9. The Runaways: Cherry Bomb
The Runaways weren't the first all-female rock band of note (Fanny, from the early 70's, gets that distinction, and obscuro fans may want to cite the Shaggs). They weren't even a real band. A marketing gimmick hatched at a party by Los Angeles musician/producer/songwriter/impresario Kim Fowley, the Runaways were promoted as jailbait, from their name to their attire, to the ages of their members. Among the members were Joan Jett (only 15 when the band was assembled) and guitarist Lita Ford, both of whom saw subsequent solo success, particularly Jett with solo anthems like "Bad Reputation" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll". Fowley's "Cherry Bomb" was the band's lone classic, a quasi-punk anthem just before punk's dawn, and wound up being a great riot-grrrl prototype in spite of itself. One more example of art triumphing over artifice.
10. Cocteau Twins: Heaven Or Las Vegas
Until the mid-80's, most women in rock were essentially singer/songwriters or pop divas, and generally fell into the soft-rock/adult contemporary categories. In the indie rock era, the splintering of any notion of mainstream opened up a lot of new genres for women, including dream pop and space rock genres, which usually rely on womens' voices for texture and tone, and also saw many of these women playing guitar or bass. The general ambience of dream pop and space rock has a tendency to render many of the women anonymous, as the production is the story rather than the personality, and some of these sounds deserve credit. Cocteau Twins, architects of dream pop when they debuted in 1984 and cornerstone of the 4AD label, built a sound based on the shimmering vocals Elizabeth Fraser. "Heaven or Las Vegas", from 1990 and their last for 4AD, is one of their most gorgeous.
11. Tracy Chapman: Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution
Time has been kind to Tracy Chapman. She was a folkie singer/songwriter during the end of the Reagan era, a time when folkie singer/songwriters were generally on the outs. Her lyrics tended towards a political correctness prevailant at left-leaning universities at the time that was already in danger of becoming dogmatic. Her albums were muted, quiet affairs; she wasn't known for having a particularly large personality. Her surprise 1996 retro-soul hit "Give Me One Reason" elevated her star considerably, and also drew attention to her earlier work, which has gained resonance over the years, making it sound somewhat better than it once did. "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution" is a typically quiet anthem that is still useful today.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Tan The Man
Where's Cat Power? I would think that Joni's "Blue" album would be on here.
2 - wavesofeuphoria
Where is Stevie Nicks? k.d. lang?
3 - TerriOC
What, no Melissa Etheridge??!! That voice, those lyrics - a true inspiration.
4 - Mark Saleski
the funny thing about this is that i remember reading an article about Chrissie Hynde where she said something to the effect of "what is 'alternative', an alternative to music?"
not a fan, apparently.
p.s. i do love Maria McKee. i'm a little surprised you didn't pick "Ways To Be Wicked".
5 - Rob
- Ani Defranco should be on this list. She created her own underground movement and is still going strong and independant to this day.
-I have to agree, K.D. Lang should be on the list or get an honourable mention.
-Edie Brickell, mainly because I had such a big crush on her. She does have a great voice though.
-Alanis, for the same reason as Edie, and for Jagged Little Pill. That album feels so real and honest to me. Just great.
- Rickie Lee Jones, maybe?
6 - uao
Some names mentioned above almost made this list, among them Ethridge, Morissette, Rickie Lee Jones, Stevie Nicks, KD Lang.
I didn't think of Cat Power, but that's a good pick.
This was actually going to be a top-20, but I felt bad about leaving so many off, so I extended it to 25.
At some point soon, I'll compile 26-50. Still taking names.
7 - steve
where in the flying hell is Heart?!?!? C'ommon...Barracuda??!?!!?
8 - jones
Since my favorite is right at the top I can't complain. :)
9 - Guppusmaximus
That's an interesting list... There aren't too many female artists that I like but I think this woman should've made it:
Karen Carpenter (<-Not rock,you say?? She played drums and sang on all of The Carpenter's music)
10 - Guppusmaximus
Ohh..How could I forget??
Patsy Cline...Pure Brilliance
11 - LegendaryMonkey
I am just SO happy to see Neko Case here. She was the first person I thought of after I read the first few picks... her name just drifted into my head... and there she was! And PJ Harvey as well! Oh, this whole piece just makes me happy down to my toes.
12 - Zach
Nice to see Yoko on the list without the usual snarky bullshit...actually one of the better "top whatever" lists I've read in quite a while. Nice work. Good choice for Tina Turner, too!
13 - EZ
I agree twenty times over on Bjork's presence, Let's add Garbage (the first two albums) and Edie Brickell for sure. Heart ruined their Barracuda days with wussy What About Love? 80s songs...
14 - LegendaryMonkey
Oooh, seconded on Edie Brickell. I loved her, once upon a time, and when I catch a song here or there, I still have to stop and listen.
15 - EZ
Monkey, go buy Volcano, Edie Brickell. Ten years between this and the Picture Perfect Morning and she's still got her groove with smart lyrics to boot. I saw her live last year and she didn't let me down.
16 - Michael J. West
Well, I got no complaints about who is and isn't on this list, uao. I thought it was a GREAT list. (And the better for not having Melissa Etheridge on it.)
17 - Rob
Glad to see I'm not the only Edie Brickell fan out there. How about adding Sarah McLaughlin to the list? Great voice, musician, songwriter and created the Lilith Fair, which was no small feat.
18 - LegendaryMonkey
I shall tack it onto my list, EZ... I didn't even know there was something new!
19 - Vern Halen
Some other considerations:
Angela Bowie
Bianca Jagger
Myra Lewis
Priscilla Presley
Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly's lost love)
Patti Harrison
Linda McCartney
Sharon Osbourne (current queen of rock 'n'roll)
Elyssa (sp?) Perry
Maggie May
20 - godoggo
Exene.
I think that, on a good day, her lyrics (and I think I've got her contributions pretty well sorted out from Johns, which aren't quite as good) are as good as any in rock'n'roll, certainly better than anybody's on your list. And her, ahem, vocals, can be very powerful, again on a good day.
Fave 3 lyrics, in order, from best to least best.
1) The Once Over Twice
2) Because I Do
3) We're Desperate
Odd how many women I admire achieved fame in part because they were somebody's girlfriend, though.
21 - uao
Vern Halen: That's a really interesting take on the premise; it'd be interesting to try something like that.
Exene is another who came thisclose to being included.
22 - Sean
My nominees are:
1. Wanda Jackson - described by Nick Tosches as the greatest mensturating rock and roll singer ever.
2. The Slits - both Joe Strummer and Chrissie Hynde said they were the best punk band they'd ever heard.
3. X - for the reasons others have set forth.
4. Lydia Lunch - the queen of the NY underground until
5. Kim Gordon - came along and took the crown.
6. Esther Phillips - bad ass southern soul singer. Would have, and probably did, kick otis' ass.
7. Dusty Springfield - my loins still stir when I hear Son of a Preacher Man
23 - godoggo
Sandy Denny, just 'cause I like her voice.
24 - Baronius
Tina Weymouth
both Mamas (of The Mamas and The Papas)
25 - godoggo
Also just 'cause I like her voice, Marianne Faithful; even though I like her best singing something like Surabaya Johnny, she certainly qualifies as a rocker.
And also I read on SWINGINCHICKS.COM that some folks apparently blame/credit Pamela Morrison for the Lizard King's ultimate career move, which I should think would qualify her as influential.