Women's Music

Santa Cruz: The Written Word Collective, 1975. Ostensibly the record of a Women In American Music course taught by Karlene Faith at the University of California in Spring of 1975, but more importantly the basis of academic study into the power and importance of women musicians and songwriters, a previously totally ignored field of study and research. Undeniably an important historical document in light of the fact, as Faith relates in the introduction of the book, that this course was unique at the time of its teaching and only came to be after a new Women's Studies program was adopted at UCSC, a previous incarnation having been rejected a year before when pitched to a male administrator with the comment that it was "too narrow". When preparing the course, Faith discovered how little contemporary research existed regarding women in music. Aside from the insightful essays and lectures, the volume Includes a resource list, descriptions of the class lectures and projects, student statements, testimonials of guest speakers and photographs of all the women who participated in the making of the book. A scarce document with an undeniably far reaching effect upon the understanding of the influence of women on popular music. Frances Fuchs' essay in particular "And We Sing of Love" speaks eloquently of the contradictions inherent in being a feminist, listening to Nina Simone, appreciated her fluency and genius, but finding it complicated to sing along to "When you like a fella, treat him right, give him your attention day and night. Even when he's wrong, tell him that he's right, you can take the blame both day and night..." She speaks of Joni Mitchell's "Constant search for the perfect illusional love, consequent defeat and self destruction." and how the music and lyrics of Toni Brown provided a shift for her away from that, but noting that "many of her lyrics convey the dissatisfaction with being a woman in today's world..." Additional pieces of writing similarly discuss the importance of African American singers in providing alternative musical narratives through Blues, R&B, and Soul. The first step of an important journey away from 'women who make music' and towards 'women-identified music', music for, by, and about women with all the distinctions that embodies. Scarce, educational, and fabulous. A softcover, clearly printed on a shoestring, folio sized volume in orange card covers.