Bobbie Gentry
And as far as auditioning any of the suggestions here, I recommend getting an iTunes or Napster account and listen to some free samples before you buy.
Maybe I missd it, but if Debbie Gibson and Debby Boone are on the suggestion list, maybe Cass Elliot and Karen Carpenter should be added. And I’m not sure I saw Gladys Knight mentioned either.
Wow, thanks guys! I haven’t heard of many of these people. I don’t know that I’m really into singers like Whitney Houston and Wilson Phillips. They’re just a little too soft to me. When a female singer or group constantly sings love songs they just get old. But I’m going to check out these other recommendations. Thanks!
Ellen McIllwaine: sings and played killer guitar as well.
Tracy Nelson (no, not that Tracy Nelson).
Check out “Down So Low.”
Nobody’s yet mentioned:
Abba
Quarterflash
Unbelievable (that I’m the first to mention them, that is).
One that’s a bit obscure (except maybe in Canada):
Spoons
Two that nobody but me has ever heard of:
Clout
Night
Oops, thought of three more that nobody but me has ever heard of:
Lazy Racer
Private Lightning
Thieves
And one that’s borderline rock:
Clannad
Check out these collections:
Intimate Portrait: Women in Rock
The Rolling Stone Women In Rock Collection
Women for Women (2 vols)
a) Substitute
b) Hot Summer Night
I’ve got both of these singles! So now I guess we’re a club.
Wow am I the only Carly Simon fan on the SDMB ?
FishBicycle
I liked “Night” even though they were One Hit Wonders. “Hot Summer Noghts” and I believe it was Stephie Lange who belted that one out (summer of 1979 if I remember correctly). Guitar player Robbie MacIntosh went to the Pretenders on their “Learning to Crawl” album.
“Night” also appears in the 1980 movie “The Monster Club”.
I have the Night version of that song, even though where I lived, in Toronto, the Walter Egan version with Fleetwood Mac backing him was the hit. I heard the other version on the radio from the US, and had to track it down many years after it went out of print.
P.S.: Robbie MacIntosh also played with Paul McCartney for the period 1989-1993. Best group Paul ever assembled. Well, best other group.
Ok, I guess they’re not quite as obscure as I’d thought. But I bet I’m the only one who has both Clout albums and both Night albums. On vinyl.
Now, anyone heard of Private Lightning?
I’ve never seen a Clout album, and didn’t know they had two of them. Were they a Canadian group? Or do I just have their single from another country, licensed by a Quebec label?
And can I take it that you are a Guess Who fan?
You mentioned Janis Joplin in the OP, but she’s done a lot more than the one song (and if you mean Me and Bobby McGee, that was originally a Kris Kristofferson song anyway).
You might want to check out some of her other stuff.
Another one is Nina Simone, although she’s more folk and blues than rock.
Ooh! I just remembered two more lesser-known ladies I’m in love with:
Lauren Hoffman, and
Erin Mckeown
I know you’re getting a lot of new music to check out here, but don’t pass these ladies up!
And thought she’s not really rock, Nellie McKay has gotten a lot of press and big reviews last year. Think Doris Day crossed with Randy Newman.
One more: Michelle Shocked. She’s been recording since the early 80’s, blending folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, gospel and probably several more genres I’m not remembering right now.