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{{Short description|American humorous folk music group}}
The '''Four Bitchin' Babes''' is a group of female [[singer-songwriters]] with rotating membership, performing mainly humorous, [[satirical]] or light-hearted songs in the [[folk music|folk]] genre.<ref name=twsDecV15/> The group was described as "slyly outre"<ref name=twsDecV12/> writing songs about the "humorous satire of everyday life"<ref name=twsDecV14>{{cite news
{{More citations needed|date=February 2020}}The '''Four Bitchin' Babes''' is a group of female singer-songwriters with rotating membership performing mainly humorous, satirical, or light-hearted songs in the folk genre. The current touring group consists of [[Sally Fingerett]], [[Deirdre Flint]], [[Christine Lavin]], and [[Debi Smith]].<ref name="return_atimes">{{Cite web |title=The Four Bitchin' Babes return to The Birchmere - Alexandria Times |author=Denise Dunbar |work=Alexandria Times |date=2 June 2022 |access-date=6 June 2022 |url= https://alextimes.com/2022/06/the-four-bitchin-babes-return-to-the-birchmere/ }}</ref> The artists have made numerous albums and have worked with producer Jeff Bova.
|author= Nicolette Saina
|title= Edmonton Fest Ends On High Lang Note
|publisher= ''Chicago Tribune''
|date= August 14, 1996
|url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-08-14/features/9608140270_1_patsy-cline-bruce-cockburn-blue-rodeo
|accessdate= 2010-12-22
}}</ref> with an "inherent charm" ranging from "sentimental to lusty, spiritual to hysterical".<ref name=twsDecV11/> The artists have made numerous albums and have worked with [[Celine Dion]]'s producer Jeff Bova.<ref name=twsDecV11/> Followers of the band have been termed ''Babeophiles''.<ref name=twsDecV11>{{cite news
|author= Dan Kening
|title= Four Bitchin' Babes Beyond Bitchin' (Shanachie...
|publisher= ''Chicago Tribune''
|date= October 8, 2000
|url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-10-08/news/0010080401_1_toe-folk-country-debi-smith
|accessdate= 2010-12-22
}}</ref>


==History==
== History ==
The band was founded in 1990 by [[Christine Lavin]], described by the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' in 2010 as a "folkie's folkie".<ref name=twsDecV12>{{cite news
[[Christine Lavin]] founded the band in 1990.<ref name=twsDecV12>{{cite news
|author= Steve Morse
|author= Steve Morse
|title= Christine Lavin’s memoir makes for a true folk tale
|title= Christine Lavin's memoir makes for a true folk tale
|publisher= ''Boston Globe''
|newspaper= Boston Globe
|date= June 4, 2010
|date= June 4, 2010
|url= http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/06/04/christine_lavins_memoir_makes_for_a_true_folk_tale/
|url= http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/06/04/christine_lavins_memoir_makes_for_a_true_folk_tale/
|accessdate= 2010-12-22}}</ref> She produced the compilation album ''On a Winter's Night'', then put together a road show of the artists who appeared on it: [[Patty Larkin]], [[Megon McDonough]], [[Sally Fingerett]], and Lavin. The foursome toured throughout the United States, after which Lavin decided to create a live album of their performance at [[The Birchmere]] entitled ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair'', released on [[Rounder Records]] in 1990.<ref name="return_atimes" />
|accessdate= 2010-12-22
}}</ref> After the success of a [[compilation album]] she produced, ''On a Winter's Night'', she put together a road show of artists who appeared on the album: herself, [[Patty Larkin]], [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] native [[Megon McDonough]],<ref name=twsDecV14/> and [[Sally Fingerett]]. The foursome toured throughout the United States, after which Lavin decided to create a [[live album]] of their performance at [[The Birchmere]]. This album, ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes Volume I'' was released on Philo/[[Rounder Records]] in 1990.


After the release of ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me...'', Larkin was signed by [[Windham Hill Records]], and left the band. She was replaced by [[Julie Gold]], best known for writing the song "[[From a Distance]]". The group now known as Four Bitchin' Babes continued to tour, and released their second album, ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes Volume II'' in 1993. In the meantime, artists such as [[Cheryl Wheeler]], [[Janis Ian]], and [[Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary)|Mary Travers]] would substitute in concert for band members who were unavailable. In 1994, [[Debi Smith]] replaced [[Julie Gold]], and in 1995, Dan Green (Fingerett's husband at the time) produced the Babes' third album, ''Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner: More Life According To Four Bitchin' Babes'' on [[Shanachie Records]]. Fingerett's song ''Lovely Mistake'' was described as a "clear-eyed look at gaining wisdom set to a contemporary groove."<ref name=twsDecV11/> Smith, in 1998, recorded a solo album entitled ''More Than Once'', including her song ''Snowbound''.<ref name=twsDecV13>{{cite news
Larkin then signed with [[Windham Hill Records]] and left the band; she was replaced by [[Julie Gold]], best known for writing the song "[[From a Distance]]". The group continued to tour and released their second album, ''Buy Me… Volume II'' in 1993. In the meantime, other artists would substitute in concert for band members who were unavailable, such as [[Cheryl Wheeler]], [[Janis Ian]], and [[Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary)|Mary Travers]]. In 1994, [[Debi Smith]] replaced [[Julie Gold]], and they released their third album ''Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner'' in 1995 on [[Shanachie Records]].
|author= Bob Swanson
|title= Shoveling
|publisher= ''USA Today''
|quote= Smith, a member of The Four Bitchin' Babes and The Smith Sisters, recorded Snowbound for her 1998 solo album, More Than Once. The lyrics appear below.
|date= 2009-03-11
|url= http://content.usatoday.com/topics/post/Snow/63798511.blog/1
|accessdate= 2010-12-22
}}</ref>


In 1997, Lavin, busy with other projects, chose [[Camille West]] to replace herself in the band, and the same year, the new lineup released another live album, ''Gabby Road: Out Of The Mouths Of Babes'', also recorded at the Birchmere. In 2001, the band, still with the same membership, released a fifth album, ''The Babes: Beyond Bitchin''', produced by Jeff Bova (also producer for [[Celine Dion|Céline Dion]], [[Billy Joel]], and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]), in addition to a live concert [[DVD]]. Later that year, McDonough left the band to perform a one-woman show, and was replaced by [[Suzzy Roche]], formerly of [[The Roches]]. In 2002, they released the album ''Some Assembly Required''. McDonough, in an interview in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', saw parallels between her life and that of [[Patsy Cline]], since both artists had young children, hard-working husbands, yet lived a life on the road.<ref name=twsDecV15>{{cite news
In 1997, Lavin chose [[Camille West]] to replace her in the band, and the new lineup released the live album ''Gabby Road: Out Of The Mouths Of Babes'', also recorded at the Birchmere. In 2001, the band released the album ''The Babes: Beyond Bitchin''{{'}}, produced by Jeff Bova, in addition to a live concert DVD. McDonough left the band in 2001 to perform a one-woman show, and she was replaced by [[Suzzy Roche]], formerly of [[The Roches]]. In 2002, they released the album ''Some Assembly Required''. In 2004, both West and Roche left the group and were replaced by [[Nancy Moran]] and [[Deirdre Flint]]. In 2006, they toured for their CD "Hormonal Imbalance: A Mood Swinging Musical Revue".
|author= Jack Hurst
|title= A Real `Patsy'
|publisher= ''Chicago Tribune''
|date= December 1, 1996
|url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-12-01/news/9612010253_1_patsy-cline-cline-classics-sweet-dreams
|accessdate= 2010-12-22
}}</ref> In 2004, both West and Roche left the group and were replaced by Nashville songwriter/singer [[Nancy Moran]] and comedic singer/songwriter/teacher [[Deirdre Flint]]. In 2006, they toured for their CD "Hormonal Imbalance: A Mood Swinging Musical Revue". As of 2009, the group is still touring, currently promoting their latest CD, "Diva Nation: Where Music, Laughter & Girlfriends Reign!", which was released in October 2009 and was produced by band members Sally Fingerett and Debi Smith (Hem and Haw Productions).


As of June 2022, the Four Bitch' Babes are touring, including a stop at The Birchmere, where they recorded their first album and see as an "unofficial home base".<ref name="wapo_joke">{{Cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/whenever-four-bitchin-babes-grace-the-birchmere-everyones-in-on-the-joke/2019/03/19/85a6b3cc-4686-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html| title=Whenever Four Bitchin' Babes grace the Birchmere, everyone's in on the joke| author=Chris Richards| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| date=20 March 2019| access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref> It may be their last formal tour and Smith, one of the co-leaders, says "We are winding it down".<ref name="return_atimes" />
==Songwriting==
Typically, the Babes' albums consist of songs written by the individual members, all of whom have or have had solo careers as well. Songs appearing on their albums, such as "Microwave Life" (by McDonough), "B.O.B. (Battery-Operated Boyfriend)" and "L.A.F.F. (Ladies Against Fanny Floss)" (by West), and "Don't Mess With Me (I'm Somebody's Mother)" (by Fingerett), satirize modern life, especially from a mature female perspective.


There have been eleven different members (not counting guest or touring "Babes"), with the Four Bitchin' Babes currently consisting of Sally Fingerett, Deirdre Flint, Christine Lavin, and Debi Smith. Only Fingerett has been a member for their entire history.<ref name="return_atimes" /><ref name="wapo_joke" />
==Discography==

{| border=1 class="wikitable sortable plainlinks" style="width:80%; border="1" cellpadding="3" ||
== Songwriting ==
|-
Typically, the Babes' albums consist of songs written by the individual members, all of whom have or have had solo careers as well. Songs appearing on their albums, such as "Microwave Life" (by McDonough), "B.O.B. (Battery-Operated Boyfriend)" and "L.A.F.F. (Ladies Against Fanny Floss)" (by West), and "Don't Mess With Me (I'm Somebody's Mother)" (by Fingerett), satirize modern life, especially from a mature female perspective.<ref name="wapo_joke" />
|| ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes'' || 1990 || Patty Larkin || Christine Lavin || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett || || || || ||

|-
==Deirdre Flint==
|| ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes Volume II'' || 1993 || || Christine Lavin || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett || Julie Gold || || || || ||
{{Infobox musical artist
|-
| name = Deirdre Flint
|| ''Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner: More Life According To Four Bitchin' Babes'' || 1994 || || Christine Lavin || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || || || ||
| image =
|-
| caption =
|| ''Gabby Road: Out of the Mouths of Babes'' || 1997 || || || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || Camille West || || ||
| birth_name = Deirdre Flint
|-
| origin =
|| ''The Babes: Beyond Bitchin''' || 2001 || || || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett|| || Debi Smith || Camille West || || ||
| instrument = Vocals<br>acoustic guitar<br>bass guitar
|-
| genre = Folk
|| ''Meet the Babes'' (DVD) || 2001 || || || Megon McDonough || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || Camille West || || ||
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, teacher
|-
| years_active = 1999–present
|| ''Some Assembly Required'' || 2002 || || || || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || Camille West || Suzzy Roche || ||
| label =
|-
| associated_acts =
|| ''Hormonal Imbalance...A Mood-Swinging Musical Revue'' || 2006 || || || || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || || Nancy Moran || Deirdre Flint ||
| website = [https://deirdreflint.net/ https://deirdreflint.net/]
|-
| current_members =
|| ''Diva Nation...Where Music, Laughter & Girlfriends Reign!'' || 2009 || || || || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || || Nancy Moran || Deirdre Flint ||
| past_members =
|-
}}
|| ''Mid Life Vices...A Guilt Free Musical Revue'' || 2012 || || || || Sally Fingerett || || Debi Smith || || || Deirdre Flint || Marcy Marxer

'''Deirdre Flint''' is an American [[satirical]] [[folk-rock]] singer-songwriter. A former elementary school teacher, she joined Four Bitchin' Babes in 2005.

Her music has appeared on the [[Dr. Demento]] radio show and on the television show ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'', as well as on [[The Learning Channel]]'s "A Dating Story" and documentary "Always A Bridesmaid". Her songs, such as "[[cheerleading|Cheerleader]]," "The Boob Fairy," and "[[Past life regression|Past Life Regressed]]," deal with offbeat topics, often from the perspective of a ditzy female character. She has performed in more than 50 venues across the United States, including [[The Kennedy Center]],<ref name=official14>{{cite web |url=http://www.deirdreflint.com/about/about.html|title=Dierdre Flint Official Website|date=|accessdate=2014-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906211448/http://deirdreflint.com/about/about.html|archive-date=2013-09-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and has been reviewed in publications such as ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', ''[[The Washington Post]]'',<ref name=official14/> and ''[[Billboard Magazine]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4A8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22deirdre+flint%22+%22billboard%22&pg=PA22 |title=New and Noteworthy |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |work=Billboard 8 Jul 2000, p22 |date=July 8, 2000 |accessdate=2016-02-10 }}</ref> which called her "Shuffleboard Queens" album, "grown-up satire with a non-cynical wink".

==Awards and honors==
Flint won the New Folk songwriting prize at the [[Kerrville Folk Festival]] in 2000, and was [[Falcon Ridge Folk Festival]] Showcase Artist that same year.

== Discography ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainlinks"
|-
| ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes'' || 1990
| rowspan="10" | Sally Fingerett
| rowspan="6" | Megon McDonough
| rowspan="3" | Christine Lavin
| Patty Larkin
|-
| ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes Volume II'' || 1993
| Julie Gold
|-
| ''Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner: More Life According To Four Bitchin' Babes'' || 1994
| rowspan="8" | Debi Smith
|-
| ''Gabby Road: Out of the Mouths of Babes'' || 1997
| rowspan="4" | Camille West
|-
|| ''The Babes: Beyond Bitchin''' || 2001
|-
|| ''Meet the Babes'' (DVD) || 2001
|-
| ''Some Assembly Required'' || 2002
| Suzzy Roche
|-
| ''Hormonal Imbalance...A Mood-Swinging Musical Revue'' || 2006
| rowspan="3" | Deirdre Flint
| rowspan="2" | Nancy Moran
|-
| ''Diva Nation...Where Music, Laughter & Girlfriends Reign!'' || 2009
|-
| ''Mid Life Vices...A Guilt Free Musical Revue'' || 2012
| Marcy Marxer
|}
|}


===Deirdre Flint discography===
==References==
* ''The Christmas Sweater Song'' (2012)
{{Reflist|2}}
* ''The Shuffleboard Queens'' (1999)
* ''Then Again'' (2002)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.fourbitchinbabes.com/ Official website]
*[https://deirdreflint.net/ Deirdre Flint official site]


==External links==
*[http://www.fourbitchinbabes.com/ Official home page]
*[http://www.sallyfingerett.com/ Sally Fingerett's home page]
*[http://www.debismith.com/ Debi Smith's home page]
*[http://www.nancymoran.com/ Nancy Moran's home page]
*[http://www.deirdreflint.com/ Deirdre Flint's home page]
{{The Roches}}
{{The Roches}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:All-female bands]]
[[Category:American all-female bands]]
[[Category:American folk musical groups]]
[[Category:American folk musical groups]]
[[Category:American satirists]]
[[Category:American satirists]]
[[Category:Four Bitchin' Babes| ]]
[[Category:Women satirists]]
[[Category:Women satirists]]
[[Category:Shanachie Records artists]]
[[Category:Rounder Records artists]]
[[Category:American comedy musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]]
[[Category:All-female folk bands]]

Latest revision as of 10:22, 12 June 2024

The Four Bitchin' Babes is a group of female singer-songwriters with rotating membership performing mainly humorous, satirical, or light-hearted songs in the folk genre. The current touring group consists of Sally Fingerett, Deirdre Flint, Christine Lavin, and Debi Smith.[1] The artists have made numerous albums and have worked with producer Jeff Bova.

History

[edit]

Christine Lavin founded the band in 1990.[2] She produced the compilation album On a Winter's Night, then put together a road show of the artists who appeared on it: Patty Larkin, Megon McDonough, Sally Fingerett, and Lavin. The foursome toured throughout the United States, after which Lavin decided to create a live album of their performance at The Birchmere entitled Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair, released on Rounder Records in 1990.[1]

Larkin then signed with Windham Hill Records and left the band; she was replaced by Julie Gold, best known for writing the song "From a Distance". The group continued to tour and released their second album, Buy Me… Volume II in 1993. In the meantime, other artists would substitute in concert for band members who were unavailable, such as Cheryl Wheeler, Janis Ian, and Mary Travers. In 1994, Debi Smith replaced Julie Gold, and they released their third album Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner in 1995 on Shanachie Records.

In 1997, Lavin chose Camille West to replace her in the band, and the new lineup released the live album Gabby Road: Out Of The Mouths Of Babes, also recorded at the Birchmere. In 2001, the band released the album The Babes: Beyond Bitchin', produced by Jeff Bova, in addition to a live concert DVD. McDonough left the band in 2001 to perform a one-woman show, and she was replaced by Suzzy Roche, formerly of The Roches. In 2002, they released the album Some Assembly Required. In 2004, both West and Roche left the group and were replaced by Nancy Moran and Deirdre Flint. In 2006, they toured for their CD "Hormonal Imbalance: A Mood Swinging Musical Revue".

As of June 2022, the Four Bitch' Babes are touring, including a stop at The Birchmere, where they recorded their first album and see as an "unofficial home base".[3] It may be their last formal tour and Smith, one of the co-leaders, says "We are winding it down".[1]

There have been eleven different members (not counting guest or touring "Babes"), with the Four Bitchin' Babes currently consisting of Sally Fingerett, Deirdre Flint, Christine Lavin, and Debi Smith. Only Fingerett has been a member for their entire history.[1][3]

Songwriting

[edit]

Typically, the Babes' albums consist of songs written by the individual members, all of whom have or have had solo careers as well. Songs appearing on their albums, such as "Microwave Life" (by McDonough), "B.O.B. (Battery-Operated Boyfriend)" and "L.A.F.F. (Ladies Against Fanny Floss)" (by West), and "Don't Mess With Me (I'm Somebody's Mother)" (by Fingerett), satirize modern life, especially from a mature female perspective.[3]

Deirdre Flint

[edit]
Deirdre Flint
Birth nameDeirdre Flint
GenresFolk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, teacher
Instrument(s)Vocals
acoustic guitar
bass guitar
Years active1999–present
Websitehttps://deirdreflint.net/

Deirdre Flint is an American satirical folk-rock singer-songwriter. A former elementary school teacher, she joined Four Bitchin' Babes in 2005.

Her music has appeared on the Dr. Demento radio show and on the television show Nip/Tuck, as well as on The Learning Channel's "A Dating Story" and documentary "Always A Bridesmaid". Her songs, such as "Cheerleader," "The Boob Fairy," and "Past Life Regressed," deal with offbeat topics, often from the perspective of a ditzy female character. She has performed in more than 50 venues across the United States, including The Kennedy Center,[4] and has been reviewed in publications such as The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post,[4] and Billboard Magazine,[5] which called her "Shuffleboard Queens" album, "grown-up satire with a non-cynical wink".

Awards and honors

[edit]

Flint won the New Folk songwriting prize at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2000, and was Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Showcase Artist that same year.

Discography

[edit]
Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes 1990 Sally Fingerett Megon McDonough Christine Lavin Patty Larkin
Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair: Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes Volume II 1993 Julie Gold
Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's For Dinner: More Life According To Four Bitchin' Babes 1994 Debi Smith
Gabby Road: Out of the Mouths of Babes 1997 Camille West
The Babes: Beyond Bitchin' 2001
Meet the Babes (DVD) 2001
Some Assembly Required 2002 Suzzy Roche
Hormonal Imbalance...A Mood-Swinging Musical Revue 2006 Deirdre Flint Nancy Moran
Diva Nation...Where Music, Laughter & Girlfriends Reign! 2009
Mid Life Vices...A Guilt Free Musical Revue 2012 Marcy Marxer

Deirdre Flint discography

[edit]
  • The Christmas Sweater Song (2012)
  • The Shuffleboard Queens (1999)
  • Then Again (2002)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Denise Dunbar (2 June 2022). "The Four Bitchin' Babes return to The Birchmere - Alexandria Times". Alexandria Times. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. ^ Steve Morse (June 4, 2010). "Christine Lavin's memoir makes for a true folk tale". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  3. ^ a b c Chris Richards (20 March 2019). "Whenever Four Bitchin' Babes grace the Birchmere, everyone's in on the joke". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Dierdre Flint Official Website". Archived from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  5. ^ "New and Noteworthy". Billboard 8 Jul 2000, p22. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 8, 2000. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
[edit]
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