70s Prog-Rock Bands Fronted By Female Vocalists?

GeorgeCarlinFan

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I'm going to be specific, because I've listened and know many. I love singers who sing in a high-register (Jane Relf), songs in a slower-tempo. Always liked prog w/ a touch of Middle-Eastern scales... Let me just name my favorites, lol.

-Curved Air
-Illusion
-Carol of Harvest
-Mellow Candle
-Earth & Fire
-Savage Rose
-Fairport Convention
-Sandrose
-Stairway
-Renaissance
-Fantasy (US band from Florida)
-Spirogyra
-Mother Superior
-Babe Ruth
-Lily & Maria
-Comus
-Fotheringay
-The Strawbs
-Trees
-Pentangle
-Steeleye Span
-Empire
-Bran
-Apoteosi

I also know Frumpy, Cano, Catherine Laara, Marillion, Mr Fox, Bread, Love & Dreams, Midwinter, These Trails, Hoelderlin Traum, Can Am Des Puig, turid, Lai and Mike Waterson, Sally Oldfield, Haizea, Elly & Rikkert, Lily & Maria, Banda do casaca, Carmen, Las Grecac is probably more prog-pop, which is also fine.... I don't most would consider Yoshiko Sai, but I'd check out her 70s albums, including the live one on YouTube.
 

70sProgFan

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Fusion Orchestra

Fronted by Jill Saward who went on to front Brandy for a year, before becoming a session singer, and then on to Citizen Gang before joining Shakatak from 1980 onwards where she has enjoyed 35 years plus of continuous success.
They were very prog-jazz-funk-psych and produced just the one album but it's an absolute classic and very hard to find on vinyl unless - like me - you opt for a modern blood red re-press.
i had an original vinyl from back in 1974 but got rid when I picked it up on CD.
Idiot!

Saward was a truly sexy rock-chick and they got some great press.
Saw the band in 1974 - this is what I've said about them.

skeleton-in-armour.jpg
 

GeorgeCarlinFan

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Fusion Orchestra

Fronted by Jill Saward who went on to front Brandy for a year, before becoming a session singer, and then on to Citizen Gang before joining Shakatak from 1980 onwards where she has enjoyed 35 years plus of continuous success.
They were very prog-jazz-funk-psych and produced just the one album but it's an absolute classic and very hard to find on vinyl unless - like me - you opt for a modern blood red re-press.
i had an original vinyl from back in 1974 but got rid when I picked it up on CD.
Idiot!

Saward was a truly sexy rock-chick and they got some great press.
Saw the band in 1974 - this is what I've said about them.

View attachment 212615

Thanks and what a reminder! I was at the 26 minute mark.. Need to re-wind it and re-listen. Cheers!
 

E-Z

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About 50 years ago back around 1971 or 1972 when I was teenager I was a bit friendly for a few weeks with a guy who was busking with an acoustic guitar on the London underground in central London either at Oxford Circus or Leicester Square tube stations (subway stations in the USA) I can't remember anyway he told me one day that he was hanging out with a band who had a female vocalist and did I want to go to there squat with him and meet the band?. Anyway the band turned out to be none other than VINEGAR JOE and the female vocalist was Elkie Brooks!.
 

recgord27

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About 50 years ago back around 1971 or 1972 when I was teenager I was a bit friendly for a few weeks with a guy who was busking with an acoustic guitar on the London underground in central London either at Oxford Circus or Leicester Square tube stations (subway stations in the USA) I can't remember anyway he told me one day that he was hanging out with a band who had a female vocalist and did I want to go to there squat with him and meet the band?. Anyway the band turned out to be none other than VINEGAR JOE and the female vocalist was Elkie Brooks!.
Vinegar Joe had two really good albums, namely "Rock 'n Roll Gypsies" and "Six Star General". Pity that Elkie Brooks changed musical direction.
 

E-Z

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Vinegar Joe had two really good albums, namely "Rock 'n Roll Gypsies" and "Six Star General". Pity that Elkie Brooks changed musical direction.
To be honest I never really listened to the band although I was aware of who Elkie Brooks was and she became quite a big name in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s anyway whenever the band name Vinegar Joe was mentioned down the years I always think back to that time in 1972 when I met that busker dude down on the London underground.
 

70sProgFan

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To be honest I never really listened to the band although I was aware of who Elkie Brooks was and she became quite a big name in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s anyway whenever the band name Vinegar Joe was mentioned down the years I always think back to that time in 1972 when I met that busker dude down on the London underground.
Vinegar Joe had two really good albums, namely "Rock 'n Roll Gypsies" and "Six Star General". Pity that Elkie Brooks changed musical direction.
Robert Palmer was also a member of Vinegar Joe.
Born in Batley, West Yorkshire, he moved to my home town of Scarborough when he was but a babe, and made his name in local band The Mandrakes who gigged hard.
Always been celebrated as a Scarborough lad by local music fans over the years.
 
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70sProgFan

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And...

Mike Oldfield had Maggie Reilly singing on many of his albums as well as his greatest hit singles (Moonlight Shadow, To France, Sheba, etc.)

And...
Not really prog, more straightforward rock...

Slack Alice (one album only, but great fun!)
Stone the Crows
 

Magic

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I had to think a lot on this topic…….then thought of Affinity. First fronted by Linda Hoyle, who later put out a solo album In the 70’s, Pieces of Me and another album in 2015, The Fetch. Both are outstanding!


Affinity recorded a second album, If You Live, which never got released until 2002…

 

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