Some of your favorite female artists in the Folk/ Pop category from the 70's on

[joyboytoy79]

I can't believe nobody has posted Ani Difranco!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVg7mtgEqGY

 

[naughty]

I, too, thought of a few more names for you, Naughty, but not all are available on youtube (that I could find). Perhaps, you’ll have better luck.

Two of these singers are dead, too; one, tragically, was the youngest of the lot — Eva Cassidy.

Here she is, singing Over the Rainbow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVe_Wa-aV-M

The other, late singer is Kate Wolf. She wrote, among other songs, Across the Great Divide. Here’s a live version, as done by two more, great, female folk/pop singers from the era you’re interested in, Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmbFZHc4Mw&feature=related

The Nanci Griffith/Emmylou Harris duet originally appeared on Nanci Griffith’s astonishing album from 1993, Other Voices, Other Rooms, in which she also dueted with (among some, famous others like Bob Dylan) two more female folk artists from the period you might enjoy, Carolyn Hester and Iris DeMent.

She covered some great songs on that album. One was a knockout version of Townes Van Zandt’s heartbreaking Tecumseh Valley (recorded with Arlo Guthrie). Here she is, singing that song (minus Arlo) in another live performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhxa_qOdNr0&feature=related

The last female folk/pop artist I’ll recommend to you today is Buffy Sainte–Marie. She’s, happily, still alive, and in December 1969, she came out with one of the most amazing albums of all time, Illuminations.

Illuminations (Buffy Sainte-Marie album) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This ground–breaking album has at least two of my favourite songs on it, the incredibly sly and sexy Guess Who I Saw in Paris, and one that, perhaps, should be re–released to take advantage of the current craze for all things undead, The Vampire.

The album’s completely over–the–top lyrically, and production–wise, years ahead of its time. It might be available, in some format, from Amazon. Here, for the moment at least, are the creepy, Edgar Allan Poe–like lyrics to The Vampire, as follows:

The Vampire

Shall I tell you of the night?
It was long ago
Late November, and the snow
Just about to fall…

The moon was big and bright
Cold and sharp and clear
And the air was biting.

Softly, swiftly down the road
(Never made a sound)
Someone came from far away
Someone tall and old…

As I looked into his eyes
No reflection came
And I gave him bedding.

Oh, my little rosary!
How I miss you so!
Never used you very well
Now, I never will!

I am farther from you now
Than the two ends of eternity
Now, I do his bidding.

I am so loving Eva Cassidy's voice. I dont know why I didnt add Melissa Manchester and Emmy Lou Harris. Those are two other voices I love. Also I have heard of Buffy St, Marie for years but never listened same with Phoebe Snow.

 

[naughty]

I can't believe nobody has posted Ani Difranco!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVg7mtgEqGY

Thanks . Her voice has a very interesting quality...

 

[Pitbull]

The names that come to mind have been mentioned

Judy Collins ( and a lovely lady too, I might add)

Laura Nyro (incredible composer)

Eva Cassidy (never got the recognition nationally - was much better known here in the D.C. area)

 

[SpeedoMike]

Karen Carpenter

Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary)

Lynne Anderson singing Rose Garden

 

[B_hungprepjock]

I feel guilty for having left out the following names from my previous two replies. I’m sorry I don’t have the time today to post youtube links (if any exist), but you may already be aware of the artists. If not, here they are, and it’s all to the good. Once given a name, it’s easy enough, I think, to search on youtube for something you like.

The first name is surely an oversight from your original list — Joni Mitchell.

Less well known (in spite of their varying chart success) from the seventies and eighties are Dory Previn, Maria Muldaur (originally in The Jim Kweskin Jug Band), Ricky Lee Jones, Joan Armatrading and Poly Styrene (originally in English punk band X–Ray Specs, but who later made a beautiful solo album of gently rocking ‘island’ songs, Translucence). (Punker Siouxsie Sioux, from Siouxsie and the Banshees, likewise for a time had a softer–edged, follow–up band called The Creatures.)

Also from that fecund time in music (though not so much folk/pop oriented as art/glam rock, perhaps), you might also enjoy Kate Bush, Toyah Willcox, Nina Hagen, Lene Lovitch, Cherry Vanilla and Cristina. (I also like nominal R&B/jazz singer Laura Lee of the hilarious song, Rip Off!)

From the eighties to the present, Tracy Chapman (whom I'm sure you've heard) and Sally Timms (of the Mekons) stand out. Newer on the scene is Lucinda Williams, who at times to me sounds a little like Joan Armatrading, so perhaps that brings everything full circle.

Since, however, yesterday was Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, I was really remiss not to have mentioned Sweet Honey in the Rock, the a cappella group of women singers, founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon, veteran of pioneering, sixties, civil–rights group, The Freedom Singers (with Rutha Mae Harris, Charles Neblett and Cordell Reagon). Sweet Honey in the Rock is still in existence, in spite of their having cut back on touring in recent years.

They’re all women with extraordinary voices, Naughty. I hope you find some to your liking you may not have heard before.