Axe Heroine

Barbara Lynn was a very rare bird in the 1960s, a woman that played guitar (left-handed) and wrote a lot of her own songs. Something of a young prodigy, she was signed to the New Orleans-based Jamie label by producer Huey Meaux while still a schoolgirl, her parents gave her permission with the understanding that if none of her records were hits she would go to college. Further education went out of the window right away when her self-penned debut single "You'll Lose A Good Thing" became a huge pop and R&B hit in 1962. After several smaller hits for Jamie she signed with Tribe Records where she recorded the original version (I think) of the classic "You Left The Water Running" (see post below) and the terrific "I'm A Good Woman" both in 1966. A great example of Lynn's bluesy-soul style, this has a chugging funk beat and that swampy New Orleans feel. This is another of her own compositions and I assume the clipped rhythm guitar is her too. For those that care about these things, this was sampled by Moby on his "18" album.

Lynn is still making records and twanging her guitar today but her early recordings are currently only available scattered around different various artist compilations. For a Barbara-only set you'll have to dig up a copies of "Crazy Cajun Recordings," "Blue Soul Belles," and "The Atlantic Years."

[Download]
I'm A Good Woman - Barbara Lynn