Re: Daltrey vs. The Rest of The *Rock* World

[AnEnglishBoy <campbell@fix.net>]

Jeff House wrote:



> AEB,

> No hypocrisy in your view at all.  It never appeared so to 'some'.

Thank you for noticing Jeff.



> I find in curious that some leave all women out of any mention of vocal
> greatness.  What's that bias about?  Sexism?  Fear of women?  Preference for
> the company of males?  A jock/boy's club mentality toward musical
> discussion?  Has anyone heard of Big Mama Thornton, Koko Taylor, Janis,
> Joni, Ronnie, Ann Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Kate Bush, Alanis, Chrissie...?
> And what about a switch hitter like Freddie Mercury?  Not butch enough?

Well, I am guilty of a nearly male-only preference when it comes
to vocalists. This is widely noted, occasionally discussed by me
and my friends. I can't explain. There is no clear reason for this.

I am actually quite passionate in my appreciation of women,
overall, but this does appear to be my weakness.

That said, my favourite blues singer of the female persuasion
is my soon to be ex-wife (we have been separated for 2 years,
living 300 miles apart), Ferne. Her father, Herb Jeffries, sang
for Duke Ellington from 1940-45, and also for Count Basie,
Oscar Peterson, as well as his solo career which continues
to this day, at 89 years old (his wife Samantha is in her mid
40's).

Ferne sang for the blues band we formed in 1991, Dyrewolfe,
that dissolved in 2000 when we split up. We opened for
Rod Piazza and TheMightyFlyers in '93 and Junior Wells in
'94, and played locally on the Central Coast of California.
Of all the players in our band, 2 guitarsists, bass, drums,
and a great Hammond B-3 organist, the one person that
was always praised by the headlining act was Ferne.

I also appreciate Etta James, as well as Ronnie Spector,
Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, Ann Wilson, Martha Davis,
(go ahead and laugh at the next one) Barbara Streisand,
Martha Reeves, Tessa Niles, but cannot listen to the one
and only Flamin' Freddie, sorry, just never liked "Queen.".
If I am gonna listen to singers that many think have
questionable sexuality, I'll take Towser & Jagger.

".....gonna lean back on the wall, and pray for her
knickers to fall....."

AnEnglishBoy~