I am a baby boomer who was a teenager throughout the 70s. I remember the summer of 1974 as the time the Watergate scandal finally came to a head, resulting in Richard Nixon’s resignation in August. That same month, Stevie released “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” and it was all we could talk about. We played it, replayed it, studied it and debated it. Besides “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” with the Jackson Five, and “Boogie on Reggae Woman,” there were few fast/Top 40/dance tracks. Stevie was introspective, and he made us stop and think more about life, death and love with “Smile, Please,” “Heaven is 10 Zillion Miles Away,” and “Creepin’”. Stevie’s 70s albums were the soundtrack of our young lives.

I think Barbara Hillary is an inspiration. There’s a difference between being an old woman and a woman who’s older. She’s a woman who’s older, but with a young spirit. I love that.

beth ditto , i guess she is an aquired taste. She is like a shock rocker .

She is not the first ” fat lesbian to sing” if that really is important . How about Toshi Reagon ?? she is a lesbian , she is extrememly talented her albums were fabulous , and live shows inspiring , but i guess she just didn’t have shock power, even though she came from a feminist backgroung , her mom was Bernice Reagon a civil rights activist and founder of grammy award wining Sweet honey and rock !!!!

Your pumped out so much material today, B. You should consider saving some of it for those tougher writing periods when you’re really busy. But maybe, that’s not how you roll : )