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The Space Lady
is San Francisco's most enchanting street musician. Whether on keyboard
or accordion, her music stops sidewalk traffic even in this multi-task town.
Contrary to this dramatic photo taken on Market Street near Castro, the
Space Lady usually performs wearing a whimsical steel
helmet with angel wings, which makes her easy to recognize but belies
the credibility of her haunting vocal interpretations of well known songs.
Mister SF always requests Time After Time or Spanish Harlem. A San Francisco
favorite is Over the Rainbow, of course. The Space Lady, whose real name
is Susan Dietrich, made only a full length CD of San Francisco sessions
for sale. The disc features Susan performing live on Casio with effects.
You haven't heard Ghost Riders in the Sky until you've heard the Space Lady
sing it. A few of her tracks, including her underground hit version of Major
Tom, are also featured on some compilations. Listen to this sample of Radar
Love.
The Space Lady is the only
performer ever who made me wish I were an agent, and not just because
her lilting sounds provide a soundtrack for my memories of San Francisco.
Her transcendent quality is obvious. I've played her CD and actually had
neighbors come to my door begging to know, "Who's making that incredible
music?" After she was featured here in 2001, Susan Dietrich wrote to say
she was inspired by this show of support to focus again on her music.
Three years later, the Space Lady released an EP on the online music archive,
Comfort
Stand. The new recordings on "Street-level Superstar" find
the Space Lady as haunting, humorous, and ethereal as ever. On behalf
of her fans from Liverpool to Birmingham, Mister SF says, "Welcome
back!" - HD
Space
Lady online |
