by duVergne Gaines
SPIRIT OF '73: Rock for Choice, a compilation album produced by 550 Music/Epic Records for the Feminist Majority's Rock for Choice project, will be released August 8. The CD, which will be internationally distributed, features female singers of the 90's celebrating songs written and made famous by female singers of the 70's.
SPIRIT OF '73: Rock for Choice includes classic 70's anthems like Joni Mitchell's "River" sung by Rosanne Cash, Joan Baez's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" being sung by Sophie B. Hawkins, and Sister Sledge's smash hit "We Are Family" sung by Ebony Vibe Everlasting. Indigo Girls, Sarah McLachlan, Eve's Plum, L7, Melissa Ferrick, Babes In Toyland, and Letters to Cleo are also on the CD performing songs ranging from "Blue" to "Feel Like Makin' Love" to "More ... More... More..."
Julie Hermelin and Joy Ray of Freedom Unlimited, the creators and producers of the CD, worked for years trying to find a major or independent label to sign their project. According to Hermelin and Ray, "We talked to independent distributors, small labels, major labels, and wealthy investors. And as a last ditch effort, we mailed out information to every female A&R person at major labels. One of those women was Epic record's Judy Ross. Thanks to her tenacity, nearly 14 months after our first meeting with her, the deal was signed."