International Women’s Day: Inspirational Tracks

To celebrate International Women's Day we asked Neu Magazine contributors and friends to pick the women that make them love music. Some are new, some are old but all of them are great. Listen and download at the bottom of the page.

Phyllis Dillon - Remember That Sunday
Phyllis Dillon was a ska and reggae singer signed to Duke Reid's Treasure Island record label in the 1960s and 1970s. She saw singers like Connie Francis and Patti Page and wanted to be like them. Discovered at young age she recorded her first record when she was 19 years old. She juggled a family and career in the USA and Kingston.

Nina Simone - Trouble in Mind
Singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, civil rights activist and a strong dislike of being categorized? What's not to love about Nina Simone?

Patti Smith - Gloria
Nobody matches the raw power of Patti Smith. Not just the godmother of punk, she reinvented the beat poetry style for music, has a strong jazz influence and in 2007 was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Such a winner.

Nico - These Days
Nico's songs were tragic and beautiful. After working with The Velvet Underground on The Velvet Underground and Nico she went solo to record 5 incredibly challenging solo albums between 1967 - 1985. The first two of which - Chelsea Girl and The Marble Index - hold their own amongst her previous collaborators works.

The Cupons - Turn Her Down [download]
These girls in the garage are the forgotten legacy of the 1960s. Released on separate compilations women like Darby Sisters, Ellaine and The Shandells and Jonna Gault [and the Cupons] are worth discovering.

The Brentwoods - Little Barfy Bobby
Newer but continuing the spirit of those girls in the garage, The Brentwoods were formed by Karen Singletary and Darin Rafeilli in 2006.

Stevie Nicks - Nightbird
The power behind Fleetwood Mac and the woman that's got a whole new generation of female singer/songwriters in her thrall. Kate Bush is often unfairly namechecked. There should be room for stevie too.

X Ray Spex - Art-i-ficial
English punk from 'deliberate underachievers'. We love X Ray Spex' attitude, screaming and dancing. Germ Free Adolescents remains a classic for a reason.

Au Pairs - Steppin out of line
More laid back but still as passionate about what they did were Birmingham's Au Pairs. Tight rhythms, left wing lyrics and scratchy guitars. They weren't afraid of what people thought and that's the best way to be.

Erykah Badu - The Healer
So many influences, so many brilliant songs; actress, artist and musician Erykah Badu just keeps getting better.

Salt N Pepa - The Showstopper [download]
Hip hop from Queens doesn't get any more fun than with Salt n Pepa. 15 million albums with the best titles we've EVER heard. They deliver unapologetic attitude over party starting beats.

Diamanda Galas - Lonely Woman
Avant garde artist, vocalist, keyboardist and composer Diamanda Glas mixes shrieks, howls and themes of despair to make music that is interesting, intricate and , regardless of gender, inspiring to experimental musicians.

Cat Power - He War [download]
It says something when her erratic, beautiful performances aren't the best thing about her. Serious. The songs are that good.

International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. To find out more please visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

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