I saw Wendy O. back in the 80's - I haven't been the same since. I still have at least one 45 record of hers that is stashed someplace. The jacket is amazing.
Some great artists listed here, even if the OP didn't mean for anyone to create a list.
Women Who Rock
There is an excellent new docuseries on Amazon Prime called "Women Who Rock".
This series goes pretty much back to the beginning and continues through today.
Highly recommended!!!
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I managed to see & hear Janis Joplin live in the Summer of ’67, and she was definitely a force of nature! Unfortunately the rest of Big Brother were as lame a professional band as I have ever seen & heard. I never saw her after she dumped the hippies and got herself a decent band (Full Tilt Boogie). For those of you who like white female (is it okay to discuss them separately from the men? ;-) Blues singers, try to see & hear Lou Ann Barton live. She was the lead singer in The Triple Threat Revue, the band’s guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan not yet having sung on stage. Lou Ann often accompanies Jimmie Vaughan when he hits the road, he giving over to her the front of the stage. A "full-throated" gal, whom I love. Lou Ann’s debut album on Asylum Records (entitled Old Enough) was produced by Jerry Wexler and Glenn Frey, and recorded at The Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield Alabama, using the Studio’s incredible house band, a/k/a The Swampers). The album is absolutely fan-f*ck*ng-tastic! |
My 2 are on the extreme side of rock, not sure if both have been mentioned? Kittie-Female extreme metal band from London Ontario. With 6 studio albums they have enough material and notoriety to make the list. Currently there could be a heavier all female band but they were the first(extreme metal band) to my knowledge. Martha Davis(The Motels)-Sophistication with a distinctive vocal elegance. |
@jji666 + 1
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Carlene Carter. Her Musical Shapes album was produced by Nick Lowe (whom she married and divorced. She then moved on to Howie Epstein, bassist in Tom Petty's Heartbreakers), her backing band on the album Rockpile (in which Nick was the bassist. Guess Carlene prefers bass players ;-). Killer Rock 'n' Roll! |
I dunno... I don't worry about gender nor race That said, I was underwhelmed both by Joan Jett and by Alanis Morisette when I saw them in concert (separately). Jett was, dare I say, boring and predictable... Morisette I could barely understand the vocals even though I am familiar with her big album. Heart, though, I did like live, twice. |
@tylermunns - yes, I can see that differentiation between music fans' discussions and industry awards. Categorization can be such a graveyard for great music that remains unheard because of it. |
@larsman I agree on all points except the conflation of music industry awards with music forums/music fans talking about music. If the industry does that (as they have for years) to maximize profits, that’s their prerogative, I guess, as unfortunate as it is. |
My point is that: People consider a male artist an….artist. It’s just stupid. is not quite accurate, and I have seen threads of 'best male vocalists'. Personally, I don't believe in artistic 'rewards'; I have no use for Grammys or Halls of Fame - I agree that art is not a competition, but it gets treated like that whether I like it or not. |
@larsman What’s your point? |
@tylermunns - aren't there awards categories like 'Best Male Vocalist'? |
I'll agree that Amy Lee was sensational for a minute,… incredible contrast between her voice against the wall of power chords & dark lyrics but, I will agree with anyone who believes Pat Benatar is the greatest rock voice of "my" generation anyway. Classically trained, but totally flipped a switch when she got that band behind her. Truly amazing. |
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I gotta throw in Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics. In my opinion the most 'tittilating" of all the women mentioned, although Grace Slick is one also.. Never saw Wendy live; she appeared in this forum recently as among the loudest shows people have ever attended. I believe "spirit" has no gender, but that doesn't mean I compare my father and mother as sort of identical human beings. |
@tylermunns Thanks for your response. I guess it's a difference of opinion. To me, "best" is dumb. Is Baroque better than Romantic? Hip Hop better than Jazz? Tom Waits better than Enrico Caruso? I don't believe in judging musicians in bpm, and different kinds of music have entirely different goals. When I'm ready to listen, I probably choose artist or type of music first. Sometimes I'm going for a sound, though. It might be blues tuba or Joni Mitchell ... or it could be a woman who rocks. The interesting thing I find in that topic is whether rocks is limited to rock. I say no. |
@petaluman I’ve been seeing so many of these “female” threads forever now. I chose not to comment because I would just be a Debbie Downer. People consider a male artist an….artist. It’s just stupid. |
@blackbag20 - That's pretty funny! And it's the reason I never got into those early Rush albums. |
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@mofimadness - thanks for the heads up! @tylermunns - that's literally the title of the documentary he was recommending. Personally, I wouldn't eschew any song based on its choice to use gendered words in title or lyrics. When I sit down to listen, I usually don't stream or go totally random. I may choose an artist based on gender, type of music, the feel of the music (music that rocked existed long before rock, which itself is predated by rock & roll), the specific instrument or instruments I feel like hearing or not hearing, the label, or other category that may be arbitrary in nature, but methodical in that moment. I know you're an informed, serious poster. If a thread is not of interest to you, why waste time stirring the pot? |
