She Was Woman

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Well, doo-doo. Helen Reddy has died. Helen Reddy was a "joke" to rockers in the 70s (there was a line I remember about the CBS special on Rolling Stone magazine where they said the network told them that there should be "no f***ing Helen Reddy" uttered during the show). But the woman had a good voice. Helen Reddy was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1941. Her parents were in show business, so it was only natural that she follow in their footsteps. After struggling for years she obtained success in the early 70s with the feminist anthem "I Am Woman" (quick aside: the late, great Gilda Radner did a spoof of that song on National Lampoon's Goodbye Pop that'll have you crying from laughing), which netted Reddy a Grammy award. Other big hits followed, including her rendition of Tanya Tucker's breakthrough hit "Delta Dawn" (if you're wondering, Tucker's version came out two months before Reddy's cover was released), her rendition of the Jesus Christ Superstar song "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)," "Angie Baby" (written by "Undercover Angel" singer Alan O'Day), "No Way to Treat a Lady," and "Somewhere in the Night" (later covered by Barry Manilow). No, no one would ever mistake her for Grace Slick, Wendy O. Williams, or Chrissie Hynde. But she never claimed to be. Sure, she was the host of Midnight Special for years, but she didn't get up there and sing with Lou Reed. (Although, it should be noted, she did sing backup on a Gene Simmons solo album!) Reddy also did some acting, most famously (or infamously, depending on your take) in the flop Pete's Dragon. Five years ago, Reddy was diagnosed with dementia. She was living at a home in Los Angeles, where she received care until the end. Helen Reddy was 78. She died less than a month shy of her 79th birthday. Helen Reddy's version of "Delta Dawn":