Groupie Mixtape

from the Groupie Feminism art series

Attributions

Cassette tape with 22 songs

Cassette in case: 4 1/2" x 3" x 3/4"

3-D self-adhesive gold letters by Pioneer Photo Albums, Inc.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Created in 2020

Artist Statement

What do ABBA, Blondie, Delaney & Bonnie, David Bowie, Cher, Joe Cocker, Lana Del Rey, Grand Funk Railroad, Guns N' Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Lil' Kim, KISS, John Legend, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, Sweet, Le Tigre, Luther Vandross, and Led Zeppelin all have in common? Why, songs about groupies, of course! 

The songs on the Groupie Mixtape span 1967 - 2017.  

22 songs: 1 hour, 30 minutes


"Little Wing, " (1967) Jimi Hendrix 2:26

"Groupie (Superstar)," (1969) Delaney & Bonnie 2:49

"She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," (1969) Joe Cocker 2:36

"Blonde in the Bleachers," (1972) Joni Mitchell 2:42

"Rip This Joint," (1972) The Rolling Stones 2:23

"We're An American Band," (1973) Grand Funk Railroad (1993 remaster) 3:27

"Fox on the Run," (1974) Sweet 3:28

"Rebel Rebel," (1974) David Bowie (2016 remaster) 4:35

"Sick Again," (1975) Led Zeppelin (1993 remaster) 4:43

"Dancing Queen," (1975-1976) ABBA 3:51

"Rip Her to Shreds," (1976-1977) Blondie (remastered) 3:23

"Gold Dust Woman," (1976-1977) Fleetwood Mac (2004 remaster) 4:56

"Plaster Caster," (1977) KISS 3:28

"Git Down (Guitar Groupie)," (1979) Cher 3:46

"Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)," (1983) Luther Vandross 9:19 

"Dirty Diana," (1986-1988) Michael Jackson 4:41

"Rocket Queen," (1987) Guns N' Roses 6:13

"Look Away," (1996) Iggy Pop 5:09

"You Got Me," (1999) The Roots, featuring Erykah Badu and Eve (not on the mixtape but in my top three favorite groupie songs ever so I must mention it here) 4:19

"Thug Luv (feat. Twista) with Radio Interlude," (2003) Lil' Kim, Twista 4:12

"Nanny Nanny Boo Boo," (2004) Le Tigre 3:34

"Stereo," (2006) John Legend 4:10

"Groupie Love (feat. A$AP Rocky)," (2017) Lana Del Rey, A$AP Rocky 4:24

I created the Groupie Mixtape, a selection of songs by, about, or mentioning groupies, because I am fascinated by how groupies signify feminism's struggle, and insistence. There are many more songs by, about, or mentioning groupies. It was a challenge to choose the songs for my mixtape!

Groupies emerged in the 1960s on the cusp of Second Wave feminism as the avant-garde of the sexual revolution. They lived their lives as though they could equal rock stars in creative and sexual freedom. But corporate interests and the double standard impeded women's liberation, and groupies were dismissed as playthings in the power ballad of rock 'n' roll history. As we shall hear, some musicians felt victimized, too. But there is still a chance for that sexy and exciting equality that the intersection of feminism and music promises. So let's turn it up!

I asked several SuperGroupies - Cynthia Albritton aka Cynthia Plaster Caster, Pamela Des Barres, Miss Mercy, Cherry Vanilla, and Morgana Welch - their favorite songs about groupies, and those are included, too.


I guest DJ'd the set on Lady Jam's Juice Box, Friday, May 15, 2020, from 2 pm - 4 pm EST, 97.1 WXOX.