Favored Nations EntertainmentA new compilation called She Rocks, Volume 1 showcasing the talents of a variety of female rock guitarists has just been released as a digital download via guitar virtuoso Steve Vai‘s Favored Nations label. The album features 11 tracks, including tunes by Lita Ford, Orianthi, former Michael Jackson touring guitarist Jennifer Batten and current Alice Cooper band member Nita Strauss.
Vai, who executive produced She Rocks, tells ABC Radio that he thinks the album is “fantastic,” and long overdue.
“This was something that came about out of necessity in a way, because there’s so many [great female guitarists],” Vai maintains. “It’s not a novelty anymore when a girl is playing the guitar…because they’re serious, and they’re playing their ass off.”
Vai says the concept for She Rocks arose from conversations he had with former Guitar World magazine editor Brad Tolinski.
“When I was putting the label back together recently, I called him, because he’s just an incredible music guy…and he has very discerning ears,” Steve explains. “And he was telling me about all the girls that are picking up the guitar and playing it now.”
Vai adds that he and Tolinski went on to agree to collaborate on putting together a compilation of some of their favorite female musicians, which Brad ended up producing.
Among the standout tracks on She Rocks is Ford’s cover of the Led Zeppelin tune “The Lemon Song,” which the former Runaways guitarist recorded with the all-female tribute act Lez Zeppelin. You can listen to a stream of the song at GuitarWorld.com.
A CD edition of She Rocks, Volume 1 will be released on February 10.
Here is the compilation’s full track list:
“Transmogrify” — Orianthi
“Cosmic Stars” — Yasi Hofer
“U Know What I Like” — Kat Dyson
“The Taxi Time Travel Task Force” — Sarah Longfield
“The Lemon Song” — Lita Ford with Lez Zeppelin
“In the Aftermath” — Jennifer Batten
“Pandemonium” — Nita Strauss
“The Sun at Her Eastern Gate” — Steph Paynes
“A Matter of Perception” — Nili Brosh
“Scrap Metal” — Gretchen Menn
“Hydra” — Yvette Young
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