Attentive readers are aware that I have a particular fondness for all those existential French popstar gals of the late Fifties and Sixties (where have you gone, Juliette Greco?)...
...and Hardy was one of my particular favorites. For obvious reasons.
I mean, if you had to be as good looking as Brian Jones to even have a chance with her...
That said, in all honesty, Hardy's music...
...was no better or worse than the rest of the commercial French pop purveyed by her ye-ye contemporaries, which is to say there's a reason none of that stuff ever made it to the Anglo charts (with the exception of Jane Birkin and the overtly smutty "Je T'Aime," which was essentially a novelty record). But I loved her anyway.
Which brings us, as you may have suspected, to the weekend's business. To wit:
...and your favorite (or least favorite) post-Beatles English-language rock/pop/country/soul/folk gal singer is...???
No arbitrary rules, but by post-Beatles we mean, obviously, someone who came to public prominence AFTER the release of the hit recording "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and the invention of the blow dryer.
Discuss.
Oh, and my choices (one of which I suspect may surprise you -- hell, it surprised me!) for favorite are...a tie!!!
Beginning wth...
Chrissie Hynde, of The Pretenders!!!
Who, as you can hear in the above clip, has the uncanny ability to call to mind ALL the greatest diverse Sixties girl singers who preceded her -- from the wistfully teenage Claudine Clark lamenting that she can't go see the "Party Lights" to the imperiously regal Sandy Denny as she bemoans the fate of the murdered adulterous "Matty Groves" -- in just about about every rock/pop genre imaginable.
And then, of course...there's the late Rachel Nagy of The Detroit Cobras!!!
And why?
Silly mortals...because SHE HAS THE MOST F**KABLE VOICE IN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY!!!
Seriously, as I said when I first posted that video in 2007, "is there another woman on the planet who can make the three syllable phrase 'cha-cha-cha' absolutely drip with lust?"
I think not.
Anyway, those are my nominees. What would YOURS be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
40 comments:
I love the Brian Jones photo. That said I have 3 nominees: Maddy Prior, Aimee Mann, and Karla Kane of the Corner Laughers.
I am unfamiliar with Kane. I will do the research immediately.
i'm not sure if criteria here is for musical ability or persona and appearance but i will offer up Nico and Linda Thompson.
rs
Just in case anybody's wondering, today's post is meant at least partly tongue in cheek.
Hope that clears things up.
kate bush
the wilson sisters of heart
and a particular rendition of a mccartney song i've often returned to -
fiona apple's "let me roll it" with the roots - in honour of sir paul's seventieth birthday - really gets me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sYziUL7OrE
You think she has the most frakable voice in all of human history?
So you want to inject high-pressure streams of water into it and extract its natural gases?
Kinky.
Sharon Jones.
What a badass she was!
Former prison guard at Rikers, battled through cancer and performed bald as a result.
I was hooked when I read an interview with her and she talked about getting started in her singing career and having to do bar mitzvahs, etc. Some punk asked if she was going to sing disco and she said something along the lines of no, I oughta whop you upside your head for asking!
Lulu
Susan Cowsill
Skeeter Davis (her record w/ NRBQ is getting a re-release)
Marti Jones
Vanessa from Pylon
There's a great video of the Cobras doing "Leave My Kitten Alone." Rachel looks so out on the edge you knew she wouldn't be around long.
Bob in IL
Coincidentally, I thought of this very subject this morning on the long drive to work. It's notable because I favor male singers, but, oddly, about half of my top-ten (in no particular order) are gals.
Chrissie Hynde
Lucinda Williams (in her prime)
the late, great Mimi Parker
Johnette Napolitano
Sandy Denny
C in California
C in California:
I am unfamiliar with Mimi Parker. Thanks for the tip…
I second Alexandra Elene MacLean Denny
nee - Sandy. One of the Great Voices
rob (obviously a huge Fairport fan)
May be not so well known but June Tabor. There are more but jusy wanted mention her.
DG/TP
Simels-
Like Sandy, Mimi made the saddest music beautiful. Here's an example, and if it doesn't work for you, then she won't work for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImQ3eWdXEwk
C in California
Aw, come on, Steve. Hardy was definitely a cut above the rest. Exhibit A, this perfect pop song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNBLQQe7ICY
What, no love for Mariska Veres or Debby Harry?
How about a vote for Sally Timms?
Some people might vote for Nina Hagen as worst, but I love her... so I'll send that vote to Madge.
Sorry to throw a wrench into this fun but here goes: Eva Cassidy FULL STOP
Nina Hagen, Gladys Knight, Julie Driscoll, Esther Phillips, Janis Joplin, June Tabor, Genya Ravan.
What— no love for Grace Slick?😎
Julie Driscoll, Martha Davis from The Motels, Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde.
I will also second Sharon Jones and add that the election of The Idiot in 2016 literally killed her.
Dorothy Ellis - Drill, Daddy Drill.
End of discussion!
Captain Al
Kate Pierson + Cindy Wilson
Neko Case
Thanks to mistah charley for the link to the Fiona Apple cover video, Fiona gets a vote from me as well
Maria McKee (Lone Justice, solo)... Bryan MacLean's (Love) sister.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF84R1NpBYk
I forgot Sonja Kristina of Curved Air
VR
what about Lesley Gore?
rs
No Steve, tongue in cheek does not clear it up.
What — no love for Emmylou or Allison Krause?😎
Evie Sands - great blue-eye soul singer.
She shoulda been a contender- she released the originals of "Angel In The Morning", "Take Me for a Little While", and "I Can't Let Go".
Here's a fantastict performance of "Run Home To Your Mama"-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItOmbAkKjs0
M Sharp —
I was gonna put Evie at number three but i forgot.😎
I'm surprised at some of the ones not on the list: Joan Jett (for her rock chops), Bonnie Raitt, Cyndi Lauper, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton ...
Isn't anybody listening?
Dorothy Ellis - Drill, Daddy Drill.
End of discussion!
Captain Al
BG,
... Amy Winehouse, Laura Nyro, Nancy Sinatra, Loretta Lynn.
Captain Al --
Post-Beatles.
Dorothy doesn't make the cut.
Dorothy Ellis always makes the cut. Start drilling!
Captain Al
Marianne Faithfull - the post Broken English years (not everyone has to be as clear voiced as Joan Baez)
Rachel Sweet - The ultimate jailbait voice
Charlene Carter - for a little southern twang
Clairy Browne - maybe too much like Amy Winehouse, but still alive.
I made a mistake -
Top link on Lou Ann Barton should have been this which is more in a Power Pop vein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41OUG6S0W1E
VR
Girls this girl would like to notch
Storm Large
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGqYnj_Y3CI
VR
Stacy Michelle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upzzdbe055E
Yep, that's Terry Reid with her
VR
Shirley Manson - love the way she fucked the mike and the way she looked in 1996
Chrissy Amphlett
Cherie Currie
Suzi Quatro
Marianne Faithfull Something Better/Sister Morphine Era 1968-1969
Jenni Muldaur
And all the obvious ones if these aren't already
VR
Chrissie Hynde - especially when singing 977 and smashing her tambourine into two pieces. One half left in her hand, the other in my mini-skirted lap. 1994-11-12 Wiltern Theatre taping from the pit. You can hear the rattle of the tambourine's zills as it landed in lapland. Got a great DAT even though it was just before a mic upgrade.
Rickie Lee Jones
Susan Tedeschi
Connie Smith
Toni Price
Hope Sandoval
Clare Torry
Essra Mohawk
Lydia Pense
Jennifer Warnes
Anne McCue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BykU2LLvrms
Karen Dalton
Odd. No Hoffs or Slick? Debbie Harry? Donna Summer? Stevie Nicks?
VR
Speaking of Maria McKee (what it was like the first time my old man gave it to me - when the walls were moving and the earth was quaking and I was freefalling thru space all flushed and fluttered on a rocket ride to a higher plane)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdJOpb6dJlY
VR
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