Legendary Sisters Of Rock Trivia Quiz

Answer: Carol Kaye

At some point in their lives, I would wager that everyone has heard Carol Kaye play, such is her body of work. Electric bass on the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" (1966) and "These Boots Are Made For Walkin;" (1968) by Nancy Sinatra, string bass on Somethin' Stupid (1967) from Frank & Nancy Sinatra and "Feeling Alright" (1969) by Joe Cocker are just a few of her well known bass lines.
For her guitar work, check out "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1964) by The Righteous Brothers, "La Bamba" (1958) by Ritchie Valens or "Wichita Lineman" (1968) by Glen Campbell, a track on which she also played bass.
As a session musician involved in the famous Wrecking Crew group of musicians from Los Angeles, her work can also be heard on Simon and Garfunkel's track, "Homeward Bound" (1966), "Light My Fire" (1967) by the Doors and Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep- Mountain High" (1966), Frank Zappa's album, "Freak Out" (1966) as well as in the surf rock theme tune for the TV show, "Batman" (1966).
A truly talented lady, who Paul McCartney acknowledges as having influenced his bass sound, she continues to perform, appearing in 2006 on Frank Black's "Fast Man Raider Man" album, and has the honour of being called, "greatest damn bass player in the world" by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.

Answer: Fanny

It wasn't just Bowie that sang the praises of this all female powerhouse, Lowell George of Little Feat was also a huge fan and jammed with the band whenever he got the chance.
The original line up of the band, formed in 1969 comprised the Millington sisters, Jean and June along with Nickey Barclay and Alice de Buhr who released four albums together before June quit to be replaced by Patti Quatro (sister to Suzi) and de Buhr also left and was replaced by Brie Howard.
The new line up released just one album, "Rock and Roll Survivors" (1974) before calling it a day, although the second single from that album, "Butter Boy" (1974), a track about David Bowie, became their biggest hit, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in USA.
In 2016, Brie Howard joined the Millington sisters for a live performance, and a new band was formed from this, Fanny Walked The Earth, who released their debut album in 2018.
In interviews bands such as Girlschool and the Bangles have mentioned the huge influence that Fanny had on their own musical careers.

Answer: X-Ray Spex

X-Ray Spex were formed after Poly Styrene went to see the Sex Pistols on her 19th birthday, and thought, "if they can do it, why can't I?".
Do it, she certainly did, beginning with a game plan that involved the band being deliberate underachievers, so much so, that during their four year existence, they released just one album, "Germfree Adolescents" (1978) and five singles.
The album reached the top 30 on UK album charts, and of the singles, four were top 40 hits in UK, with the debut single, "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" (1977) failing to chart in large part due to it being banned by the BBC, although it is now, like their album, regarded as a classic of the punk genre.
Following the break up of X-Ray Spex, Styrene released three solo albums, prior to her death in 2011 from metastatic breast cancer.

Answer: Wanda Jackson

Way back in 1954, when she was just 17, Wanda released her first record, a duet with Capitol Records artist, Billy Gray, titled "You Can't Have My Love", which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in USA.
On the back of this, Wanda asked Capitol to sign her, only to be told, "Girl's don't sell records".
Over 60 years later, and with many, many record sales under her belt, Wanda is still proving them wrong, and long may she continue.
At barely five feet tall, and over 80 years old, she may resemble everybody's favourite grandmother, but when she opens her mouth and lets that growl out, she's your new best friend, complete with sass and more talent than one person should ever have.
Country artists, Pam Tillis and Rosie Flores among others, have stated that Wanda had a big influence on them musically.

Answer: Joni Mitchell

Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell smashed through a male dominated industry with her emotional, evocative songs which many of her audience could relate to.
Her tuneful telling of tales about her relationships, both the good parts and the bad parts as well as everything in between creates a closeness and a friendship between artist and listener that very few musicians have managed to create.
Just in case Joni's folk and jazz leanings aren't rock enough for you, let us not forget that "Blue" (1971) contained "This Flight Tonight" which was covered by Scottish rockers Nazareth to great acclaim in 1973 and "Ladies of the Canyon" (1970) featured "Big Yellow Taxi", later turned into a huge chart hit by Californian band Counting Crows, featuring Vanessa Carlton on guest vocals.

Answer: Memphis Minnie

Memphis Minnie was a huge influence on so many artists. Jefferson Airplane covered "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" in 1966, Led Zeppelin included their version of "When the Levee Breaks" on their classic 1971 untitled album, while singers such as 50's R&B star, Big Mama Thornton and blueswoman Erin Harpe, who released her first album in 2014, have publicly acknowledged their debt to Minnie.
Throw in the fact that the headstone on her grave was paid for by none other than blues legend, Bonnie Raitt and the importance of and the legacy left behind by this amazing woman becomes clear.
Minnie may have passed away in 1973, but as each new generation of artists traces their influences through their heroes, her memory will live on for many years to come.

Answer: Janis Joplin

It seems incredible when one looks at the legacy left behind by Janis that she was only active between 1962 and 1970, when she died of a heroin overdose.
Just eight short years, in which she became one of the greatest vocalists the world has ever known and influenced so many stars, including Stevie Nicks, Faith Hill, Alanis Morissette, Florence Welch and Pink.
Songs such as "Piece Of My Heart" (1968), "To Love Somebody" (1969) and "Me and Bobby McGee" (1971) may have been cover versions, but they became classics once Janis had a hold of them, joining original tracks such as "Mercedes Benz" (1970).

Answer: Beth Ditto

After 17 years fronting The Gossip, Ditto disbanded the group in 2016 to pursue a career in fashion as well as release solo work.
With both endeavours she continues to influence a great many people, especially on the subjects of body positivity, having posed nude for music journal "NME" and style magazine "Love" and sexuality, having given many candid interviews to journalists and even editing an advice column in "The Guardian" newspaper entitled "What Would Beth Ditto Do?"
A true talent in every sense of the word, Ditto describes her own influences as Boy George, Cyndi Lauper and Patti Smith and in a nod to a previous question, her all time favourite song as "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" (1977) by X-Ray Spex.

Answer: Tapestry

"Tapestry" spent 15 weeks at number one in the Billboard 200 in USA, setting a record for a female artist that stood for over 20 years.
Full of classic track after classic track, the album was testament to the songwriting talent and near perfect voice of King and has influenced many artists from Amy Grant and Tori Amos to Colbie Caillat and Adele and Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
King's early life and career has been made into a stage musical, titled "Beautiful", after the track found on "Tapestry".

Answer: Against Me!

The album, "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 album charts in USA and drew comparisons with Lou Reed's 1973 album, "Berlin".
Much of the album deals with feelings of gender dysphoria and Grace's desire to be completely, and at times brutally honest, and as well as selling well, it has been mentioned by many trans music fans as giving them the courage to speak out. It also features my personal favourite Against Me! track, "Black Me Out", just in case you're making an influential women playlist.
While the band and Laura Jane continue to make great rock music, Laura Jane herself has become a well known and highly influential speaker on transgender issues, been Emmy nominated for her show, "True Trans" (2015) and worked with Joan Jett and Miley Cyrus to raise money for homeless LGBT youth.