Favorite female singer-songwriter types

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Allan Conn
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 03:53 PM

As well as many of the other already mentioned I like Dar Williams too.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 02:28 PM

Priscilla Herdman

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Bert
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 12:47 PM

Don't worry too much about that pdq, I too love all female singers whether they write songs or not.

And don't forget Hot Soup.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Janie
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 11:46 AM

Canadian singer/songwriter Lynn Miles

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: pdq
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 11:33 AM

open mike suggests Linda Ronastadt and Emmylou Harris as songwriters.

I doubt that Linda has written and entire song ever in her life.

Emmylou may have tried to late in her career.

Some under-appreciated ladies are Mary McCaslin, Gail Davies, Kate Wolf and Lacy J. Dalton.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Elmore
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 10:58 AM

Rosalie Sorrels. Recently retired.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: ranger1
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 08:13 AM

Anna Coogan.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: David C. Carter
Date: 14 Apr 13 - 07:16 AM

Laura Nyro

Gillian Welch

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 11:15 PM

Judy Small..up there with Stan Rogers I think. Pat Humphries writes true classics.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 09:05 PM

Check out Cheryl Wheeler.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 06:49 PM

I don't think Tracy Grammer has written any songs, but I might have missed something.

I do like Kate Bush. I think Florence & the Machine must have been influenced by her. So different from others. (Perhaps that's what was meant by "original" above.)

A lot of what I like these days involves a song here or there and not one songwriter all the time. I don't know if that says something about singer/songwriters or me.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST, Paul Slade
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 04:59 PM

Mary Gauthier - especially for "I Drink" and 'Sugar Cane".

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 04:20 PM

I was just introduced to the music of Tracy Grammer and think she's quite good.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 Apr 13 - 12:00 PM

I would have to say that Kate Bush is an original in the true sense of the word..she has written wonderful, eccentric songs, has been her own producer and is a consumate musician. She has written some of the best songs of the last 30 years or so,

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 01:17 PM

"don't forget the original - Kate Bush"

I'm not sure what you mean by original, but (and she has already been mentioned) Sandy Denny definitely pre-dates the likes of Kate Bush, Tori Amos etc..etc..

and Anne...as a bit of a late comer...I love your songs!

Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Grab
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 12:26 PM

If we're thinking Tori Amos, don't forget the original - Kate Bush. The girl recorded "Wuthering Heights" aged 16, meaning she wrote it aged 14 or 15. Now that's pretty amazing, if you ask me.

I'd second Joan Armatrading. Saw her a few months back, and she was great. It seems to be unusual for women to have such big stage presence without doing much, but JA has it in spades. She also rocks as a guitarist.

Beverley Knight and Duffy, from more recent soul stuff. Both have great voices. I'd like to see BK doing more - she's not had a new CD out for a while now.

A couple of relatively unknown English singers. Jane Taylor is a fantastic singer and writer, both live and recorded. Abbie Lathe is a bit ho-hum recorded but great live, especially with some of the covers that her band does.

And very locally, Jacqui Carnall from Cambridge is pretty bloody good and deserves recognition.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Whistlepenny
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 02:33 PM

Anne Lister, stop sniffing, your songs are great - Moth is one of my all time favourites.

Haven't seen Eddi Reader's name yet - http://www.eddireader.co.uk/ - and the late great Kirsty McColl has to be in there.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: BK Lick
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 02:19 PM

Jo Mapes

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 08:32 AM

I do I do I do !!!!!

"Anne" a.k.a. Tabster is Anne Lister, brilliant songwriter. (I should not try to cook dinner and post to Mudcat at the same time, brain obviously can't cope...)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Anne Lister
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 08:22 AM

and obviously no one likes me ...*sniff*


Anne

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 08:16 AM

Well, Belle Stewart wrote Berryfields of Blair so that makes her a female singer-songwriter. Shall we now stop the competition?

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: open mike
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:33 PM

Laurie Lewis www.laurielewis.com
the Late Great Kate Wolf www.katewolf.com
Cheryl Wheeler www.cherylwheeler.com
k.d.lang www.kdlang.com
Emmylou Harris www.emmylou.net
Linda Ronstadt http://lindaronstadt.com/, http://www.ronstadt-linda.com/
Stephanie Davis www.stephaniedavis.net
Juni Fisher www.junifisher.com/
Joni Harms www.joniharms.com
Linda Williams of www.robinandlinda.com
Kathy Mattea www.mattea.com
Kate Campbell www.katecampbell.com/
Sally Van Meter www.sallyvanmeter.com
Tammy Fassaert http://www.island.net/~tammyfas/
Kathy Kallick www.kathykallick.com/
http://www.island.net/~tammyfas/
Cathey Fink and Marcy Marxer http://www.cathymarcy.com/
Sarah Elizabeth Campbell http://www.myspace.com/sayraliz

Many of these gals were in the famed Blue Rose Band
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Rose_(band)
Blue Rose were an all-star all-women band that played
bluegrass music. All of the musicians in the group are
solo artists in their own right, who joined together to
record an album as a group in 1988 for Sugar Hill Records.

O.k. i guess i have a few favorites...hope you don't mind!

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:02 PM

Some who haven't been mentioned (or were overlooked by me), in no particular order:

Karine Polwart, Alison McMorland, Frankie Armstrong, Judy Small, Peggy Seeger,

as well as some great singers, even though they don't / didn't write many songs:

Ray Fisher, Cilla Fisher, Dolores Keane, Eleanor Shanley, Heather Heywood, Jean Redpath, June Tabor and Norma Waterson

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: number 6
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:02 PM

Tunesmith ... "I hope Sandy Denny's been mentioned a few times!"

she has been previously mentioned in this thread, and deservedly so.

... and with I think Jacqui McShee should receive some accolades in this thread.

biLL

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: van lingle
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:58 PM

Heidi Talbot, late of Cherish the Ladies, is worth checking out. Recently released In Love+ Light but I'm not sure how much of her own stuff she writes. Tish Hinajosa is also very special.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:43 PM

"I hope Sandy Denny's been mentioned a few times!"

Speaking of Fairport...Judy Dyble

and
Judy Dunlop

Vikki Clayton

Polly Bolton

Cathy Lesurf

Charlotte (racking her brains on Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:37 PM

I hope Sandy Denny's been mentioned a few times!

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 04:04 PM

Have we left out the lovely Mimi Farina?

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:59 PM

That sadly deceased and fragile genius, Judee Sill. Tori Amos when she takes her head out of her bottom, and yes the lovely and local Edwina Hayes.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: fat B****rd
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:56 PM

Good one, Mole Catchers etc. I love Carole King's stuff. Right back to "It might as well rain until September"

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:50 PM

It occurred to me, while out at the shops and being a piano player myself....

Carole King

Charlotte (tapestry)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: fat B****rd
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:45 PM

Unless I've missed her in previoius posts, the late Judee Sill is, IMO, one of the best of the 70s lady singer songwriters. In fact of any decade.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 02:20 PM

Iris DeMent. Good songs well sung. I especially like to hear Iris DeMent and Emmylou Harris singing together.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 02:05 PM

I'm suprised no one has mentioned the Wailin' Jennys yet. And Claire Lynch is someone working in the bluegrass field that I like a lot.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: frogprince
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:56 PM

I'll second the recommendations for a couple of the lesser known people mentioned, Stacey Earl and Bonnie Koloc. And I'll add two women I adore: Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 12:56 PM

Most of my earliest favorites in folk music were female singers. It started with Joan Baez...then Buffy Sainte-Marie, Judy Collins, Sylvia Tyson (and I really like Ian Tyson too, naturally)...then Joni Mitchell.

Some other female singers I listened to a bit less way back when, but I have to say they were all very good...Odetta and Ronnie Gilbert (from the Weavers) and Eartha Kitt (a delightful woman). I liked a lot of Melanie's material too.

In somewhat more recent times, got to really like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tanita Tikaram, Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Tish Hinojosa, the Dixie Chicks, Emmy-Lou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton.

And there are so many others too...just a ton of great female singer-songwriters out there.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 12:18 PM

This thread has been running all weekend and NOBODY has mentioned Lucinda Williams?!!!

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 12:18 PM

In no particular order

Lal Waterson

Carolyn Hester

Iris Dement

Sarah Carter


Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 11:37 AM

"Linda Kelly is the songwriter & is joined by Hazel Richings to form Hissyfit. Wonderful pair!"
Bob

Childish giggles from me.
And they are great to listen too as well.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 07:23 PM

My favorite new find has been Caroline Herring
.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: 8_Pints
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 06:52 PM

Linda Kelly is the songwriter & is joined by Hazel Richings to form Hissyfit. Wonderful pair!

Bob

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Ian Burdon
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 06:39 PM

Don't forget Anne Briggs...

Someone mentioned Laura Nyro already and following from her is Rickie Lee Jones.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 06:28 PM

Just to the NOrth of us on the Hull side of the river Humber
Are a mostly vocal duo called Hissy fit.
They too have songs to die for.
They are known to occassionaly post to the Cat.
(Uk tallent again)

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 06:26 PM

"Where is "local", Tim? Would be nice to keep an eye out for her, if possible"

Am in the uk,North east Lincolnshire.

Mrs B is in a band called the Wild Wolds Women and another Helian Keys.
There are myspace sites for both.
WWW is an all female band Cello,guitar,accordion,piano,concertina whistles (on and on ...)
Helian keys is a collaboration with a....MAN!
But none the less good for that.
Hope that helps
Tim

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 03:26 PM

Thanks so much to folks posting with their suggestions--keep them coming!

For anyone interested, if you go to pandora.com, you will be at the home of the Music Genome Project. You can create a 'station' by either artist name of song name/artist. That station then plays similar (sic) music to that artist/song title according to it's programming. You give each song a thumbs up or down, depending on how you like it. It is a great quick way of sampling music & finding new (or in my case, oldie) stuff, and seeing if you'd like to download it.

Now, it ain't perfect by a long shot. The Dixie Chicks station I created gave me nothing but Alan Jackson/Garth Brooks/Jodie Messina songs. So, if that happens, you just delete the station, and try again using a song title by that artist you like.

Right now, I'm listening to Suzanne Vega. Nice stuff--forgot about her too!

But I'm going offline now, and likely won't be able to get back and let everyone know how my sampling is going. So far, my fave discovery there is a Texas musician named Toni Price.

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Stringsinger
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 01:02 PM

Some of these voices are very good such as early Joni Mitchell's. Her early songs match
her musical qualities.

What happens is that many of the singer/songwriters are better in the vocal department
then they are in the songwriting. A lot of the introspective ruminations of the songwritiing tend to be masked by a veneer of pretty sounds but the content is lacking.

Some of it is pseudo-new agey and pretentious philosophizing by young women who
haven't really lived that long and speculate from a position of delayed adolescence.

Joni Mitchell seemed to defy that. Her earlier songs contained a maturity the contrasted
her age when she wrote them. "Both Sides Now" is a classic example.

I think this is true of Janis Ian as well. "Society's Child" was remarkable for a young girl
her age and really struck a nerve with the public. "At Seventeen" was another that communicated a sophistication and maturity.

Each song should be taken independently of the singer and evaluated.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,Judy Bloom
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 12:55 PM

Glad you're in agreement - wonderful songs, wonderful singer

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 12:49 PM

Lal Waterson!! How on earth could I forget her just because I was watching over a stupid pot of spaghetti?? Yessssss, one of the greats, much missed.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: GUEST,judy bloom
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 12:44 PM

Belinda O'Hooley is very good - especially Whitethorn from Rachel Unthank & The Winterset's "The Bairns". I went to see her perform solo and she has a great song called "Chinese Whispers" - very apt!
I also think that the late Lal Waterson, Devon Sproule and Laura Veirs should be mentioned.

Subject: RE: Favorite female singer-songwriter types
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 12:18 PM

Definitely concur with Rita McNeil. Also like Suzy Boggus....her CD with Chet Atkins is a delight! Sandy Denny's up there too along with Linda Thompson.

Best wishes,

Peter