Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music (Circa 1975-1980s)

[HunnyPi007 AT aol.com]

it was alex fergusson who did the music on this single which i still have in my possession.   haven't listened to it in ages but i do recall that "i confess" has the line "i like boys in beatle boots" in it amongst dorothy's other "confessions."

here are some "specs":

IR0014: Dorothy
1980
     1.     I Confess (Prior/Fergusson)
     2.     Softness (Genesis P Orridge /Fergusson)
Written by Dorothy and Alex Fergusson [so says the record sleeve although fergusson's site cites the above song credits]
Produced and arranged by Alex Fergusson
Engineered by Mick Garogahn
Recorded at Southern Studios, Denmark St.

crippled dick's page for this comp has the following detailed info about this single as well:

„When 19-year-old Dorothy first walked into the reception of the Industrial Records office, no one was quite sure what to expect. But it only took one play of the tape she’d made with young Scots guitarist Alex Fergusson and our minds were made up – HIT was stamped all over it! These songs may not be what you would expect from our label, but we have never been afraid to do something different if we believe in it. And you can take it from us – Dorothy got what it takes!“ Tony Graves (Industrial Records)  
Produced and arranged by Alex Fergusson (Psychic TV) this is indeed a very unusual record for infamous label Industrial Records (Home of Throbbing Gristle and SPK). “From 1979 to 1981 I had a song assignment deal with Southern music in London - I could use their 8-track studio to demo songs as long as they got the publishing rights. I wrote a variety of songs during that period and Industrial records liked I Confess so much that they wanted to put it out as a single, so we needed a B-side. Genesis P. Orridge gave me the lyrics to Softness. I knew Gen from when I was in Alternative TV, so it is interesting that Softness should become my first musical collaboration with him!” Alex Fergusson (January 2005)  


In a message dated 8/25/05 8:14:42 PM, mustardhooves AT yahoo.com writes:

> Actually "Softness" is the B-side to "I Confess", a
> solo single by a Raincoats-unrelated lass on
> Industrial records.  It's an odd single in that it's
> not exactly what one would expect from Throbbing
> Gristle's label.  The a-side was kind of tin pan alley
> sounding ala Vic Godard's later work, but "Softness"
> was very disco-inspired with nice synths, I can see it
> fitting in this comp very well.  If I remember
> correctly, Genesis P. Orriage and/or Alex Fergusson
> had some kind of hand in writing or playing on it.
> Unfortuantely I can't check as I gave the single away
> in a fit of generosity to a friend who wanted it (Hi
> Dre!) but if he is reading this maybe he can set the
> record straight...
>
> Kelly
>
> --- Mike Appelstein <mike AT appelstein.com> wrote:
>
> > Most likely Vicky Aspinall and Gina Birch's
> > post-Raincoats band (I
> > haven't seen the track listing, but given the time
> > frame involved, it's
> > probably them).
> >
> > -Mike
> > http://djearlybird.blogspot.com
> >
> > > I did get to listen to the preview on Other
> > Music's
> > > mailing. Who or what is Dorothy?
> > >