“The Liberated Woman’s Songbook” is a collection of 11 songs from the last two centuries – all about the lives, struggles, challenges and triumphs of women, both historically and today. They come from a book of the same name that was published by Jerry Silverman in 1971, at the height of the women’s lib movement: Silverman compiled 77 songs in all, dating back as far as the early 19th century.
Landes came upon the book in a used bookstore about ten years ago, but it was only recently that she became inspired to turn it into an album – in response to new attacks on women’s rights, most notably the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Landes and producer Josh Kaufman recruited an all-star team of guest musicians to make the album a reality: “The Liberated Woman’s Songbook” includes contributions from Rissi Palmer, Emily Frantz of Watchhouse, Lizzy Ross of Violet Bell, and many more.
And if you want to see Landes perform the songs live, you can: she’ll be appearing at PlayMakers Repertory Company on Saturday, May 4. She’ll have a great lineup of special guests alongside her there as well – including local bluegrass legend Alice Gerrard, a feminist icon in her own right, who’s turning 90 later this year. (Gerrard won’t be the only legend joining Landes on stage this year: Peggy Seeger will be playing with Landes in September, when she goes on tour in the United Kingdom.)
Dawn Landes stopped by Live & Local (accompanied by Josh Kimbrough) to discuss the album and play three songs live: “Hard is the Fortune of All Womankind,” “The Factory Girl,” and “The Housewife’s Lament.” Listen:
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