From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest)
To: joni-digest@smoe.org
Subject: JMDL Digest V3 #458
Reply-To: joni@smoe.org
Sender: les@jmdl.com
Errors-To: les@jmdl.com
Precedence: bulk
JMDL Digest Tuesday, November 3 1998 Volume 03 : Number 458
The Joni Tour Pages:
http://www.jonimitchell.com/Tour98.html
http://www.jmdl.com/articles/tour98.htm
-------
Join the concert meet and greet lists by sending a message to any of these
addresses:
-Syracuse@jmdl.com Rochester@jmdl.com CollegePark@jmdl.com
-NewYork@jmdl.com Kanata@jmdl.com Atlanta@jmdl.com
-------
JoniFest 1999 is coming! Reserve your spot with a $25 fee. Send a blank
message to info-jonifest1999@jmdl.com for more info.
-------
The Official 1998 Joni Mitchell Internet Community Shirts are available
now. Go to http://www.jmdl.com/ for all the details.
-------
The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage is maintained by Wally Breese at
http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio,
original interviews and essays, lyrics, and much more.
-------
The JMDL website can be found at and contains
interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more.
==========
TOPICS and authors in this Digest:
--------
Re: Review Of Gershwin's World (SJC) [Susan Chaloner ]
New York Daily News review (excerpt) [Deb Messling ]
Season's Greetings (NJC) [kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave)]
reviews [Deb Messling ]
Re: Great review in NY Times!/photo ["Julie Z. Webb" ]
Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When... ["M & C Urbanski" ]
Re: New York Daily News review (excerpt) [IVPAUL42@aol.com]
Re: 2-for-1 Sale at CDNOW thru 11/9/98 (NJC) [Jerry Notaro ]
Re: smoking on stage(NJC) ["John M. Lind" ]
pay per view and tci/south florida [Alex N ]
A Lame and infuriating commentary [WirlyPearl@aol.com]
Re: Review Of Gershwin's World (SJC) [TerryM2442@aol.com]
VOTE! [Kai Wong ]
Re: Gershwin's World [Dreamzvill@aol.com]
RE: 2-for-1 Sale at CDNOW thru 11/9/98 (NJC) [Michael Yarbrough ]
Re: Gershwin's World [Jerry Notaro ]
Birthday Greetings (NJC) [Ashara@aol.com]
Giving credit . . . [Howard Motyl ]
Re: Smokin' On Stage (NJC) [Dreamzvill@aol.com]
RE: A Lame and infuriating commentary [Michael Yarbrough ]
Syracuse [Susan McNamara ]
Middle America hurricane catastrophy ["Winfried Hühn" ]
Re: just lurking - njc [Dreamzvill@aol.com]
Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When... ["Don Rowe" ]
NJC: CDNOW -- PLEASE READ [kg@ibm.net (Kenny Grant)]
Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When... [TerryM2442@aol.com]
Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When... [PMcfad@aol.com]
Missing Mail (NJC) [David Wright ]
Re Reviews Of Gershwin's Wolrd [Ken Corral ]
Today in Joni History - November 4 [Today in Joni History ]
Joni was SMOKIN! [Jeff & Vicki Harris ]
Re: RE: A Lame and infuriating commentary [John Lasater ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 00:34:36 -0800
From: Susan Chaloner
Subject: Re: Review Of Gershwin's World (SJC)
Hey Terry! I already sent this email but I think it might have been
pulled over for stryking without a license...so here it is unleashed one
more time:
> **Mitchell simply sounds silly aping late-period Billie Holiday on "The Man I
> Love," with her wobbly vibrato, piercing vowels and hiccup accents.
Who the f---k does this Mark Stryker think he is writing shit like this
for Free Press?! Yeah, right! That's an oxymoron in the extreme...There
has never been a f--kin FREE PRESS and there probably never will
be...I'd like to lay 'THIS SNAKE I DON'T LOVE' out to whale shit...Joni
gets more repect from rank strangers in the streets...And deep bottom
bed players ;~)
Joni: "...Darlin', you can't slay these beasts of prey..."
Susan L.A: How much Ya wanna bet? I feel lucky
"...Auntie Ruthie would have died if she knew
we were on the inside..." };~)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 04:25:16 EST
From: FredNow@aol.com
Subject: Re: Gershwin's World and the ny weekend (now njc but still good stuff)
In a message dated 11/2/98 8:10:24 PM, trxschwa@bway.net wrote:
>i've loved the ravel adagio for a long time and knew the gershwin
>influence, but i don't own a recording of the concerto and as a
>non-musician i wasn't sure if herbie was playing the score or not. his
>taste is so good, and his touch so gentle, and jazz was seeping into
>classical music so much when ravel wrote this, i just couldn't guess.
> thanks for clearing that up, fred
Specifically, what Herbie does in his arrangement of the second movement is to
play an improvised version of the solo piano introduction, and when the
orchestra enters he begins to play the written score. Soon, however, he begins
to deviate, often playing the written left hand accompaniment while
improvising with his right hand.
Speaking of Herbie's touch, there's a famous remark from Miles Davis upon
first hearing Herbie play a ballad (which was Miles' gauge for judging a
pianist ... mine, too) -- whispered in his trademark rasp of a voice -- "Nice
touch."
Patrick (and anyone else who loves the Ravel G major concerto), you really
should have a recording of the original. There are many good ones, one of
which is included on Ravel: Orchestral Works, Montreal Symphony, Charles
Dutoit - conductor, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in Maurice
Ravel, one of the greatest of all composers. This budget priced 4 CD set ($35)
contains Ravel's complete orchestral output, which wasn't a lot, and consisted
mostly of orchestrated versions of piano pieces, as he was a virtuoso pianist.
Another essential work is Ravel's string quartet (almost always paired with
Debussy's great quartet) -- the recording I like is by the Ysaye Quartet
(named after Eugene Ysaye who led the quartet that first premiered the
Debussy).
- -Fred
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 11:26:58 +0100
From: "Winfried Hühn"
Subject: Re: Nietzsche perspectives (SJC)
Juerg Loeffler schrieb:
> Why does someone get stuck with an
> author? You cannot tell. It's beyond the content of the writings. Those just
> serve as a trigger to get "in touch". Nietzsche has a musical soul with this
> extraordinary gift (or punishment) of deep psychological insights and the
> power of putting them into vivid words. I feel similarities here. Both,
> Nietzsche and Joni are dionysan types, they dance and sing, and they are
> dedicated to life itself, not any substitutes of it, willing to suffer in
> order to stay sensitive.
>
I think this is a great thought! Thanks for sharing! One more proof for how
advantageous it is to discuss such issues with people from different
backgrounds. Juerg, of course, is really close to the subject-matter both
locally (Basel, Switzerland, where Nietzsche lived and taught for a long time)
and thematically, being a musician himself. I really think now artistic
creativity is the key issue to understand Joni's admiration for Nietzsche.
> >Winfried, who BTW also gets stomach cramps from listening to Wagner music
>
> To loosen the cramps try the homeopathic way: listen to Wagners
> "Siegfried Idyll". The most peaceful music i know. There's this wonderful
> recording with members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra directed by
> Glenn Gould. It's his last recording (July 1982), and the first one as a
> conductor. Not from this world.
Sounds very interesting -- thanks for the recommendation. I think I might check
that one out!
Best,
Winfried
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 06:22:52 EST
From: RMuRocks@aol.com
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
You Know You're A Joni Addict When...
1. You always go to the Joni section of the record store first, even though
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING SHE'S PUT OUT!
2. You think those WWJD bracelets mean "What would Joni Do?"
Bob M. in SC
Counting down - 5 days til Atlanta!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 07:41:02 -0800
From: Deb Messling
Subject: New York Post review (excerpt)
Bear in mind that the Post is a crummy little rag...
Joni Mitchell, who acted as Dylan's opener,
was OK, especially on her older material,
such as Big Yellow Taxi and Free Man in
Paris (each played very early in her set). But
her jazz noodlings didn't fare as well in the
vast confines of MSG.
She has an excellent band, which would have
been riveting in a snug club. But in the
Garden, there was many a stifled yawn as
J.M. plowed through her material.
Her's was hardly an energized performance,
yet the fans showed Mitchell loads of
appreciation. In fact, the applause was loud
enough at the close of her set (when she did
the Porky Pig Th-tha-that's all, folks sign-off)
that she returned for a very forgettable version
of Woodstock.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 07:46:05 -0800
From: Deb Messling
Subject: New York Daily News review (excerpt)
While Dylan trucks through New York every year, Mitchell has
made as many appearances here as the comet Kohoutek. In fact,
the Garden show represented her first official Manhattan
performance since the '70s. No wonder the audience's opening
ovation communicated as much surprise as appreciation.
She rewarded them with a better-paced, more finely sung and
more varied performance than earlier shows in L.A. or
Woodstock.
Like any artist committed to constant
evolution, Mitchell has cast her earlier work in
a new light. Her backup band, corralling
drums, bass, pedal steel and trumpet, used classic songs as fresh
canvases, comprised of small, wet strokes. In Mitchell's skewering
of striving materialists, "Harry's House," the trumpet of Chris Botti
sketched a dark sky, while Larry Klein's bass rumbled out the
shape of a dangerous landscape.
Mitchell's voice has also changed. It's earthier, with more
burgundy tones, but still flexible enough to manage the wild terrain
of three songs from her epic "Hejira." Mitchell added more upbeat
material than usual, including "Free Man in Paris" and "Don Juan's
Reckless Daughter," which the band whipped into a major
rave-up.
She bookended the 15-song set with two 1970 hits, "Big Yellow
Taxi" and "Woodstock," the latter turned inside out to become a
song of botched opportunities. Extending her interest in jazz,
Mitchell gave a take on Billie Holiday's "Comes Love," bringing
out its full shrugging wit.
Really, the woman should get out more often.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 07:46:06 -0500 (EST)
From: kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave)
Subject: Season's Greetings (NJC)
Well it has begun everywhere you turn. So in commemoration of this
yearly event a little off topic humor:
Suddenly It's Christmas
Copyright ©1993 Snowden Music Inc.
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Right after Hallowe'en.
Forget about Thanksgiving;
It's just a buffet in between.
There's lights and tinsel in the windows;
They're stocking up the shelves;
Santa's slaving at the North Pole
In his sweatshop full of elves.
There's got to be a build-up
To the day that Christ was born:
The halls are decked with pumpkins
And the ears of Indian corn.
Dragging through the falling leaves
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Seven weeks before the day.
Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
When they say "Season's Greetings"
They mean just what they say:
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.
Outside it's positively balmy,
In the air nary a nip;
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Unbuttoned and unzipped.
Yes, they're working overtime,
Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year
And goes on for two months.
Christmas carols in December
And November, too;
It's no wonder we're depressed
When the whole thing is through.
Finally it's January;
Let's sing "Auld Lang Syne";
But here comes another heartache,
Shaped like a Valentine.
Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
The season is upon us;
A pox, it won't go away.
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.
No, it's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree;
It's still not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.
- -- Loudon Wainwright III
gdave
NP: Tape of the Day 11/3/91
Grateful Dead & Friends at the
Bill Graham Memorial Concert
Golden Gate Park, SF, CA.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
DaveBase @ http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/2349/index.html
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 07:47:29 -0800
From: Deb Messling
Subject: reviews
Oops, realized I failed to cite authors or URLs for these reviews.
I get them from Ecola Newstand, at http://www.ecola.com. It's an
international directory of newspapers.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 00:42:55 -0500
From: "Julie Z. Webb"
Subject: Re: Great review in NY Times!/photo
At 12:49 AM 11/3/98 -0400, DSK11 wrote:
>November 3, 1998
>Pop Review: Mitchell and Dylan Among Friends
Thank you for printing this NY TIMES article DSK11. Im not sure if
anyone mentioned that the photograph that accompanies the article is of
Joni only. And it's a wonderful, illuminated shot of her face slightly
elevated, with her eyes closed in a "lost in the music" expression. This
photograph magically captures the legend that she is.
-JulieZW
>By BEN RATLIFF
>NEW YORK -- Bob Dylan is at that stage of cuddly sainthood that Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 08:29:45 -0500
From: "M & C Urbanski"
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
- ----------
> From: RMuRocks@aol.com
> To: joni@smoe.org
> Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
> Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 6:22 AM
>
> You Know You're A Joni Addict When...
>
> 1. You always go to the Joni section of the record store first, even
though
> YOU HAVE EVERYTHING SHE'S PUT OUT!
>
> 2. You think those WWJD bracelets mean "What would Joni Do?"
>
> Bob M. in SC
> Counting down - 5 days til Atlanta!
How did you KNOW!!!
You know you're addicted when...
Name your daughter Joni and your cat Jericho!
When you reply in conversation in Joni lyrics!
Marilyn
I live in a box of paints
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 01:03:17 -0500
From: "Julie Z. Webb"
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
Bob from the SC wrote:
>> You Know You're A Joni Addict When...
>> 1. You always go to the Joni section of the record store first, even
>though
>> YOU HAVE EVERYTHING SHE'S PUT OUT!
OR
While scanning a magazine or newspaper article, the common name
"Mitchell," manages to **immediately** work it's way into your
consciousness before any other word.
ah huh, yes sireeee it's true, -JulieZW
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 08:53:36 -0500 (EST)
From: some millers
Subject: stoning dylan/uprising/nietzsche/rock
imho, too many are listening to bob, just as many listen to jm, with the
wrong set of ears -- the physical pair instead of the metaphysical pair
(heart/soul). the spiritual nature of this tour at this point in time can't
be ignored or mistaken. dylan's segment of the syracuse show opened with
"got to serve somebody" (i.e., the devil or the lord), and featured
heartfelt renderings of hard rain is gonna' fall, don't think twice, tangled
up in blue, everybody must get stoned, blowin in the wind, and beyond.
clearly, dylan is (and always has been) singing of the stonings so
widespread in early christian times. "they'll stone you when you are young
and able... everybody must get stoned." think about it brothers & sisters.
before all the world problems are resolved, each of us, one by one, is going
to have to become an activist. to quit living in the man-made "real world"
(hell), and get ourselves back to the garden (of eden, heaven). clearly,
this tour is intended to spark uprising. the physical and hopefully,
metaphysical merger of bob's flock of crusty non conformers, with our tribe.
and let us not forget mr. alvin. from dave alvin's 4th of july, throughout
jm's centerpiece placement in the performance, to dylan's blowin' in the
wind, this was an evening intended to penetrate and irevoccably alter the
collective conciousness. of course, as in all things, this is simply my
$0.02.
if jm was up there in that scoreboard room, i'm sure she was simply watching
over her flock, or as chili often pointed out... her lost tribe. leading
them safely to water, and hoping they'll drink deep. cool...clear...water.
"drink-up now, it's getting-on time to close." closing time in many ways.
the harvest is ripe, but the workers few.
as for speculation on nietzsche's appeal, consider these words he uttered:
"that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
certainly, anyone that's already braved the stones, slings, and arrows
accompanying the great crossing-over from hell to heaven here on earth can
relate. in the profound words of rev. al green, can i get a witness?
perhaps some "me too's" from some u2 fans...
ROCK ('n roll) of ages, cleft for me.
love,
paul
safely back in s. bethlehem, after many worthwhile hours on the road.
npimh "i can see clearly now...."
p.s. the secret of eternal youth is arrested development (alice roosevelt
longworth)
soon to be playing: arrested development, "raining revolution."
>Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 09:31:03 -0700
>Subject: Some Vehicle
>From: "Eric Jaimes"
>Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 10:33:35 -0500
>Although I respect Bob Dylan, it is sometimes hard to remember why,
>especially in such a juxtaposition as last night. I sat through his set
>hoping he would return with Joni for just one duet so I might hear her
>voice one more time. It didn't happen.
>
>When Bob broke into "Everybody Must Get Stoned" and the Garden hopped to
>its feet, I sat back and stared at the circular scoreboard box hanging
>from the center of the ceiling. There was a crack between the panes
>which barely revealed a room behind the score boards, a secret clubhouse
>of sorts, accessible only to a privileged few. I imagined for a moment
>that I saw a figure in that secret room beckoning to me, secretly,
>quietly composed in contrast to the Romper Room antics on display below.
> I saw her red dress and caught a glimpse of her face - I don't have to
>tell you who it was - and I was able to rise like a ghost and meet her
>there in some whirlwind of spirit.
>
>It's just in dreams we fly; in my dreams, we fly.....
>
>Cheers,
>
>Eric
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:03:02 EST
From: IVPAUL42@aol.com
Subject: Re: New York Daily News review (excerpt)
In a message dated 11/3/98 7:46:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,
messling@enter.net writes:
<< Her backup band, corralling
drums, bass, pedal steel and trumpet, used classic songs as fresh
canvases, comprised of small, wet strokes. In Mitchell's skewering
of striving materialists, "Harry's House," the trumpet of Chris Botti
sketched a dark sky, while Larry Klein's bass rumbled out the
shape of a dangerous landscape.>>
You can always pick out a bad writer by his or her overanxious and incorrect
use of "comprised." Oddly enough, I couldn't even get the above paragraph sent
at first because my spell/grammar checker correctly wanted to change
"comprised" to "composed."
<>
I'm partly colorblind to red tones. What sound does burgundy make, other than
"plop, plop" as you pour it into a glass?
Paul I
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 09:03:11 -0400
From: Jerry Notaro
Subject: Re: 2-for-1 Sale at CDNOW thru 11/9/98 (NJC)
Thanks, again, to the ever vigilant Kenny. But make sure you add the html to the
address. It didn't get highlighted in the translation so you hipsters won't get
there if you just click on it.
Jerry
2 more days 'til Joni. I'm jumping out of my skin!!!!!
Kenny Grant wrote:
> Here's a URL for a "buy one -- get one free" deal available at CDNOW, for my
> fellow bargain-lovers on the list!
>
> http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=722122508/rl=/RP/BXGY/classics_bogo_pp.
> html
>
> -Kenny
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 06:19:03 -0800
From: Louis Lynch
Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V3 #456
Just returned from New York. Joni was fabulous! Great voice and wonderful
renditions of "Black Crow", "Amelia" and "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter".
Plus "Comes Love" was an added bonus -- it alone was worth the ticket
prices. Her band was tight, and her guitar playing was amazing.
After listening to Joni's sweet voice and beautiful poetry for over an hour,
Bob Dylan was a real let-down. His singing was the pits, and the lyrics
were unintelligible. At times, he sounded a little like Cartman on South
Park, so nasal and off-pitch. It took a while before I could even recognize
some of his standards ("Tangled up in Blue"), especially when the
arrangements were changed.
But Dylan, with his three-chord blues riffs and heavy beat rocked the crowd.
They were dancing in the aisles. Musically, it was the same-old-same-old.
But it seemed to be what some of the crowd wanted -- something so they could
stand up and shake their butts and do the Grateful Dead groove-dance. But
for all the money Dylan makes, I wish he would hire someone who can sing!
For the price of the ticket, I would have preferred to see Joni alone,
though. The whole effect was like someone taking away your diamonds and
giving you a pile of dirt.
After the concert, I am even more of a Joni fan, but no longer a Dylan fan.
My friends and I all agreed that we wouldn't walk across the street to hear
him again. But Joni, ah, we'd follow her to the ends of the earth!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 09:16:59 -0500
From: "John M. Lind"
Subject: Re: smoking on stage(NJC)
Lori wrote:
>Just for the sake of discussion, if cigarettes were NOT a "nicotine
delivery system" and were NOT addictive or harmful in any way, would you or
would you not find the act of smoking sexy?
Visually romantic, perhaps(and this only because of trained response), but
'sexy'? No. Even if you removed all the carcinogens(sp?) in tobacco so
there was no tar, nicotine, etc, it still smells horible and tastes worse
in my opinion. Besides, your lungs are designed for one purpose: to process
oxygen into the blood stream. The leading cause of death in fires is smoke
inhalation, correct?. *Any* time you breathe smoke into your lungs it's bad
for you. Some types of smoke are just less harmful than others. Smoking a
cigarette is not as bad as breathing deeply over a stack of burning tires,
but it's still worse than not inhaling any smoke at all.
John~
NP "The Dreaming" Kate Bush
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 06:18:55 -0800 (PST)
From: Alex N
Subject: pay per view and tci/south florida
I just saw an ad for "An Evening with Joni Mitchell" to be broadcast
this Friday on a local South Florida pay per view station. YIPPEE!!!
I'm surprised because it sounded like the show was only being aired on
a certain type of satellite channel but I only have regular cable.
And the show is only $19.95!!!! The number to call is 800-697-7801.
Don't make any plans for Friday night!!!
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:30:02 EST
From: WirlyPearl@aol.com
Subject: A Lame and infuriating commentary
I was so excited to finally read an article on Joni in the Ft. Lauderdale
Sun Sentinal but it turns out to be this lame commentary by a writer,
J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun. Here goes:
BOB AND JONI TOUR MAY BE A GREAT ONE,
BUT NOT A HOT ONE
Despite our reputation for being skittish about high are, Americans
do appreciate the value of the classics.
Put up a show of Van Gogh of Vermeer, and we'll pack a museum;
screen a new print of Gone With the Wind or The Wizard of Oz, and
we'll forsake our VCRs for the movie theater. After all, it's not often we
get to experience a masterwork in the flesh.
So when it was announced that Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell would
be touring together, most rock fans thought, "Wow! What a classic bill!"
What they didn't think was: "I better go buy tickets>"
Even though these two are among the most recognizable and revered
names in rock, the Bob and Joni Show is not shaping up as Tour of the
Year. Although the two are playing a fewe big arenas, like Madison Square
Garden in New York, most of the tour stops are at smaller coliseums and
college athletic centers. In most cities, good seats are still very much
available - so much so that in Sunrise, Fla. where the tour was tentatively
slated for Nov 14 at the National Car Rental Center, it was quietly scratched
from the lineup before tickets even went on sale.
Why isn''t this tour a bigger deal? It woud be easy enought to blame the
demographics. The typical arena-rock concert audience wasn't even born
when Dylan was jamming with The Band at Big Pink, or Mitchell was coming
down with A Case of You.
But neither were they born when Mick Jagger firt brayed It's Only Rock
'n' Roll, and that hasn't stopped the Stones from
packing stadiums on ther last
few tours.
No, a more likely reason people aren't rushing to see Dylan and Mitchell
is that they know what they're likely to get.
Dylan, in particular, has developed a reputation for uneven (and, at
times,
nearly unlistenable) performances.
Mitchell's standing has not been colored by Dylan's sort of seemin indif-
ference to the audience. The problem for many listeneres is that Mitchell's
music has lost its appeal. Her most recent album, Taming the Tiger, is
unrepentantly uncommercial.
A quarter-century ago, a bill like Dylan and Mitchell would have been a
no-brainer. Today, it's easy to see why even those who own CD's of Blonde
on Blonde and Blue and Ladies of the Canyon and Highway 61 Revisited
would think twice befor buying tickets.
But musicians aren't frozen in time the way recordings are. Talented young
bands don't make their living performing classic singles the way orchestras
perform symphonies.
The rock era has always celebrated the singer as much as the song.
Just as no one in the art world expected to see Picasso paint Guernica
for the 600th time, it's a bit unreasonable for rock fans to expect Bob Dylan
to do Lake a Rolling Stone every night, just as passionately as he did in
1965.
"I have to compete with myself and often get panned for not playing my old
stuff," Mitchell complained to Billboard recently. And she's right to be angry
about it. The only people holding concert tickets should be those who want to
hear what she's doing today.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:37:30 EST
From: TerryM2442@aol.com
Subject: Re: Review Of Gershwin's World (SJC)
Anyone wishing to write Mark Stryker, author of the stinging Gershwin review
in the Detroit Free Press, here's his address.
stryker@freepress.com
Terry
------------------------------
Date: 3 Nov 98 10:02:22 EST
From: Kai Wong
Subject: VOTE!
I sent in my absentee ballot last week and hope all of you will find time to
vote today. Wonder who joni is supporting for Governor of California? Davis I
presume, and Barbara Boxer for senator, I hope, but you never know.
Kai
in Taiwan, so glad to hear the good news from Wally
Clinton/Gore 2000 (Hillary, that is)
Kai
____________________________________________________________________
More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:15:13 EST
From: Dreamzvill@aol.com
Subject: Re: Gershwin's World
FredNow -
Thanks for your cool take on the Gershwin LP...can't wait to get it!
Gershwin has been a hero of mine for quite awhile...he seems to have been
one of the first musicians to blend (and so beautifully!) white and black
music.
There was a series of events, just loaded with synchronicity, that
especially brought Gershwin to my attention back in '94, and I'd love to share
it with you.
I had seen a movie with Mary Steenburgen (can't recall the title), in which
she plays a mousy little lady who longs to become a torch singer. She sings a
lovely version of Gershwin's "What'll I Do". The song just blew me away with
its simplicity and purity of feeling! Almost the very same week, I saw an
episode of what I believe was "The Young Indiana Jones" in which he meets a
young George Gershwin, playing piano in some smoky club.
Something was triggered in me...I wanted to know more about this Gershwin
character. I went to library and checked out his biography. Incredible what
that man accomplished in his lifetime! I was surprised to read that he died so
young - of a brain tumor at the age of 39!
Something about the description of his symptoms and illness triggered
something else. My daughter had been ill with a mysterious malady (thought
originally to be respiratory in nature; she had difficulty breathing) for over
a year. Reading about Gershwin's illness, I felt an overwhelming need to hurry
up and find out what was wrong with my little girl (then not quite 11).
Within a month, she was scheduled to have her adenoids removed. As soon as
she was opened up for surgery, they realized their mistake...it wasn't swollen
adenoids that were the problem, it was a tumor the size of a golf ball on her
brain stem, an extremely life-threatening condition. They told me to get her
to UCLA Medical Center ASAP, and within 2 weeks, she was undergoing treatment.
25 hours of surgery in 1 week, 2 months in a halo brace, 4 weeks in UCLA, 6
weeks in a rehab hospital. She's a tough cookie, and she survived it all.
Today, she may have her scars, but she's fine, and one very cool, music-lovin'
15-year-old.
So, every time I think of Gershwin, I think ... there are things in life
that can't really be explained, but it sure feels like we're being looked out
for. Thanks for everything, George!
Love, Susan C.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:16:09 -0500
From: Michael Yarbrough
Subject: RE: 2-for-1 Sale at CDNOW thru 11/9/98 (NJC)
Jerry wrote:
<<>>
Also be sure to change to your own shopping cart or create one
if you don't have one--the URL posted takes you into *Kenny's*
shopping cart, and methinks nice as he is he has no intentions
of buying the entire JMDL some CDs. :-)
- --Michael
NP: Busta Rhymes, _When Disaster Strikes_
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:27:07 -0500
From: Michael Yarbrough
Subject: RE: A Lame and infuriating commentary
Pearl wrote:
<<>>
What's infuriating about it? He gives Joni kudos for not resting
on her laurels, and says her anger at being expected to transform
herself into a jukebox is justified.
To wit:
But musicians aren't frozen in time the way recordings are.
Talented young bands don't make their living performing classic
singles the way orchestras perform symphonies.
The rock era has always celebrated the singer as much as the
song. Just as no one in the art world expected to see Picasso
paint Guernica for the 600th time, it's a bit unreasonable for rock
fans to expect Bob Dylan to do Lake a Rolling Stone every night,
just as passionately as he did in 1965.
"I have to compete with myself and often get panned for not
playing my old stuff," Mitchell complained to Billboard recently.
And she's right to be angry about it. The only people holding
concert tickets should be those who want to hear what she's
doing today.
- --Michael
NP: Busta Rhymes, _When Disaster Strikes_
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:22:43 -0500 (EST)
From: John Lasater
Subject: Re: A Lame and infuriating commentary
On Tue, 3 Nov 1998 WirlyPearl@aol.com wrote:
> I was so excited to finally read an article on Joni in the Ft. Lauderdale
> Sun Sentinal but it turns out to be this lame commentary by a writer,
> J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun. Here goes:
I don't really think this is a lame or infuriating commentary. Most of
his comments seem valid to me; I do object to the fact that he implies
that somehow Joni and Bob's recent music is obviously inferior to their
earlier works ("it's easy to see why those who own CDs of Blonde on Blonde
and Blue and Ladies of the Canyon and Highway 61 revisited would think
twice before buying tickets.") Have these theoretical non-ticket buyers
never heard _Time Out of Mind_, or _Night Ride Home_ (or HOSL, for that
matter.) And if they haven't, why not? Time Out of Mind, was picked by
just about every respected critic as the best album of last year, and
many argued it was Dylan's best album of all time.
At the very least, I would think a respected music critic would be aware
of this stuff, and to simply ignore it to make a point is pure laziness.
Also, the comparison to the Rolling Stones is a weak one, because Mick
and Keef will prostitute themselves and their music for the sake of a
gazillion dollar ad campaign from a beer company. Joni and Bob would
never have that level of promotion for one of their tours, and as far as
I know, "Just Like A Woman" and "All I Want" have never been used to sell
Budweiser.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 10:35:29 -0400
From: Jerry Notaro
Subject: Re: Gershwin's World
Dreamzvill@aol.com wrote:
>
> I had seen a movie with Mary Steenburgen (can't recall the title), in which
> she plays a mousy little lady who longs to become a torch singer. She sings a
> lovely version of Gershwin's "What'll I Do". The song just blew me away with
> its simplicity and purity of feeling! Almost the very same week, I saw an
> episode of what I believe was "The Young Indiana Jones" in which he meets a
> young George Gershwin, playing piano in some smoky club.
> Something was triggered in me...I wanted to know more about this Gershwin
> character. I went to library and checked out his biography. Incredible what
> that man accomplished in his lifetime! I was surprised to read that he died so
> young - of a brain tumor at the age of 39!
What'll I Do is a great song, but it was composed by Irving Berlin, not Gershwin.
Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:30:51 EST
From: Ashara@aol.com
Subject: Birthday Greetings (NJC)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DUANE!!!!
THE BIG 4-0!!!!!!
Hugs,
Ashara
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 09:41:06 -0600
From: Howard Motyl
Subject: Giving credit . . .
Susan L.A. signed off a post with this:
"...Is it too much to ask?
I want a comfortable bed
that won't hurt my back..."-Mary Chapin Carpenter
Would just like to point out that while, yes, Mary Chapin *did* sing
these words in Passionate Kisses, that Lucinda Williams actually *wrote*
the words . . .
my mother always told me I was too technical and someday it would get me
in trouble.
Howard M
NP: White Noise of an Office Environment
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:47:01 EST
From: Dreamzvill@aol.com
Subject: Re: Smokin' On Stage (NJC)
Hey Andy...
That's ok about the smoking comment. It's kind of a weird dichotomous
situation we've grown up with...back in the '30's-'50's, smoking was
definitely portrayed as sexy, and we are still affected by those powerful
images!!! Some of our parents are PAYING for those powerful images, with
emphysema, cancer, and heart disease.
My husband has been a smoker since he was 10 years old; he has tried
quitting so many times, and it's got him in a powerful grip. I want him to
quit. But sometimes, I'll look at him lighting up one of the ole Marlboros,
and the light will be just SO, and I'll think, "God, that looks so sexy!"
Yeah, it's disgusting. God damn Philip Morris, anyway.
Love, susan C.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:51:23 -0500
From: Michael Yarbrough
Subject: RE: A Lame and infuriating commentary
John L. wrote:
<<>>
He didn't. He implied it was less commercial, not inferior. And
he's right.
<<>>
It seemed to me he was taking the Stones to task for prostituting
themselves; i.e rock bands shouldn't just play the same old hits
from many years ago over and over for money.
- --Michael
NP: still Busta
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:50:15 EST
From: Dreamzvill@aol.com
Subject: Re: smoking on stage (NJC)
Lori in San Antonio -
As to whether or not we would find smoking sexy if it weren't
unhealthy/addictive:
It's that oral thing, y'know! :)
Luv, Susan C.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:25:57 -0400
From: Susan McNamara
Subject: Daily News review of MSG show
=========================
On a Bill With Bob, Joni
Gets Back to the Garden
Rock messiahs don't often share the same bill. But Joni Mitchell and
Bob Dylan the two most literate musicians of the last 40 years are
following up a series of West Coast shows in the spring with a
Northeast swing that brought them to the Garden on Nov. 1.
While Dylan trucks through New York every year, Mitchell has made as
many appearances here as the comet Kohoutek. In fact, the Garden show
represented her first official Manhattan performance since the '70s.
No wonder the audience's opening ovation communicated as much surprise
as appreciation.
She rewarded them with a better-paced, more finely sung and more
varied performance than earlier shows in L.A. or Woodstock.
Joni Mitchell
Like any artist committed to constant evolution, Mitchell has cast her
earlier work in a new light. Her backup band, corralling drums, bass,
pedal steel and trumpet, used classic songs as fresh canvases,
comprised of small, wet strokes. In Mitchell's skewering of striving
materialists, "Harry's House," the trumpet of Chris Botti sketched a
dark sky, while Larry Klein's bass rumbled out the shape of a
dangerous landscape.
Mitchell's voice has also changed. It's earthier, with more burgundy
tones, but still flexible enough to manage the wild terrain of three
songs from her epic "Hejira." Mitchell added more upbeat material than
usual, including "Free Man in Paris" and "Don Juan's Reckless
Daughter," which the band whipped into a major rave-up.
She bookended the 15-song set with two 1970 hits, "Big Yellow Taxi"
and "Woodstock," the latter turned inside out to become a song of
botched opportunities. Extending her interest in jazz, Mitchell gave a
take on Billie Holiday's "Comes Love," bringing out its full shrugging
wit.
Really, the woman should get out more often.
While Dylan hardly ever stays home, Nov. 1's show broke significantly
with patterns of his recent live performances. Dylan has been on a
roll for most of this decade by playing the most aggressive rock of
his career. At the Garden, the band took a far more low-key route,
stressing acoustic numbers and more graceful intonations. In "I Want
You," he excised the original's sprightly rhythm and played up the
gorgeous tune. In "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," he sucked out the
sarcasm to go for something strikingly direct.
Dylan's also assumed nearly all the lead-guitar playing, which had
force on its side if hardly the technical finesse of head axman Larry
Campbell.
But, then, Dylan's uncommonly giddy mood seemed to define this event.
He smiled and chatted often and took pains to sing with more care,
especially in a surprise cover of Charles Aznavour's "The Times We've
Known." A warm and fuzzy messiah? Consider it yet another side of Bob
Dylan.
Jim Farber, NY Daily News, 11/3/98
____________________
/____________________\
||-------------------||
|| Sue McNamara ||
|| sem8@cornell.edu ||
||___________________||
|| O etch-a-sketch O ||
\___________________/
"It's all a dream she has awake" - Joni Mitchell
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:28:19 -0400
From: Susan McNamara
Subject: Syracuse
Here is the set list from last night in Syracuse and I will try to have the
rest of my report and photos by the end of the day at this familiar address
.
I really enjoyed myself and Dylan was phenomenal!! Although I didn't get
to meet Joni personally it's always an incredible thrill being so close to
her while she's doing what she does best--mesmerizing!!!
- --------
Big Yellow Taxi
Just Like This Train
Night Ride Home
Crazy Cries of Love
Free Man in Paris
Harry's House
Black Crow
Amelia
Hejira
Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
Sex Kills
Magdalene Laundries
Trouble Man
Comes Love
encore
Woodstock
____________________
/____________________\
||-------------------||
|| Sue McNamara ||
|| sem8@cornell.edu ||
||___________________||
|| O etch-a-sketch O ||
\___________________/
"It's all a dream she has awake" - Joni Mitchell
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 17:40:58 +0100
From: "Winfried Hühn"
Subject: Middle America hurricane catastrophy
Michael,
how have you and your people been? Please let us know if there's a way
for us to help.
Winfried
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 12:22:01 -0500
From: heather
Subject: just lurking - njc
hi all -
i'm going to just lurk for a while. i have about 30 stitches in my right
hand and it takes forever to type left handed.
i'm really enjoying the reviews! please keep rolling 'em in.
lots-o-love
heather
ps- my vcr is all ready for friday night!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 12:41:51 EST
From: Dreamzvill@aol.com
Subject: Re: just lurking - njc
Heather -
What sort of fun did you engage in to be worthy of so much stitchery??! :)
Happy healing!!!
From one who was lucky enough to be right handed and have my left stitched
- -up,
Susan C.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 09:46:08 PST
From: "Don Rowe"
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
You Know You're A Joni Addict When ...
1. Your significant other notices your "Gershwin's World" CD and their
first comment is, "Joni Mitchell's on this?"
2. You have a dream that a recording studio has been built next door to
an ante-bellum (SP?) mansion in Natchez, MS, and while at your family
reunion, you tour the studio and discover that Joni's recording there --
and she graciously agrees to help you out on vocals for your demo.
(Yep, I really did have this dream!)
3. You can name the muzak Joni tune in 3 notes.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 12:47:19 -0500
From: Michael Yarbrough
Subject: One extra ticket available for College Park
I am still trying to sell one ticket for Thursday's show in College Park,
MD (just outside DC) for it's face value + Ticketmaster charges = $45.
It's a good seat. Please contact me at mwyarbro@zzapp.org if you
are interested in this ticket.
Thanks!
- --Michael
NP: Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions, _The Anthology 1961 - 1977_
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 09:57:08 -0800
From: Susan Chaloner
Subject: Re: Giving credit . . .
Howard Motyl makes sure Lucinda Williams gets credit for her "Passionate
Kisses."
> my mother always told me I was too technical and someday it would get me
> in trouble.
Thank you Howard! I stand officially corrected if not technically
perfect ;~D
> NP: White Noise of an Office Environment
Really Howard Dear! You should get out more };~D
Susan L.A.
"...Aim above morality..."-Ruth Gordon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 98 17:56:23 GMT
From: kg@ibm.net (Kenny Grant)
Subject: NJC: CDNOW -- PLEASE READ
DON'T POST CDNOW URLs to DISCUSSION LISTS!!!
Just found out that unlike Music Blvd, CDNOW's URLs become PERSONALIZED as soon
as you visit...
I called them and they said there's no problem, and there's been no activity on
my account, cause you can't place an order without a password and other info.
Still, the best idea is to just CLICK AROUND! When they have a sale, there's
always a big banner on their home page.
-Kenny
On 11/3/98 6:47AM, "Ken (Slarty)" wrote:
Hi Kenny
By using that url I ended up in your shopping cart (which also shows you
home address).
Hey Ken,
With all the tape trades I do my address is practically public record
anyway :-)
-Kenny
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 13:23:15 EST
From: TerryM2442@aol.com
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
In a message dated 11/3/98 12:49:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dgrowe@hotmail.com writes:
<< 3. You can name the muzak Joni tune in 3 notes. >>
I can name that song in...TWO notes.
Terry
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 13:37:39 EST
From: PMcfad@aol.com
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
when you start to buy multiple copies of the same joni discs so you dont have
to worry about moving them from your home, your car, or your office.
when you buy joni discs for people who haven't asked for them - that makes you
a pusher, not a user
pj
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 13:50:11 -0500 (EST)
From: David Wright
Subject: Missing Mail (NJC)
Hello all,
we had a computer crash in our flat (and don't know when it'll be
back up -- I'm in a cafe). Could somebody please forward me digests
452-455? And anyone who sent me mail privately Sunday or Monday
please resend it? Thanks very much. Sorry for bandwidth.
- --David
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 98 11:01:20 -0800
From: Ken Corral
Subject: Re Reviews Of Gershwin's Wolrd
From the latest digest quoting a Free press review by MARK STRYKER
**Mitchell simply sounds silly aping late-period
Billie Holiday on "The Man I
Love," with her wobbly vibrato, piercing vowels and
hiccup accents. Hancock,
on organ and piano, disappears into pop-soul oblivion
on W.C. Handy's "St.
Louis Blues" behind Wonder's harmonica and vocal.
And an alternate view from the review in last Sunday's (November 1st)
L.A. Times Calendar Section by Don Heckman:
"What appears instead is a sequence of unusually
thoughtful takes on Gershwin (and the others)-- the
most unexpected of which are Mitchell's renderings of
"The Man I Love" and "Summertime." Although her
"Mingus"-era forays into jazz aroused understandable
skepticism in the jazz community, she phrases here
with authority and understanding. Although the
perspective she brings to the music does not flow--as
it does for most jazz singers--from blues and gospel
sources, it nonetheless offers a compelling view of
music that is usually heard in a far different style."
And for the record: I TOTALLY disagree that Mitchell is "aping"
Billie Holiday. Someone on the list made a similar comment a
few days ago and it is just WRONG. In fact,
I would say Joni has taken great care not to
present readings that are too close to Holiday's.
KenC-
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 12:04:00 +0000
From: Today in Joni History
Subject: Today in Joni History - November 4
1996: Joni appears on the Late Show with David Letterman. Check out
pictures and a summary of member comments about the performance at:
http://www.jmdl.com/articles/961104.htm
- --------
Know a date or month specific Joni tidbit? Send it off to
JoniFact@jmdl.com and we'll add it to the list.
- --------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 14:19:03 -0500
From: Jeff & Vicki Harris
Subject: Joni was SMOKIN!
Okay, Okay...with all the discussion about Joni's smoking, I have to
ask...
Do any other smokers on this list find that you crave a cig when you
hear Joni's music?
Vicki
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 14:23:05 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time)
From: John Lasater
Subject: Re: RE: A Lame and infuriating commentary
I wrote:
> << Bob's recent music is obviously inferior to their earlier works>>>
>
Michael Y. wrote:
> He didn't. He implied it was less commercial, not inferior. And
> he's right.
>
No, he *stated* that it was less commercial, and I think
one could argue that he's wrong about that. (When was she
ever really commercial? And I think there's a difference
between "being commercially successful," and "releasing
commercial music.") I concluded that statements like "The
problem for many listeners is that Mitchell's music has
lost its appeal," and " it's easy to see why even those
who own CD's of Blonde on Blonde and Blue and Ladies of the
Canyon and Highway 61 Revisited would think twice" meant
that J.D. thought that Dylan and Joni's recent work was
inferior...otherwise, he would have said something to
contradict that impression, such as "Mitchell has been
blacklisted from Top 40 radio for more than half of her
career, but she continues to create exciting, innovative
pop music."
I guess it just bothered me that Considine seemed reluctant
to offer up an opinion (HIS opinion) on the quality of
their recent music. Dylan "has a reputation" for
unlistenable performances? Again, that's a statement that
implies something negative without really saying anything. I
always thought that being a critic was all about sharing
your opinion with your audience.
C'mon, J.D., tell us what you REALLY think.
jhl1@acpub.duke.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 14:46:40 -0500 (EST)
From: "Gerald Notaro (LIB)"
Subject: Re: Joni was SMOKIN!
Only when the listening has brought me to orgasm.
Jerry
On Tue, 3 Nov 1998, Jeff & Vicki Harris wrote:
> Okay, Okay...with all the discussion about Joni's smoking, I have to
> ask...
>
> Do any other smokers on this list find that you crave a cig when you
> hear Joni's music?
>
> Vicki
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 98 19:46:54 GMT
From: kg@ibm.net (Kenny Grant)
Subject: Re: You Know You're a Joni Addict When...
You SNEAK out of the house to see a Joni concert without telling your
significant other where you are going :-)
-Kenny
who went to the concert with his S.O., but met a few people at the show who did
the above!
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 11:51:00 -0800
From: jan gyn
Subject: Re: just lurking - njc
Whoa, I had heard that some of the Joni hecklers had gotten punched out.
Hope your hand heals!
- -jan
hi all -
>i'm going to just lurk for a while. i have about 30 stitches in my right
>hand and it takes forever to type left handed.
>i'm really enjoying the reviews! please keep rolling 'em in.
>lots-o-love
>heather
>
>ps- my vcr is all ready for friday night!
>
------------------------------
End of JMDL Digest V3 #458
**************************
Don't forget about these ongoing projects:
FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. Do you have mailing list-related
questions? -send them to
Trivia Project: Send your Joni trivia questions and/or answers to
Today in History Project: Know of a date-specific Joni fact?
-send it to
-------
Post messages to the list at
Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to
-------
Siquomb, isn't she?