Redartz: Growing up in the 70's, most of my peers in school were big fans of bands such as Kiss, Aerosmith, Boston, Styx, and singers like Alice Cooper, Bowie, and John Lennon. I also liked most of these performers, but there was just something missing...females. Unlike some of my friends, I really loved female singers and groups. From pop to soul to rock, 60's to 80's, these ladies filled my speakers with great sounds.
Heart: Ann and Nancy Wilson; their act was aptly named. Their music had heart, and loads of it. Heart, power, and emotion; and they produced some very catchy tunes as well. One of my favorites:
Heart, "Crazy on You"
Carly Simon: A great example of the 'singer songwriter' genre so prevalent in the 70's. Carole King was more influential, Joni Mitchell was edgier (and I loved both of those singers, of course); but Carly was tops in my eyes (and ears). Capable of poignant, sensitive lyrics, energetic rockers, dance tunes, and quirky bizarre-ness, Carly did it all. And with a wonderful, earthy, evocative voice. I collected her lp's as obsessively as I did Spider-man comics.
Carly Simon, "Haven't Got Time for the Pain"
Tina Turner: Nobody, but nobody, can 'belt it out' better than Tina. From the swinging 60's onwards she swung with serious soul. This cut, with Ike, is jaw-dropping. George Harrison had high praise for this performance, and with good reason...
Tina (and Ike) Turner, "River Deep, Mountain High"
The Go-Go's: Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Weidlin and Belinda Carlise. These ladies made some of the 'funnest' music of the 80's. Their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat", got worn out in our apartment building. And I got such a kick from them, I saw them live three separate times. Here's a great one:
The Go-Go's, "Skidmarks on my Heart"
That's just scratching the surface. There are dozens more fab females I could name, but let's hear from you. Which ones rocked your turntable?
