Craig, and anyone else who might be interested in women singers (non-operatic), I have previously mentioned the best ever, Barbara Keith, and Delores Keane, who Maura O'Connell calls the Queen of all the Irish women singers.
I was introduced to Barbara Keith by Skip Weshner, who had a radio show in the early-mid 70's. Skip always said Ms. Keith had made the best album by a "distaff singer" in the last 10 years (eponymous on Verve and unavailable), then, Skip said, she made an even better album (eponymous on Warner and available as a Japanese cd through Amazon). If you buy the cd, and you can, try reversing phase. Mine sounds better that way.
Ms. Keith is a songwriter. All but one of the songs on the second album were hers and several have been covered by others. Sort of folk-rock. Now, some 25 years later Ms. Keith and her husband and stepson have a 3 person rock band called Stone Coyotes. Their first album, called Changing of the Guard is a killer. Their second album is also great. This is no folkie music. Its grown up rock and roll. (And I though rock and roll had reached its zenith with Cesar Rosas's "I Walk Alone" (Los Lobos, The Neighborhood).) The Stone Coyotes have a new album out in the next few days. They also have a website where you can get more info and order cds.
Now Delores Keane is not a songwriter. She is an Irish institution. She's recorded a lot of Irish folk songs (not my cup of tea) but also some popular music. Several of her cds are available through Amazon, including a "Best Of" disc that's probably a good start. I first heard of her at a Maura O'Connell concert (very small venue where I could talk to Maura after the show) where Maura was selling cds of "A Woman's Heart," a collection of songs by Irish women.
I was introduced to Barbara Keith by Skip Weshner, who had a radio show in the early-mid 70's. Skip always said Ms. Keith had made the best album by a "distaff singer" in the last 10 years (eponymous on Verve and unavailable), then, Skip said, she made an even better album (eponymous on Warner and available as a Japanese cd through Amazon). If you buy the cd, and you can, try reversing phase. Mine sounds better that way.
Ms. Keith is a songwriter. All but one of the songs on the second album were hers and several have been covered by others. Sort of folk-rock. Now, some 25 years later Ms. Keith and her husband and stepson have a 3 person rock band called Stone Coyotes. Their first album, called Changing of the Guard is a killer. Their second album is also great. This is no folkie music. Its grown up rock and roll. (And I though rock and roll had reached its zenith with Cesar Rosas's "I Walk Alone" (Los Lobos, The Neighborhood).) The Stone Coyotes have a new album out in the next few days. They also have a website where you can get more info and order cds.
Now Delores Keane is not a songwriter. She is an Irish institution. She's recorded a lot of Irish folk songs (not my cup of tea) but also some popular music. Several of her cds are available through Amazon, including a "Best Of" disc that's probably a good start. I first heard of her at a Maura O'Connell concert (very small venue where I could talk to Maura after the show) where Maura was selling cds of "A Woman's Heart," a collection of songs by Irish women.