From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V3 #320 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Wednesday, August 26 1998 Volume 03 : Number 320 The Official 1998 Joni Mitchell Internet Community Shirts are available now. Go to for all the details. ------- The New England Labor Day Weekend JoniFest is coming soon! Send a blank message to for all the details. ------- Trivia buffs! We are compiling an in-depth trivia database on all things Joni. Send your bit of trivia - or your questions you would like answered - to ------- And don't forget about JoniFest 1999! Reserve your spot with a $25 fee. Only 100 rooms have been reserved. Send a blank message to for more info. ------- The Joni Mitchell Homepage is maintained by Wally Breese at and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Joni's paintings, original essays, lyrics and much more. ------- The JMDL website can be found at and contains Joni-related interviews, articles, member gallery, info on the archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Annie Lennox/Diva [Dmascall@aol.com] Re: Annie Lennox/Diva (some JC) [LRFye@aol.com] RE: (NJC) Annie Lennox/Diva [Michael Yarbrough ] Re: Notice for guitarists - and BOSTON!!! [FredNow@aol.com] RE: about tuning systems (NJC) [trxschwa ] Re: Annie Lennox/Diva (some JC) ["Deb Messling" ] Re: Updated Garden report [TerryM2442@aol.com] Re: JM Autobiography? [TerryM2442@aol.com] Re: Woodstock Theme Park (NJC) [Heather ] A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review [Chilihead2@aol.com] Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review [LRFye@aol.com] re: the Chili review and all others [Robert Holliston ] Say what? [Howard Motyl ] Re: New lister [Marsha ] RE: about tuning systems (NJC) ["Wally Kairuz" ] More VG-8 News! [Michael Paz ] Re: Mucho Musica ["Kakki" ] Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review [Mark or Travis Wowie-zowie! > What an awesome page, guys! [Michael Paz ] My Dos Centavos [Michael Paz ] Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review [IVPAUL42@aol.com] The Men in The White Coats [Michael Paz ] BethelLand Next To WallyWorld [Michael Paz ] Mojo Revisited [kg@ibm.net (Kenny Grant)] (NJC) Fence-sitting, and EATS!!!! [Ashara@aol.com] Welcomes, and SIQUOMB [Ashara@aol.com] JC/Garden moments, Brian C & Kakki [Kate Tarasenko ] suffragette tour (NJC) [Wolfebite@aol.com] Elliott Smith XO (NJC) [Marilune@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 17:33:55 EDT From: Dmascall@aol.com Subject: Annie Lennox/Diva In a message Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 12:55:37 EDT RickieLee1@aol.com wrote: >Subject: Re: Annie Lennox/Diva (SJC) >definitely a great album fred! i was a little disappointed that the follow up >was covers only (medusa, by the way) and did not have any more original stuff >as with diva. it has been awhile too. she ought to be due for a new release >soon. something to look forward to. one of the great voices in >pop/rock/whatever. just a great voice, no matter what the genre...thanks for >the reminder! i may need to go dig it out and give it a listen. >peace! ric Ric, when Annie Lennox was last in the public eye she was about to take extended maternity leave from the music biz, as I remember, so a comeback of some kind may be a while coming. If/when she decides to make more music she might do best to start promoting somewhere other than the UK. British journalists can be a pretty sour bunch and the press were carping at the fact that she consistently romped away with. "best female artist" awards and took this to be an indictment of the sterility and lack of invention of the UK music scene. Ho hum. While on the subject of somewhat forgetten singer/songwriters with excellent back catalogue can anyone enlighten me with any news of the excellent Aimee Mann? This is all a bit short of mentions of JM nd no longer a legitimate reply to Ric, but I'll carry on anyway. Apologies if I'm breaching ettiquette. I too am a JM group newbie like the recent "rubber beans" contributor. Sadly, I can't offer a similar contribution to light up anyone's day. I'm similarly perplexed by some of the acronyms - can someone tell me what "Siquomb" stands for? yours hopefully David Dmascall@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 17:46:46 EDT From: LRFye@aol.com Subject: Re: Annie Lennox/Diva (some JC) Hi David! Welcome to the list! You asked: > can someone tell me what "Siquomb" stands for? She Is Queen Undisputed(ly) Of Mind Beauty (Can someone clarify if it is, in fact, "undisputed" or "undisputedly"?) On the subject of non-JM posts, if you post something that has No Joni Content, just add the abbreviation for that (NJC) to the subject line, and everyone will stay pretty happy. Glad to make your acquaintance! Lori (one of 3 San Antonians -- and you know, there may be more!) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 17:52:17 -0400 From: Michael Yarbrough Subject: RE: (NJC) Annie Lennox/Diva David wrote: <<>> Earlier this year there were reports of a new album before 1998 was out, but I've heard nothing since then. I heard it the same time I heard about PJ Harvey's new album, and that one's actually happening (9/29, coincidentally enough), so there's still hope for Annie, too! - --Michael, looking forward to the Lauryn Hill when he gets home... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 18:06:51 EDT From: FredNow@aol.com Subject: Re: Notice for guitarists - and BOSTON!!! M.Russell@iaea.org wrote: >>I've been working on Overture-Cotton Avenue off and on for several >> months now. It is light years harder than any other of her guitar >>works that I've attempted to learn thus far, and totally confirms >>and illuminates her musical genius, IMO. Not to diminish Joni's genius in any way, but Marian's experience here illustrates again that it's always easier for the originator, nowhere near as difficult as for the transcriber. There is an often told story about the great saxophone genius John Coltrane and his legendary solo on his tune Giant Steps. Someone transcribed it and brought it to John and asked him to play it from the sheet music. John looked at it and said, in effect, "Are you crazy? I can't play that, it's way too hard!" - -Fred ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 18:11:35 -0400 From: trxschwa Subject: RE: about tuning systems (NJC) hey david, from the liner notes to 'the harp of new albion': 'the application of just intonation to the piano was the brilliant inspiration of my long-time friend and mentor lamonte young, whose masterpiece, 'the well-tuned piano' forever changed the way many of us hear the instrument.' still can't figure which is synonym and which is antonym. did you read kyle gann's essay on historical tunings? i'm assigning you to figure it all out and 'splain it to me at ashara's. ;-) i'll bring the 'harp' cd, or a tape of it. i think you'd love this music. patrick np - joni - the gorge ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:13:51 +0000 From: "Deb Messling" Subject: Re: Annie Lennox/Diva (some JC) > (Can someone clarify if it is, in fact, "undisputed" or "undisputedly"?) On Tape Tree Whatever (on the Gene Shay show), Joni says "undisputedly." But she's a changeable gal, so who knows? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:01:49 EDT From: TerryM2442@aol.com Subject: Re: Updated Garden report Sue, Great job! Loved the photos and the report. Felt like I was right up there with ya. Terry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:08:59 EDT From: TerryM2442@aol.com Subject: Re: JM Autobiography? In a message dated 8/25/98 5:39:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Dmascall@aol.com writes: << It details her poor upbringing, >> I sure hope Joni means being brought up poor, rather than poorly! Terry, hoping this book truly is in the works ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:09:59 -0400 From: Heather Subject: Re: Woodstock Theme Park (NJC) At 04:26 PM 8/25/98 EDT, you wrote: >in San Antonio, feeling old enough already, and wondering who else noticed how >strange that part of New York really is ??? > > Why, I was born n' raised 80 miles from that site! Yep - uh huh - them parts are a leetle stange ..... Heather ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:18:06 EDT From: Chilihead2@aol.com Subject: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review Saturday August 15th, 1998: A Day of Fine Gardening The Chili Review I have been home recovering from a back operation involving titanium ,bone fusions and bills that but for insurance would have buried me like an avalanche. When everyone was out on the West Coast enjoying the shows I had just gotten out of the hospital and there was simply no way I could go. So, when I heard about the Garden (just 2 weeks before the show) and Lori F of the JMDL having extra tickets, there was NOTHING that was going to keep Mrs. Chili and me from going to the garden. Gardening has always been a part of my life. Not fancy bourgeois gardening. My grandparents were just old Yankees who gardened big time. Corn, lima beans, tomatoes, stringbeans by the bushel. One of my earliest memories is being two feet tall and running through a corn field. They may just as well have been Sequoias. I can’t say exactly when I heard Joni’s song that beckons us to the garden but when I did hear it, I understood instantly the need to get back in the garden. The garden of Eden, or just any garden. The need to let green moss grow around you like an old tree. The need for sun and water and clean air. The need to be naked in the rain and laugh all the way at thunderstorms and hurricanes. Debbie (Mrs. Chilihead) and I live and garden two hours from Woodstock. People living in the Northeast are experiencing a great year for gardening in 1998. Hot weather makes hot chilies. The tomatoes are big and ripe and juicy as summer in the young blood. So when Joni and her band decided to plant themselves in that old hippie garden it became a fine year for gardening indeed! The 1967 VW camper couldn't make it. So at 5:30 AM we took the Jeep and headed from New Fairfield to Woodstock. A journey from one hill country to another and as we crossed the Hudson, I pictured Joni flying over it like a black crow. It’s one majestic river to skate away on! When we got to Bethel at about 7:30, we came upon our own child of God. Her name was Mary. She was walking along the road. She had her face pierced and we took her on board. Her boyfriend had dropped her off. Seems her mother was going to be at the show but she wasn’t sure. I said , “So you sure couldn’t have been at the original Woodstock.” She smiled a shy smile and asked “Were you guys?”. Hummm? I guess I look mature for my age?? Oh well, I guess it’s been all that gardening, the weathered look. Yeah that’s right. Oh well, Happiness is the best face lift and certainly much cheaper than the surgical alternative. Mrs. Chili (Ms. Chili whichever you prefer) and I , had never before met any JMDLers; however, they were not hard to find as we approached the Garden gate. Siquomb shirts sprouted like mushrooms after a rain. At 7:30 AM, the JMDLers and people in general were upbeat and ready for a day of Fine Gardening. At the Garden gate we met her royal highness the Queen Amy, her friend Patty ( as sweet as a peppermint Patty!), Ron and Deb, Lori and Kate from CO and more. Names are not my forte. I remember peoples’ hearts. And let me tell you, the JMDLers I met in the garden were a bunch of very good hearted gardeners who I felt that I had known all of my life. But what else would you expect of Joni people? (Sadly, our Wally was missing and everyone was asking about him). Kate from CO made these wonderful tags with the inscription “JMDL Gardeners” along with pictures of some characters gardening in sepia tones. They hung off our necks with jute twine and helped to bond our tribe of JMDL gardeners for the day; like a temporary tattoo. Thank you MS. Kate! The gate opened early. before 9. The tribe of gardeners sprinted like it was the gardening Olympics down hill to the stage. I hobbled up and we are VERY CLOSE. “Can’t wait for Joni”, “Can you believe how close we are?”, “This is beyond my wildest expectations”. These words appear and disappear over and over like smoke from a cigarette. Debbie (Mrs. Chilihead) and I go to buy some stuff from the dozens of vendors set up in white canvass topped pavillions. We buy a disposable camera. We buy a teddy bear made out of hemp with a statement on its tag explaining how we can save trees if we use hemp to make paper. We pass a purveyoress of tye dyed apparel. I like a T-shirt. She explains that it has a hole in it and is going for $15 not $30. She is a very pretty young twenty something with skin as clear as Joni’s on her “For the Roses” cover. I have a white shirt on. Part of my corporate uniform. My hair is short. I remember when I had it half way down my back. “I’m an undercover hippie”, I confide to her. She smiles with her flawless face and Joni cheek bones, “Oh, good , I thought you were a narc.”. We laugh. There are many vendors. One is selling peace signs which he claims to be are made from the original '69 Concert fencing. They are $25. On we go. There is a bumper sticker that reads, “Cheap people suck!”. I really like that one and regret later not buying it. There are books. They’ve got the beat. Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Snyder. Books on Acid Art: A history of the artists who embellished LSD. There is a T-shirt that plays off the “Got Milk” Ads, it says, “Fuck Milk, Got Pot?”. We are laughing and other people are laughing too. I see the red eye badge of the “Cannabis Club” here and there among the crowd. They are sure of themselves and happy instead of paranoid like the members I meet in other places like the A & P. We meet up with Amy and Patty at the “Official” T-shirt booth. We are trying to decide should we buy a T-shirt now or wait until later? Amy has heard that the vendors pass among the crowd selling the T-shirts at half price. The food vendors are in a separate but identical white canvassed tent with high pointy peaks. There is only one vendor that appeals to me. “Catskill Morning Farms” has what appears to be the freshest yuppie fare. Goat cheese. Cookies. Focaccia. Peaches and apples. Mrs. Chili buys a chocolate chip cookie for $1.50. When we get back to the stage we pass around my little FAT notebook as an impromptu JMDL guestbook. I draw a sun with a face at the top of a page. “Official JMDL guestbook: You were (were is crossed out with a big x and replaced with are). You ARE there! Gardeners please sign in....” And the gardeners who signed in are as follows. Please bear in mind there were many more JMDlers and many more BIG Joni Fans who just weren’t lucky enough to find the JMDL but maybe someday will. And the Gardeners: Queen Amy and Sweet Peppermint Patty (Amy’s friend who now believes in Siquomb) The Great, The Very Great Kate from CO! YEEHAW! Silent Simon, the essence of cool, all seeing and hearing-- Mendi who reminds us “Remember to live life large when you can!” Heather who advises “Live and let live---Simple and sweet” and also added a ‘smoking’ illustration Mr. Brian G a gentleman, who asked JMDLers to sign their names by their favorite Joni song in the Lyrics book “ Well you do what you gotta do, even if that means flying in from Holland to see her. Really wonderful meeting all of you ! Love Robert” Kay A who wrote, “So great to meet you JMDLers in the garden and to hear Joni 29 years late which is just in time for me as I am 29!” Jan who came with her husband Phil and wrote “For three nights I’ve been too excited to sleep. Tonight I’ll finally get some rest!” Gene and Don The hosts of the after concert party at the RV. Don wrote he’s “been with Joni for 30 years.” and finally Kai who made his way down to our not so secret place. My apologies for not mentioning all of us, next time, and I hope that’s very soon, I hope we can get everyone to sign the guestbook. And now it’s showtime folks! Melanie. That’s right the Melanie of “I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates fame” is on stage with her three children. Two daughters one a bottled blond and the other a brunette are backing up their Mom with sweet faces and sweet harmonies. Her son, Beau who Melanie tells us is 17, plays acoustic guitar very well. He is muscular and handsome. Mrs. Chilihead thinks he’s very cute. I am not jealous, I am just 20 years wiser! Melanie beams pride like a sunflower. She is wearing a patchwork hippy chic dress which makes me think of something an earthmother would wear when hugging her children. She is sexy and pretty. Melanie fills in her life for us with her songs and her talk between songs. A large man with a pony tail and greying hair, is identified as her husband and a record producer. Melanie sings a song about her life in Florida. About suntans, wrinkles, collecting seashells and turning them into lamps for her friends. She tells us that she has been invited to host the Anniversary of Amnesty International and she calls it the highlight of her career. We sing “Look what they’ve done to my song Mom”. Remember that one? Many do including the french lyrics, too! When Melanie ends her set, a woman begins to distribute some toys “for free” to the children sitting near us. An eighties materialism suddenly manifests itself in the garden and we are nearly trampelled by adults who are trying to get “theirs”. Mrs. Chili aka as Debbie, and I want one, but retain our dignity. We later find that an area has been set up for the kids of concertgoers to play in and these toys are called “Zoobdudes”, a type of LEGGO for the nineties. We make our way back to the stage waiting for Richie Havens. Debbie writes in the official journal that “there is lots of pot smoking and tye die at this point”. What becomes apparent from the beginning is that Richie Havens is first and foremost a storyteller. He would make a good trial lawyer. He is intense and precise. Loud an Clear. Strong and Centered. He says a lot of things twice without boring you but just making sure that you’re with him. I remember an interview over a decade ago with Howard Stern. Howard commented to Richie that he was “all over the place” with advertising. Richie said, “no” that it wasn’t him doing the vocals for ads, he said there was another guy who sounded just like him. For those of us who were there and the cyberconcert goers, we saw that Richie Havens doesn’t play, he works out. His purple kaftan was dripping wet midway into the set. He told a humorous story about Aliens, telling us that they were among us. He said they were little people who call you “Daddy” and tell you which containers to put your recyclables in. He advised us strongly, waiving a finger, to “make friends now!” Richie’s band consisted of a guitarist who did a loud rendition of Jimi’s (as in Hendrix) Star Spangled Banner and a conga drummer. My general impression of the sound was that it was strong, spiritual, lunchtime music for hungry gardeners. Richie finished with “Freedom”. I heard someone in back of me say, “He sounds like he did 30 years ago. That’s what I like about him.” After Richie’s set, we decided not to venture out for fear of losing our prime garden real estate. This was the equivalent of Maui Oceanfront with a view! People began to encroach on our turf. The Amazon women, Patty, Mrs. Chili and Amy defended the turf and sharpened their spears. I saw someone with a T-shirt that said “We must kill the beast.” It was a mock petroglyph of warriors spearing a television. Lou Reed came with the largest entourage so far. They were dressed in black. They were loud. They were the bad boys. They played. They rocked. They played and played and played. I moved my head and body to the music, I was not in the garden, I was at club in New York with cigarettes and people brushing past me with their drinks. I heard some disparaging comments about Mr. Reed. The Joni people wanted their Joni now. Mr. Reed did not play “Wildside”and I wondered why? Was it the politically incorrect lyrical content, the lack of the necessary back up vocalists? He did, however, play a lot of other tunes. I am sure that to some it seemed as though he played ALL of his other tunes. Waiting for Joni. The wait for Joni was winding down. It was like the countdown to the lift off to some wonderful and new spacecraft. The cyberjoniphiles were waiting there with us; not in the garden but still very much a part of it. We adopted several people sitting next to us by offering them badges and welcoming them to our tribe. Tick Tock. Our hearts were beating an anxious rythm. We could see people behind the stage through the scrim. Where was our Joni? Was that her daughter? Her grandson? JONI. JO-NI! JO-NI! This was the mantra that rose up from the faithful. Thousands of them. We were being compressed. Our territory was shrinking. Joni’s people were filling in every vacant space like the blocks of Manhattan. Some had signs. The JMDL sign was hanging directly in front on the fence that separated us from the stage. It was getting hot. I had already taken off my shirt during Lou Reed’s set but now I wished had some cold water. I am sure that if it were 30 years ago, we would all have been wearing a lot less! It got hotter. It was very humid and electric just like the air just before a thunderstorm. The thunder, the mantra, continued. The first bolt of lightning, the band, took the stage. Joni waited. The tease I always knew she would be. Then Joni like a second lightning flash, took the stage. More thunder from the crowd. She began with "Hejira". Her voice jazzy and smoke tinged and our Joni was looking like fine, just like a movie queen. At 55, still the beautiful diva we know her to be. She had on a comfortable outfit, sort of "designer safari". It was dark hunter green, loose and billowing. She had sandals on her self described ‘big feet’, one of our common traits. Adjusted people with big feet just resign themselves to it and laugh about it. As Joni moved through her songs, her jazz style continued sultry and sizzling like the weather. She paints her songs with fine brushes for detail and then she liberally squeezes the blue, making broad strokes on the canvass. In the second song, “Comes Love”, Mark Isham’s trumpet solo was sweet and lonely. At one point in the song, I blew a kiss to Joni and we made eye contact. She looked over at us JMDLers and said, “Thank you”. Or at least this is how I remember it. Her songs were intoxicating like good California wine. Joni’s sense of humour is still there. She gave us a taste of Taming the Tiger with, “Happiness is the Best Facelift”. Her smile, a sincere smile, was constant throughout the show. She was clearly happy and I hope when I get to be her age, that I look as good as she does. Her generation is redefining what it’s like to be fifty or sixty or even seventy something. It’s not old anymore. By the fourth song, “Summertime”, a wind blew in and took off some of the humidity. It became instantly more comfortable. Again very very jazzy. Joni interpreted this song cigarette in hand and waving her arms slowly. She was flying. Joni’s cigarette smoking is almost like a Hollywood movie, she makes it look sexy. She looks like she really enjoys it. Nicotine has been demonized especially in recent years, and rightfully so. But that night I accepted Joni’s smoking as part of her, as part of what makes her Joni and makes her art, and hell, what gives that smoky color to her songs. To my side, I saw a young man in the audience, holding up his cigarette and smoking right along with her. They were sharing cigarettes from a distance. I am sure he’ll remember that smoke for a long time. After “Summertime”, it became a Zen moment for me. The band all dressed in green or black or both. The crowd wrapped in Joni’s music like a spell. Then “Crazy Cries of Love”, “No Apologies” and “Sex Kills”. I had just become an Aids volunteer when I first heard "Sex Kills". Hearing it that night still brought goosebumps to my skin. “Sex sells everything” and I think of all the ads showing half naked young people selling fragrances and clothes and then “Sex kills” and I see the people I know with Aids or at risk. This song drifted and cut through the garden with an edge like a razor. Through much of the concert, I was standing next to Robert (from Holland) and Sue McNamara. Mrs. Chili, Amy, Patty, Kay, Don and Gene were directly in front. Sue quickly learned what kind of Joni fan I was. I knew about half the songs. I have all the albums, but I am a selective listener to some. Blue is my sacred songbook. Hejira my navigational map. On some albums I just listen to one or two songs over and over and over, to name a few: “Job’s Sad Song”, “Dog Eat Dog” and “Come in from the Cold” and now the “Magdalene Laundries”. Before Joni sang this song, she explained that the Magdalene Laundries existed up until 1972 in Ireland and Britain as prisons for women who were pregnant or unmarried. They were modern day workhouses; the women sent there were slaves to the nuns until their deaths released them. Someone from the crowd yelled, “Thank you Joni”. Tears were sliding down my face by the end of the song. This song is about victims. A tear jerker pure and simple in Joni’s inimitable style, drawing out your emotions without being schmaltzy. The very next day, I got out my “Turbulent Indigo” and listened to that song about 10 times. Sue shouted to the stage, “Your a genius Joni”. Someone else shouted, “Your lyrics are my Bible.” Of course, what garden is without it’s Black Crow? For those hip enough to notice it, Joni subtley turned into her self chosen symbol right on the stage and began to fly out over the garden above the heads of the crowd. A real Don Juan moment. The song hangs on her lips like cigarette smoke and she blows it out at exactly the right time. Next came “Moon at the Window” which Sue informs me is off of “Wild Things Run Fast”. Ok, I admit there are one or two albums I don’t have, but lucky me, I get to “discover” them now! I tell Sue, “I really am a Big Joni fan--honest!”. Sue breaks into that easy smile of hers that makes you feel like you’ve known her all your life, “I know you are...who else would sort through all that (JMDL) mail?” Joni slides from one song into the next. She is making eye contact with the audience and smiling but she is not talking to us between songs. Seems this evening she is preferring to talk to us through her music, which is just fine with me. While she doesn’t do any Blue songs, she does some Court and Spark. The train ride begins. Sue turns to me and says again with her smile, “Just like this Train”. I laugh and say, “I DO know this one!” “Big Yellow Taxi”, perhaps her best known song sung by her, is expected and delights the crowd. I think about the 36 years I have been alive and how Suburbia has eaten the coast and the farmland of my Connecticut. I really hope it stops soon. Just big ugly houses everywhere. I want woods and trees for my kids and kids of all ages. I really hope this song inspires people to give land to land preservation. I think about the farmland that is still left and the pristine coastline still remaining. This song has a serious message, but it is light and funny. Joni does a Dylan impression and the crowd laughs. Joni introduces the band: Brian Blade on drums, Mark Isham on trumpet, Larry Klein on bass, Greg Liez on steel guitar. The next to last song is “Trouble Man”, a Marvin Gaye tune that I am unfamiliar with but with the applause at the beginning it seems many gardeneners are. She is swinging. Holding onto the words, blowing them into the crowd. The crowd is wild. Joni and the band leave the stage. The JO-NI mantra starts up again. LOUD. LOUDER. EVEN LOUDER. JO-NI, JO-NEE, JO-NEEE! Joni comes back smiling. She says, “I can’t leave without playing the theme song." She tells us we are a beautiful audience. She says that she missed the “first one”. She talks about her generation. Joni is one year younger than my mother. Joni says, “My generation was given a pocket of liberty. We were a minority (the hippies).” She explains that they got a chance to experience minority prejudice. She says that she is still a member of the Rainbow Coalition. She also says, “There is no such thing as free love these days.” The theme song is over. History is made. Joni has made it to Woodstock after 29 years. She has made it back to the garden. Many JMDLers have made their own Hejira to this place from all over the country and even farther. I say good bye to the people who are staying: Amy, Patty, Heather, Simon, Kate, Deb and Ron and more people whose names I do not remember but whose faces I will not forget. I introduce myself to Mendi. We walk back up the hill. The Townshend gardeners are moving in to claim our real estate. Debbie and I are with Kay, Robert, Gene, Don, and Brian G. We stop to buy a souvenir for Pearl who could not make it. Don and Gene have brought an RV decorated with a huge yellow sign with the blue letters: “JMDL”. People stop and talk. They want to know what JMDL stands for? We sign Brian G’s Joni book by our favorite song, “The Last Time I saw Richard”. We came for conversation and it was very very good. The people at that party had a lot of style and big hearts. Tom R was there and we got a chance to get a copy of his jazz CD. After a couple of cold drinks, Debbie (Mrs. Chili) and I head back through the mountains to the Northwest Hills of Connecticut. This week, I am in our garden. It is late summer. The gladioli are in bloom. They are purple, yellow, and red. My mother comes over to help can string beans and peaches. Debbie digs the garlic handed down by her Sicilian grandfather. The kitchen smells of pesto and ratatouille. This August is hot and tropical. I am reminded of Alphonse Mucha’s depiction of summer in his 1897 calendar, she is a beautiful pregnant woman with a sunflower. I have a secret place in my garden. I go there and listen to Joni music and think about that green place in our hearts that calls us back again and again to hear the songs of the Earth and the harvest and The Garden. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:38:42 EDT From: LRFye@aol.com Subject: Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review Brian, your beautiful description of our Day In The Garden has brought tears to my eyes. You are a very gifted storyteller. Thank you! Lori in San Antonio ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 16:44:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Robert Holliston Subject: re: the Chili review and all others I just finished reading Mr. Chilihead's beautiful account of that day in the garden, and it made me misty eyed and very happy! Thank you all for posting your thoughts and impressions of this wonderful event!! Now I'm going on down to Wally's page to check out those photos... All the very best, Roberto ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 20:07:24 -0400 From: marcia Subject: New lister Hi, I am new lister and my first email was the beautiful review of the day of the garden. What a great start. Unfortunately I had to watch it on the internet but I was glad I saw and heard Joni. Thanks for the great review. -Marcia ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:11:29 -0500 From: Howard Motyl Subject: Say what? Remember Franki Valli's "My Eyes Adored Ya? I sang "My Eyes of Georgia," for months till someone corrected me while singing songs with a car load of people on the way to the shore.) I always sang this--and sometimes still do--as "My Sweet Georgia" and I could never understand what it meant he sang "Though I never laid a hand on you, My sweet Georgia". I always wondered what the laying of hands had to do with anything and couldn't the lyricist have thought of something better to come up with--when you sing the real lyrics, however, it all makes sense. I always sing (along with half of the world, I think) in "Groovin'" You and me and Leslie" instead of "you and me endlessly" and I always wondered who Leslie was and what was he/she doing in the song, especially at that point in the song. I only found the real lyric when I was in my late twenties. But my favorite one of all time, and one I still get wrong everytime, and one that sent a friend of mine to the floor convulsing in laughter when she heard me sing it--it is "Shaft" and at one point, Isaac is singing and to this day, I swear he sings, "He's a carpet-pulling man but no one understands him but his woman. Shaft. John Shaft." Here again, I thought this doesn't make sense unless you think about Shaft being a private eye who has to get out of sticky situations and sometimes he has to pull the carpet--literally--from under the bad guys.I saw it as a nice oriental that Shaft tugged on adn the villains fell. The real lyrics, btw, are "He's a complicated man and no one understands him but his woman . . ." who knew? Howard NP: Sock it to me, baby Mitch Ryder ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 20:51:51 -0400 From: Marsha Subject: Re: New lister marcia wrote: > > Hi, > I am new lister and my first email was the beautiful review of the > day of the garden. What a great start. Unfortunately I had to watch it > on the internet but I was glad I saw and heard Joni. Thanks for the > great review. -Marcia Hi, Marcia! Welcome to the list. Marsha, with the "correct" spelling of our name ;-) (now all we need is a Marcie and things will really be hoppin') ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 23:15:08 -0300 From: "Wally Kairuz" Subject: RE: about tuning systems (NJC) And do you all remember that Wendy Carlos album called "Beauty in the Beast" [1986]. She made extensive use of xenharmonic tunings, including her own "Alpha and Beta" tuning. She is a true pioneer in the field of altered/alternate tunings. And she must have been Robert Moog's first client! WallyK ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 98 19:24:39 -0700 From: Wally Breese Subject: Much stuff Hi everyone, Sue McNamara's report on Joni's "Day in the Garden" concert is now complete and it's full of her recollections about the day and her many gorgeous photographs of Joni, her band members, and the other artists who performed that day. There's also one very interesting photo of some of the JMDL contingent. (Hey, folks!) See it here: http://www.jonimitchell.com/OnTheRoadWoodstock98.html Leslie Mixon received a touch of fame a couple of weeks ago when her local newspaper, The Santa Cruz County Sentinel, ran a piece on her adventures in Joni-land. Reporter Chris Watson, in her column called "Nothin' but Net," wrote: "For this fan, posting to Web was a labor of love." Congratulations, Leslie! Read the article here: http://www.jonimitchell.com/LeslieSentinel98.html Both Sue and Leslie, as you probably all know, have served as official JM.com photographers- Sue at the "Day in the Garden" on August 15th, and Leslie at the San Jose, Ca. show back on May 19th. They've both recently approached me with an idea that I think is very kind and generous. They want to offer for sale some of the photographs they took during Joni's shows and then to donate a portion of their proceeds towards expenses here at JM.com. This is so very sweet of them and I greatly appreciate the offer. This will hopefully fulfill the demand for concert photos that we've been receiving by e-mail and will make lots of you happy, as well as contribute towards costs here on the Web. We'll have more info about the order process up on JM.com soon, but for now, if you're interested, please contact Sue at: (sem8@cornell.edu) and Leslie at: (stevem@cruzio.com) I know that it's been more than a few weeks since my last health update, but frankly I've been trying to just live my life lately and I haven't felt really eager to report about the process of my cancer treatments. But from your e-mail messages, I do know that you folks care about my condition and for that affection I'm most appreciative. So here's the latest about my condition- Last week, I had my second session of chemotherapy with the drug 5-FU. Even though the dose was the same as I received during the first week of treatment back in July, this dose was much more difficult for me to handle. In fact, here it is today, four days after the last day of treatment, and I'm still feeling nauseous. I hear that it's the build-up over time of the drug in my system and that the queezy feelings will go away soon. My energy levels are so quixotic that I may get energized perhaps for an hour and then collapse on the couch for two. That's one of the reasons why it took me ten days to complete the design of the "Day in the Garden" page. I have two or three appointments during the next two weeks to have x-rays (or an MRI) taken of the area where the tumour is located to see what effect the chemo treatments have had on it, and to determine where exactly to aim the beam of radiation which I'll begin receiving on September 15th. These radiation treatments will continue five days a week for six weeks. During the first part of this period, I'll also be on a constant IV drip of chemo, worn in a pack at my side. So the worst is still yet to come, I guess. I am, anyway, still optimistic about a disappearance of the tumour and for a complete recovery. Later, Wally The Joni Mitchell Homepage http://www.JoniMitchell.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:20:40 -0500 From: Michael Paz Subject: More VG-8 News! Hello List- For those of you that have been inquiring here is a page dedicated to the VG-8 for those of you who are interested. http://www.vg-8.com/vg-8.html Check it out! In further news, I am diving off the fence into Ashara's back yard. Yippee! I am packing up the VG-8 and headed up North folks back to "damnyankee" land as they call it down chere. Most people around here are much older before they realize that "damnyankee" is two separate words. I usually don't bother telling them I was born in Detroit. But, any ways if all goes well tomorrow I am booking my flight and I will be jamming with fellow listers Labor Day week-end. Love to all, Michael NP-Past The Mission-Tori Amos ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:39:49 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Mucho Musica Michael P. wrote: > In further news, I am diving off the fence into Ashara's back yard. > Yippee! I am packing up the VG-8 and headed up North folks back to > "damnyankee" land as they call it down chere. WOOHOO!!! This is going to be hot! This event has GOT to be recorded for posterity with so much talent - Marian, Chuck, David, Michael and...?? on stage! Come on you other greats out there - get offa da fence! Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:53:10 -0700 From: Mark or Travis Subject: Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review LRFye@aol.com wrote: > > Brian, your beautiful description of our Day In The Garden has brought tears > to my eyes. You are a very gifted storyteller. > > Thank you! > > Lori > in San Antonio I have to add my 'me too' to this. That was a truly wonderful report. I really had a sense of what it was like to be there. Thank you, Brian. Your description is magical. I have to admit that living up here in the Northwest with just a few JMDLers that are anywhere near to being close by, I often am envious of you people who live on the east coast or in the LA or bay area. Lately I've been feeling a little left out here on the JMDL through no-one's fault, really. Oh well. Unfortunately the logistics of the Gorge concerts didn't make for good conditions for get-togethers. I really hope I get to meet a lot of you in Colorado next year. Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:56:15 -0500 From: Michael Paz Subject: > Wowie-zowie! > What an awesome page, guys! > Wowie-zowie! > What an awesome page, guys! I SECOND THAT EMOTION. GREAT JOB. Let's see more pics of the listers in attendance. Bes, Michael ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 21:28:09 -0600 From: Bounced Message Subject: Re 50 tunings Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:20:20 +1000 (EST) From: michaelbDELETE@DELETEcoolgold.com.au (Michael) Hi You can tune any stringed (strung) instrument how ever you wish within the physical limits of the of the strings and neck. I play Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street" on the bass with the E string tuned down to C# .Very nice song with bass and guitar just can't find a triangle player to join in :) All the best Michael ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:33:35 -0500 From: Michael Paz Subject: My Dos Centavos Had to add mine to this great thread. Marsha you really crack me up How about: The Same Situation Virtual Park (sort of a take on GroundHog Day) Amelia's Flying Circus Underneath The Streetlight Escort Service Wild Things Run Fast Coaster How Do You Stop This Damn Thing! The Reoccurring Dreamland Love Puts On A New Face Painting Tame The Tiger Or Die! Lead Balloon Drop Lesson In Survival of the Fittest Best wishes, Michael NP-Harlem In Havana ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 23:35:06 EDT From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: A Day of Fine Gardening:The Chili Review In a message dated 8/25/98 7:21:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Chilihead2@aol.com writes: << Saturday August 15th, 1998: A Day of Fine Gardening The Chili Review >> The Chili review, with beans (no, not rubber beans) was inspiring and very well written. With kudos to the rest of you who reported, I enjoyed this one the most. So sorry I could not join you in the Garden. At the Passover seder, we say, "Next year in Jerusalem." For the JMDLers, it should be, "Next year at the Garden." Paul I ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:38:36 -0500 From: Michael Paz Subject: The Men in The White Coats Hey Marsha you better be careful! The men in the white coats are gonna be stopping by for you. Subject: BethelLand Next To WallyWorld Lori wrote: "Omigod. I can see us all twenty years from now, boarding those Greyhound buses bound for Bethel ..." Lori- What frightens me is that we will probably pay to see as well. And of the clubs and exhibits: Jethro Tull's Thick As A Brick House, Black Sabbath Revisited, Tribute To Beatlemania (and other tribute bands), Ted Nugents Rock Star and Wild Animal Pacadermy Museum... oh dear I'm getting ill....anyone else?? Michael NP-Lead Balloon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 98 04:00:36 GMT From: kg@ibm.net (Kenny Grant) Subject: Mojo Revisited Are you just checkin' out your mojo Or am I just fighting off growing old All I ever wanted Was just to come in from the cold Well the last thread on the meaning of "Mojo" was somewhat inconclusive. Now we have Joni herself using the word in a sentence, but its meaning remains elusive to me :-( Anyone have any suggestions as to her definintion of "mojo" based on the passage below? -Kenny On 9/4/98 5:18PM, Today in Joni History wrote: 9/6/79: Today's issue of Down Beat Magazine features an interview with Joni in an article entitled "Joni Mitchell Makes Mingus Sing." An excerpt: "There was a lot of mojo in [Mingus'] life - there's a lot of mojo in my life, too. He was very wrapped up with natural phenomena. And that's why I think we all had a certain amount of faith in the possibility that he could actually beat it. I always addressed myself to that possibility. If I hadn't, I know the songs would have been much more directed at Charles, like The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines would have probably had a different lyric content, or Sweet Sucker Dance. Because when it came down to the finished album, I thought, this is not a complete portrait of such a complex person; I wished then that every song had been dedicated to a certain aspect of his personality. Some addressed themselves directly; and indirectly they all had something that was kindred with his way." ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:04:43 EDT From: Ashara@aol.com Subject: (NJC) Fence-sitting, and EATS!!!! Hi everyone! It's so great to see the fence-sitters falling off like flys! Maggie asked me to forward this to the Jonifest list, because her computer is on the blink, but I thought I'd send it to the whole list, just in case there was some fence sitters about to jump off. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all soon! (BTW, If you are still on the fence, and haven't gotten the heck off yet, this is a very limited one-time offer: If you get off the fence real soon, you will receive a quick backrub to ease your poor fence-sitting body! Offer good for a limited time only, and must be redeemed on Sept. 5th, in Topsfield, MA.) Hugs, Ashara Hi all you New England-bound Jonilistas. Picture this: You're in the beautiful New England countryside at warm, loving Ashara's lovely home. You are surrounded by soul-sisters and - -brothers who love Joni just as much (impossible, non?) as you do. You are playing your favorite instrument, singing your favorite lyrics, sharing stories and laughter. What's missing? EATS!!!!! Now you KNOW that Joni cares a lot about food, one of the major sensory delights IMHO. So I'm sending out the word to you to ask you two things. First, what absolutely, must be there at a bar-be-que? Second, some have offered to bring some of their favorite things to share, and so I'm asking for any of those who want to -- what would you like to bring? We have the food planned (c'mon, I'm a professional!), but I know that for some of us, sharing our favorite dish is a way of sharing of ourselves. This is particularly true for me, since I cannot carry a tune or play an instrument. (Ashara, I know you plan on teaching me the error of my thinking!!) Anyway, if you want to bring something, just let me know so I can plan a nice, balanced, tasty spread to fuel our singing and playing and dancing and laughing. RSVP by Friday, August 28. See you in September!! Best, Maggie Culinary Queen ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:23:14 EDT From: Ashara@aol.com Subject: Welcomes, and SIQUOMB In a message dated 8/25/98 5:39:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Dmascall@aol.com writes: << can someone tell me what "Siquomb" stands for? >> Welcome David and Marcia!! The following is a blurb from an article on the jmdl site: It's a great article! Check it out! "Joni's company was called Siquomb Publishing, and the name came from one of her many writing projects. As she would explain on Philadelphia radio station WMMR in March 1967, she was writing a mythology, the names of its various members derived from acronyms based on descriptive phrases. There were, for instance, a race of miniature women, the Posall ("Perhaps Our Souls Are Little Ladies"), and men, the Mosalm ("Maybe Our Souls Are Little Men"). Siquomb was the queen of the mythology, her name meaning, "She Is Queen Undisputedly Of Mind Beauty." Hugs, Ashara ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 22:42:05 +0000 From: Kate Tarasenko Subject: JC/Garden moments, Brian C & Kakki Again and again, my thanks from my full heart goes out to all the Great Gardeners and Les and Wally for making our memories a permanent part of JMDL-lore. Mr. Brian Chilihead, if ever there was an historian with a heart, it's YOU, my dear! Thanks for your wonderful play-by-play, for keeping notes, for bringing your dear, sweet soul (and Mrs. C-head!) with you to make our Day so wonderful! Remember what Madge said in those old Palmolive dishwashing liquid commercials: "You're SOAKING in it!" -- that Joni-in-the-Garden feeling! Got some photos developed and will be sending stuff off to Les for more scanning (is that thing overheating yet, Les?) Thanks also to Kakki for sending me the snapping-Joni/USA Today -- much thanks! Please send me your snail-mail addy (unless you want me to use your work addy) -- got a lil' somethin' for ya... And thanks, Suze, for your great review -- couldn't have said it better m'self. Something coming your way in the mail... Still a puddin'-head, Kate in CO ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:38:21 EDT From: Wolfebite@aol.com Subject: suffragette tour (NJC) hello gene & i just got back from the Suffragette tour concert- an ambitious and IMHO successful venture featuring... The Indigo Girls (Amy Ray and Emily Saliers) Jane Siberry Gail Ann Dorsey Lisa Germano Lourdes Perez Kate Schellenback of Luscious Jackson Jean Smith of Mecca Normal Josephine Wiggs of Breeders Thalia Zedek of Come I went for Jane mostly- haven't seen her live before- and figured this was at least one chance to see her. All and all- a solid show- all the woman on stage together- trading instruments and each taking the spotlight once or twice. Jane was fabulous of course- she did 'love is everything' from 'when i was a boy' and a new piece- about a fisherman and the sea- one of her gorgeous long poetic song stories... also- intro-ed on a fabulous encore version of "midnight train to georgia'. other notables- lisa germano did two songs- both exquisite- and this woman- gail ann dorsey- has an amazing and expressive set of pipes!! her first song was just stunning- and she kicked butt on a cover of ziggy stardust. Lourdes Perez was also outstanding so- i'd recommend this concert- next show: Thursday, August 27 Milwaukee, WI Rave Rave Friday, August 28 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue Sunday, August 30 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's Tuesday, September 1 Norfolk, VA Boathouse Wednesday, September 2 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory Thursday, September 3 New York, NY Roseland I give them all lots of credit for delving so completely into each others music- and really stretching themselves- i imagine it's not an easy thing to do! doug ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 01:01:28 EDT From: Marilune@aol.com Subject: Elliott Smith XO (NJC) so I got it. the new album. you know. the one i've been all excited about for a month. and I must say: i HIGHLY reccomend it. i think it's elliott's best so far. it's alot cleaner sounding and more orchestrated than his previous offerings (seeing as how he's now on dreamworks as oppose to kill rock stars) "Either/Or" "Elliott Smith" and "Roman Candle" (not to say they aren't all wonderful), but it's still got that indie folk fabulousness that i love about him and all these wonderful melodic hooks and lyrics that just resonate deep inside. I listened to the first track inside the music store...it's the kind of music where the first few times (for me at least) you have to sit in private and listen to it hugging yourself and just be so so happy because the music is tapping all those little teeny tiny wound up places inside that just let the emotions run free and whether that means crying or laughing or just breathing it's okay because you're there and the music there and it's all just okay. that's what elliott smith's "xo" means to me. *** mariana "elliott smith fanatic" mcconnell's schappy snappy drippy dippy first night review of the soooper elliott smith's latest album "xo" in stores now so why aren't you listening you slacker the cover is a black and white collage that has traslucent pictures of elliott (elliott tuning a guitar! elliott glaring up into the camera!), bunches of polaroids tacked up on a wall, some recording equipment, an old record player, a dude with an afro...it's interesting and quite drawing to the eye i think. in blurry white letters, it says "Elliott Smith XO". it's very appropriate i think because elliott's music, like joni's music, is more collage and story than grounded in personal confession (though i think they both confess from time to time. just like joni says, "i never said there wasn't any of me in the songs". it's the same with elliott i do b'lieve). the album opens with "sweet adeline". it starts simply, with guitar, and then during the chorus launches into a grander scale of musical instruments. it's great, it gives you chills really. amazing, genius. the melody is instantly catchy and beautiful and smoooooth. it's a great opening. an instant catch, the hook is in and elliott's hesitating whether to use the reel and it's maddening until "tommorow tommorow" starts and we relax just a little just because it's the same catchy great stuff that will make elliott famous. "waltz #2 (xo)" starts off with the drums making the 1-2-3 drum beats and then jumps into the song. "baby britain" and "pitseleh" follow that up and both are more tinny on a smaller scale than the first three, but they are wonderful nonetheless. elliott's voice on "waltz #1" is very high. actually, considering that on his other records, he sounds like he's got a relatively weak voice, he proves vocal strength on this one. "oh well okay" (which he played at the Trou in may) is number 8 and sounds great on record, better than i remember. "bottle up and explode!" (how i feel like that sometimes) is big, orchestrated with drums and scthuff so basically beautiful great and groovy. "a question mark" starts with a jazz horn sounding riff and then the greatest lyrics: "i have a question mark/you always have to take shots in the dark" "everybody cares, everybody understands" is guitar (sounds like a 12 string) piece that fleshes out towards the end. "i didn't understand" is creepy-melancholy sounding with elliott doing choral work stuff. it's lovely and beautiful way to end the album. considering this is the first night i have the album, pretty good huh? i suggest that everyone who likes joni's post court and spark stuff (think "hissing") should check this one out. on the joni scale this is elliott's mix between "hissing" and "ladies" i think. it breaks away from what he was doing before (orchestration and drums and exploration in other sounds such as the choral schtuff) but keeps that indie folkiness and great tunes. all in all a four star album that deserves a shot at any empty space you may have on your cd case. or at least worth a listen. listen to "sweet adeline" and you'll see what i mean. *********** love in elliottness mariana drowning in music heaven NP: Elliott Smith, XO of course! ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V3 #320 ************************** Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?