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The world’s top female jazz artist, Krall has achieved many milestones, from winning five Grammy Awards to producing the great Barbra Streisand. After recording 11 studio albums, the last of which, Glad Rag Doll, explored vaudeville tunes from the 1920s and ’30s, the Canadian-born star now turns her attention to her favorite pop songs from the ’60s to the present. Produced by David Foster, the album showcases the pianist’s voice, amid both spare and lush arrangements, in all of its beautiful, ragged glory. She duets with Michael Bublé on Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)” and Ryan Adams on Randy Newman’s “Feels Like Home.” But Krall is at her best on her own, singing stark rendit...

Best known as Amy Winehouse’s producer, the New York-born DJ goes back to his club roots here, teaming up with Bruno Mars on the smash hit “Uptown Funk” and Keyone Starr on “I Can’t Lose.” Other highlights include lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon and the ferocious funk of “Feel Right,” featuring rapper Mystikal.

He’s unrivalled as a songwriter, but often derided as a singer—which makes this album so curious: the legend lending his craggy pipes to songs associated with Frank Sinatra, one of the greatest vocalists ever. Yet the results are surprisingly affecting, especially on his moving renditions of “What’ll I Do” and “Full Moon and Empty Arms.”

The lead singer from Grammy winners Carolina Chocolate Drops makes a stunning solo debut, giving new life to songs as old as blueswoman Geeshie Wiley’s “Last Kind Words” and gospel legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Up Above My Head.” Rhiannon also lends her soulful voice to country classics, covering Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton.

It’s been quite a ride for Osmond, from making his TV debut at age five to his current Las Vegas residency with sister Marie. To celebrate 50 years in show business, Osmond has recorded a series of personally meaningful songs. It opens with Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour,” the first record he ever bought, on which Stevie plays harmonica. He then performs a tender rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song,” which he heard Elton perform when he realized he was going marry his wife. The album closes with the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road,” which neatly summarizes the talented artist’s personal and professional journey.

Next month’s Grammy Awards will be wildly diverse, judging by these 21 tracks. From Ed Sheeran’s “Sing” and Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” to Sia’s “Chandelier” and Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” it’s an eclectic collection, topped off by Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” and Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” both strong Song of the Year contenders.

A concert to salute the Coen Brothers’ movie is now a documentary and a soundtrack, featuring classic Sixties songs performed by Elvis Costello and Joan Baez (“Which Side Are You On”), Conor Oberst (“Four Strong Winds”), Marcus Mumford (“The Auld Triangle”) and his actress-wife Carey Mulligan (“Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby”).

Henderson hails from the tiny English village of Tetney, “a place where you had to use your imagination to have fun.” That imagination shines through on the 19-year-old’s debut album, which features the hit single “Ghost, co-written with Adele songwriter Ryan Tedder. “I keep going to the river to pray, ’cause I need something that can wash all the pain,” she sings on the gospel-tinged track, conjuring up images of the Deep South. On the slow-burning “Glow,” Henderson draws pictures of golden sea treasures and shooting flames to express an undying love. But she also gets deeply personal on the touching ballad “Yours” and the r&b-inspired “Mirror Man,” dishing on a self-absorbed lover. Wit...

A contemporary of Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot, David emerged in the ’70s as one of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters, covered by stars like Anne Murray and Harry Belafonte. This collection of previously unreleased songs, featuring such standouts as “Rocking Chair World” and “Ballad of Jacob Marlowe,” reasserts the depth of his talent.

It doesn’t get much better than hearing Sam Smith’s falsetto on Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”—unless it’s Kylie Minogue’s cooing through Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes.” From Ed Sheeran covering Bruce Springsteen and Kaiser Chiefs tackling the Clash to Dido doing Bronski Beat, everyone puts fresh spins on ’80s classics.