I'm a Woman

About I'm a Woman

The song "I'm a Woman" was written by famed songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was first recorded in 1962 by Christine Kittrell. It was recorded and released as a single later that year by Peggy Lee, reaching number 54 on U. S. pop charts. It was also the title song to Lee's 1963 album I'm a Woman, and appeared on her subsequent albums In Love Again! (1964) and Is That All There Is? (1969). It has been covered many times, including two covers by Maria Muldaur; first with Jim Kweskin's Jug Band in the mid-1960s, then again as a solo performer in 1974. The latter reached number 12 on U. S. pop charts, and was Muldaur's only hit other than her signature song "Midnight at the Oasis". Other well-known versions include Bette Midler's from her Peggy Lee tribute album Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook; a duet by Raquel Welch and Miss Piggy from the former's appearance on The Muppet Show, with Raquel spelling the first two letters from the word "Woman" (W O) while Miss Piggy ended it with the letters "P I G"; and two performances by Melinda Doolittle on season 6 of American Idol. Beverly Hillbillies star Irene Ryan (in her Granny persona) performed an adaptation of the song on The Hollywood Palace on ABC-TV in 1969. Country legend Reba McEntire recorded "I'm a Woman" for her 1979 album Out of a Dream. Nanette Workman recorded it for her 2001 Roots 'n' Blues album. Elisa Girlando and Out of Truth released a version in 2008. Country star Wynonna Judd recorded it for her 2009 album Sing: Chapter 1. A female ensemble version of "I'm a Woman" also was included in 1995's Leiber & Stoller-themed musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe, upon which a rendition in an episode of Ally McBeal, as sung by Jane Krakowski, Vonda Shepard, and Lisa Nicole Carson, was based. Raquel Welch and Cher performed the song on The Cher Show in 1975. more »