44 Pistol (1) 'Igginbottom (1) $27 Snap on Face (1) 10 cc (1) 10.000 Maniacs (1) 100 Greatest Guitar Solos (1) 100 Proof Aged in Soul (1) 1001 Songs (1) 101 North (1) 111 East (1) 1313 Mockingbird Lane (1) 14 BIS (3) 145th Street Deluxe Blues Band (1) 1860 Band (1) 2 Cellos (1) 20 Watt Tombstone & Left Lane Cruiser (1) 21. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t “Feelin’ Bitchy” until 1977. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. A woman well ahead of her time, she pushed boundaries with her avant-garde fashion sense, amazing afro, and provocative lyrics.
A blues woman to the bone, Betty took her southern roots, and mixed them with raw funk, soul, and psychedelic rock.
Betty’s voice purrs, growls, and scratches through her deliciously written lyrics.
There would be no Prince, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis (in the 1970’s), or Lil Kim, if it weren’t for Betty Davis and her explosive, courageous, erotic, gender bending, bluesy, and funky music.