OK I think I have a few years on a lot of you guys. I have major jones on Aretha Franklin, the Beach Boys (I'm listening to Pet Sounds right now), and Abba to name only a few. My favourite band is Steely Dan - they're just so bloody brilliant.
I like all kinds of music - really, even opera which I normally think is a bunch of shite - so may I humbly suggest these as just beautiful:
Camberwick Green...listening to this mandolin melody brings nostalgic tears to my eyes, just imagine having this played to you most weekdays on daytime childrens's TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IID-jIfwUhc
Continuing the childrens' TV theme...Mary Mungo and Midge. I used to cry when this finished, it was just too beautiful, particularly because of the end credit music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwMHy9FCmcs
But if you really want a true world class artist with a total mastery of time and feel (and with no less than Herbie Hancock giving the into), I present the late and very great Shirley Horn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnB7lCvE1s4