The third installment in a three part
series showcasing the women involved in Albuquerque's music scene is
cued up and ready to spin. Until the late 1990s few
women were involved in the local music scene and only a handful
managed to release any recordings. Prior to that it was strictly a
boy's club with a few rare exceptions. Beverlee Brown joined future
husband Sidro Garcia in The Sneakers shortly before they relocated to
Las Vegas, Nv. in 1964. The Feebeez ('Burque's legendary all-girl
60s garage band) recorded legacy consists of one scratchy
self-released vinyl 45) Kid Sister w/ Victoria Woodworth are a bit of
mystery. Bandmine lists them as being from Albuquerque and having
been signed by MCA records. Yet, I haven't found much evidence that
they actually were from 'Burque. Kid Sister rose to become a regional
favorite based in Denver, Co. Could be they hooked up with Victoria
Woodworth (raised in Denver) after they relocated.
Who of course, doesn't
remember Femme Fatale, fronted by Lorraine Lewis (also lead singer
for Babe Ruthless) they found success on a national level that few
thought attainable for a local band. That success would prove to be
short lived and bittersweet. Lorraine remains one of the most
recognizable musicians to hail from the Duke City, becoming somewhat
of a cult figure with heshers hellbent on reliving the 1980s. While
we're on the subject. Twenty five years after the fact, Femme
Fatale's aborted second album for MCA has seen the light of day. "One
More For The Road" released this year on F n A Records. (compact
disc only, no plans for a vinyl release) Lorraine, Bobby, Rick, Bill
and Maz.... it's like they never left us. A time capsule from an era
of Albuquerque's rock history that often gets neglected or lampooned.
“One More For the Road” appears to have been released in limited
quantities, check online for availability.
I would be negligent not
to mention some other pioneering women on the local scene. Linda
Cotton, blues/jazz/gospel singer was a local fixture for more than
twenty five years. One of New Mexico's best known female vocalist,
Cotton passed away at just 55 years of age in 2006. Hillary Smith, a
native of Hobbs, N.M. and a contemporary of Linda Cotton, has been
wowing New Mexico audiences for a quarter century. Best known for her
work with Soul Kitchen (w/Chris Dracup of The Muttz & The Rattle
Cats) and hONEyhoUSe (w/Mandy Buchanan and Yvonne Perea) Seriously,
if you've never listened to Hillary Smith.... you need hit up YouTube
and check out some of her videos. Some other notable female
vocalists from the same era: Joanie Griffin (Cadillac Bob and the
Rhinestones) Denise Brissey (The Planets) Denise Wollman (The
Clams)
Sometimes work and such gets in the way
of posting new episodes, but at long last here we go; Dirt City
Chronicles, podcast episode 41, featuring the women that make
Albuquerque rock. Boy Howdy!
Voice 7 ~ Lady Uranium
Dustland II ~ Lady Uranium
Sleep With the Lights On ~ 5 Star
Motelles
Brickspit ~ Star Canyon
Like a Prayer ~ The Rondelles
All Burned Down ~ Paint Me Purple
Less Okay Than Yesterday ~ The Hollis
Wake
K is for Killers ~ I is for Ida
Jukeboxx Button ~ The Foxx
Sugar ~ YaYa Boom
I'm Your Huckleberry ~ Giranimals
Mellow Kin ~ Feels Like Sunday
What About Me? ~ The Jenny Clinkscale
Band
You Killed Private Pyle ~ Foma
Whalebone ~ The Glass Menageries
Sitting on my Hands ~ Holiday Sail
Fil ~ Hit By a Bus
