Sister Soundcheck: 70s Canadian Girl Groups
As the 1960s came to a close, the golden age of matching dresses, major label girl group polish, and regional pop hits began to fade. But in Canada, a new wave of all-female musical voices was already starting to stir — this time rougher around the edges, louder, more political, and fiercely independent.
While many of the 1960s all-girl groups operated within soul-pop conventions, the women of the 1970s were making noise in basements, clubs, and community spaces. They weren’t just singing love songs — they were writing their own lyrics, playing their own instruments, and often fighting for space in scenes that barely acknowledged them. The era saw a shift from girl group to all-girl band — from harmonized elegance to self-amplified defiance.
Some of these bands emerged in direct opposition to the dominant industry models. The Curse, for example, formed in Toronto in 1977 without knowing how to play a single chord — yet within weeks they were sharing bills with the Viletones, shocking CBGB in New York, and releasing what became one of the most controversial singles in Canadian punk history. Across the country in Victoria, three teenage girls formed The Dishrags, soon becoming the first all-female band in Vancouver’s punk scene and opening for The Clash before they were out of high school.
Meanwhile, Toronto also birthed the stylish and sharp-edged B-Girls, whose love of ‘60s girl-group pop collided with punk energy. Backed by Ramones producer Craig Leon and supported by Blondie, they became darlings of both CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. In parallel, the politically charged Mama Quilla II emerged out of Toronto’s feminist and queer organizing circles — mixing rock and funk with protest lyrics. Co-founded by Lorraine Segato, they helped set the stage for the Parachute Club and Canada’s broader LGBTQ+ musical visibility.
Not all of the decade’s contributions came from punk clubs and art collectives. In London, Ontario, a different kind of all-girl ensemble emerged: Pat’s People, a faith-based folk group formed at St. Patrick’s Church. Their privately pressed LP Today featured young women — including a 14-year-old Denise Pelley, now one of Canada’s leading jazz vocalists — harmonizing on folk and spiritual songs with sincerity and surprising musical maturity. While stylistically removed from the punkers, Pat’s People reflected the same independent spirit, documenting their voices on vinyl at a time when few all-female groups in Canada had that opportunity.
One of the few groups to make it onto national television and radio was The Peaches, a Brampton sibling trio who blended commercial pop appeal with disco-funk touches, releasing two LPs and appearing coast to coast. Though sonically far from the punkers, The Peaches too were a proudly independent female group — fronting a band, not just a vocal act, and pushing themselves into the national spotlight with grit and professionalism.
In Winnipeg, The Wurst laid groundwork for what would become a more active prairie punk scene, leading to the eventual formation of bands like The Ruggedy Annes, who first appeared on vinyl in 1985 but carried the spirit of these late-'70s pioneers. And The She Trinity, who had made waves in the U.K. in the late 1960s, briefly extended their run into Canada with a final garage-pop single in 1970 — symbolically closing the door on one era and opening another.
Most of these groups operated on the fringes of Canada’s fragmented music industry. They played in church basements, illegal after-hours clubs, and community centers. They self-funded or scraped together recording time. Some were ignored, some were vilified, and a few, like the Peaches and the B-Girls, almost broke through. But all of them mattered.
Where the 1960s girl groups brought glamour and charm to Canada’s regional pop scenes, the 1970s bands brought noise, agency, and attitude. They proved that women didn’t just belong in the spotlight — they belonged behind the amps, in the pit, on the tour bus, and in the studio. Their work laid the foundation for a coming wave of all-female Canadian bands in the 1980s, including Tú, Voggue, Suzy Q, Chéri, and many others who would find greater commercial support but still owe a debt to the fearless women who kicked down the doors first.
🎶 This playlist is an evolving archive, and new additions will be made as more long-lost tracks, tapes, and stories surface.
-Robert Williston
Tracks
| Artist | Track | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat's People | Changes | Today | 03:27 | |
| 'B' Girls | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:15 | |
| 4C's | And Then He Kissed Me | Top of the World | 01:41 | |
| 'B' Girls | Big Girl | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 04:00 | |
| Dishrags | Just Another Girl | Three | 01:51 | |
| Dishrags | What Do You Want Me To Be? | Three | 01:34 | |
| Dishrags | Quiet Little Table | Love/Hate | 02:40 | |
| Curse | Killer Bees | Teenage Meat | 03:02 | |
| 'B' Girls | Two Hearts | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:18 | |
| The Peaches | Listen to the Music | ST | 02:59 | |
| Curse | Switchblade Love (demo) | Teenage Meat | 03:22 | |
| The Peaches | My Number One | ST | 02:32 | |
| Dishrags | Loving Person | Love/Hate | 02:02 | |
| 4C's | 12th Street Rag | Top of the World | 02:17 | |
| 'B' Girls | Alibi | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 02:46 | |
| Nora | Let Me Love You | Pack My Bags b/w Let Me Love You | 02:47 | |
| Dishrags | Janie Jones | Love/Hate | 01:46 | |
| Curse | No More Ice Cream (live) | Teenage Meat | 02:24 | |
| Curse | Blunks (live) | Teenage Meat | 02:29 | |
| 4C's | Tie a Yellow Ribbon | Top of the World | 02:25 | |
| Pat's People | Take Our Bread | Today | 02:18 | |
| Dishrags | I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You | Love/Hate | 01:23 | |
| Tate Overholt and Phillips | Dancin' | Direct to Disc | 04:11 | |
| Dishrags | Quick Step | Three | 02:44 | |
| Pat's People | Get To-Gether | Today | 03:04 | |
| Dishrags | You Fit The Picture | Love/Hate | 01:58 | |
| 'B' Girls | 'B' Side | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 02:14 | |
| The Peaches | Ready and Willing | ST | 03:31 | |
| Dishrags | Can't Wait | Love/Hate | 01:09 | |
| Dishrags | Quick Step | Three | 02:44 | |
| Curse | I Accuse You | Teenage Meat | 03:05 | |
| Curse | Shoeshine Boy | Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve) | 02:26 | |
| Dishrags | Rebel Kind | Three | 01:58 | |
| Dishrags | Gang War | Love/Hate | 02:55 | |
| The Peaches | We Care About What You Hear | We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry | 03:00 | |
| Curse | Somethin' Ya Can't Tell Your Mother | Teenage Meat | 02:23 | |
| 4C's | I Can See Clearly | Top of the World | 02:07 | |
| 4C's | Stay Awhile (The Bells) | Top of the World | 02:11 | |
| Pat's People | What Have They Done to the Rain | Today | 03:28 | |
| Dishrags | I Don't Love You | There's No Dee Dee | 01:44 | |
| The Peaches | Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry | We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry | 02:39 | |
| Curse | He's My Boy (live) | Teenage Meat | 02:36 | |
| Dishrags | Cement | Love/Hate | 01:55 | |
| 'B' Girls | Savage Fever | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:19 | |
| Dishrags | What Do You Want Me To Be? | Three | 01:34 | |
| 'B' Girls | Mystery | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:25 | |
| Tate Overholt and Phillips | Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me) | Direct to Disc | 03:17 | |
| Dishrags | High Society Snob | Three | 01:17 | |
| Pat's People | Our Father | Today | 01:22 | |
| Curse | Killer Bees | Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve) | 03:02 | |
| The Peaches | You're So Vain | ST | 04:28 | |
| Zellots | Let's Play House | Zellots | 01:51 | |
| Nora | Pack My Bags | Pack My Bags b/w Let Me Love You | 02:47 | |
| 4C's | Why Me Lord | Top of the World | 02:43 | |
| Tate Overholt and Phillips | Day Light | Direct to Disc | 04:04 | |
| Simone and Nora (Simone and Nora Hart) | Keep Lookin' Round | Whiskey Runner b/w Keep Lookin' Round | 02:38 | |
| 4C's | Memories | Top of the World | 02:08 | |
| 4C's | Sound of Silence | Top of the World | 02:39 | |
| Pat's People | Richman's Spiritual | Today | 02:37 | |
| Pat's People | We Shall Overcome | Today | 05:15 | |
| The Peaches | In My Diary | ST | 03:18 | |
| 'B' Girls | Fun at the Beach | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 01:58 | |
| Curse | Aggravation (demo) | Teenage Meat | 01:57 | |
| 4C's | Almost Persuaded | Top of the World | 02:39 | |
| Curse | I Accuse You (demo) | Teenage Meat | 03:03 | |
| The Peaches | Sealed With a Kiss | ST | 02:56 | |
| 'B' Girls | Jealousy | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 02:28 | |
| 'B' Girls | Hearts in His Eyes | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:44 | |
| Dishrags | Bullshit | There's No Dee Dee | 01:08 | |
| Tate Overholt and Phillips | That Special Feeling | Direct to Disc | 03:43 | |
| Curse | Raw | Teenage Meat | 01:37 | |
| Dishrags | Nowhere To Hide | Love/Hate | 04:09 | |
| Curse | Eat Me (demo) | Teenage Meat | 02:17 | |
| She Trinity | Climb That Tree | Hair b/w Climb That Tree | 03:37 | |
| 'B' Girls | Long Distance Love (live) | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:20 | |
| The Peaches | There's the Door | ST | 02:56 | |
| Dishrags | Tormented | Past Is Past (EP) | 01:06 | |
| 'B' Girls | Alibi | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:09 | |
| 'B' Girls | Boys Are Drinking | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:06 | |
| Dishrags | Cravin' A ... | Love/Hate | 01:38 | |
| 4C's | Top of the World | Top of the World | 02:09 | |
| Curse | Aggravation | Teenage Meat | 02:09 | |
| Dishrags | Rebel Kind | Three | 01:58 | |
| Simone and Nora (Simone and Nora Hart) | Whiskey Runner | Whiskey Runner b/w Keep Lookin' Round | 02:57 | |
| 4C's | Let Me be There | Top of the World | 02:29 | |
| Dishrags | Just Another Girl | Three | 01:51 | |
| Pat's People | Less of Me | Today | 02:20 | |
| The Peaches | Song Sung Blue | ST | 03:15 | |
| Pat's People | To-day | Today | 03:19 | |
| 'B' Girls | Angel Doesn't Shoot a Gun | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 02:14 | |
| Dishrags | Carry On | Love/Hate | 01:25 | |
| Curse | Teenage Meat | Teenage Meat | 02:30 | |
| Dishrags | Sold Out | Love/Hate | 02:15 | |
| Pat's People | Michael | Today | 02:24 | |
| Dishrags | Friday Nite Date | Love/Hate | 02:11 | |
| Curse | If it Tastes so Great, Swallow it Yerself! (live) | Teenage Meat | 01:46 | |
| 'B' Girls | Alibi | Who Says Girls Can't Rock | 03:10 | |
| Curse | Shoeshine Boy | Teenage Meat | 02:26 | |
| Curse | Feelin' Dirty (demo) | Teenage Meat | 02:20 | |
| Pat's People | Dona Dona | Today | 03:32 |
Direct to Disc
Whiskey Runner b/w Keep Lookin' Round
Simone and Nora (Simone and Nora Hart)
45-Simone and Nora - Whiskey Runner bw Keep Lookin' Round VINYL 02
Top of the World
4C's
4C's - Top of the World BACK
Pack My Bags b/w Let Me Love You
45-Nora - Pack My Bags bw Let Me Love You VINYL 02
Overholt, Tate and Phillips
Overholt, Tate and Phillips - ST GATEFOLD INSIDE 02
Overholt, Tate and Phillips - ST GATEFOLD INSIDE 01
Overholt, Tate and Phillips - ST BACK
We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry
ST
Concert - Venue Change
Zellots Frys spring 1981
Zellots Frys spring 1981
Zellots Frys spring 1981
Zellots Frys spring 1981
Zellots Frys spring 1981
Zellots
Zellots
Zellots
Zellots
Zellots
Zellots
Scan369mod
1981-05-25 Pre-Stranglers Party2-Zellots, Nach Dem Tode, and Radio 4
Zellots (2)
Hair b/w Climb That Tree
She Trinity
Who Says Girls Can't Rock
Today
Pat's People
Pat's People-Today LABEL 02
Pat's People-Today LABEL 01
Pat's People - Today
Sister Soundcheck 70s Canadian Girl Groups
76-05-featureheader_1100_519_90
TheWurst2-by-GordieAgar_720_490_90
TheWurst1-by-GordieAgar_481_720_90
The Wurst Nov 8-1980 - Winnipeg all female punk band
CURSE TEENAGE MEAT 003
CURSE TEENAGE MEAT 002
CURSE TEENAGE MEAT 001
Love/Hate
There's No Dee Dee
Past Is Past (EP)
Three
DISHRAGS (1)
DISHRAGS 001
DISHRAGS 1977
DISHRAGS 002
DISHRAGS 003
DISHRAGS 004
DISHRAGS 005
DISHRAGS 006
DISHRAGS 007 SEATTLE 1979
Dishrags
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 13-14
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 11-12
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 9-10
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 7-8
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 5-6
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 3-4
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BOOKLET PAGES 1-2
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate INLAY
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate BACK
CD-Dishrags - Love Hate CD
Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve)
Curse
Teenage Meat
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat CD
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 13-14
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 11-12
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 09-10
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 07-08
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 05-06
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 03-04
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BOOKLET PAGES 01-02
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat INLAY
CD-Curse - Teenage Meat BACK
45-B Girls-Fun at the Beach VINYL 02
45-B Girls-Fun at the Beach VINYL 01
45-B Girls-Fun at the Beach BACK
Fun At The Beach b/w 'B' Side
'B' Girls
She Trinity (5)
She Trinity (4)
She Trinity (3)
She Trinity (1)
She Trinity - Hair bw Climb That Tree (2)
Peaches, The - We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry
Peaches, The - We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry
Peaches, The - We Care About What You Hear b/w Ain't a Girl Allowed to Cry
Peaches, The
POSTER THE CURSE ISABELLA HOTEL
The Peaches
Peaches, The
Peaches, The
Peaches, The
Peaches, The
Peaches, The
Peaches, The - ST
Peaches, The - ST
unnamed (1)
unnamed
Dishrags Photo
16
15
14
12
11
10
7
6
5
4
3
2
45-Dishrags-Past Is Past VINYL 02
45-Dishrags-Past Is Past VINYL 01
45-Dishrags-Past Is Past BACK
B Girls - Who Says Girls Cant Rock
B Girls - Who Says Girls Cant Rock
B Girls - Who Says Girls Cant Rock
B Girls - Who Says Girls Cant Rock
Curse - Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve)
Curse - Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve)
Curse - Shoeshine Boy b/w Killer Bees (picture sleeve)
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