Who are your favourite female Guitarist/Singer Songwriters?

[grampa]

Boy, there's a lot of good ones. I don't know why I didn't remember Iris Dement, one of the greatest voices.

[Trex]

Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Gale Garnett ('"We'll Sing in the Sunshine"), and Sandy Denny

[shambolic]

+1 Joni Mitchell

+ Laura Marling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFrAsdvNq4w
& The Smoke Fairies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcKQ-loILX0

[Misty44]

Linda and Buffy

[roberts]

For the whole package, Bonnie. For just the voice...Mavis Staples.

[SteeleString]

Originally Posted by Trex

Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Gale Garnett ('"We'll Sing in the Sunshine"), and Sandy Denny

I am so glad I saw this post. I've been trying recently to remember Judy Collins' name and the name wouldn't coalesce in my brain.

[devellis]

Two that haven't been mentioned (and may never be if this laptop dumps my text again before I can actually submit it) are Maia Sharp, who has penned some great songs for Bonnie Raitt, and Laura Nyro, who wrote some great stuff back in the 70s.

Many of those already mentioned are high on my list, as well.

[rosewoodsteel]

Joni Mitchell.
-No one close, imo.

[p^h]

Originally Posted by lroyb

Thanks for sharing these rlouie Shawn Colvin gets my vote for great song writer and musician. I love the sound of her old Martin (always sweet).

Funny, I'm listening to "Shawn Colvin - Live" (2009) when I came upon this thread. Nice performance - just her & her guitar. Another good CD in this vein would be Nancy Wilson - Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop.

[mesa]

Guitarist Jaquie Gipson. I'm not into the tapping stuff but Jaquie is a special Gal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWF18...eature=related

[lone eskimo]

Joni Mitchell is not only one of the most talented songwriters of her generation- but may also be one of the greatest all around artists of our time. Singing, music, lyrics, guitar style (50+ tunings), piano style, dulcimer, art, photography... Everything she does has her own unique style stamped on it. She actually considers herself an artist (painter) first- then a musician. How's that for a kick in the pants!

I think if you read her lyrics- I think they hold up consistently better than Dylan's (although his best is hard to beat- such as "Visions Of Johanna" etc..) Musically she has been ahead of her contemporaries since day one. Jewel sounds like a 5th grade poem writer next to her.

Rolling Stone magazine called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever," while Allmusic said, "When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century."

I would actually revise that quote to "most influential artist" and leave out the female part. Just ask David Crosby, Prince, Elton John, James Taylor, Robert Plant (Zeppelin's "Goin to California is about her), Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, Diana Krall, K.D. Lang,

Here's one for fun:

"Peoples Parties"

All the people at this party
They've got a lot of style
They've got stamps of many countries
They've got passport smiles
Some are friendly
Some are cutting
Some are watching it from the wings
Some are standing in the centre
Giving to get something

Photo beauty gets attention
Then her eye paint's running down
She's got a rose in her teeth
And a lampshade crown
One minute she's so happy
Then she's crying on someone's knee
Saying laughing and crying
You know it's the same release

I told you when I met you
I was crazy
Cry for us all beauty
Cry for Eddie in the corner
Thinking he's nobody
And Jack behind his joker
And stone-cold Grace behind her fan
And me in my frightened silence
Thinking I don't understand

I feel like I'm sleeping
Can you wake me
You seem to have a broader sensibility
I'm just living on nerves and feelings
With a weak and a lazy mind
And coming to peoples parties
Fumbling deaf dumb and blind

I wish I had more sense of humor
Keeping the sadness at bay
Throwing the lightness on these things
Laughing it all away
Laughing it alI away
Laughing it all away

Mike

[JackInTheGreen]

Susanna Hoffs and her 350 Rickenbacker (which she customized herself).
Remember The Bangles? A few #1's and some great covers.........

[Elfina]

Lynn Miles
Mindy Smith
Patty Griffin
Gillian Welch
Natalie Merchant
Caroline Herring
Laura Marling
Beth Orton
Tracy Grammer

[jtc]

Lots of great suggestions, particularly Joni who is a personal favourite.

However, I'm surprised nobody mentioned a particular fine lady whose music has been consistently great, writes some of the most exploratory lyrics, great tunes and no stranger to alternative arrangements, and that's:

Suzanne Vega

...who has a new album of acoustic versions of some of her songs coming out any time now.

Truth be told, though, there are so many great female singer/songwriters that it's difficult to pick out a few. There is just something so inherently right about a girl, a guitar and a lyrical story set to music...

[jgmaute]

Tons of great singer/player/songwriters mentioned...I recently heard Janis Ian, Patty Larkin, and Catie Curtis in concert, what an amazing show! (Cheryl Wheeler gave a great concert at the same festival.)