In your opinion, best girl group ever?

[red dog 1]

Last edited Wed May 31, 2017, 05:02 PM - Edit history (3)

17 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	The Supremes
	5 (29%)
	The Shirelles
	1 (6%)
	The Go-Gos
	5 (29%)
	Dixie Chicks
	2 (12%)
	The Chiffons
	0 (0%)
	The Runaways
	1 (6%)
	Indigo Girls
	0 (0%)
	Destiny's Child
	0 (0%)
	The Bangles
	3 (18%)
	The Ronettes
	0 (0%)
	2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[ADX]

1. Any poll of "girl groups" which doesn't include The Runaways...

...can't be considered a real poll.

[Brother Buzz]

3. Any poll of "girl groups" which doesn't include The Shaggs

...can't be considered a real poll.

[dawg]

22. The drumming, in particular, is just unbelievable.

[Brother Buzz]

24. A free spirit for sure, especially when banging out a totally different song than her sisters

Helen Wigin eloped at 28

[red dog 1]

43. Helen Wiggin played drums

She "eloped at 28"?

[red dog 1]

42. Sorry about that, Brother Buzz, but I'm only allowed 10 poll options,

and, so far, the only group left that has no votes is The Chiffons, and since I consider
"He's So Fine" to be one of the best rock & roll songs of all time, I'm not going to take them down to make room for The Shaggs.

Thanks for the reply, though, because I hadn't ever heard of them before, and I spent about 30 minutes reading about them.
In 1968, Their father, Austin Wiggin, decided that Dot, Betty & Helen would form a band,
(it wasn't their decision), so he "withdrew his daughters from school, bought them instruments, and arranged for them to receive music and vocal lessons"

The Shaggs consisted of:
- Dorothy (Dot) Wiggin (vocals/lead guitar)
- Betty Wiggin (vocals/rhythm guitar)
- Helen Wiggin (drums)
and later,
- Rachel Wiggin (bass)

[Brother Buzz]

50. Marie Adams and the Three Tons of Joy didn't make your list either

Renaissance man, Johnny Otis would have been disappointed. It should be noted the late great Johnny Otis had an extraordinary gift of discovering and promoting female talent. To wit: Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips, Linda Hopkins, Sugar Pie DeSanto....and of course, The Three Tons of Joy.

Frank Zappa sported a soul patch as a tribute his hero, Johnny Otis who wore one for years. But then again, Frank Zappa famously said, "The Shaggs are better than the Beatles,"

[red dog 1]

58. I got to see Big Mama Thornton at the old Fillmore Auditorium back in the 1960s

Speaking of San Francisco's Fillmore district, I just found this about Etta James:

Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, was born on Jan. 25, 1938 in Los Angeles to Dorothy Hawkins, who was 14 at the time.
Her mother was frequently absent from their apartment in Watts, and Jamesetta lived with a series of foster parents, most notably "Sarge" and "Mama" Lu.
In 1950 Mama Lu died, and James' biological mother took her to the Fillmore district of San Francisco.
Within a couple of years, she began listening to doo-wop and was inspired to form a girl group,
the Creolettes (because of the members' light-skinned complexion)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James

(More from the Wikipedia article)
Johnny Otis took the group under his wing, helping them sign to Modern Records and changing their name from the Creolettes to the Peaches..He also gave the singer her stage name, transposing Jamesstta to Etta James.
When her contract with Modern Records came up for renewal in 1960, she signed a contract with Chess Records instead.
Shortly afterwards, she was involved in a relationship with the singer Harvey Fuqua, the founder of the doo-wop group the Moonglows.

A fictional but excellent movie that features Beyonce Knowles as a young Etta James is called
"Cadillac Records"....It's based on the early years of Chess Records, with a very good script and excellent actors playing Chess Records' characters including Leonard Chess, Etta James, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Willie Dixon & Chuck Berry.
(If you haven't yet seen it, you might want to rent it on Netflix)

[Brother Buzz]

63. There's another Bay Area connection

Chris Strachwitz, founder of legendary Arhoolie Records, helped jump-start Big Mama Thornton's lagging career (can you say sliding into obscurity) with 'Big Mama Thornton – In Europe (1965)'

Chris is another Renaissance man who had an extraordinary talent for discovering musicians and eclectic music. He introduced the world to Mance Lipscomb, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Clifton Chenier, K.C. Douglas.....and many more

Check out Netflix for "THIS AIN'T NO MOUSE MUSIC" for an astounding glimpse into Chris's world. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Here's a tape and text of an interview with Big Mama Thornton by Chris Strachwitz that is not included in the film:

http://arhoolie.org/big-mama-thornton-interview/


Back in the day, Big Mama Thornton could run circles around Helen Wiggin's drumming without breaking a sweat

[OilemFirchen]

4. Or Hole.

For at least a brief moment in time.

[The Polack MSgt]

28. Exactly.

I was about to post the same thing, but scrolled down slow enough to see your post.

Cha cha cha cha Cherry BOMB

[red dog 1]

32. The Runaways are now one of the poll options

Can it be considered a "real poll" now?

(Sorry Chantels, I had to remove you as a poll option, even though "Maybe" was a great song!)

[yallerdawg]

55. Joan Jett AND Lita Ford in the same band? Cherie Curie? Sandy West? Jackie Fox?

"This ain't rock'n'roll, this is genocide!"

[bettyellen]

2. Bitchface! They're Syd Straw's new band.

[tazkcmo]

5. The BeeGees

[Kahuna7]

6. I voted Supremes, but I have to give some love to the Shirrells and Ronettes.

[red dog 1]

45. According to Billboard Magazine, "The Shirelles were the first major female vocal group ...

..of the rock era, defining the so-called girl group sound with their soft, sweet harmonies and yearning innocence."
Billboard goes on to say:
"Even if The Shirelles wee not technically the first of their kind, their success was unprecedented, paving the way for legions of imitators.."
Originally formed in 1958 in Passaic, New Jersey, calling themselves "The Poquellos
"The girls wrote a song called 'I Met Him on a Sunday' and entered their school talent show with it..A school friend had them audition for her mother, Florence Greenberg, who ran a small record label..She was impressed enough to become the group's manager, and changed their name to the Shirelles by combining frequent lead singer Shirley Owens' first name with doo woppers the Chantels."
http://www.billboard.com/artist/419104/shirelles/biography

"I Met Him on a Sunday" became a hit, and was followed by many more including:
"Tonight's The Night"
"Soldier Boy"
"Mama Said"
"Dedicated to the One I Love"


The Ronettes were one of many successful Phil Spector girl groups, with their big hit being
"Be My Baby"

[Kahuna7]

51. Thing about it is, when The Supremes came out, they retired all soul girl groups

that came before them. They even retired, Mary Wells who was very popular in the early 60s. All of us little black girls wanted to be The Supremes (I was Flo).

[Kahuna7]

7. Honrable mention: The Marvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

8. Le Tigre

[kwassa]

9. En Vogue

[demosincebirth]

10. How about the Andrew Sisters?

[Kahuna7]

21. I thought about them too.

[demosincebirth]

44. Wow, we're some old ones.

[Kahuna7]

53. LOL. I wasn't born when they were popular. But who doesn't know

the Andrews Sisters?

[red dog 1]

60. I wasn't born when they were popular either, but OF COURSE I know the Andrews Sisters!

You need to understand, Kahuna, that they only give me 10 POLL OPTIONS, so it's understandable that with only 10 poll options, and perhaps 30 or 40 "great" girl groups
SOME GREAT GIRL GROUPS WON'T BE INCLUDED IN THE POLL OPTIONS!

I've tried to accommodate as many DUers today as I can, by removing a few of the original options & replacing them with groups that people are wanting to be "on the list"
But, give me a break, OK?

(The only group left that I "might be able to replace" is The Chiffons, and if I do, it'll probably be to make room for The Angels ("My Boyfriend's Back&quot or the Shangri Las ("Leader of the Pack&quot

[FM123]

11. Heart!

Last edited Tue May 30, 2017, 10:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Not exactly a girl group but definitely a girl led group. Love the Wilson sisters!

[Arkansas Granny]

12. Totally agree, and they are still going strong after more than 40 years.

I got to see them last year and I believe they have gotten even better over the years

[WinkyDink]

14. Not a Girl Group! No men allowed! (Are there women in a "Boy Band"?!)

[red dog 1]

46. I love the Wilson sisters too!

http://www.heart-music.com/welcome

[WinkyDink]

13. Seriously, many were great, even awesome, but the Supremes reigned...supreme! (Lucky to have seen

them!)

[WinkyDink]

15. Should be on poll: The Shangri-Las. "Leader of the Pack" is ICONIC! "(Remember) Walking in the

Sand," also.

[Mosby]

16. The Dixie Chicks

They are the top selling all female band in US history.

[red dog 1]

25. Dixie Chicks is now poll option # 4

(I was tired yesterday when I posted this, and I inserted "Spice Girls" instead of Dixie Chicks)

[First Speaker]

17. The Glenn Miller Orchestra...

...oh...you didn't know...?

[kwassa]

18. The Beach Boys.

[GReedDiamond]

19. OTHER: The GTOs - Girls Together Outrageously...

...which is Miss Pamela (Pamela Des Barres), Miss Mercy (Mercy Fontenot), Miss Christine (Christine Ann Frka), Miss Cinderella (Cynthia Cale-Binion), and Miss Sandra (Sandra Lynn Harris) on vocals - backed by Frank Zappa & The Mothers, along with Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Rodney Bingenheimer, Lowell George, Russ Titleman, and Ry Cooder.

Here is their 1969 album, produced by Zappa, Permanent Damage.

[Solly Mack]

20. Either The Donnas or 50 Foot wave...probably The Runaways.

[dawg]

23. 80's guy here voting for the Bangles.

Although the Dixie Chicks deserve to be in the poll, and are actually the only all-female band with an album in my collection.

[red dog 1]

36. I meant to list Dixie Chicks when I posted this yesterday...They are now option # 4

(Better late than never)

[brokephibroke]

26. Where is Banarama?

[red dog 1]

52. getting ready for their upcoming UK tour

http://www.bananarama.co.uk/

Back in the 1980s, I actually was able to buy "Venus" brand new on 45 rpm
(I think it was the last new 45 rpm record I bought...I still have it)

[yardwork]

59. OMG so do I! And I think it is the last 45 I ever bought.

[rzemanfl]

27. Voted Ronettes because the Shangri Las were not listed. n/t

[underpants]

29. L7

And they have some really cool album names

Bricks Are Heavy -- really good album
Smell the Magic
Hungry for Stink

[underpants]

30. No Indigo Girls???

Watershed is one of my all time songs

[zipplewrath]

35. Last Tears

Universal song of long, bad break ups.

[red dog 1]

47. Indigo Girls are now an option

Great Rolling Stone article about the Indigo Girls, (May 16, 2016)
"Indigo Girls' Emily Sailers on Reforming Religion, Why Trump Must Be Stopped"

[underpants]

48. Thanks

[latinaliberal]

31. Best girl group

TLC

[zipplewrath]

33. Indigo girls

Also thought about the Andrew Sisters.
Does Heart qualify?

[red dog 1]

38. Well, that's three votes for Indigo Girls, so they're up there now as poll option # 7

even though I hated to take down The Dixie Cups ("Chapel of Love&quot

[randr]

34. Pointer Sisters?

Sweet Honey in the Rock, there are too many who may have not been pop stars but were over the top great

[Kahuna7]

54. Aw man! I love the Pointers. nt

[MiltonBrown]

37. Here are some girl groups worthy of mention:

Boswell Sisters

Andrews Sisters

the Bobbettes

the Chantels

the Delicates (RIP Arleen Lanzotti who passed away on monday)

the Angels

the Shangri Las

In my opinion the best singers of them all were the Bozzies (Boswell Sisters from New Orleans circa '20s-'30s)

[red dog 1]

39. The Chantels were one of the original poll options, but I had to take them down ...

..to make room for another band, even though I love their song "Maybe"
(They hadn't received any votes as of 5/30/2017 at 1 PM PST)

I love The Bobbettes, and I still have my 45 rpm copy of "Mr. Lee"

The Shangri Las' "Leader of the Pack" is a truly great song, but DU only allows 10 poll options.

(It's be nice if DU allowed you to list as many options as you want, or even 15 options instead of just 10)

The Andrew Sisters were great, but....(only 10 options allowed)

[MiltonBrown]

40. I saw the Bobbettes about 8 years ago and they were fantastic!

Sadly the charismatic lead singer Reatha has passed away since.

My vote goes to the Boswell sisters because they please my ears the most.

[red dog 1]

49. "The Doo-Wop Society of Southern California: The Bobbettes"

http://www.electricearl.com/dws/bobbettes.html

Welcome to DU!

[MiltonBrown]

57. Thanks!

A great Girl Group from Southern California was the Teen Queens. The Bobbettes performed a fantastic version of their hit 'Eddie My Love' when I saw them.

[red dog 1]

61. Thanks for that.

Teen Queens...Great name for a girl group..nearly all of the members of the groups listed were teenagers when they formed...(some as young as 14).

[MiltonBrown]

62. Bobbettes had to be about the youngest.

Almost forgot THE CRYSTALS!

I think they had a revolving door of personel but they sure had a lot of hits.

[enid602]

41. Labelle

Labelle.

[AngryAmish]

56. The Supremes for the best songs, The Go-Go's for self assembly.

[IcyPeas]

64. Punk girl group from 1979 - The Mo-Dettes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo-dettes