Actresses - Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Sally Kellerman, the late Madeline Kahn, & Mare Winningham are a few top-flight thespians who also happen to be fine, emotive singers in their own right. Unfortunately, except for Winningham, they rarely record albums. Streep's contributions include "Amazing Grace" from Silkwood, "You Don't Know Me" & "I'm Stepping Out" from Postcards from the Edge, and a rousing in-character number from Ironweed. Keaton has had woefully-brief moments singing in three Woody Allen films ("Annie Hall", "Manhattan" and "Radio Days") and in the film "Reds". Kellerman & Kahn's performances are harder to find, though the latter's rendition of "I Feel Pretty" in full Bride of Frankenstein getup on a long ago "Saturday Night Live" is a Halloween necessity.
Alberta Hunter - It took her about 70 years, but this American ex-patriate became a late-blooming singing star by way of a made-for-cable Robert Altman film in the early 1980's. Her subsequent album, "Amtrak Blues" is a wonderful document of her feistiness. Fav track "My Handyman", where you can believe that an old lady was still getting some with much success and delight!
Alison Moyet - Plus-size blonde British diva, active primarily in the 1980's & early 90's. Originally lead vocalist for Yazoo (or Yaz as they were known in America), then went solo in 1983. One of the better blue-eyed-soul belters in the business, "Alf" has had a string of hits including "Only You", "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.", & "Invisible".
Anita Baker - American soul singer, best known as a proponent of the "quiet storm" style of singing originated by Smokey Robinson & Luther Vandross. High-quality throaty jazz-influenced vocalizing of considerable range. Burst on to world conscious with smash hit "Rapture" & accompanying album of same name.
Anita O'Day - Probably the greatest (and coolest) of the white chick jazz canaries. Fronted the big bands of Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton in the 40's, became Verve's first female artist in the 50's & early 60's. Name links to separate entry with pics, discography:
Ann & Nancy Wilson - Collectively known as Heart aka the distaff Led Zeppelin. Began as hard-rocking outfit in the 70's then moved to softer pop styles of the 1980's: very successful in both genres. Signature tunes (which show off their remarkable range) include "Barracuda", "Kick It Out", 'Dreamboat Annie", "Spirit of the Archer", "Lighter Touch", "Alone", & "Nothin' At All".
Anne Murray - Canadian country-pop crossover darling of the 70's & early 80's, Murray has a lovely alto she put to good use in feel-good hits like "I Want To Sing You A Love Song".
Annie Lennox - Originally one-half of the phenomenally successful 80's duo Eurythmics, who contributed oh, at least three hours of perfect pop (including "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", "Who's That Girl?", "Would I Lie To You?", & "Missionary Man") in the space of ten years. Lean, rangy red-head from Scotland, Lennox went solo in the 90's, producing one great debut ("Diva", featuring "Why", "Little Bird", & "Walking On Broken Glass"), a good covers album ("Medusa") and a disappointing 2nd album of original material (2004's "Bare")
Aretha Franklin - The Queen of Soul. Began recording career with indie gospel, was discovered by the same guy who brought Billie Holiday to the public eye (John Hammond), who proceeded to bury her in restrictive standards covers. Ree released her Emancipation Proclaimation in the form of the mega-hit "Respect" in 1968, and hasn't looked back since.
Astrud Gilberto - Wispy-voiced Brazillian housewife who became an international star breathing "The Girl From Ipanema". Joined Stan Getz jazz orchestra in the early 60's for more samba-influenced singles like "How Insensitive" & "Corcovado", recording them in English for Getz and in Portugese with her husband. I like her but can't handle a whole album of her. Daughter is currently following in mom's footsteps.
Barbara Lewis - Essentially a one-hit wonder, but "Hello Stranger" remains a pop rock classic to this day.
Barbra Streisand - Original bitch-goddess of Broadway. Also known as She Who Must Be Obeyed, and oh, btw, one of the greatest singers of her generation. Though I detect a little harshness in her delivery (particularly on her "r's"), Babs has a way with phrasing & putting her heart into the songs she's warbling. A zillion classic interpretations which rival the catalog of Sinatra, including "People", "The Way We Were", "Don't Rain On My Parade", "Not While I'm Around", "Somewhere", "Evergreen", & "You Don't Bring Me Flowers".
Belinda Carlisle - Easily the girliest of 80's solo stars, Belinda got her start fronting the first truly successful all-girl rock band, The Go-Gos. Had a short string of hits including "Mad About You" & "Heaven (Is A Place On Earth)".
Bessie Smith - Aka The Empress of the Blues, Smith was a legendary singer who influenced later generations in much the same way did Robert Johnson. A hearty, hefty, life-livin', man-loving lady who died way too young.
Beth Orton - An acquired taste, Orton is one of the new breed of singer-songwriters of the Nyro/Mitchell school, British division.
Beth Gibbons - Aching, breathy vocals are her signature in the retro-soundtrack electronica of her band Portishead.
Bette Midler - Originally made her big splash in NYC gay cabaret scene of the early 70's: heavy on the camp classics and glam posing, though actually coming off as a punk version of Mae West. Went Hollywood by 1980, starring as Janis Joplin manque in "The Rose" and then going completely Buena Vista throughout the 80's & early 90's with progressively more-mainstream pop sound highlighted by the hits "Wind Beneath My Wings" & "From A Distance".
Billie Holiday - Tragic diva of blues and jazz. Primarily a swing-era star on the Columbia label in the 1930's & 40's, Holiday gravitated to serious jazz on Verve in the last decade of her career, aggravated by a serious addiction to smack that ultimately took her unique voice and finally, her life.
Bjork - Icelandic diva with peculiar habits and sometimes unnerving vocal range. Ironically, her biggest US hit was a straight-ahead cover of an old Broadway rave called "It's Oh So Quiet", but her albums -- particularly Debut, Joga, and Vespertine -- are terrifically imaginative explorations of all manner of rock, new age, & dance genres.
Bonnie Raitt - Blues rocker with a finer-than-average pedigree: daughter of Broadway musical leading man, John Raitt. Had small successes in early 70's, including first hit "Runaway", before hitting the big-time by the mid-80's with her "Nick of Time" album. A disciple of blues legend Sippie Wallace, Raitt has rootsy, no b.s. approach appreciated by many. And her rendition of "I Can't Make You Love Me" is one of the most moving recordings of the 20th Century.
Book of Love - Canadian synth-pop quartet who are forever in my heart for the single "Boy".
Bush Tetras - NYC jazz-funk outfit of the early 80's, had a few growlingly memorable singles in "Cowboys In Africa", "Boom in the Night", & "Too Many Creeps".
Carly Simon - Huge scary horseteeth didn't stop this publisher's daughter from becoming the bride of handsome folk-pop star James Taylor. She equalled him as a singer-songwriter in the late 60's through the 70's with "Anticipation", "That's the Way I Always Heard It Should Be", & "You're So Vain". After the pair produced two children & eventually split up in the 80's, she continued to write stirring songs of empowerment like "Let The River Run".
Carole King - My first collectable artist. I still have my now-scratchy copy of "Music", which I think is head & shoulders above her most famous album, "Tapestry". King co-wrote several Top 40 hits of the 1960's with then-husband Gerry Goffin, such as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?", "The Locomotion", & "Oh No, Not My Baby", before going solo in the 70's to great success.
Cass Elliot & Michelle Phillips - The distaff side of The Mamas & The Papas folk-pop group of the 1960's provided the sweeter harmonies for John Phillips and Denny Daugherty. Where Michelle was more of a folky hippie chick, Cass had her roots in vaudeville & cabaret music. The band was so cool and influential, they wound up being imitated in a science fiction novel ("Nova") of the time by my personal fav Samuel R Delaney!
Cecilia Cruz - Vivacious doyenne of the Latin Salsa movement. Influenced everyone from Gloria Estefan to Marc Anthony.
Celine Dion - French Canadian juggernaut with great big voice for such a skinny little thing. Fav performances: "My Heart Will Go On" & "River Deep Mountain High".
Chaka Khan - From Black Panther to GOP supporter in just 30 years: wotta sellout! Politics aside, Khan was a trailblazer for women in r'n'b, racking up hits like "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", & "Ain't Nobody" while fronting the interracial funk-soul band Rufus in the 1970's and early 80's. Followed this with relatively short-lived solo career from 1978-84 featuring such hits as "I'm Every Woman" & "I Feel For You". Obesity began to slow her down shortly afterwards and success has been erratic, tho a recent release focuses on her interest in cabaret jazz.
Chantal Kreviazuk - Canadian everywoman (i.e.: she sounds like so many other artists) who has never been a big success in the USA, but not for lack of trying. A familiar voice in commercial jingles and the theme songs of a couple of films/TV shows, Kreviazuk is also an accomplished pianist and has a knack for writing catchy songs like "God Made Me" & "Julia". Unfortunately they aren't catchy enough for hip-hop/teen-queen obsessed American radio: their loss.
Cher - Unfairly dismissed by some for her wild & frequently public private life and obsession with "improving" her looks, Cher began life as the talented half of a duo with Sonny Bono & 60's hits "I Got You Babe" & "The Beat Goes On". The couple hosted a hit variety show on 70's TV before Cher broke free into solo work and a dozen hits over the past 30 years including "Half-Breed", "Gypsies Tramps & Thieves", "I Found Someone", & "Believe", not to mention a successful movie career culminating in a 1986 Oscar win for "Moonstruck".
Chic - Fine, influential disco-era quartet led by producer/ bassist Nile Rodgers and featuring a pair of female lead singers, Luci Martin & Alfa Anderson. Long admired as the classy side of the genre with lite jazz hits "He's The Greatest Dancer", "My Forbidden Lover", "Good Times", & "Le Freak".
Chrissie Hynde - Butch yet hetero, tough & tender, and an infamous loudmouth with opinions on everything from animal rights to impending WWIII, this Ohio native is also a brilliant songwriter and rock singer who has fronted the band Pretenders for the past quarter-century. Best albums: the eponymously-titled debut, "Learning to Crawl", & the recent "Loose Screw"
Claire Grogan - One critic suggested that Grogan must gargle with cyclamates to get the kind of voice she sang with when she led Altered Images in the new wave era. To me she was like a punk'd Scottish Shirley Temple enthusiastically ripping through bouncy material like "Happy Birthday", "I Could Be Happy", "Dead Pop Stars", & "Don't Talk To Me About Love". Later acted in several Bill Forsythe films, including "Gregory's Girl" & "Comfort & Joy".
Cleo Laine - British blues/jazz legend of African descent. Vocals quite similar to a huskier Chet Baker.
Cyndi Lauper - Disarmingly old-fashioned diva influenced by such a diversity as Betty Boop, Doris Day, and doo-wop stars of the 50's. Fronted NYC retro-rock band Blue Angel for one good album then went solo in 1984 with "She's So Unusual", which made history as the first woman's debut album to yield four top-10 hits. Currently reinvented as a torch singer.
Deadly Nightshade - First all-woman country band to make a dent (albeit a small one) in the traditional radio of the early 70's South. Songs were as topical as Loretta's, such as "Shuffle" & "Dance Mr Big Dance", wherein a chauvinistic boss gets the tables turned on him by his secretary, predating "9 to 5" half a dozen years later.
Debbie Harry - Blondie frontwoman who has also had a cult-fav successful solo career with songs like "Rush Rush", "French Kissing in the USA", & "I Want That Man". Fronting Blondie in the late 70's and early 80's, she was one of the first huge female rock stars, and was extremely influential to variety of performers including Madonna, Lennox, Jett, Elastica, & Cervenka in both iconic looks and singing style. Beacoup hits with the band include "The Tide Is High", "Sunday Girl", "(Touched by your) Presence, Dear", "Denis", "One Way or Another", Heart of Glass", "Dreaming", "Atomic", "Call Me", & "Rapture". Resurfaced in late 90's with one-off hit "Maria" and a couple of great album cuts ("Forgive & Forget" & the Shangri-la's cover "Out in the Street"), but most recent album not even released in the USA.
Debora Iyall - San Francisco-based leader of Romeo Void, a jazz-influenced new wave band most famous for the scathing "Never Say Never".
Des'ree - Flackian Brit soul singer who had worldwide smash with "You Gotta Be" in early 90's off second album. Debut is just as good, featuring personal fav "Summer of '79" (o what a time that was...); also turned up in a lovely duet with Terence Trent D'Arby called "Delicate", a top 40 hit in the UK.
Diahann Carroll - Sometime actress who broke down some barriers with Tony-winning role in 1962 Broadway musical about an interracial love affair called "No Strings". Parlayed award into popular sitcom "Julia" followed by Oscar nod for "Claudine". Known primarily now as a cabaret singer...and occasional actress.
Diamanda Gallas - Powerhouse Greek-American experimental singer trained in opera. Best known for her AIDS Trilogy of the late 1980's, which she dedicated to her kid brother who succumbed to the disease. Most folks know her for her atmospheric backround vocals on various horror film soundtracks, such as "The Serpent & The Rainbow", "Angel Heart", & "Interview With The Vampire".
Diana Krall - Canadian jazz singer/pianist with husky voice and frequently weary-of-the-world delivery. Began mainly in standards, has recently branched out into more original material, including songs written with new husband Elvis Costello.
Diana Ross - Legendary soul/r'n'b diva with a tendency towards megalomania. Began life as one of the Supremes, a top act on the Motown label of the '60's with a long string of hits ("Where Did Our Love Go?", "Baby Love", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "Reflections", et al); went solo in the 70's with another long string of hits ("Touch Me In The Morning", "Theme From Mahogany", "Love Hangover", "Upside Down") before fallng out of vogue by mid-80's.
Dido - British pop singer who started out in the indie scene of the late-90's filling the voids left by awol Bush, erratic O'Connor, burnt-out O'Riordan, & retiring Wheeler. My first encounter with her was the song "Don't Think Of Me", which made her sound like a lonely girl who didn't get asked out to the prom. She gained further, stranger fame when hate merchant Eminem sampled her song "ThankYou" on his monster hit "Stan".
Dinah Washington - Jazz singer who dabbled successfully in pop of the 50's and early 60's.
Dionne Warwick - Primarily a 1960's diva who specialized in the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including "Walk On By", "Message to Michael", & "Alfie". Smooth soul, very classy performances.
Dixie Chicks - All-girl country-rock band led by perky/punky Natalie Maines who were popular in the late 90's & into the early 21st Century; unfairly lost some popularity due to politcal convictions during Bush Administration.
Dolly Parton - Bubbly, big-haired, big-boobed blonde bombshell from Sevierville, TN, Parton surpassed all of the stereotypes to become a well-respected singer-songwriter in country music. Girlier than Loretta, with a vibrato-tinged soprano, Dolly first made her name with a series of duets with Porter Wagoner in the 60's. She put herself on the pop culture map with solo hits "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", & "My Tennessee Mountain Home". Eventually crossed over into the pop & Hollywood arena with "9 to 5" & "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", then returned to her roots for a series of pure country albums in the 90's & beyond.
Dolores O'Riordan - Debut album with The Cranberries was something of a revelation in the early 90's. Liltingly lovely singles "Linger" & "Dreams" began a surprisingly huge success story, carrying over to the second album, despite titles like "Zombie" with its grinding hard-rock sound, and "Keat's Grave". Her Irish accent is very strong and she has a tendency to yelp passionately. Band began to lose steam by the 3rd album, a concept piece which yielded only one great double-A single.
Donna Summer - Reigning queen of the disco era, Summer still has the pipes to incite a crowd to awed silence, as when singing the National Anthem at baseball games. Began in 1974 with "Love To Love You Baby", her Marilynesque vocals interspersed with orgasmic moaning. Progressed into superb series of singles which owned the period: "MacArthur's Park", "Hot Stuff", "Bad Girls", "Enough is Enough", "The Wanderer", "She Works Hard For The Money", "State of Independence", et al. Stumbled badly around '83 with allegations of anti-gay --her primary audience-- remarks during early days of the AIDS crisis which dog her to this day, ala Jane Fonda's anti-war antics of the Vietnam era. She claims innocence but the jury is still out on that one; doesn't keep me from admiring her glory days work.
Doris Day - American big band singer who opened eyes with "Sentimental Journey" and parlayed it into successful movie career, including phenomenal debut in "Romance on the High Seas" of 1948. Vocals are strong and womanly with a knowledge of jazz & blues. Many hits including "Secret Love", "Que Sera Sera" (which she reportedly dislikes), and an amazing studio-only complete recording of "Annie Get Your Gun" co-starring Robert Goulet.
Dusty Springfield - Britain's answer to Dionne Warwick, even covering some of her songs. Actually considered more rock'n'roll ala Tina Turner & Ronnie Spector with a raw, sometimes anguished voice.
Elastica - British neo-punks -- led by Justine Frischman -- who started the 90's with one excellent debut then disappeared, only to resurface several years later by which time they had become irrelevant & broke up soon after. Lol, I love it!
Ella Fitzgerald - I would say that this lady was the best female singer of the 20th Century. She was stout and plain but it didn't stop her from convincingly singing passionate love songs of all the major writers of the Great American Songbook, such as Gershwin, Porter, & Berlin. Her sweet girlish voice could swoop and swing in multiple octaves, and she was famous for her ability to shatter crystal with her C-note.
Emmylou Harris - Lilting, romantic, traditional country singer with folk training. Has released approximately one album per year for the past three decades. Primarily performs covers of other writers work, but does them in such a way said scribes are sure to consider her picking them a feather in their creative cap.
En Vogue - Aka The Funky Divas of Soul. Wannabe neo-Supremes who almost made the mark in late 80's-early 90's. Fizzled out after two & a half albums as internal discord shredded their near-perfect harmonies.
Enya - Irish new age darling who is the kid sister of Maeve Brennan (Clannad) and a cousin of Sinead O'Connor. Liz Frazer for the geriatric crowd primarily; soothing, atmospherically-inoffensive music suitable for hospices & bedtime stories.
Erykah Badu - Neo-soul singer of the 90's who had a strong jazz sense and a love for the music of Chaka Khan. Debut and subsequent live album are highpoints in her career, including man-bashing single "Tyrone". A powerful performer despite the pretensions (African headress, hoity-toity between-song patter) who has since branched out into acting.
ESG - The Scroggins Sisters of NYC formed a band around 1979 and released a couple of 12" inch singles and EPs of their stripped-down funk sound, including "Moody", "The Beat", "UFO", et al, which became underground club favorites which eventually got airplay on indie and college radio stations across the country. They were practically summoned to England to cut a record for the Factory label (home to A Certain Ratio and New Order) in 1981, but it didn't do as well as one hoped.
Etta James - Gospel-based blues-rock shouter, precursor to Aretha. Homely little lady who made up for her lack of looks with passionate singing style on such hits as "Tell Mama".
Eva Cassidy - America's answer to Sandy Denny, in more ways than one. Angelic-voiced & pretty folk singer who died way too young, in other words. First heard about her on National Public Radio, this woman who recorded about three albums-worth of music (2 studio, 1 live) before she both broke into the business and succumbed to cancer.
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Consistently upbeat r'n'b performer of the 70's into the 80's, beginning with "Love Come Down" & "I'm In Love".
Exene Cervenka - Hands-down greatest female punk rocker of her generation, Cervenka (along with then-husband John Doe) led the seminal L.A. band X through four indispensable initial albums -- Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under The Big Black Sun, & More Fun In The New World -- before losing their way in hip-hop-rock America with a tired detour through hokey-pokey country music. One more minor good album ("See How We Are") & a great concert release ("Live at the Whiskey A-Go-Go") came before the band split up and went into solo projects, none of the previous caliber.
Expose' - Miami-based girl group who had a 3-album career in the late 80's. Kind of a cross between Gloria Estefan & late-period Supremes.
Fiona Apple - Moody little vegan jazzbo from Los Angeles who released two precociously brill albums in the mid-90's. The song & performance of "Slow Like Honey" is simply an amazing effort from a girl just barely out of high school. Refusal to play the corporate hit-making game has cost her release of a third album, which was originally due out in spring of 2004.
Genya Raven - Detroit-based indie rock singer of new wave era who had a great love song called "Steve". Similar to Chrissie Hynde and Bruce Springsteen, but not as good.
Girl Groups - The Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back"), Little Eva ("Locomotion"), The Exciters ("Tell Him"), The Teen Queens ("Rock Everybody"), etc were all essentially one-hit wonder groups and solo artists who made big impressions with their short-lived careers. They were largely the pawns of savvy record producers who worked in NYC's legendary Brill Building, home of songwriters like Goffin & King, Neil Sedaka, & Ellie Greenwich who lacked the vocal skills & wholesome good looks to sell records. More successful examples of this concept include Sandie Shaw & Janet Jackson.
Gladys Knight - Too soulful for 60's Motown, where her version (with The Pips) of "I Heard It Thru The Grapevine" continues to beat the crap out of Marvin Gaye's, Knight & Co eventually hit it big with the singles "You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" & "Midnight Train To Georgia" in the early 70's. Continue to have the occasional success, such as "Save The Overtime for Me".
Harriet Wheeler - Bridging the gap between Tracey Thorn & Delores O'Riordan is this Scottish singer, who lead her band The Sundays through three sweetly-sung folky-pop albums before retiring for full-time wife & motherhood. Perhaps best known in America for the singles "Here's Where The Story Ends" off their debut & for the ethereal Rolling Stones cover, "Wild Horses", which popped up on (of all things) a popular Christmas ad for Budweiser beer.
India Arie - Pleasant r'n'b revivalist who is less pretentious than Lauryn Hill or the piano player who's won all the acclaim.
Indigo Girls - Harmonic folk duo who I really only know (and like) for their hit "Closer to Fine". Like Luscious Jackson, I'll need to hear more to make an informed decision.
Janet Jackson - Limited in vocal range but a record producer's dream in terms of family connections and sense of style. Her music is actually more accessible than brother Michael's, and she is certainly less-controversial, boob-baring hype aside. Lots of bright bouncy singles like "Escapade", "Control", "Nasty", with the occasional girly love song thrown in for variety.
Janis Joplin - Legendary white blues mama who died of heroin overdose at the age of 27 in 1970. In the five years preceding this, Joplin revolutionized the role of women in rock. Powerful set of lungs produced a dozen rock classics such as "Piece of My Heart", "Cry Baby", "Summertime", "Little Girl Blue", et al. Live performance at Monterey Pop festival in 1967 famously stunned even pros like Mama Cass sitting in the audience & caught on film mouthing "Wow..." as Janis howls.
Janis Siegel - Jazz canary who got her start in the 70's retro-swing vocal quartet Manhattan Transfer and the top 40 pop hit "Operator"; currently alternates with group and solo projects to continued, largely-cult popularity.
Jill Scott - Neo-soul diva with occasional forays into hip-hop.
Joan Jett - New wave rocker who started out with all-girl band The Runaways in 1976-8 when she was a teenager, then had a string of hits fronting The Blackhearts up to the mid-80's. Hit hugely with "I Love Rock'nRoll", as well as "Crimson & Clover" & "I Hate Myself For Lovin' You". Made a comeback recently as a 40ish seasoned player, complete with self-outing as lesbian.
Joanne Catherall & Suzanne Sulley - Most famous backup singers of 80's synth-pop, these are the two girls who softened the pomp of the male lead singer for Human League.
Jody Watley - Began her career as co-lead singer for soul/dance band Shalamar for several years of hits before going solo in 1986. Lean & elegant, if not the best singer in her field, she certainly had style to spare.
Joni Mitchell - Canadian singer/songwriter extraordinaire. Began in the folk movement of the middle '60's and became progressively more interested in jazz music, culminating in a posthumous collaboration with Charles Mingus. Numerous classics best heard in full album format of "Ladies of the Canyon", "Blue", "Court & Spark", & "The Hissing of Summer Lawns".
Josephine Baker - 1920's & 30's ex-pat in Paris until WWII. Made a jazzy splash up until the Nazi invasion as an E-ticket singer-dancer in nightclubs.
Judy Garland - Victim, fighter, love song crooner, working mother: Judy was all things to all people. Got her start as a child star in vaudeville, moved on to movie musicals in the 30's thru early 50's, hosted one year of superior variety television, and toured the world to varying success. Along the way she gave definitive interpretations of such songs as "Over The Rainbow", "The Man That Got Away", "The Boy Next Door", "The Trolley Song", and a dozen others.
Judy Holliday - Best known as a movie star of the 1950's, sang the best version of "The Party's Over", from the hit musical "Bells Are Ringing".
Juliana Hatfield - Set the mold for wispy-voiced, riotgrrl singer-songwriters of the early-90's. Trumped by the likes of Sarah McLachlan & Liz Phair shortly afterwards.
Julie Andrews - Pretty blonde British musical theater star of the late 50's through early 90's who has earned an Oscar statuette (for "Mary Poppins"), four Tony nominations, and originated the role of Eliza Dolittle in "My Fair Lady". Famous for clipped, veddy British versions of mostly theatrical songs such as "The Sound of Music", "My Fav'rite Things", "A Spoonful of Sugar", "Wouldn't It Be Loverly", "Show Me", & "Le Jazz Hot", the latter from her popular film and subsequent stage musical, "Victor/Victoria". Claims irrevocable damage done to vocal cords during surgery prevents her from hitting the high notes anymore.
June Christy - Husky-voiced band singer popular mostly in the 50's and early 60's. Dabbled in jazz to varying degrees of success, primarily in the single "Something Cool".
Karen Carpenter - One of pop music's many tragedies, Carpenter died a senseless death via her own low self-esteem. She was blessed with an emotive, husky voice which was the make-out music of choice in the early 70's. "Close To You", "Please Mr Postman", "We've Only Just Begun", "On Top of the World", & "Superstar" are some of my favs.
Kate Bush - Something of a groundbreaker, melding the folky sensibilities of Sandy Denny and the rock guidance of Pink Floyd members & Peter Gabriel. Another girl trained for opera who chose to break free into more mainstream approach. Still, her style was pretty theatrical in tracks like "Wuthering Heights", "Sat On Your Lap", "Running Up That Hill", & "This Woman's Work". Has been awol for far too long.
Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson - Seasoned woman and green girl singers for Georgia band B-52's. Kate handled the serious harmonies while Cindy channeled Yoko Ono & danced that mess around. Eventually, Cindy came into her own on tracks like "Deep Sleep", "Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland", & "Roam"; Kate, meanwhile, showed off her stuff in a hit duet single with Iggy Pop called "Candy".
Kathy Mattea - One of the few latter-day country stars brave enough to support Democratic causes, Mattea is blessed with a molasses-rich voice and womanly quality.
k.d. lang - She looks like Kyle Maclachlan and sings like Patsy Cline, or tries to. Began as a kind of novelty act in the alt-country movement, became more serious about singing when she went solo with "Shadowlands", which was produced by Cline's former man in the booth. Followup "Ingenue" carried her biggest solo hit to date, "Constant Craving", and my fav, "Miss Chatelaine". Lately been duetting a lot with Vegas hack Tony Bennett for unknown reasons.
Keely Smith - Late-period big band singer with husband Louis Prima's orchestra. Full-bodied vocals with a southern accent. A favorite of Sinatra's, with whom she recorded a few singles. Duet with Prima, "Hey Boy/Hey Girl" is a clear precursor of rock era.
Kendra Smith - Originally played bass for Los Angeles post-punk outfit The Dream Syndicate, then moved on to co-lead neo-psychedelic group Opal for one album, then went solo for one other album in 1995. Not heard from since. Blues-based vocals drenched in druggy attitude.
Kim Deal - Tough-as-nails leader (along with twin sister Kelly) of The Breeders and Kim's off-shoot band The Amps, Deal got her start as bassist for the seminal band The Pixies. The Breeders were a drug-fueled quartet who produced some of the best garage/fuzz/psychedelic rock of the 90's across two initial albums ("Pod" & "Last Splash"), and one belated & not-terribly original "comeback" in 2002.
Kim Gordon - Bassist for seminal NYC art/garage-rockers Sonic Youth. Her occasional lead vocals are a treat, particularly on the singles "Strangers On A Train" & "Kool Thing".
Kirsty MacColl - British singer-songwriter who came to an untimely end on vacation with her sons in Mexico. Up til then, she had written several popular songs for herself and others, like Tracey Ullman (primarily Ullman's lone American hit, "They Don't Know"), as well as vocally-backing up the likes of Simple Minds, The Pogues (her duet with one on "Fairytale of New York" is a modern Christmas classic) and The Smiths.
L7 - All-female rock band who crashed onto the grunge scene in the early 90's. Cool enough to attain immortality (playing band Cameltoe) via John Waters' "Serial Mom", not unlike Lulu in "To Sir With Love", tho' I doubt the latter ever courted controversy tossing a used tampon into one of her mosh pits.
Laura Nyro - Singer-songwriter who wrote a half-dozen million-sellers for other artists like Barbra Streisand and The Fifth Dimension in the late 60's & early 70's. Delivered one decent album called "Eli", followed by an extremely corny & overrated one called "New York Tendaberry"; also recorded an album of r'n'b covers with Labelle, which is much better.
Laurie Anderson - Performance artist whose first couple of albums had pop appeal due to assists from Peter Gabriel & David Byrne. First single "O Superman" was a chart-topper in England.
Laverne Baker - Hearty-voiced early rock & r'n'b singer who recorded mainly on Atlantic label in the 50's and early 60's.
Lena Horne - Where Billie was bouncy or melancholy, Lena was smooth and strong. She sang the standards of the era (1940's) as they were meant to be sung: with passion and clarity. Didn't really develop her own jazzier style until a decade later.
Lena Lovich - Truly original Slavic new wave singer who I think hailed from Ohio originally. First two albums are wonderfully quirky pop music of the period, including "Lucky Number", 'Birdsong", & the Tommy James cover "I Think We're Alone Now" which beats the crap out of Tiffany's version.
Lesley Woods - Openly and defiantly lesbian-feminist in the early 80's, complete with common-law wife Adele Bertei (ex-Bloods, who went on to record the hit dance single "Build Me A Bridge"), who fronted excellent funk group Au Pairs. Debut album "Playing With A Different Sex" is still essential listening, like a female version of Gang of Four's output.
Linda Ronstadt - Big-voiced pop star who since 1969 has tried virtually every form of music on the planet, from folk to country to r'n'b to new wave to new age to operetta to big-band to traditional Mexican, the latter in honor of her father Gilbert. Talented -yes- but never a leader, always a follower. Tarty cover shots to albums did not help her image in the 70's; gradual obesity ala Ann Wilson has lessened her physical appeal, emphasizing her vocal range, which is probably a good thing career-wise.
Lisa Stansfield - British soul singer who happens to be white and incidentally idolizes late soul lion Barry White, covering a few of his songs and imitating the rest of his catalog fairly blatantly and successfully. International success with "Been Around The World" & "This Is The Right Time" singles came in early 90's.
Liz Frazer - If Kate Bush were to sing scat, this would be the result. As leader of the trance-rock band Cocteau Twins, Frazer made a name for herself as the chick who sings like a bird, literally.
Liz Phair - Despite a distressing tendency to exploit her own body for attention, Phair burst on to the scene in the early 90's with "Exile in Guyville", her vaguely Rolling Stones-influenced debut. The sound was unfluffed garage rock, part of the lo-fi movement of the period. She followed it with the aptly-titled (and more radio-friendly) "Whip Smart" featuring the sublime "Jealousy", followed by "Whitechocolatespaceegg".
Liza Minnelli - Buoyant daughter of celebrity who eventually made it on her own via magnificent Oscar-winning role in "Cabaret". Inherited mother Judy's pipes and then some; her delivery is brassier and possibly more flamboyant. Willing to take chances, as in Pet Shop Boys-produced dance music album of mid-90's.
Loretta Lynn - The Coal-Miner's Daughter. Ignorant-savant of country music, Lynn wrote some of the best homegrown music of the 60's, rivalling Dylan & Holland-Dozier-Holland in originality and quality. Had a knack for not holding back, as in "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man" & her baby-making tribute "One's On The Way". Recently made a minor comeback with "Van Lear Rose", a back-to-basics mix of country & garage rock produced by White Stripes frontman & Lynn devotee, Jack White.
Lulu - Sassy Scottish lass with a voice like Aretha's & a talent for acting as well. Wonderful versions of "Here Comes The Night", "Shout", "The Boat That I Row", and of course, "To Sir With Love" kept her going in the 60's.
Luscious Jackson - They did that song I like called "With My Naked Eye"; also enjoyed them on a couple of episodes of Letterman, but know little else about them.
Madonna - Easily my fav pop star of all time, Madge has a knack for writing sharp & catchy music either in-synch with or a step ahead of the times. So many hits, even her three Best-of compilations don't quite cover her catalog. First three releases ("Madonna", "Like A Virgin", & "True Blue") along with "Erotica", "Ray of Light", and current & criminally-undervalued CD "American Life" are her best studio albums.
Mahotella Queens - African singing group famous for winds-section harmonies & energetic performances, often backing up male singers.
Maria Callas - The opera diva of all divas. Born in NYC but raised in Italy, a former fat girl who knew what it was like to be seduced and abandoned. Superbly passionate singing of Verdi, Rossini, et al. Favorite album is out of print: "Maria Callas Sings Verdi at La Scala", on Angel, from the mid 60's. A very nice person would re-release this on CD for me...:D
Maria Muldaur - She was famous for the single "Midnight At the Oasis", but this slightly freaky-voiced blueswoman's best album is "Waitress in a Donut Shop", which featured great tracks like "Honeybabe Blues", "It Ain't The Meat It's The Motion", "If You Haven't Any Hay", et al. I believe it's available on CD, but you have to look for it.
Mariah Carey - Hugely popular r'n'b diva of the 90's with a dozen hits of similar gospel-infused pedigree, all sung to the hilt multi-octavely by this daughter of an opera singer. There's something endearingly dumb about this woman that keeps me interested in her career.
Marianne Faithfull - Wispy teenaged pop singer --and Mick Jagger's young girlfriend -- from the 60's who has developed into one of the finer cabaret performers going. Broke new ground in 1979 with the release of "Broken English" album, with keyboards by Steve Winwood, and tougher material like Lennon's "Working Class Hero", Shel Silverstein's "Ballad of Lucy Jordan", and Heathcote Williams' profane "Why D'ya Do It?". Critics have likened her whiskey & cigarettes (with a detour to heroin) vocals as Bette Davis-like.
Marilyn Monroe - The dumb blonde who wasn't recorded about two dozen tracks, mostly for the movies in which she starred. Voice is breathy and light when she isn't dropping to a lower register for a sexier effect. Highlights include "I Wanna Be Loved By You", "Tropical Heatwave", & "Kiss Me".
Martha & The Muffins - Jazzy Canadian new wave band who are best remembered for the sax-heavy "Echo Beach".
Martha Davis (The Motels) - - Striking brunette of the New Wave era with a gushy, romantic style of singing. Had a couple of hits including "Only The Lonely". Career struck down by bout with cancer & she never really recovered careerwise, although she is still around for the nostalgia market. Sigh.
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - Sad is hearing this lady sing nowadays: her vibrato is truly a frightening experience, rat-a-tat-tatting thru classics like "Heatwave", "Dancing in the Streets", & "Come And Get These Memories". Ross' number-one rival in the Motown 60's, Reeves is still worthy of mention for those original recordings.
Mary Wells - Peter Jennings had a definite tear in his eye the night he announced this Motown legend's passing. Wells sang the label's first big hit, "My Guy" back in 1961with a kind of old-fashioned girl singerness that would soon be eclipsed by Ross & Reeves' rawer styles.
Massive Attack - British electronica pioneers whose best work features female vocalists, such as Tracey Thorn, Nicolette, et al.
Mazzy Star - What became of the band Opal after Kendra Smith left. Trance rock, probably suitable for mind-altering substance abuse. I like it for a change of pace but I can see where it could become a yawn after awhile. Wake up byatch and go make me a baloney sammich!
Melissa Etheridge - Gutsy all-American singer who's like a female John Mellencamp under tutelage of Bruce Springsteen. Gives her all on tracks like "If I Really Wanted To" & "Come To My Window". The non-issue of her sexuality was negated in a recent purchase I made of one of her CDs at a Goodwill store where the clerk looked upon it in something like disgust & flicked it into the bag. In Britain, they don't care about her being gay, just that her music means nothing to them. I guess it's something that you have to grow up with...
Melissa Manchester - Another brassy, big-voiced gal who had a couple of memorable singles in the 70's: "Midnight Blue" & "Don't Cry Out Loud". Sort of bridges the gap between Carr & the late Laura "Gloria" Branigan, and followed by Taylor "Tell It To My Heart" Dayne. Actually, these ladies belong on Broadway or on the cabaret circuit, which I think is what MM is doing these days. More power to her.
Miriam Makeba - Legendary South African singer who came to America under the guidance of Harry Belafonte in 1959 to cut one excellent debut. Something of a cross between cabaret and a capella folk, the album is almost entirely in her native language. Although she never did quite catch on with the public of the period (as her erratic label-hopping indicates), later became an icon via tireless efforts to free her people, eventually aided by singer Paul Simon who featured her on his late-80's "Boy in the Bubble" tour.
Nanci Griffiths - Country-folk singer-songwriter of great charm and delicacy. Writes songs like a Southern storyteller in the style of Capote, McCullers, & Faulkner.
Natalie Merchant - Jamestown, NY-born folkie who led the band 10,000 Maniacs for several years before going solo in '93. Debut album "Tigerlily" was instant hit, buoyed by singles "Carnival" & "Jealousy"(not the Phair song).
Neneh Cherry - Former front for British skronk-jazz-funk experiment Rip Rig & Panic responsible for several outre' singles such as "You're My Kind of Climate" & "Bob Hope Takes Risks". Went solo and by 1986 delivered prime debut mix of hip-hop and soul, including hit singles "Buffalo Stance" & "Kisses On the Wind".
Nona Hendryx - Rock-oriented soul singer who started out career as one of the Bluebelles who backed Patti Labelle in the 60's. Moved on with Labelle & Sarah Dash in group of same name, which scored memorably with "Lady Marmalade" in 1974. Hendryx came into her own by 1981 with "Nona", her very new wave-influenced album of dance music and soulful shouting.
Norah Jones - Nuevo jazz singer with huge crossover appeal. One of a scant handful of recent Best Album Grammy winners to actually deserve the "honor". Lazy afternoon laid-back style with an interest in quality country songwriting, such as that by Hank Williams.
Ofra Haza - Israeli diva who made initial splash with "Songs of Yemenite People" folk music album which was sampled in M.A.R.R.S' popular dance 12" of the mid 80's called "Pump Up The Volume", bringing her international interest. Released partially-English-language debut in 1988, featuring hit "Galbi", and continued to increase popularity particularly in the dance & trance rave era of the 90's. Sadly succumbed to AIDS shortly after her musical peak.
Olivia Newton-John - The Juliana Hatfield of her day. Wispy-yet-lovely-voiced Australian of great physical beauty very popular in the 70's and early 80's. Great cover of Dylan's "If Not For You" early in her career led to certified cult status as female lead opposite John Travolta in movie version of hit Broadway musical "Grease", ending decade with 10 weeks at #1 with "Physical".
Pat Benatar - Opera-trained rock star who absolutely owned the arenas for the bulk of the 80's. Began as a new-wave wannabe who soon blossomed under corporate rock management, complete with pixie hairdo and spandex getups. Altho most of the critical & college crowd I hung out with ignored her, she still delivered on a few great singles like "Invincible", "Shadows of the Night", "You Better Run", "We Belong", & "Love is a Battlefield".
Patsy Cline - First serious country music diva, popular in the late 50's until her untimely plane-crash death in 1962. Heavily-influenced by big-band singers like Kay Starr and Doris Day, as well as country legend Kitty Wells, Cline managed to record at least two dozen classics in four or five years. "I Fall To Pieces", "Sweet Dreams", "She's Got You", "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "Crazy", & "Walking After Midnight" are some of her must-have recordings.
Patti Labelle - Soul singer occasionally hailed for pre-dating Aretha into crossover territory. Led the Bluebelles (Sarah Dash, Cindy Birdsong, & Nona Hendryx) through a set of minor hits in the 60's, mostly on black radio. When Birdsong quit to replace Flo Ballard in The Supremes, the band Labelle was born, culminating in cult classic "Lady Marmalade" in 1974. After the ladies went their separate ways, Patti achieved greater success as a solo artist in the mid 80's, particularly on the peculiar "On My Own" duet she did with blue-eyed soul boy Michael McDonald.
Patti Page - One of several easy-listening stars of the 1950's, Page is sadly best known for one of the most nauseating novelties of the era, "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?". Better you should remember her for her lovely versions of "The Tennessee Waltz", "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte", & "Moonlight in Vermont".
Patti Smith - Overheated poet who became great rock star in the 70's. Heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones and Jim Morrison, Smith's first three albums -- Horses, Radio Ethiopia, & Easter -- are the must-haves for any serious rock n' roll fan.
Peggy Lee - This late pop-jazz legend's peak period was in the 40's & 50's. Sand definitive versions of "He's A Tramp", "I'm A Woman", & "Fever". Stumbled badly with novelty number & final surprise hit "Is That All There Is?", then spent rest of career as increasingly-overweight nightclub chanteuse.
Phoebe Snow - Jazz-based singer most popular in the 70's with songs like "Poetry Man" & "The Married Men".
Pink - Best of the current generation of teen queens, this kid started out as a blue-eyed soul & hip-hop singer but has gradually widened her horizons with an amazing range of talent. Second album "M!ssundaztood" not only yielded top ten hits like "Get The Party Started" but featured straight-ahead blues-rockers lik "18-Wheeler" & "Misery", and somewhat pretentious confessionals like "My Vietnam". Most recently she delivered the cheerfully vulgar "Try This", a bracing throwback to the punkish rock of Joan Jett & Blondie.
Polly Jean "PJ" Harvey - Hard rock diva who began in the post-grunge era (i.e. album "Rid of Me" with its shocking opening cut of mumble-mumble...SHRIEKShriekShriek intensity) and has also tried her hand at balladry, i.e. "To Bring You My Love". Beth Orton meets L7 is one way to describe her.
Poly Styrene - Early Brit punk star who with band X-Ray Spex recorded feminist anthem, "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!", featured on album Germ-Free Adolescence, along with "Warrior at Woolworths".
Queen Latifah - I'm not a big fan of rap but this earthy young woman had such a strong presence in the late-80's music scene, she deserves mention. Hit single "Ladies First" caught my ear in 1989 as one of the best of that year. Parlayed success of her music into a popular Fox TV sitcom ("Living Single") in the 90's, leading to roles in films, including Oscar nod for "Chicago".
Roberta Flack - Elegant soul diva & pianist with a rich delivery. Active primarily in the 70's & early 80's with classics "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" & "Killing Me Softly With His Song"
Rosanne Cash - Soulful country singer who, like Bonnie Raitt, is the daughter of a more famous performer. But Rosanne sings better than Johnny ever did or could, and has had the good fortune to be once-married to Rodney Crowell, one of the best songwriters in the country field. First made waves with "Seven-Year Ache" single & album of same name; later covered dad to good effect on "Tennessee Flat-Top Box", as well as harrowing post-divorce album "Interiors", which I had to give away it was such heavy going....
Rosemary Clooney - Although I've named this site after her autobiography, Clooney is not one of my favorite singers in terms of buying up everything she ever recorded. I love her early hits like "Papa Loves Mambo" & "Come On'a My House" and some of her later jazz interpretations, but the world is full of aging white canaries and few of them really had/have what it takes to sell a song.
Sade - Along with contemporary Thorn, bands Dub Set & Working Week, and Paul Weller's Style Council, Sade spearheaded the New Jazz movement in British pop of the mid 1980's. Owned the world with "Smooth Operator" in 1984, kept the momemtum going with "Your Love Is King", "Cherry Pie", "Is It A Crime?", "Sweetest Taboo", and so on with occasional lulls & triumphant returns.
Salt n' Pepa - First female hip-hop duo to make their mark on pop culture. Initial hit "Push It" thru last big hit, a collaboration with En Vogue called "What A Man" was their peak period.
Sam Phillips - Leslie Phillips began her career singing Contemporary Christian with label Myrrh in the late 80's, then left them when they wouldn't release her more secular music. Changed her name to Sam and got people interested in first mainstream album, the 60's-style collection "The Indescribable Wow" which led to her second and I think best album, "Cruel Inventions", which features production work by both husband T-Bone Burnett & Van Dyke Parks, as well as their friend Elvis Costello. Sam has a very John Lennonesque voice and interest in storytelling songs.
Sandie Shaw - First British female singer to have 4 number one singles, Shaw was actually a fairly lightweight 60's performer more in a class with Petula Clark than main rivals Dionne Warwick & Dusty Springfield. Still, she had a certain something that made her stand out, her influence to be heard later in Chrissie Hynde's vocal stylings. Was lionized in the mid-80's by Morrissey from The Smiths, recording a 3-song single of Smiths covers he produced, including "Jeane" & the very Shaw-ish "I Don't Want To Go Out Tonight".
Sandy Denny - Beloved British folk singer who died fairly young. Career highlight is song "Who Knows Where The Time Goes", which was also recorded by Judy Collins. Also known for backing up Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin's "IV" album.
Sarah McLachlan - Whiny Canadian songstress and distaff festival organizer who released two or three memorable cuts in the mid-90's. Like Amos, has inexplicably huge cult following coasting on initial fame.
Sarah Vaughan - Aka Sassy. Throaty, often veering into overly-dramatic readings of jazz standards. Fav tracks include "Key Largo", "Never Be The Same", & "Body & Soul". Got pretty obnoxious in her final years ala Nina Simone; once they lost their ability to sing, their classiness left them as well.
Schascle - Sarasota, FL native of Dutch heritage who rather famously walked away from potentially lucrative record deal in early 90's after major label debut. They wanted to take her high-quality blue-eyed soul vocals and turn her into the next Mariah Carey, complete with revealing wardrobe & other crap she wasn't into. Brava, brava, I say.
Shawn Colvin - Folkie-blues singer with soft, girlish delivery capable of world-weary attitude.
Sheila Chandra - British Indian girl with voice similar to Olivia Newton John's who initially fronted world music band Monsoon for one magical album, then went solo for continued career in more traditional Indian-styled pop.
Sheryl Crow - Former backup singer who hit the bigtime with "All I Wanna Do (Is Have Some Fun)" and has had a surprisingly long career ever since. I think of her contemporaries like Paula Cole who only had like two great singles then completely fell off the map. But Crow has her mindset stuck squarely in pop-blues and she has worked the seam quite well.
Shirley Horn - Blues and jazz singer with a husky voice. I really only know her for a duet she did with the great Joe Williams.
Shirley Jones - Exquisitely-voiced soprano who was a popular leading lady in film musicals of the 50's & early 60's, then reinvented herself as a pop-rock star via her fictional "Partridge Family" on TV of the early 70's. Lost points by marrying sleazeball Marty Ingalls but still performs occasionally.
Sinead O'Connor - Flighty, neurotic, super-sensitive, humorless, angry, & opinionated to the point of alienating even hardcore fans (or at least the Amercian Catholic ones), there is no disputing that O'Connor is a legendary performer despite her self-imposed retirement. She wrote exquisitely beautiful love songs and strangely ethereal historicals and raucous shouts of defiance throughout her fifteen years of recording. I love her despite her many faults, and her amazing bow ("She Who Dwells...") proves that she will be missed.
Siouxsie Sioux - Striking goth goddess and leader of two cult-fav rock bands: The Banshees & The Creatures. Began career as groupie for the Sex Pistols in 1976, alongside a young Billy Idol, before forming her band and being featured alongside the indie headliners of the day. Debut "The Scream" released in 1978 led the Goth-rock movement that included Bauhaus & The Cure. Followed by more theatrical-sounding albums "Juju", "A Kiss In The Dreamhouse", "Hyaena", et al throughout the 80's. Creatures is jazzier offshoot with husband/drummer Budgie, including UK pop hit "Right Now".
Sister Sledge - They are here for one song and one song only: "We Are Family". Tis a pity since Kathy Sledge had one of the all time great lead vocals in rock history, a cross between Ann Peebles and Janis Joplin.
S.O.S. Band - Soul band popular in the 70's and 80's led by one extraordinary female lead named Mary Davis. She was kind of like Grace Slick & Patti Labelle combined, and the band was like a more rock-oriented version of Chic. Key tracks include "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", "Just Be Good To Me", & "Tell Me If You Still Care".
Stacey Kent - Latter-day jazz chanteuse from NYC, currently more popular in England/Europe/Japan than back home in the states. Has a soft girlish tone similar to Tracey Thorn's and is particularly fond of covering the hits of famous men, such as a full album of Fred Astaire favs. Current album ("The Boy Next Door") features a lovely version of "Say It Isn't So", two Judy Garlands, and a spritely "Tis Autumn".
Stephanie Mills - Began her professional life onstage as Dorothy in original 1975 production "The Wiz", winning hearts with show-stopper "Home". Broadway-big vocal style didn't really catch on with mainstream audiences until '79-80 period with hits like "Sweet Sensation" & "I Never Knew Love Like This Before".
Suzanne Vega - Folk-rocker from NYC best known for soft, girlish numbers like "Tom's Diner", "Luka", "Marlena On The Wall", and sexier pieces like "Blood Makes Noise".
Syd Straw - Lanky back-up singer who has recorded two good solo albums, but is most famous for two-album stint singing with The Golden Palominos experimental rock group.
Tammy Wynette - Old-school country music diva who specialized in sob-story confessionals like "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", which were featured prominently in Jack Nicholson classic "Five Easy Pieces".
Teena Marie - The only white chick ever to record for Motown who sounded like she belonged there. A definite predecessor to both Madonna & Mariah, TM sang cool songs like "Square Biz" & "Lover Girl" and I believe she also played electric guitar to good effect. Laid low throughout the 90's but recently made a respectably successful comeback on the soul charts.
Terri Nunn - I remember her first as a reliable teen actress in the late 70's and early 80's. Then she formed a new wave band called Berlin which was kind of a Blondie knock-off, albeit head & shoulders high above the dreadful Missing Persons. Made their mark with minor hits "Sex (I'm A...)" & "The Metro", but became legends with theme song -- "Take My Breath Away" -- to shiny homoerotic Tom Cruise hit "Top Gun", which garnered an Oscar nomination. Sadly, not heard from since.
The Andrews Sisters - Superb trio who, while most famous in the 30's & 40's for a slew of hits ("Bei Mir Bist Du Schoene", "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy", "Don't Sit Under The Appletree", "Begin the Beguine", "Rum & Coca-Cola"), didn't really come into their own as great singers until they re-recorded their early hits for a stereo release in the early to mid 50's. Their harmonies are flawless and rich with experience, and put those earlier versions to shame.
The Bangles - The all-girl rock band that picked up where the Go-Go's left off, the Bangles began life as The Bangs, another Los Angeles punk band. Gradually moved on into Beach Boys-y harmonies and John Philips/Bob Dylan-y musings that led to about a dozen bonafide late-80's pop classics like "Hero Takes A Fall", "Walking Down Your Street", & "The Flame".
The Crystals
The Go-Gos - Hold the record as first all-female rock band to hit #1 in the pop charts. Began as trashy girl-punk band in Los Angeles same time as X & Black Flag were tearing up the scene. Became more girly as career and popularity advanced with hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed", "We Got The Beat", "Cool Jerk", "Vacation", & "Turn To You". Broke off in to solo projects within three years.
The Modettes - Euro-punk girl group who had a couple of popular indie singles with "White Mice Disco" & "Dark Park Creeping".
The Passions - Scottish new wavers who moved into more sophisticated dance pop of the early 80's with songs like "Jump For Joy", "Skin Deep", "Africa Mine", & the sublime "Sanctuary".
The Pointer Sisters - Quartet who first made waves as part of the retro-swing movement of the glam-obsessed early 70's. Early recordings are full of first-rate jazz-swing covers like "Salt Peanuts", "Black Coffee", "Little Pony", "Steam Heat", & "Yes We Can-Can". After sister Bonnie broke free for a moderately-successful disco career, the remaining trio became more pop-rock oriented in the late 70's early 80's with "Slow Hand", "Jump", & "Neutron Dance".
The Ronettes - Led by Ronnie Spector --wife of super-producer & all-around-oddball Phil-- this somewhat trashy girl group hit big with "Be My Baby" and a couple more similar tracks in the early 60's. They were more popular in the UK than America at the time, particularly with The Beatles & the Rolling Stones.
The Shangri-Las - Premier girl-group of the 1960's famous for high-camp classics like "Leader of the Pack", "Train From Kansas City", "Remember Walking in the Sand", "I Can Never Go Home Anymore", & "Sophisticated Boom-Boom". Tough NYC chick appearance led to at least one heroin overdose.
The Shirelles
The Slits - Experimental all-female British art-rock band from the original punk era. Sort of a tribal-funk fusion led by singer Arri-Up.
The Waitresses - jazz-rock group similar to Rip Rig & Panic but with a definite Northeastern American flair. Track "I Know What Boys Like" became instant hit on college radio stations, followed by theme song for "Square Pegs" and seasonal fav "Christmas Rapping". Sadly, lead singer Patty Donahue died of cancer about ten years after the band folded.
Tina Turner - The female Elvis. One of the first women to "sing like a man" in rock history. Protege/victim of evil genius Ike Turner, she began life as Annie Mae Bullock of Nutbush, TN. Success was mainly in black radio of the 60's and early 70's, but Tina had developed a strong following among influential British stars like Mick Jagger & David Bowie. Eventually broke free from husband Ike to launch hugely successful solo career at an age most women are losing their popularity with younger fans. Currently semi-retired, she still draws a crowd.
Tori Amos - Piano virtuoso with deep roots in Nyro/Mitchell/Simon/Bush territory, Amos broke big with rape confessional "Me & A Gun" on debut "Little Earthquakes". A flamboyant performer with a huge cult following, she is an acquired taste to say the least.
Tracey Thorn - Fine Scottish jazz/folk/pop/dance star who began her career as a teenager in the girl-group Marine Girls, then formed Everything But The Girl Ben Watt after college. Their early recordings --Cole Porter's "Night & Day" & the hit single "Each And Every One"-- had a bossa nova jazz appeal but they gradually opened up their repetoire to include folk & jangly pop. Didn't hit big in America until 1988 with the single "Driving", hitting platinum a few years later with a remix of "Missing", from their excellent "Amplified Heart" album, which reinvented them as dancefloor mavens on their last two releases.
Tracy Chapman - 1986 brought this angry young lesbian to the forefront with "Fast Car" and "Talkin' Bout A Revolution". Her anger was as subdued as her sexuality, but we knew where she was coming from; unfortunately, her stunning debut album lost out Album of the Year Grammy to George Michael's "Faith" and the commercial die was veritably set. Despite a couple of good singles like "Born To Fight", her career has never had the same punch it did that particular year.
Vanessa Briscoe-Hay - As the lead singer for Athens, GA band Pylon, Briscoe-Hay's success was largely in the indie/college radio arena. The band was a cross between fellow Athenians REM & B-52's, but with an even more stripped-down sound rooted in funk music. Few of their song titles are longer than one word, such as "Crazy" (which REM later recorded), "Beep", & "Cool" and generally revolved around one basic, danceable beat
Velvet Underground - Featured two women who went on to indie cult careers: chanteuse Nico and drummer Mo Tucker. Nico was a fashion model and occasional actress ("La Dolce Vita") who lucked into VU via her stint with Andy Warhol's Factory; left after debut album to solo with "Chelsea Girls", "Desertshore", and other experimental cabaret music. Mo stayed with VU til the end in 1971 or 2, then reappeared a decade later as a minimalist solo act, usually with members of experimental rockers 1/2 Japanese.
Vikki Carr - Made a minor splash in the late 60's with Broadway-style belters like "It Must Be Him" (featured memorably in the Cher hit "Moonstruck"), then made a comeback in the last decade as a popular Latin Contemporary star.
Vivian Goldman - British journalist who dabbled impressively in art rock of early 80's. Featured on cut "The Window" from Flying Lizards' debut album, then cut double-A single with members of Public Image Ltd called "Launderette" b/w "Private Armies".
Voice of the Beehive - Another sister act that began with a bang (the "Let It Beeeee" album) and ended with a whimper.
Whitney Houston - Hard to believe that the currently scrawny, drug-addled, and obvious victim of co-dependent abuse was once a top-flight performer of many popular songs in the soul and pop arena of the 80's and early 90's. I remember her being as young as 19 belting out a number on the second Material album in 1981. Then she exploded onto the charts with hits like "How Will I Know" & "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". Movie stardom brought her the magnificent "Don't Walk Away From Me" and the lesser but worthy "Shoop" not to mention "I Will Always Love You".
Young Marble Giants - Ultra-minimalist pop group led by Alison Staton. Released one cult fav indie album, "Colossal Youth" in 1981, then disbanded about a year later to dip into jazz/folk music of the day.
I have bought most of my music from this regional chain, Sound Exchange which has two stores in the Tampa Bay area. They sell new & used music & movies in all formats, and buy same.