11 Must-Have Albums

The jazz pianist calls her new album a love leter to husband Elvis Costello. She conjures sultry songstresses like Astrud Gilberto in “The Boy from Ipanema,” her take on the bossa nova classic, and revitalizes chestnuts such as “Too Marvelous for Words.” —H.G.W.

Buy it here.

A Texan who’s done time in bar bands and the U.S. Navy, Foster harkens back to the golden age of soul in one track (“Love in the Middle”) and stark country blues in the next (“Joy on the Other Side”). Her magnificent vocals and inspiring lyrics shine in “Dues Paid in Full.” —Holly George-Warren

Buy it here.

With a voice like maple syrup, this singer-songwriter puts her distinctive stamp on a stack of delicious offerings, from folk rock (“Rain Roll In”) to blues (“I’m Gonna Dress in Black”) to a Loretta Lynn nugget (“The Darkest Day”). —H.G.W.

Buy it here.

The poetic songwriters behind this female folk-pop quartet gave up their day jobs (one’s a former dental hygienist) to make gorgeous sounds full time. Their instrumental and vocal prowess shines on the haunting “Jump Start” and the sly “Buddha.” —H.G.W.

Buy it here.

The daughter of Johnny Cash has released her twelfth studio album and her first collection of covers–all songs from a list of “essential” tunes her father gave her when she was 18. The album includes her stamp on songs like Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You” and Don Gibson’s “Sea of Heartbreak,” which she recorded with Bruce Springsteen.

Buy it here.

With her acoustic guitar, poetic lyrics and powerful vocals, this Judy Collins protégée documents the collapse of her marriage and her rebirth as a newly single gal. Bonus: The crunchy roots-rock backup and and (on two tracks) U.K. rock icon Ian Hunter. —H.G.W.

Buy it here

She’s penned hits for a wide range of artists, including Cher and the Dixie Chicks. Now the silky-voiced Sharp is releasing her fourth solo album; it teems with catchy melodies (“Polite Society”) and pointed lyrics (“Death By Perfection,” a hummable duet with Bonnie Raitt). —H.G.W.

Buy it here.

Leave it to Amos, a minister’s daughter, to create a holiday album that blurs the lines between sacred and secular, dark and light. Exotic mash-ups of such classics as “What Child is This?” gracefully flow into such original as the big-band pastiche “Pink and Glitter.” —H.G.W.

Buy it here.

The ultimate collection of the Material Girl’s music includes such favorites as “Vogue,” “La Isla Bonita,” “Crazy for You,” and “Frozen,” proving over the course of 2 discs that she truly is the Queen of Pop.

Buy it here.

The country crooner has released the ultimate collector’s edition. The fan in yur fam can listen to her long career over four discs, starting with her first recording of “Puppy Love.”

Buy it here.

This two-disc retrospective includes 33 number ones and a new track called “Make Me.”

Buy it here.

PLANNING A STAYCATION? HERE ARE THE MOVIES YOU NEED TO RENT NOW!