Joplin and Simone both fantastic - And would probably sneak in and around my top 3. But to mix it up a bit, I rather love; 1. Bjork 2. Fiona Apple 3. Beth Gibbons
Maybe they were implying that PP Arnold was so good it doesn't matter about the other two. Reminds me of a joke my Dad told me about the film industry: "There's two things you have to remember about the film industry: there's never any back end" "What's the other one?" "I've forgotten" For me I'd probably choose Joni Mitchell, Julie London, and a new singer Hannah Reid from London Grammar
Anohni (formerly known as Antony Hegerty) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loNU4fVpO8E i also like Adele and Jenn Grant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84G_d7Oi1ac