Love? Doubt it.

BK at number 5? Yes, because there's so much personality in her unmistakeable voice that we've got to forgive her forays into reality TV.

I know Roisin Murphy was born in Dublin, but she should be on every “best” list - the arrangements here are awesome, and The Only Ones is an incredibly clever song. Her later solo stuff's OK, too.

Opera-trained Terri sings like Mary J - and then some, but with considerably more humour. For goodness’ sake, support her!

D'Influence's favourite singer Sarah Anne Webb has the most amazing, raspy vocal, and her breath control on “Falling” is a technical marvel. Check out “Show Me Love” on the D-Vas compilation, too.

I couldn’t reasonably overlook Kate for this list. When her experiments work, as on “The Ninth Wave”, they really work.

Sandie was pitch-perfect from birth, I’m guessing. Britain’s most glamorous Buddhist is also fun when she tackles her hits in multiple other Euro languages, too.

Elizabeth Fraser's linguistic mannerisms may seem bonkers, but she’s a one-woman wall of sound. Her collaboration with composer Craig Armstrong is a meeting of two pre-eminent Scottish talents.

Why Shena Winchester hasn’t been snapped up for an album is beyond me – her vocals simply smoulder. Overlook her slightly embarrassing Electrosexual and seek out Grant Nelson’s mix of More Than Woman.

This was supposed to be a “Top 20” list, until I remembered Sam – a singer of amazing technique and integrity. Jamelia? She's OK, but do me a favour…