From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V3 #78 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Tuesday, April 28 1998 Volume 03 : Number 078 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Poster Sized BNW [combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee)] Re: Covering Basia [Tom & Roxy ] Covering Basia ["Carmen G. Rodriguez" ] Re: Covering Basia [Jeff Hamilton ] Re: ["Becky Witter" ] The One That Speaks to Me [Meg Evans ] 3rd Time Lucky [Larry Lipman ] Cover songs [Jeff Hamilton ] Re: Re: basia-digest V3 #74 [Whipple930 ] Re: Looking for Basia videos [Whipple930 ] Re: Looking for Basia videos [combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee)] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 07:35:33 GMT From: combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee) Subject: Poster Sized BNW > I would like to get a poster sized or even smaller picture of the > cover for Basia's Brave New World CD. ANy tips? First, it's "Brave New Hope". Brave New World has an entirely different meaning, as fans of Huxley should know. Back in 1990, I found a poster from the same photo shoot with "London Warsaw New York" at the bottom. I don't know how you could get one of those now -- I considered the find pretty lucky. Alas, I've no leads on anything now... there was a web link mentioned for merchandise in the BOB album, but I doubt it works anymore. - -- Benjamin L. Combee (combee@techwood.org) PS: <53706f6f6e21> 48 /Helvetica findfont scalefont setfont show showpage ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 04:45:14 -0400 From: Tom & Roxy Subject: Re: Covering Basia I too have been a Basia fan since her music first hit the US. I agree with Karen, you can't rush perfection or the closest thing to it, musically. When her new material becomes available it will no doubt be well worth the wait. Tom Gainesville, FL. At 10:26 AM 4/26/98 EDT, you wrote: > >Hi all: > >I'm Karen from Oregon. I see/read the frustration from people here--I too have >been waiting for her new project to hit the shelves. > >Patience not being one of my usual virtues, I have to say that *any* amount of >time waiting for Basia is worth it--look at the results! Dang! That woman sets >my soul on fire with her voice, rhythms, lyrics and incomparable style. > >Four years, five, six years--does it really matter when the result is >something like "Sweetest Illusion"? :) > >Karen > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:22:45 -0400 From: "Carmen G. Rodriguez" Subject: Covering Basia Hello everyone, I am fairly new to the list as well. I had the pleasure of watching Basia in concert outdoors on a beautiful summer night here in Cleveland, Ohio. The concert was excellent! That night the mayor gave her the key to the city and she was crying on stage and so grateful. I am very much looking forward to new material from her and agree with Tom that it will be quite worth the wait! Cheers! Carm ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 12:55:22 -0400 From: Jeff Hamilton Subject: Re: Covering Basia When I saw the subject line, I misinterpreted it to mean that the msg was about covers of Basia's original songs (performed by other artists, that is). While it's on my mind - are there any out there (besides "Promises" by some unknown jazz band?). Just wondering... Jeff Hamilton - the capitalist http://www.mindspring.com/~jeffhamilton/ to join the 461 (network), send a message to four.six.one@mindspring.com and hope for the best ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 10:00:37 +0000 From: "Becky Witter" Subject: Re: Hi All - I'm just a lurker here mostly, but I do feel the need to respond to Denis... I get frustrated when my favorite artists don't put out albums as fast as I might like. But, when the albums they put out are of such high quality material (like Basia's have been for the last 3 albums), I believe it makes it worth the wait. It's not as easy as one might think to generate music that the artist feels is worth putting on an album. For all we know, she may have written dozens of songs and worked through them to find that they really aren't that good. But, instead of crapping out a crappy album with crappy songs, she waits and works on the songs until she has a great album with great songs. And the whole cover song thing.... I MUST disagree there. I would much rather here all original songs by an artist than a cover. An occasional cover every few albums is okay - I guess - but doing a cover shows little originality and is NOT "required" to please the fans or anyone else I don't think. It doesn't show the true originality of that artist's music - which is what we all fell in love with where Basia's music is concerned anyway, isn't it? I don't mean to offend anyone, just have slightly strong opinions on the matter. What do you guys think of people recording & releasing covers on their albums? Becky Samurai27 wrote: > > I hear what you are saying about her music and I agree. I just have a hard > time waiting for someone even with her quality taking over two years to get > back to working on someting. I don't think any performer works totally on > their one songs. Look at Peter White. He does original work yet he knows to > stay in the public eye you must include covers on your albums. If it was not > for this list, I am not very sure that her spirit would still remain. I know, > I know . Her spirit lives forever. Know one loves her more than I but reality > to stay alive you have to publish. I am in the field of Information technology > and have written a book , articles and made presentation. Once you stop doing > that, you loose your spirit and you stop thinking. She has been given a > beautiful gift, together with her personality makes her an ideal person to > produce art. Sorry got alittle long winded. What is my point? Oh all I am > saying is there is also a part of managing one's career. I am not sure she is > doing that. It is almost like whe has gotten tired of the whole process. This > was evident with the fact that her last cd was simply recording of her last > concert. Thats okay as long as she came back with another in a quick time > frame. I believe she has to include covers on her next project along with new > work and get it out to her fans. > > Regards, > > Denis with one "N" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:01:12 -0500 From: Meg Evans Subject: The One That Speaks to Me Hello everyone. BEWARE: This is a long one! In pondering Diane's question about which Basia song "speaks to" me the most, I find myself digging into a place that goes deeper than simply which of her songs is my favorite. It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite! I would have to say "Yearning" for it's sweeping emotional beauty: lyrics, vocal layering, and orchestrations, from the earthy references to natural remedies in the beginning to the mournful whale cries at the end. That songs lifts me up and carries me into the clear blue! My initial attraction to Basia was through "Time and Tide," which they played liberally on WNUA here in Chicago when the station was just starting out about 11 years ago. I loved the harmonies and the way the songs just made me feel good. I was a bit of a late bloomer, though, not having purchased any of her CDs until probably around 1992. Then I loved everything she sang! I would belt out those songs in my apartment, dancing to that samba rhythm, and wondering about this amazing singer, writer, producer as well as her collaborator, Danny White. Then came "The Sweetest Illusion" at a time in my life when things were completely jangled. I was separated from my husband and, at times, my toddler son. EVERYTHING on Sweetest Illusion spoke to me at that time. Each song was -- and still is -- a unique reflection of my feelings and experiences during that time. I wept at "Perfect Mother," but I rejoiced at "The Olive Tree," "Third Time Lucky," and "Yearning," which, even though it is heart-wrenching, is a story with a happy ending. "Sweetest Illusion" still reminds me of that time but, fortunately, the memories are good -- of surviving a depressing period in my life and adjusting to being a single mother. At any rate, the song that really speaks to me is "Time and Tide," because I believe in the soulmate connection and that is how I interpret the message in that song. It symbolizes not only an oddly complex romantic relationship (more like an entanglement!) with a man whom I believe is my soulmate, but also, in a way, two friendships that I have with women whom I also consider to be my soulmates. (I do not believe there is only ONE person in the ENTIRE universe who can touch my soul. All three of these people have and our connections are truly incredible!) So through her lyrics, her arrangements, and her incredible voice, Basia said, "I know how you feel. I have felt that, too!" What I have to ponder is, why have I (and all of us) devoted so much time listening to Basia, pondering her lyrics, marveling at her arrangements, wondering what the woman is like? How much of herself is she revealing in her music? Why does she slip Polish lyrics in once in a while -- is she still yearning? Basia is a total stranger to me, someone I'll never meet or know personally. Why am I so involved with her and her music? Because she has made me FEEL like I know her. She has so sincerely expressed warmth, emotion, joy, pain, gratitude, sorrow, raw passion, whimsy -- everything we have all (hopefully) felt -- that I HAVE to believe it is HER coming through on those songs. That doesn't really happen very often in music, does it? We groove along with songs on the radio, but only once in a while does an artist or group invite us in and make us FEEL like they are communicating with us. I truly feel Basia has done that, and it makes listening to her music such a pleasure! I have inferred that she is a very private celebrity (and we have to respect that) but still she has let us in to herself using her amazing gifts. When I saw her live I felt that even more. She was brimming with love and warmth and big, beautiful, honest smiles and I believed that she was really glad to have everyone there enjoying her music! I've said enough, and I thank you all for reading and, I hope, reflecting on this. I would love to hear your reactions to this Basia dissertation! Peace. Meg Evans megevans@interaccess.com megevans@interaccess.com - ----------------------------------------- "First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others." --Thomas a Kempis ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:23:28 -0500 From: Larry Lipman Subject: 3rd Time Lucky Fellow Basians... Some kind soul on this list led me to a sample of an alternate version of 3rd Time Lucky. It has a very heavy bass line and a much sparser production that the release track. I downloaded it a long time ago, but don't recall from where and, obviously, don't have the full clip. Might the owner please stand up? 'd like to see if there is some way that I might be able to beg a copy? Thanks! LL ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ See CMUS Employment Opportunities at: http://www.studiomenu.com/empclassifieds.html a service of StudioMenu.Com, http://www.studiomenu.com/index2.html ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Larry Lipman - --------------------------------------------------------------- Division Coordinator; Recording Studio Manager - --------------------------------------------------------------- The University of Memphis Commercial Music Program Campus Box 526546 - 232 CFA Building Memphis, TN 38152-6546 (901) 678-2559 [w/voice mail] FAX: (901) 678-5118 E-Mail: Llipman@memphis.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:48:34 -0400 From: Jeff Hamilton Subject: Cover songs At 10:00 AM 4/27/98 +0000, Becky wrote: >And the whole cover song thing.... I MUST disagree there. I would much rather >here all original songs by an artist than a cover. An occasional cover every >few albums is okay - I guess - but doing a cover shows little originality and >is NOT "required" to please the fans or anyone else I don't think. It doesn't >show the true originality of that artist's music - which is what we all fell >in love with where Basia's music is concerned anyway, isn't it? [edited] >What do you guys think of people recording & releasing covers on their albums? I agree with Becky totally (about it taking very little effort to record covers instead of originals), but it's worth pointing out that most musical artists are music lovers like the rest of us, and it's understandable that Basia (or any "famous" artist, for that matter) might be inclined to record a cover of a song she really likes ("Until You Come Back To Me", for example), just as I might be inclined to record a cover of a song *I* really like ("An Olive Tree", for example). The way I see it is that recording the occasional cover is just a way of kicking back and taking it easy in the studio after putting together a dozen or so really excellent originals. (Note: None of this is intended to justify the workings of artists who shamelessly do NOTHING but reworks of old songs - a certain man known as "Puff" is the first that comes to mind. On the other hand, if the performer is talented enough, any nice song will do - original or not - for example, anything recorded by Cecilia Bartoli.) >Samurai27 wrote: >> I don't think any performer works totally on >> their one songs. Look at Peter White. He does original work yet he knows to >> stay in the public eye you must include covers on your albums. Perhaps I am misinterpreting this statement, but I don't think this is totally true. For example - the Artist (formerly known as Prince) put out his first album in 1978, but didn't have a cover song on any of his albums until 1996. However, if you were speaking specifically about jazz artists, I have noticed that they all seem to be doing covers these days. Personally, I don't like the practice (because it's overdone!) and I hate tuning to a jazz station just to hear an instrumental version of a song I just heard 30 minutes ago on an adult contemporary/light rock station. P.S. And like everyone said (regarding Basia) - if the next album is even 1/2 as good as "The Sweetest Illusion", then it will be well worth the wait. Jeff Hamilton - the capitalist http://www.mindspring.com/~jeffhamilton/ to join the 461 (network), send a message to four.six.one@mindspring.com and hope for the best ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:55:33 EDT From: Whipple930 Subject: Re: Re: basia-digest V3 #74 What is this? I have several Ph# to someone named Susan Vega. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 20:20:02 EDT From: Whipple930 Subject: Re: Looking for Basia videos Hello all, I am Mike. I was wondering, is there any other laserdiscs out for Basia besides "A New Day". I am new on this list so if this has been asked by another please forgive me. Thank you Mike ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 03:26:58 GMT From: combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee) Subject: Re: Looking for Basia videos Whipple930 writes: > I am Mike. I was wondering, is there any other laserdiscs out for Basia > besides "A New Day". I am new on this list so if this has been asked by > another please forgive me. Thank you Hi, Mike. Right now, "A New Day" is Basia's only video collection. That will soon change. See http://basia.techwood.org/video.html for details, and stay on this mailing list for updates. - -- Benjamin L. Combee (combee@techwood.org) PS: <53706f6f6e21> 48 /Helvetica findfont scalefont setfont show showpage ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V3 #78 **************************