Great Ladies of Rock/R&B

How'd you like it?

Did we miss?
Jackie DeShannon
Melanie
DIONNE WARWICK

I was never a fan of the Indigo Girls; but I recently heard their version of Neil Young's "Down By The River." They kill it! I'm not too familiar with their other stuff. Do they qualify?

 

Pat Benatar. Saw her in the 80s and was floored by how such a tiny person could wail like such a powerful banshee!

 

Cover versions of One Hour Mama by Victoria Spivey | SecondHandSongs

This is a new (olde!) one for me. Hubba hubba!

 

My personal favorites on the R&B side (in no particular order)

Anita Baker
Natalie Cole
Sade
Aretha Franklin
Chaka Khan
Etta James

 

Inger Lorre

 

Irma Thomas
Kathi McDonald
Genya Ravan
Bonnie Raitt
Chi Coltrane
Joan Osborne
Lydia Pense
( those already mentioned - Amy, Etta, Aretha, Janis, Grace )

 

Two favorites of mine, often overlooked...
Maggie Bell
Maria Maldaur

 

I just finished watching the Blu-Ray of 20 Feet From Stardom . It is AWESOME! if you are a fan of R&B, Rock & Roll, Jazz or almost any other genre except Classical made in the last 65 years, you have to see and hear it. I wish they included some of my other favorite back-up vocalists like Rosemary Butler, Sharon Celani, and Lorri Perry; but so many of the greats are here and their experiences along with the perspective of the headliners they worked with is informative and touching. Great, one-of-a-kind soundtrack!

 

Baby Jean Kennedy real name Joyce Kennedy of the absolutely hard rockin group MOTHER'S FINEST is one of the most powerful female rock singers ever!

She has never ever received the recognition she truly deserves!

The woman has an other worldly set of pipes!

 

Linda Martell

 

Cast my vote for Barbara Lewis and bring more of her music back in print!

 

Gotta have Kim Richey on this list.

 

"If Linda Rondstadt is a torch singer, Judy Henske is a flame thrower." - Andrew Vachss.

My sentiments exactly. Judy is my all time #1

 

Elkie Brooks (b. Elaine Bookbinder).

 

If I called her a lady, Laura Marling, I'd be picking myself up off the floor.

 

Too bad the record labels aren't bound by this 'election'!

 

Another new discovery for me! Any particular album you'd recommend as an introduction?

 

She's a little difficult to get a grip on since she started just before the Beatles hit the States... producers really weren't sure what to do with her... so, her albums can be spotty... having said that, get High Flying Bird (title song is the defenitive version)... her S/T debut from a year earlier has definitive takes of Wade in Water, Love Henry andI Know My Rider... late 60s lost classic Farewell Aldeberan has some great tunes, especially Snowblind (eat yer heart out, Janis) and the freak folk Raider...

 

Judy Henske:

 

One more from Judy Henske:

 

Aretha Franklin
Joni Mitchell
Stevie Nicks
Christine McVie
Siouxsie Sioux
Kate Bush
Tori Amos
Shirley Manson
Vienna Teng