There's an old line and book title, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, which is most likely incorrect, personally, I think I come from Vulcan (sheesh!)
I'm also referencing a fave TV show of the '60's called My Favorite Martian,
but anyway...
This is my whacky way to bring together some of my favorite female musical artists.
In choosing the tracks I avoided anything too male-centric, if anything, I was drawn to 'running away from men' type songs, but then there are some songs that are just too beautiful to not include.
The sad fact is, just about everything women have sung and recorded has been written, produced, engineered, orchestrated, distributed, manipulated and promoted by men. Especially during the first 60 years of record production. As time's gone by more and more female artists have broken a heck of a lot of rules, tearing down the walls of patriarchal power brick by brick.
I have included a bunch of my favorite Girl Groups from the early 60's. Girl Group music was one of the more profound influences of my early years that helped shape my musical landscape. My big sister Kim (7 years older) unintentionally introducing me to the Crystals, The Ronnettes, The Shangri-las.
I've kicked off the proceedings with an amazing Wall of Sound track by the Ronettes, with the eternal question of Is This What I Get for Loving You. This is one of the many tracks in this series revealing secrets for those familiar with the Purdy/Tooth ouvre.
Julie Driscoll, later known as Julie Tippetts, was one of Britian's leading vocalists in the R and B / Beat boom of the 60's, with Julie teamed up with Brian Auger for a great many astonishing albums. She continued to forge a career, developing her own extremely personal style.
I discovered The Shirelles pretty late on, via a version of this song covered on The Beatles BBC sessions, though I'm sure they would have crossed my path before, with great tunes like 'Mamma Said', killer stuff.
Before joining the Jefferson Airplane in '66, Grace Slick was the lead vocalist of San Francisco's The Great Society. This great live version of her GS tune was later revamped on the JA album Surrealistic Pillow. Hers was one of strongest and most iconic voices of the '60's, with some very fine work continuing through to the 70's with solo albums and Jefferson Starship (I can't vouch for anything past about '76).
For the next four tracks we head into Sunshine Pop land with some very fabulous artists. Honey LTD, produced by Lee Hazelwood, with a great ride through the yin and yang of emotions. Margo Guryan, who I adore, brings Sun, a song that should have been a Number 1. Doris, from Sweden, gets into some very spooky territory with this number, from her amazing, Did you Give the World Some Love Today, Baby? album.
The Inner Dialogue a vocal group with attitude, had guys in it too, but I feel the project was strongly female in it's energy. This great cover from their 2nd album Friends really shines.
We have a brief stopover into the world of 70's Soul music with the great Denise LaSalle, from her Westbound album Trapped by a Thing Called Love, then drop into more treacherous waters with Wild Thing covered by Cathy Rich, produced by the L.A. scoundrel Kim Fowley, infamous for his creation and mishandling of The Runaways (Joan Jett et al).
NYC underground singer and spoken word artist Lydia Lunch covers the Classic IV tune Spooky, which is successfully MUCH spookier than the original. Taken from her Queen of Siam album, a long time fave of mine.
Things continue to be spooky with this mad cut by UK vocalist Sandy Shaw called Run. Combining a British fairground feel, justified paranoia with storming beat stomp.
Most likely my favorite female vocalist of all time, Dusty Springfield, delivers one of my fave tunes of all time, originally by the Young Rascals, How Can I be Sure. A song and mostly, her version of it, that has sent shivers down my spine for most of my life: Devine.
Anne Sexton now drives us so deep down south that you can taste the molasses.
A gorgeous track from the Sound Stage 7 label.
Betty Harris, an astounding New Orleans vocalist delivers 12 Red Roses back to her failed lover, throwing one rose at a time. A knock out track.
One of early Tamla Motown's first successes was from this trio of astounding voices. The Marvelettes had a string of killer singles Please Mr Postman among them.
I love the idea in this song that they're inviting their friends over to dance till 2 AM, but that's OK with the folks, as long as the place is cleaned up before they get home!
What the hell time is Mom and Dad getting home at?
My Boyfriend's Back is a track I adore, but am also troubled by.
I adore it because it's a amazingly constructed work, but mostly because of the raw delivery of the vocals. Both the lead and the backing sound like they're chewing gum, while almost snarling with some rich accent from Queens, the Bronx, or some NY borough (probably wrong). The idea of some guy being beaten up though, for any reason, is just out, end of story (not even for the Liberal Government).
Dance On by Kathy Kirby is a slice of '60's English melodrama, a tune that intrigued and fascinated my young mind as a child, the strange chord changes, the dramatic strings and drums. I tracked this down several years ago, hoping it was as good as I remembered, and though I found it a tad twee, it had all the excitement I remembered.
Dumb Head is a state we all go through, some permanently. This strange piece of work is produced by Joe Meek of Telstar fame. The Sharades, Gloria George and Maggie Stredder, were actually known as the Ladybirds, their name was changed for this bit of mad moonlighting.
Two more killer Girl Group songs follow up, with The Crystals mashing up that potato and the Dixie Cups dishing up the tasty New Orleans gumbo of Iko Iko. A very rare case of the N.O. sound going pop hit.
The very early, Stax Records, recording artist Barbara Stephens, wails and hiccups her way through this stomping monster tune Wait a Minute.
This is followed by another great Stax artist Wendy Rene, who recorded as as solo artist and as member of the Drapels. After the Laughter comes the Tears was introduced to me through the use of its intro on a Wu Tang Clan track. I, probably like many others sought out this insanely great tune. I finally got it on the very fine comp of her work on Light in the Attic Records, titled after this track.
Anne Peebles has had a solid place in my heart since I discovered her in the early 80's. Taken from the I Can't Stand the Rain album and a big hit on its own, I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, has all that rich Memphis soul dripping through those vengeful lyrics and tight HI Records production. Pure southern soul heaven.
Barbara Lewis, from Michigan, the other end of the USA, brings this sparkling tune to life with her own special delivery.
Betty Everett, famous for her hits You're No Good and It's in His Kiss, brings us another slice of highly infectious, stompin' soul, letting her lover know she can't bear him saying SORRY any more.
We finish up with the declaration, that finding a good man is like finding A Needle in a Haystack. This life long fave from Tamla Motown's Velvelettes is a piece of timeless joy.
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1. The Ronettes - Is This What I Get for Loving You
2. Julie Driscoll - Don't do it No More
3. The Shirelles - Baby it's You
4. The Great Society - Somebody to Love
5. Honey LTD - Tomorrow your Heart
6. Margo Guryan - Sun
7. Doris - You'll never come closer
8. Inner Dialogue - Cry Baby Cry
9. Denise LaSalle - Goody Goodie Getter
10. Cathy Rich - Wild Thing
11. Lydia Lunch - Spooky
12. Sandie Shaw - Run
13. Dusty Springfield - How can I be sure
14. Anne Sexton - You're gonna miss me
15. Betty Harris- Twelve red roses
16. The Marvelettes - Mix it up
17. The Angels - My boyfriends back
18. Kathy Kirby - Dance on
19. The Sharades - Dumb head
20. The Crystals - Mashed potato time
21. The Dixie Cups - Iko Iko
22. Barbara Stephens - Wait a minute
23. Wendy Rene - After the laughter comes the tears
24. Anne Peebles - I'm gonna tear your playhouse down
25. Barbara Lewis - Sho Nuff
26. Betty Everett - I can't hear you
27. The Velvelettes - Needle in a haystack
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