I’ve wanted to see a woman really rock and roll now for so long. Janis Joplin is dead. Genya Raven always made me nervous. Julie Driscoll has disappeared. So has Laura Nyro and besides, she was ridiculous. At the moment Bette Midler seems a bit unsure of What To Do Next (although she really should take Garry George’s suggestion and do the Nancy Drew movies, what a brilliant idea. . .). Joni Mitchell is a bit too senstivie for my taste. Dory Previn is to be taken seriously. I haven’t heard Aillee Willis yet, but that Esquire Heavy Hundred thing always puts me off. Suzi Quatro is cute, but she’s making toy music. Helen Reddy is beneath contempt. Diana Ross, Karen Carpenter, Cher. .. well, you know — they’re not Real. (Actually, Diana is great — but when the rest of them try to rock and roll it’s painfully embarrassing, like Andy Williams singing “You’re So Vain” on the Grammy Awards show.. .) Carly Simon writes great songs, but she doesn’t perform enough. Bonnie Bramlett is trying to get it together. Bonnie Raitt is committed to the blues. Ellen Greene, Gail Kantor, Lee Horwin et al are too “After Dark” — better to leave them to the K-Y circuit. Yoko Ono is. I think, more of a jazz singer. Tina Turner’s been doing it too long. Judy Collins and Joan Baez never were my type. (I’ll never forget that photo of Joanie doing Not destructive or self-indulgent, but still...

by Lisa Robinson