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Ani DiFranco’s rise from the neighborhoods of Buffalo, New York, to the international stage is the kind of story that redefines the American singer-songwriter. Growing up in a working-class household, DiFranco began playing guitar at the age of nine and was writing her own songs as a pre-teen. By her mid-teens, she was performing at local bars and coffeehouses, quickly developing a reputation for her confessional lyrics, rhythmic guitar work, and fiercely independent spirit. Rather than sign to a major label, she took the bold step of founding her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, at the age of eighteen—a move that would come to define both her business model and her philosophy as an artist.
Her self-titled debut album, Ani DiFranco, released in 1990, marked the beginning of a prolific career. Eschewing mainstream marketing, DiFranco toured relentlessly, building a devoted following one club and college campus at a time. Over the next three decades, she released over twenty studio albums, including Not a Pretty Girl (1995), Dilate (1996), and the live double album Living in Clip (1997), which would become a touchstone for fans and a critical success. Her music blends folk, punk, jazz, and funk, demonstrating a versatility rarely matched in contemporary music. Notably, DiFranco’s early albums were largely solo affairs, featuring her vocals and percussive acoustic guitar, but she gradually expanded her sound, collaborating with musicians such as drummer Andy Stochansky and bassist Sara Lee.
Critical recognition followed the commercial success of her independent approach. Albums like Little Plastic Castle (1998) broke into the Billboard charts, with the title track becoming a signature song. Throughout her career, DiFranco has garnered Grammy nominations and won a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Recording Package for Evolve. She’s been honored by institutions like the National Organization for Women, the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Woody Guthrie Foundation for her contributions to music and activism.
DiFranco’s lyrics have never shied away from controversy. She writes about personal relationships, gender, sexuality, politics, and social justice, often challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths. Tracks such as “Untouchable Face,” “32 Flavors,” and “Shy” became anthems of empowerment and self-examination, while songs like “Subdivision” and “Your Next Bold Move” cut sharply into political territory. DiFranco’s work throughout the 1990s and 2000s positioned her at the forefront of progressive folk, often aligning her with third-wave feminism and grassroots activism.
Her independence as an artist allowed her to use her platform for more than just music. DiFranco became a highly visible advocate for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and anti-racism efforts. She’s lent her name and presence to numerous benefit concerts, rallies, and non-profit campaigns, often refusing corporate sponsorship in order to keep her message uncompromised. Her activism is as integral to her career as her discography, making her not just a musician, but a movement in herself.
Beyond her solo work, DiFranco’s collaborations have been diverse and far-reaching. She’s worked with folk legend Utah Phillips, jazz trumpeter Maceo Parker, and legendary singers like Prince and Bruce Springsteen. In 2012, she released Which Side Are You On?, a pointedly political album that included contributions from Pete Seeger. DiFranco’s songwriting continues to evolve, incorporating elements of jazz, blues, and spoken word, while always maintaining her signature lyrical directness and technical mastery.
Her touring schedule, often intense, has included performances at major festivals such as Lilith Fair and appearances on iconic stages including Carnegie Hall and the Newport Folk Festival. DiFranco’s live shows are celebrated for their energy, intimacy, and the sense of community they inspire among her listeners. She’s also published poetry and a memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream, offering an unfiltered look at her experiences navigating the music industry and social activism.
Over the years, Righteous Babe Records has expanded beyond Ani DiFranco’s own catalog, signing and promoting a variety of independent artists and spoken-word performers. This commitment to nurturing a creative community has cemented the label’s reputation as a beacon for independent artistry. In addition to her music and writing, DiFranco has been involved in several social justice organizations, serving on boards and supporting grassroots movements across the United States.
Despite the challenges of changing industry trends and the ups and downs of public life, Ani DiFranco remains steadfast in her commitment to authenticity and advocacy. Her career has spanned more than three decades, producing a rich body of work that continues to influence younger generations of songwriters and activists. She’s been recognized not only as a vital figure in American folk and alternative music, but also as a trailblazer for artist-led entrepreneurship and independent record production.
Ani DiFranco’s story is not just that of a prolific musician but of a cultural force. From her Buffalo roots to her impact on national conversations about feminism, equality, and artistic freedom, her legacy is written not only in albums and awards, but in the countless artists she’s inspired to speak out and forge their own paths. Her ability to combine art with activism, and independence with influence, continues to make her a singular figure in modern music history.
Ani DiFranco
Released – 1990
Side A
- “Both Hands” – 3:38
- “Talk to Me Now” – 4:29
- “The Slant” – 1:36
- “Work Your Way Out” – 4:08
- “Dog Coffee” – 2:56
- “Lost Woman Song” – 4:50
- “Pale Purple” – 4:02
Side B
- “Rush Hour” – 5:03
- “Fire Door” – 2:42
- “The Story” – 3:30
- “Every Angle” – 2:44
- “Out of Habit” – 2:45
- “Letting the Telephone Ring” – 4:30
Not So Soft
Released – 1991
1. “Anticipate” 3:16
2. “Rockabye” 4:28
3. “She Says” 3:32
4. “Make Me Stay” 3:06
5. “On Every Corner” 4:15
6. “Small World” 3:39
7. “Not So Soft” 1:57
8. “Roll With It” 3:44
9. “Itch” 2:58
10. “Gratitude” 3:09
11. “The Whole Night” 2:42
12. “The Next Big Thing” 3:36
13. “Brief Bus Stop” 3:36
14. “Looking for the Holes” 3:31
Imperfectly
Released – 1992
1. “What If No One’s Watching” 3:13
2. “Fixing Her Hair” 4:45
3. “In or Out” 3:06
4. “Every State Line” 3:07
5. “Circle of Light” 2:31
6. “If It Isn’t Her” 3:57
7. “Good, Bad, Ugly” 3:01
8. “I’m No Heroine” 3:20
9. “Coming Up” 1:47
10. “Make Them Apologize” 4:19
11. “The Waiting Song” 4:13
12. “Served Faithfully” 2:53
13. “Imperfectly” 3:45
Puddle Dive
Released – 1993
1. “Names and Dates and Times” 2:39
2. “Anyday” 3:00
3. “July 4” 3:03
4. “Willing to Fight” 3:49
5. “Egos Like Hairdos” 2:44
6. “Back Around” 3:09
7. “Blood in the Boardroom” 3:55
8. “Born a Lion” 1:48
9. “My I.Q.” 2:23
10. “Used to You” 3:23
11. “Pick Yer Nose” 2:44
12. “God’s Country” 2:48
An Acoustic Evening With
Released – 1994
Both Hands – 3:26
Buildings and Bridges – 3:18
Pick Yer Nose – 3:38
Coming Up – 2:30
Willing to Fight – 4:08
God’s Country – 2:48
Worthy – 4:10
4 July – 5:10
Letter to a John – 3:48
Sorry I Am – 4:29
Cradle and All – 4:14
Asking Too Much – 3:25
My I.Q. – 1:22
What If No One’s Watching – 3:11
In or Out – 3:04
Women in (E)motion
Released – 1994
“Buildings and Bridges” – 3:19
“Letter to a John” – 3:49
“Face Up and Sing” – 2:43
“Out of Range” – 3:35
“Not So Soft” – 3:40
“Lullaby (Cradle and All)” – 4:15
“Asking Too Much” – 3:26
“Sorry I Am” – 4:30
“In or Out” – 3:04
“If He Tries Anything” – 3:09
“Blood in the Boardroom” – 3:25
Out of Range
Released – 1994
1. “Buildings and Bridges” 4:05
2. “Out of Range (acoustic)” 3:46
3. “Letter to a John” 3:48
4. “Hell Yeah” 5:01
5. “How Have You Been” 4:29
6. “Overlap” 3:44
7. “Face Up and Sing” 2:53
8. “Falling Is Like This” 3:01
9. “Out of Range (electric)” 3:25
10. “You Had Time” 5:49
11. “If He Tries Anything” 3:15
12. “The Diner” 4:39
Not a Pretty Girl
Released – 1995
1. “Worthy” 4:31
2. “Tiptoe” 0:36
3. “Cradle and All” 4:18
4. “Shy” 4:43
5. “Sorry I Am” 4:45
6. “Light of Some Kind” 4:07
7. “Not a Pretty Girl” 3:55
8. “The Million You Never Made” 4:18
9. “Hour Follows Hour” 6:01
10. “32 Flavors” 6:07
11. “Asking Too Much” 2:55
12. “This Bouquet” 2:28
13. “Crime for Crime” 5:42
14. “Coming Up”
Dilate
Released – 1996
1. “Untouchable Face” 4:38
2. “Outta Me, Onto You” 4:35
3. “Superhero” 4:45
4. “Dilate” 4:48
5. “Amazing Grace” John Newton 7:07
6. “Napoleon” 6:24
7. “Shameless” 4:51
8. “Done Wrong” 6:31
9. “Going Down” 4:50
10. “Adam and Eve” 6:37
11. “Joyful Girl” 5:04
More Joy, Less Shame
Released – 1996
“Joyful Girl (Danger and Uncertainty Mix)” – 4:39
“Joyful Girl (Peace and Love Mix)” – 4:39
“Joyful Girl (Peace and Love Extended Mix)” – 6:26
“Joyful Girl (Live with the Buffalo Philharmonic)” – 6:03
“Shameless (Bathtub Mix)” – 4:52
“Both Hands (Live in Austin, Texas)” – 3:05
The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere (with Utah Phillips)
Released – 1996
“Bridges” – 8:03
“Nevada City, California” – 6:41
“Korea” – 8:30
“Anarchy” – 6:27
“Candidacy” – 1:45
“Bum on the Rod” – 4:18
“Enormously Wealthy” – 0:43
“Mess With People” – 6:44
“Natural Resources” – 2:31
“Heroes” – 1:07
“Half a Ghost Town” – 4:22
“Holding On” – 6:13
Living in Clip
Released – 1997
Disc one
“Whatever” – 1:46 (Albuquerque, NM)
“Wherever” – 0:06 (Santa Ana, NM)
“Gravel” – 4:11 (New London, CT)
“Willing to Fight” – 4:12 (Sacramento, CA)
“Shy” – 4:29 (Houston, TX)
“Joyful Girl” – 4:26 (Eugene, OR)
“Hide and Seek” – 4:34 (Hightstown, NJ)
“Napoleon” – 4:54 (Northampton, MA)
“I’m No Heroine” – 4:16 (Berkeley, CA)
“Amazing Grace” (John Newton) – 6:17 (Buffalo, NY)
“Anticipate” – 3:47 (Ithaca, NY)
“Tiptoe” – 0:37 (dunno)
“Sorry I Am” – 4:46 (New York, NY)
“The Slant/The Diner” – 8:22 (Atlanta, GA)
“32 Flavors” – 4:48 (Boulder, CO)
“Out of Range” – 4:27 (Portland, OR)
Disc two
“Untouchable Face” – 3:36 (Bloomington, Ill)
“Shameless” – 4:35 (Portland, OR)
“Distracted” – 1:08 (San Francisco, CA)
“Adam and Eve” – 5:36 (New York, NY)
“Fire Door” – 4:03 (Worcester, MA)
“Both Hands” – 4:52 (Buffalo, NY)
“Out of Habit” – 3:40 (Arcata, CA)
“Every State Line” – 3:55 (Atlanta, GA)
“Not So Soft” – 4:00 (New York, NY)
“Travel Tips” – 1:05 (Spokane, WA)
“Wrong With Me” – 1:57 (Ithaca, NY)
“In or Out” – 3:22 (New York, NY)
“We’re All Gonna Blow” – 2:41 (Victoria, BC)
“Letter to a John” – 3:58 (San Francisco, CA)
“Overlap” – 11:28 (New York, NY)
Little Plastic Castle
Released – 1998
“Little Plastic Castle” – 4:32
“Fuel” – 4:01
“Gravel” – 3:32
“As Is” – 4:06
“Two Little Girls” – 4:57
“Deep Dish” – 3:38
“Loom” – 2:51
“Pixie” – 4:25
“Swan Dive” – 6:28
“Glass House” – 5:18
“Independence Day” – 3:44
“Pulse” – 14:15
Up Up Up Up Up Up
Released – 1999
“‘Tis of Thee” – 4:42
“Virtue” – 5:07
“Come Away from It” – 8:22
“Jukebox” – 4:27
“Angel Food” – 5:45
“Angry Anymore” – 3:27
“Everest” – 5:15
“Up Up Up Up Up Up” – 3:21
“Know Now Then” – 4:38
“Trickle Down” – 3:51
“Hat Shaped Hat” – 12:55
To the Teeth
Released – 1999
“To the Teeth” – 7:42
“Soft Shoulder” – 6:04
“Wish I May” – 4:53
“Freakshow” – 5:42
“Going Once” – 5:33
“Hello Birmingham” – 5:23
“Back Back Back” – 4:46
“Swing” – 6:10
“Carry You Around” – 3:24
“Cloud Blood” – 4:51
“The Arrivals Gate” – 4:35
“Providence” – 7:18
“I Know This Bar” – 5:31
Little Plastic Remixes
Released – 1999
Fellow Workers (with Utah Phillips)
Released – 1999
“Joe Hill” (instrumental) – 2:36
“Stupid’s Song” – 2:43
“The Most Dangerous Woman” – 3:43
“Stupid’s Pledge” – 0:14
“Direct Action” – 4:52
“Pie in the Sky” – 3:29
“Shoot or Stab Them” – 2:43
“Lawrence” – 3:29
“Bread and Roses” – 1:45
“Why Come?” – 6:05
“Unless You Are Free” – 0:22
“I Will Not Obey” – 2:00
“The Long Memory” – 5:33
“The Silence That Is Me” – 0:41
“Joe Hill” – 1:37
“The Saw-Playing Musician” – 4:43
“Dump the Bosses” – 1:14
“The Internationale” – 2:48
Swing Set
Released – 2000
“Swing (Radio Set)” (Ani DiFranco) – 3:57
“Swing (Album Version)” (DiFranco) – 6:13
“To the Teeth (Shoot-Out Remix)” (DiFranco) – 6:12
“Do Re Me (live)” (Woody Guthrie) – 3:12
“When I’m Gone” (Phil Ochs) – 4:20
“Hurricane” (Bob Dylan, Jacques Levy) – 7:11
Personnel
Revelling/Reckoning
Released – 2001
Revelling
“Ain’t That the Way” – 5:14
“O.K.” – 2:51
“Garden of Simple” – 3:54
“Tamburitza Lingua” – 5:07
“Marrow” – 5:19
“Heartbreak Even” – 3:36
“Harvest” – 1:04
“Kazoointoit” – 3:51
“Whatall Is Nice” – 4:36
“What How When Where (Why Who)” – 5:58
“Fierce Flawless” – 5:04
“Rock Paper Scissors” – 6:00
“Beautiful Night” – 6:25
Reckoning
“Your Next Bold Move” – 5:47
“This Box Contains…” – 0:29
“Reckoning” – 6:02
“So What” – 5:03
“Prison Prism” – 1:34
“Imagine That” – 4:01
“Flood Waters” – 0:47
“Grey” – 5:22
“Subdivision” – 3:57
“Old Old Song” – 4:22
“Sick of Me” – 5:21
“Don’t Nobody Know” – 1:17
“School Night” – 4:54
“That Was My Love” – 1:03
“Revelling” – 5:08
“In Here” – 4:16
So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
Released – 2002
Disc one: Stray Cats
1. “Swan Dive” 6:48
2. “Letter to a John/Tamburitza Lingua” 7:50
3. “Grey” 5:31
4. “Cradle and All” 4:40
5. “Whatall Is Nice” 5:39
6. “What How When Where (Why Who)” 4:34
7. “To the Teeth” 7:09
8. “Revelling” 4:28
9. “Napoleon” 6:34
10. “Shrug” 4:36
11. “Welcome To:” 4:47
Disc two: Girls Singing Night
No. Title Length
1. “Comes a Time” 0:22
2. “Ain’t That the Way” 4:54
3. “Dilate” 5:55
4. “Gratitude” 3:49
5. “Rock Paper Scissors” 4:55
6. “32 Flavors” 4:02
7. “Loom/Pulse” 6:16
8. “Not a Pretty Girl” 3:20
9. “Self Evident” 9:10
10. “Reckoning” 5:22
11. “My IQ” 2:27
12. “Jukebox” 5:56
13. “You Had Time” 3:56
Evolve
Released – 2003
1. “Promised Land” 4:30
2. “In the Way” 5:17
3. “Icarus” 4:51
4. “Slide” 3:50
5. “O My My” 3:59
6. “Evolve” 4:15
7. “Shrug” 4:42
8. “Phase” 3:42
9. “Here for Now” 3:09
10. “Second Intermission” 3:51
11. “Serpentine” 10:26
12. “Welcome To:” 4:57
Educated Guess
Released – 2004
“Platforms” – 0:17
“Swim” – 3:06
“Educated Guess” – 5:52
“Origami” – 2:23
“Bliss Like This” – 3:08
“The True Story of What Was” – 1:53
“Bodily” – 4:01
“You Each Time” – 4:18
“Animal” – 5:36
“Grand Canyon” – 3:31
“Company” – 4:06
“Rain Check” – 4:05
“Akimbo” – 1:29
“Bubble” – 4:30
Knuckle Down
Released – 2005
“Knuckle Down” – 4:34
“Studying Stones” – 3:53
“Manhole” – 3:45
“Sunday Morning” – 4:49
“Modulation” – 4:31
“Seeing Eye Dog” – 4:02
“Lag Time” – 5:13
“Parameters” – 5:58
“Callous” – 5:46
“Paradigm” – 4:33
“Minerva” – 4:55
“Recoil” – 5:08
Reprieve
Released – 2006
1. “Hypnotized” 4:11
2. “Subconscious” 3:32
3. “In the Margins” 3:13
4. “Nicotine” 4:06
5. “Decree” 3:43
6. “78% H2O” 3:30
7. “Millennium Theater” 3:14
8. “Half-Assed” 3:30
9. “Reprieve” 2:45
10. “A Spade” 4:24
11. “Unrequited” 4:06
12. “Shroud” 4:48
13. “Reprise” 1:34
Red Letter Year
Released – 2008
1. “Red Letter Year” 4:17
2. “Alla This” 3:13
3. “Present/Infant” 3:02
4. “Smiling Underneath” 4:59
5. “Way Tight” 3:50
6. “Emancipated Minor” 4:30
7. “Good Luck” 2:35
8. “The Atom” 5:26
9. “Round a Pole” 2:58
10. “Landing Gear” 2:55
11. “Star Matter” 2:48
12. “Red Letter Year Reprise” 6:26
13. “Good Luck (alternative version)” (iTunes bonus track) 2:31
¿Which Side Are You On?
Released – 2012
1. “Life Boat” 4:09
2. “Unworry” 4:17
3. “¿Which Side Are You On?” 6:27
4. “Splinter” 4:36
5. “Promiscuity” 3:20
6. “Albacore” 4:08
7. “J” 5:15
8. “If Yr Not” 2:51
9. “Hearse” 4:04
10. “Mariachi” 4:03
11. “Amendment” 6:27
12. “Zoo” 3:08
Allergic to Water
Released – 2014
1. “Dithering” 5:04
2. “See See See See” 3:43
3. “Woe Be Gone” 4:01
4. “Careless Words” 5:10
5. “Allergic to Water” 3:43
6. “Harder Than It Needs to Be” 4:57
7. “Genie” 5:17
8. “Happy All the Time” 3:54
9. “Yeah Yr Right” 4:07
10. “Tr’w” 2:45
11. “Still My Heart” 3:49
12. “Rainy Parade” 3:13
Play God
Released – 2016
Binary
Released – 2017
1. “Binary” 4:22
2. “Pacifist’s Lament” 5:56
3. “Zizzing” 5:56
4. “Play God” 4:53
5. “Alrighty” 3:15
6. “Telepathic” 3:12
7. “Even More” 4:08
8. “Spider” 3:53
9. “Sasquatch” 5:46
10. “Terrifying Sight” 5:14
11. “Deferred Gratification” 3:05
Revolutionary Love
Released – 2021
“Revolutionary Love” – 7:10
“Bad Dream” – 4:54
“Chloroform” – 3:40
“Contagious” – 4:27
“Do or Die” – 5:20
“Station Identification” – 4:06
“Shrinking Violet” – 6:17
“Metropolis” – 5:33
“Simultaneously” – 4:18
“Confluence” – 4:53
“Crocus” – 5:56
Unprecedented Sh!t
Released – 2024
1 Spinning Room
2 Virus
3 More or Less Free
4 Baby Roe
5 Unprecedented SH!T
6 New Bible
7 Boots of a Soldier
8 You Forgot to Speak
9 The Thing at Hand
10 Interlude
11 The Knowing
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