Birtha was an all female rock/soul band from the seventies…and they didn’t mess about. They were really aggressive in their sound. Birtha was formed in 1968 by singer-bassist Rosemary Butler and guitarist-singer Shele Pinizzotto. The band consisted of Shele Pinizzotto, Rosemary Butler, Sherry Hagler, and drummer Olivia “Liver” Favela. All of them sang and provided backup vocals.
In the early seventies there were not loads of all female rock bands around. Fanny was probably the most successful one during that time. The other band I found was Isis… they were more of a horn rock band. Birtha was straight ahead rock and roll with some soul leanings.
The group immediately started playing the club circuit and toured from California to Alaska. From 1968 to 1971 Birtha worked to tighten and refine their rock sound and in 1971 they started writing their own material. Birtha signed a record contract with Dunhill Records in 1972 and recorded their first album, Birtha with record producer Gabriel Mckler and Engineers, David Hassinger and Val Caray.
Birtha released their self-titled debut album in 1972. It features nine songs, six of them written by the band. Too Much Woman (For a Henpecked Man) was written by Ike Turner. It was on Ike and Tina’s album Come Together released in 1970.
Birtha worked hard and toured constantly. They opened up for such acts as Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper, Poco, Black Oak Arkansas, Cheech and Chong, B.B. King, Three Dog Night, and The James Gang.
Birtha disbanded in 1975. The only member to continue in music was Rosemary Butler, who did backing vocals for James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers, Nicolette Larson, Neil Diamond, the Charlie Daniels Band, and numerous other artists. She also released a solo album in 1983.
I’m including two songs to give more of a selection of their music. As with Fanny…this band should have been heard…they were super talented.
Too Much Woman (For a Henpecked Man)
I wanna be loved, not teased
I don’t want no man on his knees
A henpecked man I can’t respect
‘Cause I’m a hard woman to handle, and I know that
He’s gotta be staid
Use his head to turn me on
Not give it all
My Mama was mean, my Papa was cruel
I never got the chance to do like the other girls
But now I’m a woman, sweet twenty-one
I wanna find myself a man and have myself some fun
He’s gotta be staid
Use his head to turn me on
Not give it all
Get it on, y’all
Pullin’ cotton sacks is all I’ve ever known
The man I find has got to be strong
‘Cause a weak man I can’t stand
Because I’m too much of a woman to have a henpecked man
He’s gotta be staid
Use his head to turn me on
Not give it all
So get it on
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Would have been an interesting bill opening for Cheech and Chong in the 70’s lol
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WOW – I think they’re brilliant!
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Thanks Bruce!
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“The Original Midnight Mama”, huh? Man, that tune sounds dynamite and grabbed me right away! That chorus is just killer! Also, very cool to see an all-female band – still not very common.
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No it’s not…I’ve only found two so far at that time…as far as rock only…and that is Fanny and Birtha…I’m going to look for more.
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Sounds like these ladies were truly rocking. Makes me want to further check them out!
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Them and Fanny really rock…more of a blues/soul rock.
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Well, on those two tunes, they certainly could rock and had some talent. Not quite my total cup of tea, but they should’ve been heard back then . I could easily imagine them opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith back then.
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Opening for Fleetwood Mac caught my eye but then I realized…it was the blues Fleetwood Mac not the pop version.
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Cool group. I like their sound.
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Kinda sounds like Grand Trunk Railroad and Deep Purple. Not bad at all. I love seeing all female bands rocking out. I’m surprised there aren’t more of them nowadays.
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There are probably more now Lisa…I was looking back then. It picked up in the late seventies and more came out…I’ll look at them…but the difference between this band and Fanny included…they were not pop rock like many of the commercial ones were…that is not taking away from the pop rock ones at all…but these bands were “bettering” lol if that is a word… the boys…I mean Fanny would open for Deep Purple and give them a run for their money. I really admire these two bands…they were venturing outside the box so to speak. Well that was long winded!
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Max, I appreciate your appreciation.
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I have another band for you: Mother Trucker. I seem to remember they’re Dutch, but I can’t find any more about them besudes their music on YouTube. They were around in the early-to-mid ’70’s, ffrom what I see.
Birtha really rocks hard!
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Ok John! I will check them out!
My work is clearing a little so I’ll be around much more.
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Not really my thing, but surprised I’d never heard of them.
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Fanny and them…they did go out of the pop rock box.
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The all-female band I discovered recently in New Zealand’s Look Blue Go Purple. They made a bit of music in the 1980s, but never got as big as some of the other Flying Nun stuff.
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I like the sound of them…I’ll look them up…thanks.
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