The 5 Best Female Psychedelic Rock Singers of the 1970s
The 1970s was a golden age for psychedelic rock, and many of the best performers in the genre were women. Here are five of the best female psychedelic rock singers of the 1970s.
Introduction
In the 1970s, a new breed of female singers emerged who combined the raw power of rock with the mind-expanding possibilities of psychedelia. These women were brave innovators who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in music, and their work continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
In this article, we will count down the five best female psychedelic rock singers of the 1970s. We will consider their vocal abilities, their stage presence, and the impact of their music on the psychedelic rock genre. So put on your best headband and get ready to travel back in time to an era when women ruled the world of psychedelic rock!
5. Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was one of the most charismatic and influential singers of her generation. She was a pioneer in the use of feedback and other sonic techniques to create a powerful and unique vocal sound. Her emotive performance style was rooted in her background as a blues singer, but she also drew inspiration from jazz and rockabilly music. Joplin’s combination of raw talent and showmanship made her one of the most popular performers of her time, and her four solo albums are still revered by fans and critics alike.
4. Grace Slick
Grace Slick was the lead singer for two groundbreaking psychedelic rock bands: The Jefferson Airplane and Starship. She is best known for her hits “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit,” both of which showcased her powerful vocal range and songwriting skills. But Slick was more than just a great singer; she was also an excellent guitarist, and she wrote many of The Jefferson Airplane’s biggest hits. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Slick was also known for her outspoken views on politics and social issues; she was an active participant in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and ’70s, and she used her platform as a musician to promote peace, love, and understanding.
3. Tina Turner
Tina Turner began her career as a soul singer with Ike Turner’s band before embarking on a solo career that would make her one of the biggest stars in the world. Turner’s hard-edged vocals were perfectly suited for psychedelic soul numbers like “Proud Mary” and “The Acid Queen.” But it wasn’t just Turner’s voice that made her one of the greats; it was also her electrifying stage presence, which combined sensuality with athleticism in a way that few other performers could match. Turner continued to evolve throughout her career, incorporating elements of disco, pop, and rock into her music while always staying true to her roots as a soul singer.
2. Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is one of the most celebrated songwriters of all time, but she is also an accomplished singer with a distinctively wistful voice that is instantly recognizable. Mitchell began her career as a folk singer before moving into more experimental territory on albums like “Clouds” and “Miles Of Aisles.” Her songwriting draws from personal experience, but it also tackles larger themes like love, loss, aging, and nature. Mitchell’s ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level is what sets her apart from other songwriters; she has an uncanny ability to tap into our collective consciousness and articulate our deepest fears and desires.
1. Kate Bush
Janis Joplin
As the frontwoman of Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin was one of the most successful and influential psychedelic rock singers of the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was known for her powerful, emotive vocals and her wild onstage persona, and she was a major force in the counterculture movement of the 1960s. After leaving Big Brother, Joplin embarked on a successful solo career, releasing three albums between 1968 and 1971. She died of a drug overdose at the age of 27, but her music has continued to influence generations of artists.
Grace Slick
Grace Slick was the female lead singer for two of the most successful and iconic psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s – The Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. Her powerful, husky voice was instantly recognizable and her stage presence was electric. Grace continued to tour and perform with Jefferson Starship until 1988, and released several solo albums throughout her career. She is considered one of the most successful and influential female rock singers of all time.
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks is best known as the singer of Fleetwood Mac, but she also had a successful solo career in the 1970s. With hits like “Dreams” and “Rhiannon,” she became one of the most popular female singers of the decade. She was also one of the few female psychedelic rock singers, and her music often featured mystical and supernatural themes.
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann Harry, better known as Debbie Harry, is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. Harry began her music career in the late 1960s with The Wind in the Willows, a folk rock group, before joining Blondie in 1974. With Blondie, she achieved commercial success in the late 1970s and early 1980s with such hit singles as “Heart of Glass”, “Call Me”, “Rapture”, and “The Tide Is High”. Her debut solo album, Koo Koo, was released in 1981.
Harry has continued to release solo albums throughout her career and remains active as a visual artist, actress, and philanthropist. In 2014, she was ranked number 46 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women in Music list.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the five best female psychedelic rock singers of the 1970s were Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell. Each of these singers brought something unique to the genre and helped to shape it in their own ways. All five of them are considered legends in the music world and continue to influence singers today.
