Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    
    How about Ferron, Heather Bishop, Judy Small, Sweet Honey in the
    Rock, Holly Near, Nancy Vogl, Betsy Rose, Cathy Winter, Kay Gardner,
    Ann Reed and Sue Fink??
    
    A friend has a Jade & Sassparilla album but I never heard them play
    in person.  Janet Hood, formerly of J&S, appears occasionally at
    Ryles, a jazz club, in Cambridge, Ma.
    
    am
        
    p.s. Lucie Blue's coming to Boston in October!!

    re .1
    
    Yeah, and Janet Hood is still dynamite on the keyboard.  She used
    to perform with Susan Abod, I think.  They were really good.
    
    And Willie Tyson...too.  Loved her song, "Engineer".  Be a good
    theme song for women engineers here at DEC!
    
    L.
    

    What about Tracey Chapman?  Or doesn't she count now that she's
    popular?
    
    --bonnie

    
    .3  She counts in my book.
    am

>    And Willie Tyson...too.  Loved her song, "Engineer".  Be a good
>    theme song for women engineers here at DEC!

    Credit where credit's due: if this is the song "I'm gonna be an
    engineer", it was written by Peggy Seeger. (If it's a different 
    song, treat this message as a parity error.)
    
    I mentioned Cindy Kallet in the first file; I suppose I can mention 
    her again... (Great guitarist, great singer, great songwriter.)

    re .5
    
    Yes, I think you're right about I'm gonna be an engineer.   I had
    a friend from the south, and when she was just coming out, I gave
    her my Willie Tyson album.  And I haven't been able to get a
    replacement copy.  So it's been a long time since I heard the song,
    etc.  Thanks for fixing the credit.
    
    L.

    Re: .3
    
    	You beat me to it!  Tracy was "popular" at Tufts, too, before
    the album came out!
    
    
    How about Suzanne Vega?
    
    -Amy-

    Ronnie Gilbert.  She  started singing with the Weavers in the late
    40's,  got blacklisted for her troubles and is still going strong.
    I  heard her in concert with Odetta (another of my favorites) last
    spring,  and  for someone of her age, she has an amazing amount of
    energy.  She  and Holly Near sang together quite a bit a couple of
    years ago, but they seem to be doing more solos recently.

    For a  song  writer (who has produced at least one record) Malvina
    Reynolds. She has a little old lady voice, not at all trained, but
    writes  wonderful  songs  which  everyone else makes famous. Among
    others,  she wrote "Little Boxes (made of Tiki taki)". She used to
    write  a song a day, but I don't know if she still does. Her album
    is  called  "Malvina". Well worth listening to if you don't insist
    on a trained voice.

--David Wittenberg

    
    Has anyone heard of Cladia Schmidt?  I'd love to hear her again
    if she ever gets out this way.
    
    						MJC O->

    re: .9
    
    I've heard of Claudia Schmidt.  I've got a couple of her albums,
    and she is wonderful.  I got to see her perform at a Folktree Festival
    earlier this year, and she was a very dynamic performer.  She plays
    this area quite regularly, so I'm sure you'll have your chance to
    hear her again.
    
    Rita
    

    First, I suppose I should ask, but what are the boundaries of this
    topic. "Women's Music" is generally thought of as a genre in itself,
    with its practitioners writing and singing of feminist issues and
    themes. Is this what the base noter (Laura) had in mind, or shall
    we expand to talk about any female songwriter/musician/singer? I'll
    assume the latter for now.
    
    Personally speaking, I have an intense love of the female singing
    voice. Most of my favorite vocalists are women, and a number of
    my favorite musicians/songwriters are as well. Some of my favorites
    are:
    
    Linda Ronstadt
    Annie Lennox (of Eurythmics)
    Maddie Prior (of Steeleye Span)
    Annie Haslam (of Renaissance)
    Jacqui McShee (of Pentangle)
    Marie Brennan (of Clannad)
    (the late) Sandy Denny (of Fairport Convention)
    (the late) Kate Wolf
    Priscilla Herdman
    Jeannie Stahl
    Jennifer Warnes
    Karla Bonoff
    Kate Bush
    Jane Siberry
    
    --- jerry

    
    	Another vote for Malvina Reynolds!  She did make more than
    	one album -- I think the one I have is "Malvina".  I love
    	the song "God Bless the Grass that Grows thru Cement";
    	and then there's "Rosey Jane, Are You Pregnant Again?".
    	I could go on and on!  What fun!!!
    
    	Sharon
    
    	

    
    Anyone know of women composing in the 'classical' styles (symphony,
    opera, chamber music, etc.)? I can list a few, but would be interested
    to hear of others:
    	Clara Wieck Schumann	(married to Bob)
    	Germaine Tailleferre	(of 'Les Six' fame)
    	Rebecca Clarke
    	Thea Musgrave
    	?
    

    I've heard a tape by the group (often seen at SF conventions) Technical
    Difficulties.  Often a cappella, always good...
    
    -Jody
    

    I caught a program from Wolftrap wone night with Karen Akers.
    She was tremendous - does some wonderful contemporary songs including
    one called "You take the TV" (I think) about separation.
    
    Ellen

    re: .13
    
    It's generally accepted that a great deal of Felix Mendehlson's
    work, including most of the more progressive and experimental
    stuff, was written by his sister and published under his name
    because the publisher wouldn't take stuff from a woman.  
    
    But in all the discussions of this issue, I've almost never
    seen her name -- they refer to her as Felix's sister.
    
    --bonnie

    re .11
    
    When I first put forth the idea of Women's Music revisited, I had
    in mind the music that is feminist, political, etc., or mainly music
    that, in the words of Holly Near, isn't hard for a woman to get
    behind.  She made this comment in reference to singing blues, something
    to the effect of "beat me, kick me and I won't mind and I'll follow
    you anywhere" type songs were impossible for her to sing.  She wrote
    her own blues song called, "Get off Me, Baby".  Get the picture.
    
    Although, the 'mainstream' women performers that you mentioned would
    hardly be caught singing something like the above example!  And
    I too like the mainstream women performers.
    
    re .13
    
    Check out Kay Gardner.  She does a wide range of new age classical.
    Many years ago she organized the New England Women's Symphony orchestra
    and they performed classical written by women composers.  Kay's
    formal training is classical, she is a conductor (studied with Antonia
    Brico), is excellent on the flute, etc.  Her album, "Emerging",
    is one of my favorites.  Very soothing.  Also, "Moon Circles".
    
    Something else you might like is Margie Adam's album, "Naked Key".
    A collection of solo piano pieces.
    
    As for jazz, check out Mary Watkins "The Winds of Change" or an
    album by Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie Quintet entitled "Live at
    Montreaux".  Most of the compositions on this album are either written
    by Barbara or Darol.
    
    Regards,
    
    Laura
    

	Speaking of blues, how about Rory Block? Her "God's Gift to
	Women" certainly "qualifies" her, if her traditional blues
	doesn't...
	
	Classically speaking, don't forget Nadia Boulanger, who I
	understand was a pretty decent composer (along with her
	sister, whose name escapes me). She also was teacher and
	mentor to many of the great early- to mid-20th century
	composers, including Aaron Copland.
	
	What about women musicians who, while not making particularly
	"feminist" music, have faced down the stereotype that women
	are good only for singing and looking pretty on stage? For
	example, Carol ? (last name escapes me), who played bass
	(usually uncredited) on many of the great Motown recordings of
	the Sixties. Or Tina Weymouth, bass player for Talking Heads
	and the Tom Tom Club.
	
	I've been watching Tracy Chapman since '85, her talent was
	obvious to everyone from the start. She's got some good songs
	that didn't make it onto her first album, either... Musician
	magazine had a good article a couple of months ago about the
	trend of women becoming successful musicians without being
	forced to be "sexy", including Tracy, Sinead O'Connor, and
	Michelle Shocked. They credited Suzanne Vega (another one I
	had the pleasure of enjoying pre-success) with being the one
	that proved to the record companies that a woman could sell
	records without cleavage and hip-shaking.
	
	Mike

    This morning while driving into Maynard from the west I picked up
    WERS at 88.9. The program was on womens music as part of a morning
    program called coffee house. Does anyone know if this 8-9 program
    is a regular one on  that station? I don't often pick up 88.9 because
    I am too far west usually. 
    
    There was one song that brought tears to my eyes called Mothers,
    Daughers, Wives and I think the last name of the singer was Small.
    Another one that I loved, which I had heard before, was "Singing
    for Our Lives" by Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert. A women's group
    sang a collection of songs called Tuna Medley - it was part of
    a live performance - but I didn't catch the name of the group.
    
    If the program is a regular one I'm going to try and see if I can
    pick it up when ever it is on.
    
    Bonnie

    Yup, it's regular Bonnie.  And the "Mothers Daughters Wives" is
    from an album by the same name by a singer named Judy Small from
    Oz.                        
    
    						=maggie

    
    re:.13
    I'm afraid I'd have to take exception to 'it's generally accepted'
    regarding music of Fanny Mendelssohn being published under her brother
    Felix's name. I have heard it suggested that this might have been
    the case in a number of works, but hardly 'a great deal' nor 'most
    of the more progressive and experimental stuff'. It is certainly
    true that Fanny was a talented musician and composer, however, and
    telling, perhaps, that Felix died just a few months after hearing
    of the death of his sister.
    

    re:.18
    thanks! I knew I had forgotten someone...
    actually Nadia was the great teacher of composition, her sister
    Lili, who died rather young, was considered the better composer
    

    Laura Nyro!! Talk about a female sensibility, not to mention a voice
    like honey.   
    
  
    
        Nina

    Re .20, Coffee House is a regular on WERS weekday mornings, don't know
    about a regular Women's Music segment.

    There IS a regular show on WERS, which I think is cleverly called
    "Women in Music", 6(!) to 10 Saturday mornings. Catch it by all
    means if you can drag your hand to the dial that early. Or just
    set the alarm, and at least absorb some goodie subliminally. If
    you can't pick it up, rush out today and get a better antenna!

    Chuck

    
   Then at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. you can listen to "Something About the Women"
   on WMFO-FM (Tufts University) which features women's music and information.

   am

    Do you have the frequency for WMFO?

    Note that  Ronnie Gilbert sings a song called "Something About the
    Women in My Life"

    While I'm  rambling  let  me  add a word of praise for Judy Small.
    Very  interesting lyrics with a good voice. Remind me and I'll put
    on one of her albums during the party.

--David

    
    Ok, I have a question on this topic i hope some one can help
    me with. About 15 (yes i said 15) years ago a friend of mine
    ordered an album through Ms magazine, i think. The album was 
    by a female group and the music was sort of folk/country.
    there are 2 songs that stand out in my mind; one is 'Mr. Big'
    which was about working for a man, very funny too, and the
    other was 'Onions' or something about how they would like
    to sit in a field and eat onions all day. If anyone knows
    the name of this album or how i could get a copy of it i 
    would *truly* appreciate it!
    
    pat

    That group was The Deadly Nightshade!  Members were, um, Helen Hooke,
    Pam Brandt, and Ann ....  The album, also named "The Deadly
    Nightshade", was on the RCA label.  You *might* find it in a used 
    record store.  The group disbanded not long after the album was 
    released.  Pam Brandt is (or was) music editor of MS.  
    
    Dale
    
    
    

    Didn't Deadly Nightshade make more than one album??  I recall buying
    two different ones for my then-wife...

    			THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADES
    
    (A) The Deadly Nightshades	1975	RCA	BPLI 0955
    (B) F & W			1976	RCA	BPLI 1370
    
    Anne Bowen		Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
    Helen Hooke		Fiddle, Keyboards, Synthesizer
    Pamela Brandt	Vocals, Bass

    THANKS!!! I'm on my way out the door to find it as i type!
    

The following is a letter I received from a read only noter. She agreed
    that I could enter it in the file if I removed her name from the
    mail.
    
    _______________________________________________________

Hi Bonnie,
           I know you don't know me and I hope you don't mind me sending
you this reply to your entry in the =wn= conference from 08-aug-1988.
I know it is a little late, but I am a read only participant in =wn= and
there are too many entries for me to keep current.  I was however, excited
about your interest in Women's Music and since no one replied to this
portion of your entry I thought I would.


> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Note 97.20                   WOMEN'S MUSIC REVISITED                 20 of 32
>                      -< Radio program with women's music >-

>    .....                                          A women's group
>    sang a collection of songs called Tuna Medley - it was part of
>    a live performance - but I didn't catch the name of the group.
    
A medley of songs was performed 5 years ago at Carnegie Hall by two of
Olivia Records most popular performers Meg Christian and Cris Williamson.
This concert was to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Olivia Records.
The name "Tuna Medley" was spurred when Meg and Cris were doing the 
introduction to the next song or medley and it just came out as a funny joke. 
(I was suprised that you refered to it as "Tuna Medley")  The two performers 
sang a medley of their favorite songs from the past 10 years and the entire 
performance was recorded.  It's available on an Olivia Record label two album 
set titled "Meg and Cris at Carnegie Hall". (btw, out of the many Olivia albums
I have accumulated over the past 15 years this one is by far my favorite!!!)

While I am on the subject, there is an up and coming event I would love to go
to if I were living on the East coast and not the West coast.  Olivia Records
celebrates 15th Anniversary with Gala Concert and Ball at Carnegie Hall and
Waldorf-Astoria, Friday, November 25, 1988 at 8 PM.  Here's the performers:

Cris Williamson & Band
Lucie Blue Tremblay
Deidre McCalla
Tret Fure & Band
Nancy Vogl
Dianne Davidson & Band
Kate Clinton, MC

If you would like more information about this just let me know I am more than
willing to any thing I can.
                             Happy singing,
                                

    
    YAHOO!!    I bought two new tapes yesterday and THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!
    
    (especially for any of you Patsy Cline fans out there!)
    
     k.d. lang's has two albums out, and while both are good, the 
     second, "Shadowland" is produced by Owen Bradley, who produced
     Patsy Cline's albums.  Perfect for a little dancing around the
     living room . . .
    
    Sharon
    
    
    
                

    Need help locating some music. I have of late taken a real liking
    to Ferron and Holly Near. Something about their music really touches
    me.
    
    Anyhow, I have Ferron's "Shadows on a Dime" and was wondering if
    she has anything else out? If so, where would I find it? I've been
    to the Coop and Briggs and Briggs, and they're out. In general,
    womyns' music is really hard to find. I went to Strawberries
    (first mistake) in Harvard Square, and asked about it, and the sales
    clerk said "What do you mean, womyns' music?" To which I replied
    "Never mind, you'd know it if you had it"
    
    While we're on the subject, does anyone know where I could find
    Libana's "A Circle is Cast"? I tried the Unicorn Bookstore in
    Arlington, but they won't have it for a few weeks.
    
    Thanks in advance for your help.
     
    Scott

    Holly Near is playing at the 'Academy of Music' in Northampton,
    Mass. on October 2
    
    Tel. 413-584-8435
    
    

I must admit, now that I have a CD player, I tend to buy CDs. Are any of the
non-mainstream women's music albums mentioned here going to come out on CD? Or
am I too yuppie to be PC?
	Mez

    
    re:.35
    
    New Words Bookstore in Cambridge has Holly Near's records and tapes.
    Ferron's first album, "Testimony" is available there as well.
    
    Tower Records in Boston has a Women's music section and I believe
    they have both artists' recordings.

    am
    p.s. and some women's music is out on CD's..

    The other Ferron album that I know of is "Testimony". I think I
    can guarantee that you'll like it. The best source I know is:

    Ladyslipper, Inc.
    P.O. Box 3130
    Durham, NC 27705
    
    Write 'em for an absolutely AMAZING catalog of music by womyn.
    You'll be glad you did.
    
    For those in the greater Boston area (at least out to I-495):
    "Women in Music", a radio program on WERS, 88.9 on your FM dial,
    6AM (!) Saturdays.
    
    Chuck

    Ferron's "Shadows on a Dime" is out on CD. My copy was purchased
    at Briggs and Briggs. BTW - it sounds amazing. Lyrics aren't too
    shabby, either :-)

For a free, updated catalog of Redwood Records products (including recordings
of Ferron, Holly Near, Malvina Reynolds, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Judy Small)
contact:

Redwood Records
476 West MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA
	94609

(415)428-9191

From the latest FolkTree flyer:

Sweet Honey in the Rock w/ Cheryl Wheeler & Elllen McIlwaine
Oct. 30, 3 and 8 pm

Queen Ida and her Cajun Zydeco band w/ Casselberry-Dupree
	Dianne Davidson & Patsy Montana
Sat. Nov. 5  5 and 9 pm

Tickets: (617) 641-1010

    I was just describing Ferron's music to someone, and I had to pause
    after reading my description to wonder whether that interpretation
    says more about me or about her. 
    
    But there's something about her music that reaches inside you right 
    down to the bottom of your very soul, rips it rudely out of you,
    waves right before your eyes with clenched fist and says "This is 
    worth fighting for, jerk, because it's all you got, and if you let it 
    go too cheap, don't come running to me when you find yourself with 
    nothing". That sounds harsh, but I really believe it is the basis
    of the finest of love available to humanity. Any comments out there?
    
    

    Cheapo's in Central Square has (what seems to me) a large
    selection of women's music, both new and used, on record.
    Cash only.
    
    /bruce

    Tonite on NPR I heard and interview with two of the women
    who have put out a new album called Blue Roses. One of the
    women - both singer and producer -was named Karen Fink
    (if I have remembered everything right - I had no paper).
    The songs were all excellant and I really want to get a copy
    of the album. Has anyone in Mass seen it in the stores?
    
    Bonnie

    No clue on stores, but you could try calling Ladyslipper. They're
    in Durham, NC - if you send me mail, I'll dig up the phone # for
    you.
    
    Regards,
    Chuck

    Ladyslipper
    PO Box 3130
    Durham, NC 27705
    Inquiries  919-683-1570
    Orders  1-800-634-6044 
    
    Blue Rose
    
    LP Sugar Hill 3768
    cassette Sugar Hill C-3768
    
    "a 5 woman super-stringband featuring Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Laurie
    Lewis, Molly Mason, and Sally Van Meter, some of the finest players
    in the country-folk field"

Glad you heard & liked Blue Rose. I am office manager for Cathy Fink and am
happy to let you know that Blue Rose is a new album of music by five great
women performers...featured on NPR last week.

It was produced by Cathy Fink who also performs on the album.  It is on the
Sugar Hill record label (number 3768).  If you don't find it in your local
record store, ask them to order it; it is being distributed nationally. 

By the way they will be appearing at several festivals this summer--Britt
(OR), Strawberry (CA), Telluride (CO), and Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer will
be performing at the Watch City Coffeehouse in Waltham (MA) in April. etc.
Call 301-270-3873 for their itinerary. 

This message has been brought to you by my sister Sally, who is visiting me
for the weekend and saw the earlier message about Blue Rose. 

    
    for those of us who are classically trained, could someone please
    explain how "women's music" is different from non-women's music in any
    analytical or theoretical way?
    

    Though I'm male and have scant musical training, I'm pretty confident
    that the answer is that there isn't any consistent difference, music-
    theory-wise. 
    
    Now, of course, you could probably find some pretty well-correlated
    statistical differences, like the vocals tending toward the higher
    registers. :-)
    
    Chuck

                    Redwood Records Goes Non-Profit
    
        It's a  given  that  record  companies are in business to make
    money. The announcement that Redwood Records has decided to become
    a non-profit organization has therefore aroused interest. Redwood,
    a  largely  feminist  and  politically  active  recording  company
    founded  16  years  ago by Holly Near, has been at the vanguard of
    women's and peace issues.
    
        "When I  started Redwood Records," says Near, "I suppose had I
    been more familiar with the concept of profit/non-profit, it would
    have  made sense from the very beginning for it to be a non-profit
    company."
    
        "We asked  ourselves 'From what place do we make decisions?,'"
    continues  Near,  "And  we  realized  that we never make decisions
    completely  based  on  a profit motive. When we made a decision to
    distribute  and  support a Nicaraguan band, it was because I think
    that  if you fall in love with a Nicaraguan musician, you are less
    likely to want to kill them."
    
        In addition  to  Near's  records,  Redwood has released albums
    from  Chilean  group Inti-Illimani, Nicaragua's Mancotal, Canadian
    folk  artist  Ferron  and  the  Australian  political singer, Judy
    Small.  Redwood  intends to become more active in the promotion of
    concerts  featuring  cultural  exchange  and progressive political
    views.
    
        The tasks,  for  example,  of  arranging  for  South  American
    artists  to  record  and  visit America, said Near are not "record
    company-like  tasks".  Learning  and  exercising these skills puts
    Redwood  into  contact with the vast network of peace and activist
    organizations  around  the  world. Because of this the work of the
    label  resembles something different from the common perception of
    a  record company. Most of the projects championed by Redwood have
    values  that  go  beyond its ability to reap financial rewards. By
    becoming  a  non-profit  organization,  the  label  can  now  seek
    function for its projects from foundations and grants.
    
        The label  will  be  merged  into Redwoods existing non-profit
    arm,  Redwood  Records Cultural and Educational Fund. The name has
    been changed to Redwood Cultural Work.
    
        One of  the  events  planned  for  simmer  1989 is the Redwood
    Festival,  a  musical  event  that  seeks  to  draw multi-cultural
    artists  from around the world who express a progressive political
    viewpoint. "I think it will be the only one of its kind to honor a
    wonderful  tradition  of  political  music  in this country," says
    Near.
    
        Since the  basis  for  signing  acts to Redwood has never been
    commercial  viability,  the  essential operation of the label will
    change  little.  "We  really  are  inherently  and  essentially  a
    cultural and educational organization," says Near, "Before, when I
    owned  the  business,  I  could  do anything that I wanted. Now we
    can't  really  do  that;  we have to stay within the design of the
    original organization."
    
        For the 16 years of its existence, Redwood has been subsidized
    by  Near's  tour  and record income - up to as much as 80 percent.
    Now  with  Redwood  becoming  non-profit,  she  has a distribution
    agreement  with  the  company  and  can function as an independent
    artist.  Her  next  project,  due  in  May,  is called Sky Dances,
    designed to reflect the life cycle from birth to death.