From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V4 #119 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Tuesday, March 16 1999 Volume 04 : Number 119 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 http://jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Stormy Weather [Medric Faulkner ] Hello ["Barnicle, Kathryn" ] Re: Hello [Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com] Re: thing on Joni's mouth [Lisa Durfee ] Misunderstanding (NJC) [michael paz ] Misinterpreted Lyric Confessions [Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com] Re: Misunderstanding (NJC) [Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com] Roberta and Don (NJC) [Mary Pitassi ] Re: snippy [Howard Motyl ] My last (nonsensical) post (NJC) [Mary Pitassi ] Re: thing on Joni's mouth [IVPAUL42@aol.com] Re: Paint ["Don Rowe" ] Re: Misinterpreted Lyric Confessions [IVPAUL42@aol.com] Re: My last (nonsensical) post (NJC) [Ginamu@aol.com] Killing Me Softly - Lori Lieberman [WirlyPearl@aol.com] Blue, Stone, Sale [Wally Breese ] Re: Blue, Stone, Sale [Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com] Re: snippy ["Kakki" ] Re: NJC:Tinky Winky(not for those with no sense of humor) ["Sarah Whitak] Fw: Hejira penis? ["paul tyrer" ] This and that [John.Mitchell@ascend.com] Re: This and that [Ginamu@aol.com] NJC:Tinky Winky(not for those with no sense of humour) [Bounced Message <] Re: This and that - Hejira [Ginamu@aol.com] Nagging question ["Gerald" ] Re: This and that [Phyliss Ward ] Re: This and that [Randy Remote ] [Fwd: random notes....] [Randy Remote ] Re: This and that [Scott Price ] Re: snippy ["Helen M. Adcock" ] Whoops! [Wally Breese ] Possibly, All of the Above (NJC) [Michael Paz ] There could have been more... [Michael Paz ] How Do YOu Stop? [Anayajay@aol.com] Re: There could have been more... ["Kakki" ] Hejira ["Wally Kairuz" ] Re: There could have been more... [Strummed@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 05:30:44 -0800 (PST) From: Medric Faulkner Subject: Stormy Weather Got my Stormy Weather CD from AT&T Saturday. The music is beautiful. There is a nice picture of the entire group on the back of the cover that shows Joni with her arms around Larry Klein and Sheryl Crow. Stevie Nicks really nailed At Last and of course Joni was really special. It is a shame that it wasn't videotaped for PBS fundraising month or something. Medric Faulkner _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:43:44 -0500 From: "Barnicle, Kathryn" Subject: Hello Greetings All! I am back from my self imposed four month JMDL exile and have recently joined the list again. I actually stopped listening to Joni for that time also (what was I thinking???). It is amazing how much pull this list had even though I was not on it. Barely a day went by without me thinking what the JMDLers were up to. I did check into Wally's and Les's site every so often just to make sure I wasn't missing anything big. After listening to Joni non-stop this weekend, I had to join up again and it is nice to see familiar names (some that I can actually see faces with, thanks to Ashara and her Labor Day fest!). I will still spend most of my time lurking but it is nice to be back in the JMDL arms again! Katie from the Cape ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:10:28 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: Re: Hello Katie said: <> Katie, was this penance handed down from a judge or a priest or something? :~) I wouldn't even consider giving up Joni for lent! <> Welcome back - hope you learned your lesson!! :~) Bob NP: The Lyres "No Reasons to Complain" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:34:27 -0400 From: Lisa Durfee Subject: Re: thing on Joni's mouth CarltonCT@aol.com wrote: > I always wondered ......... I never mistook Jonis wrist for a penis, but for a while there I thought it was sort of kinky that she and Cherokee Louise would put their panties on the train tracks. (I know- big Duh) any other good misinterpreted lyric confessions? Or is that another JMDL been-there-done-that? --newbie Lisa D ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:47:05 +0000 From: michael paz Subject: Misunderstanding (NJC) Hi Mark and Terry- What part don't you get? I typed this verbatim from the one page fax that I got. Obviuosly they are having a good time taking a stab at the industry. I think the consolidation remark refers to the compartmentizing of genres of music. The JMDL probably doesn't fit any of the radio formats that have been dished out to us (like AC, AAA, Classic Rock, etc.), even though we may like these individualy, our tastes are wider than that in most cases. I guess that's why some of the folks in LA area have been positivly commenting on a new station out there (103) that plays all kinds of stuff. We take lots of shit here about our format on Louisiana JukeBox (which is TV) because we put on all kinds of music like Hip Hop, Country, and blues rock in the same show. Take care all Michael ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:56:31 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: Misinterpreted Lyric Confessions Lisa's enquiring mind wants to know: <> For whatever reason, I never really studied the lyrics to HOSL like I did the others that I sang along with, so I had some mis-steps. To this day, I still have to strain my brain to sing the right words. All of them occur in "In France...". It may be that I heard the tune a lot on the radio before I picked up the LP so I had already imprinted these wrong-o's: "Amour, Mama, not cheek display" (in other words, it was *real* kissin', not just some superficial cheek thing) "While he's racking up his switchblade" Instead of "Free Play". I sang it but had no idea what it meant. "Lead Foot Melvin" was always "Liquid Melvin", drinking and driving I suppose. Bob, never afraid to admit his own stupidity... NP: Phil Collins "Everyday" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:58:07 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: Re: Misunderstanding (NJC) I thought it referred to the Consolidation of A&M, Polygram, Island, etc. that's tossing a lot of artists out on the streets... Bob ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Misunderstanding (NJC) Author: michael paz at fdinet Date: 3/15/99 9:47 AM Hi Mark and Terry- What part don't you get? I typed this verbatim from the one page fax that I got. Obviuosly they are having a good time taking a stab at the industry. I think the consolidation remark refers to the compartmentizing of genres of music. The JMDL probably doesn't fit any of the radio formats that have been dished out to us (like AC, AAA, Classic Rock, etc.), even though we may like these individualy, our tastes are wider than that in most cases. I guess that's why some of the folks in LA area have been positivly commenting on a new station out there (103) that plays all kinds of stuff. We take lots of shit here about our format on Louisiana JukeBox (which is TV) because we put on all kinds of music like Hip Hop, Country, and blues rock in the same show. Take care all Michael ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:46:06 -0600 From: Mary Pitassi Subject: Roberta and Don (NJC) Paul I. wrote: "I thought this was one she did write. I heard a story a long time ago that she wrote it when she heard Don McLean sing "American Pie," though it might have been one of Don's other songs." Paul, you're close. I heard years ago that "Killing Me Softly" was the song Roberta wrote about Don McLean, after being completely blown away by his talent when she happened upon him in concert at the beginning of his career (". . . and there he was, this young boy / A stranger to my eyes / strumming my pain with his fingers / singing my life with his words / Killing me softly with his song", etc.). Mary P., apologizing in advance for any misquotes of "Killing," but asking for mercy. I'm dredging some pretty ancient memories for those lyrics!! (although I do like the song). ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 12:04:17 -0600 From: Howard Motyl Subject: Re: snippy P. Henry wrote: > howard wrote: > >In an interview, Joni explained...> > > mind sharing exactly what interview that was and where I might find it so I could read it for myself? I see nothing like that in the bio section of WallyB's site... did you read that or did you just read someone else who said they read it? I heard her--JM--with my own ears, say it in an interview. I believe it was on Morning Becomes Electric. She said Geffen asked her to write a hit. > and also: > >Sounds like a butt kiss to me.> > > how so? she'd already been recording for 5 years and wrote some of her best material during that time... (at least for my taste) and the success of You Turn Me On, Help Me and Raised On Robbery, fine pieces in their own right, drew a lot more people close enough to experience the beauty of songs like Down To You, Same Situation, Free Man In Paris and People's Parties as well as the music of STAS, Clouds, LOTC, Blue and FTR! I think there certainly *was* an attempt to reach more people but that, in itself, is no contradiction to art (or 'butt kissing') whatsoever and I seriously doubt that she ever said this unless she was joking! after all, the ascertaining of the art is the completion of it's process... and the artist longs to touch the soul of those who can receive it. I don't deny all of this. I think if it made money for her, that's great. But it was bowing to the music industry to do it. The guy who owned the label (whether a friend or not) asked her to write a hit and she did. She could have said no and played the artist but she didn't. Listen, I love the song and I don't think it is a contradiction to art, thank goddess she can make a hit art--all I'm saying is there is a bit of duplicity about her attitudes. She was asked to write a hit and she said okay. She played the game. > > > and also: > >And if she really hated the music business so much and she was so principled, then why doesn't she self-distribute, ala Ani DiFranco or, after her label dropped her, Jane Siberry.> > > sure, great idea if all you care about is making money and want to spend your time on production, sales, advertising and shipping instead of creating your art... done by garage bands all the time. And this is my point exactly, if she doesn't want to spend her time on all this and wants to create all the time (which I am very glad she does), then she has to play the game. She doesn't have to like it but she has to play. Sorry. We all compromise and she has made one. I could be a freelance producer and worry about where my next job is going to come from and maybe make more money but I choose to be a staff producer and know that I get paid every other Thursday whether I have a video to work on or not. I compromised and I don't complain about it. It was a choice I made. She is making a similar choice. > and sure, I can picture a good artist doing this too, just to get their stuff out there... in existence. a few have even built it into a successful enterprise. I've seen writers do this so that at least their book was in print... but which of them would turn down a publisher if they came knocking on their front door?!? > let me turn it around again, since you're, in effect, calling my honesty into question: Why am I calling your honesty in question? That's ridiculous. This is not a personal attack, don't make it one. I am simply stating my opinion about this. > if Joni *wasn't* so principled, why did she continue touring coffeehouses for over a year while record company agents from different companies followed her around her gigs begging her to sign a nat'l recording contract? she did so because she refused to 'put her art on a schedule' in a standard contract that would have required her to put out records in assembly line fashion... these were her own words I heard her say myself and I was the one who had to refuse these agents access to her dressing room because she wouldn't talk to them and I know what I'm talking about because I saw and heard these things first hand, not in a magazine or on a radio show. But this is 1999. She doesn't do coffeehouses, people spell her name right and she wins international awards. It's 30 some years later and she is still grousing about it. And maybe she was just being a savvy businessperson at the time--waiting for the best offer. If there were so many people after her, maybe she was playing them off one another to get the best deal. And I am not saying this is what happened, I am hypothetically presenting this . . . > I have an ad we ran in the local paper back then (which my old friend brian sent me a copy of) for a weekend when Joni played... I'm going to post it as soon as I get it scanned... it has her name spelled 'Joni Mitchel' and says: 'Admission: $1.25 per person'! she could have walked out of that place right into her own limo and written her own ticket any time as early as '66 if she spelled success with a capital $. I can't think of one performer/artist I knew back then who wouldn't have grabbed that in a heartbeat! Please don't tell me she is not in it for the money--and what I mean is for some money (yes, she should get paid for what she is doing). Yes, she wants her art/music to be seen/heard (as do I) but when she talks about promotion of her work, she's talking about money issues, too. Come on, if she didn't care about the money at all, then she would never have signed with any producer/label. She would still be playing, real good, for free. Howard M NP: Spyboy, Emmylou - -- Howard Motyl Director of Production, MPI Teleproductions 16101 South 108th Avenue Orland Park, IL 60467 708-873-3190 708.873.3177 Fax http://www.mpimedia.com "Anytime you have the opportunity to accomplish something for somebody who comes behind you and you don't do it, you are wasting your time on this earth." Roberto Clemente ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 12:01:03 -0600 From: Mary Pitassi Subject: My last (nonsensical) post (NJC) Oops: I guess what I wrote to Paul doesn't make much sense, does it? I was reading quickly, and for some reason, thought he was writing about "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (although, if I'd been paying attention more, I would have realized that the Fugees never did a cover of *that*!) I obviously heard the same story Paul did. If "Killing Me Softly" if actually Ewan MacColl's song, perhaps he, and not Roberta, had the concert experience with Don--or maybe the story is completely apocryphal! Mary P., not quite awake on a busy Monday morning. P.S. Has anyone heard of any recent output from Kirsty MacColl, who (I believe) is Ewan's daughter? She released an interesting CD some years ago called "Kite" and then at least one follow-up, but I haven't heard much about her since the mid-90's. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:21:46 EST From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: thing on Joni's mouth In a message dated 3/15/99 10:34:44 AM Eastern Standard Time, durflink@epix.net writes: << any other good misinterpreted lyric confessions? Or is that another JMDL been-there-done-that? >> They are called Mondegreens; there are many, but there are always a few good new ones, such as yours. Paul I ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:26:48 PST From: "Don Rowe" Subject: Re: Paint >4. She can't even _begin to hit the high notes! Can you imagine, Joni >circa 1999 trying to sing "Chelsea Morning" with a cigarrette and a >VG-8??? > Why not a husky-voiced, lowered-an-octave rendition? Plus, if she's forgotten how to play the guitar the way she used to ... when in doubt, rearrange! But I'm afraid this is all academic really, much as I'd like to hear her do it ... Don Rowe Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:23:47 EST From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: Misinterpreted Lyric Confessions In a message dated 3/15/99 11:13:58 AM Eastern Standard Time, Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com writes: << "Lead Foot Melvin" was always "Liquid Melvin", drinking and driving I suppose. >> I also hear it as "Liquid Melvin, with his hot wire hands." I suppose he can just pour himself inside a locked car and start it up. Paul Ivice ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:47:45 EST From: Ginamu@aol.com Subject: Re: My last (nonsensical) post (NJC) In a message dated 3/15/99 1:14:45 PM Eastern Standard Time, PitassiM@WEAC.org writes: > P.S. Has anyone heard of any recent output from Kirsty MacColl, who (I > believe) is Ewan's daughter? She released an interesting CD some years ago > called "Kite" and then at least one follow-up, but I haven't heard much > about her since the mid-90's. > After Kite came Electric Landlady in 1991, which I own and still play frequently. There are a number of "hits" on it, including a song called Walking Down Madison, which received a lot of airplay on my local station (they love her). Then I guess Virgin records dropped her and she's put on some compilation stuff and at least two other releases but I don't recall hearing anything on my station from those. Don't know the record labels either. Electric Landlady is really good. If you're a fan or even have a passing interest in Kirsty, I'd recommend it highly. She's a very good songwriter and the structures (sorry I lack the "lingo") she chooses to put her lyrics into are interesting, fun and unexpected. My Affair is a song on EL which is set to Latin rhythms and vocals singing the refrain in Spanish. Walking Down Madison has a sort of rap-like flavor. Really cool record. Take care, Gina NP: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo - Byrds ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:51:40 EST From: WirlyPearl@aol.com Subject: Killing Me Softly - Lori Lieberman Hi everyone, I really had to comment about the song "Killing Me Softly" Unfortunately you are all incorrect as to who wrote it, and who originally sang it. It was written in 1972 by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox for Lori Lieberman after she heard Don MacLean sing. She sang it on her debut album in 1972 (which I still have + 4 others) and she recorded it again (after about a 15 year break from the music biz) in 1994 on her absolutely wonderful CD "A Thousand Dreams." She has the most beautiful, pure voice, and her songs and melodies, (almost all of which are written and arranged by her now) for me, touch the emotions like like no one else except Joni can. She did another incredible CD in 1996 called "Home of Whispers". My husband and I have listened to these two CD's hundreds of times and have never tired of listening to them since discovering their existence about a year ago. She's gotten me through some sad times, and I have cried and been uplifted by her music. I have shared it with several people at the Jonifests and other friends with very positive response. I've also given her music as gifts. I can't urge you enough to get Lori's Lieberman's two CD's. For the most difinitive version of "Killing Me Softly" you'll have to hear hers. I'm still here, Pearl ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 99 13:00:30 -0700 From: Wally Breese Subject: Blue, Stone, Sale Hi everybody, Joni's classic album, Blue, is cited as one of the "25 essential rock 'n' roll albums of the '70s" in the March 12th edition of Goldmine magazine. They say about the album: "'Help Me' was a chart-topper, but there is a whole lot more to this release than just the single. Joni Mitchell proves herself once again as a singer-songwriter of the very highest caliber." Some of the other albums cited were Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones, Let It Be by The Beatles, Ziggy Stardust by Bowie, Blood On The Tracks by Dylan and Tapestry by Carole King. Also, DCC's Gold Disc release of Blue is available on March 16th, and it's a stupendous-sounding disc that accentuates the beauty and intimacy of these nearly 30 year old tracks. Read more about the Gold Disc here: http://www.JoniMitchell.com/BlueGold399.html Rolling Stone magazine (Issue date 4/1/99) has another of their frequent "Special Issues." This time out the focus is on "Guitar Gods" and it includes a bizarre painting on the cover of Jimi Hendrix. Joni is one of the "Gods" listed by name on the cover, and inside the mag she's interviewed briefly about how her style of guitar-playing evolved. Joni says: "I never emulated anybody...I know I have a unique way of playing, but nobody seemed to notice. I found it silly that they kept describing it as folk guitar when it was more like Duke Ellington." A beautiful but over-used (IMHO) photograph by David Gahr of Joni performing in the late '60s is reprinted along with Joni's reflections on being a "Guitar God." CDNOW.COM has been persuaded to put every item included on their Joni Mitchell page "on sale." This includes CD's, videos, laser discs, DVD's and more! So if you're mssing an album or video in your JM collection, this is the time to get it. You can shop through the link address below and a small percentage of every sale will be credited to the homepage account. Thank you! Enter through this address: http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/redirect/leaf=switch/from=sr-1958831/t arget=buyweb_products/ArtistID=FRN-MITCHELL*JONI Later, Wally Breese The Joni Mitchell Homepage http://www.JoniMitchell.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 16:09:31 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: Re: Blue, Stone, Sale Wally wrote: <> Wally, does the Goldmine also tell us how to get this rare issue of Blue with "Help Me" on it?? :~D Bob NP: Shawn Colvin, "You & The Mona Lisa" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:21:11 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: snippy Howard wrote: >Please don't tell me she is not in it for the money--and what I mean is for some money (yes, she >should get paid for what she is doing). Yes, she wants her art/music to be seen/heard (as do I) but >when she talks about promotion of her work, she's talking about money issues, too. Come on, if she >didn't care about the money at all, then she would never have signed with any producer/label. She >would still be playing, real good, for free. I'm sure she always wanted to get a fair deal for herself. I think maybe her experiences have colored her attitude a lot. Maybe we need to put it in historical perspective. Many of us recall the prevalent attitude in the 60s of not trusting "authority" and not wanting to work for "the man", i.e., the corporate monoliths. I would suspect Joni had this same attitude back then and was sharp enough to try to control some of her own musical and financial destiny while working within the confines of the "system". She seems to return to that attitude in her interviews today, even though it is a little "dated" at this point, at least from the standpoint of laws and other safeguards, such as the various performing artists unions, which have evolved over the past 30 years to better protect artists' legal and financial interests. On the other hand, she experienced and witnessed a lot of abuse of artists at the hands of the record biz over the years and, just maybe, she wants people to "never forget" the dark ages of the past which were sometimes rife with opportunism. In that context, I can excuse her grousing a little because she is, in a way, standing up for all artists' rights. Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:49:42 +1000 From: "Sarah Whitaker (ADC Administration)" Subject: Re: NJC:Tinky Winky(not for those with no sense of humor) >Thank God the Rev. Jerry Falwell has stepped in to clean up children's >television. Recently he outed Tinky Winky, from that perverted show the >"Teletubbies," because, Falwell pronounced, the character is clearly a >fount of gayness: He's purple, the gay color; he has an antenna shaped >like a triangle, the gay symbol; and he carries a purse, something all >gay people do. The annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was held recently. It is the largest mardi gras in the world with more than 650,000 people lining the streets to watch the parade this year. One float in the parade featured that infamous camp Teletubbie Tinky Winky! I'm not sure if this is because Tinky Winky is regarded as some kind of gay icon or if it was an attempt to get under the good Rev. Falwell's skin. Rather than arguing if he is gay or not, the question we should be asking Falwell is "who cares?". You can't protect children from the fact that the world is made up of many colorful characters (including men who carry handbags), god forbid they may turn out to be as out of touch and homophobic as him! P.S My favorite cartoon drag moment - Elma Fudd as the Nordic queen in the Loony Tunes version of Wagner opera. Elma dies in Bugs Bunny's arms in the end and as he is carrying him off into the sunset Bugs says "Well this is opera, you didn't think it could be a happy ending!" Sarah in Sydney 0000,0000,ffff ~ Work like you don't need the money Love like you've never been hurt Dance like nobody's watching ~ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 23:32:44 -0000 From: "paul tyrer" Subject: Fw: Hejira penis? >Ryan wrote: I FINALLY see how people mistake the hand for a penis on the >Hejira album >now, but i still can't figure out what joni has on her mouth on >Blue...can someone tell me what that is? > Oh, please! I've heard this penis-story before on the jmdl and still can't see it. Listen, if anyone's gonna think they've seen a penis it's going to be me (!) and I just **don't** see one. You jmdlers are obsessed! Seek collective psychoanalysis now! wash your eyes out with soap, you dirty dirty things... Having said this, I always thought Joni was dribbling on the front cover of Blue... Paul XX > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:37:01 -0800 From: John.Mitchell@ascend.com Subject: This and that - --0__=JL5Kopx5nSYA3fVB2GWFS9xYx8i0bgEqZ8DmgiyqmQE7WcjSlFEqpuXO Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Well, I finally bought DJRD and THOSL, the latter being the better of the two, I think. Some of what was said about DJRD in that negative review was indeed true. But Rolling Stone was WAY off base when they said THOSL was worst album of the year (if they did indeed say that). One of my problems with Don Jaun is that damn electric bass with the attack delay. It's way too loud and way too overused, just as Joni tends to overuse that annoying sax on Turbulent Indigo. I must say, however, that I was amazed to read that the black guy on front was Joni. I went back and looked after that and--it certainly is! Don't know about the kid on the front, though. Ruffled tux shirts weren't around when Joni was a kid. OK, since I'm Joni bashing, I must also point out that both albums feature some songs with significant distortion on them--which is a problem with Joni albums. She may be one of the greatest songwriters alive, but she is a lousy recording engineer. If you want to see what I mean, listen to that vocal chorus just before the flutes on "Climbing the Hill" or whatever it's called from Court and Spark. Speaking of which, that is one great album. But I think my fave may be "Blue". Now, would somebody please tell me what the fascination with Hejira is? I have listened to it maybe 10 times now and am still unimpressed. The Coyote song is OK, but the amorphous make-it-up-as-you-go nature of some of the other songs grows old fast. I'd have to rate this as one of my least favorite Joni albums. Nice cover, though. I'll have to check out that hand - --0__=JL5Kopx5nSYA3fVB2GWFS9xYx8i0bgEqZ8DmgiyqmQE7WcjSlFEqpuXO Content-type: text/plain; charset=windows-1257 Content-Disposition: inline Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable =85 BTW, I'm sure this has been asked before, but why is that record called= Hejira? And exactly how is it pronounced? johnm = - --0__=JL5Kopx5nSYA3fVB2GWFS9xYx8i0bgEqZ8DmgiyqmQE7WcjSlFEqpuXO-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 19:08:47 EST From: Ginamu@aol.com Subject: Re: This and that In a message dated 3/15/99 6:41:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, John.Mitchell@ascend.com writes: > Ruffled tux shirts weren't around when Joni was a kid. > I don't think that's the kid that's been referred to as Joni. It's the little girl in the Indian garb on the back that, in my opinion, has to be our sweet Joan. I mean, just look at it!!! Gina ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:13:30 -0700 From: Bounced Message Subject: NJC:Tinky Winky(not for those with no sense of humour) From: claud_loren_carter@ccMail.Census.GOV Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:47:07 -0500 Catman, Verry funny stuff there. Made me laugh on a snowy Monday morning at the office. All of my childhood favorites exposed for what they "are". So, sad, this stuff. I do wonder why someone on Falwell's staff did not have the backbone to tell him "this is a waste of time" or "don't you have something really important to postulate on" or a simple "don't go there, you're opening yourself up to widespread ridicule." Then again, why would one of his "yes-men" ever think to talk back to their lord and master. And to think, folk actually do send these types of pompus loud mouths lots of $$$. I was wondering....in Britain and Australia (and the rest of the world for that matter), are these types of religious begger programs on the regular TV. Loren..... P.S....What about Tom and Jerry? NP....Born in the USA....BRUCE!!! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 19:55:31 EST From: Ginamu@aol.com Subject: Re: This and that - Hejira In a message dated 3/15/99 6:41:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, John.Mitchell@ascend.com writes: > BTW, I'm sure this has been asked before, but why is that record called > Hejira? And exactly how is it pronounced? > This from Merriam-Webster online dictionary: he*gi*ra also he*ji*ra (noun) [the Hegira, flight of Muhammad from Mecca in A.D. 622, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic hijrah, literally, flight] First appeared 1753 : a journey esp. when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation : EXODUS It can be pronounced two ways but it's hard for me to explain them without the ability to duplicate the pronunciation key and my online dictionary doesn't contain one. Just look it up. Quite a fitting title for an album about flight and the road and trying to ditch the hurt of lost love. And as far as your inability to appreciate Hejira goes, I'd say that the "fascination" with it is probably, like anything else, a matter of personal taste. I don't particularly care for Clouds but I haven't written posts about it which would put its appreciators on the defensive and if I did, I would compose those posts in such a way as to make it obvious that I was sincere about broadening my perspective on that record. If I sensed (and I could be wrong) that you truly wanted to know why I appreciate Hejira, I would take a stab at it but I see no such attitude reflected in the tone of your post. Take care, Gina Gina ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 19:25:51 -0600 From: "Gerald" Subject: Nagging question Hi all! I haven't been able to keep up with this list like I used to. My days just aren't as long as they used to be. Here's my question: Quite awhile (months) back, there was mention of (however you spell) Alanis Morisette breaking into tears over a comment Joni had made about her. I've always wondered what Joni said that Alanis found so hurtful. 2nd question (somewhat rhetorical): Should I just be digging the dirt in my own garden? :-] Gerald ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:41:39 -0800 From: Phyliss Ward Subject: Re: This and that John.Mitchell@ascend.com wrote: > Now, would somebody please tell me what the fascination with Hejira is? I'd say overall for me, it's the lyrics. I didn't care for it at first either but now it's in my top 3 or 4. Keep Listening! - -- Phyliss pward@lightspeed.net http://www.bodywise.com/consultants/bpward ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:54:48 -0800 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: This and that 1) I LOVE the bass on DJRD, and do not think it is overdone, although Ms. Mitchell has questioned whether it was, in retrospect. No, it was GOOOOD, just like she thought when she did it. 2) I'm guessing you were listening to the stock CD copy of "Court and Spark", which is, I think, one of the worst sounding CD's ever, due to bad mastering and/or manufacturing by the company. Check out the HDCD copy or clean vinyl and you will hear that, as always, Joni and her engineers did a great job. RR ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:55:28 -0800 From: Randy Remote Subject: [Fwd: random notes....] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------BC429B099628678979FD65FB Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - --------------BC429B099628678979FD65FB Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Message-ID: <36EDB7BE.BD511D3B@saber.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:45:34 -0800 From: Randy Remote X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: LRFye@aol.com Subject: Re: random notes.... References: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit LRFye@aol.com wrote: > > I have yet to figure out all the hoopla over WTRF. The CD was reissued as a > gold master very early on; why? I like the album, but I don't know of anyone > who says it's their favorite by Joni. I wouldn't go that far, but I consider it one of her best. RR - --------------BC429B099628678979FD65FB-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:09:17 -0800 From: Scott Price Subject: Re: This and that At 03:37 PM 3/15/99 -0800, John.Mitchell@ascend.com wrote: >Rolling Stone was WAY off base when they said THOSL was >worst album of the year (if they did indeed say that). John: The magazine dubbed HOSL "worst album title of the year," a bit different than simply "worst album" of the year, although it's no secret that RS has been highly critical of Joni on many occasions. >Now, would somebody please tell me what the fascination with Hejira is? Joni pronounces it he-JEER-a, with the "E" in "he" being a short vowel sound, almost like "heh." After ten listens, if it doesn't appeal to you, I don't know if it ever will. But as is often the case with Joni's material sometimes it takes MANY listens for it all to sink in. Briefly, my own fascination (and pinnacle rating) stems from the album's totally unique sound which blends sparse instrumentation, the incredible backbone of Jaco's bass, and the most brilliant and inspiring lyrics ever written. IMO it's a true masterpiece; it captures a full range of emotions and provides the listener unlimited introspection. Scott ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 16:13:41 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: snippy To everyone who has made comments about Joni's motives for being a performer, ie. money, fame, etc., etc. IMO, I think it can be summarised quite well by Joni's own comments at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970, as the crowd were getting restless and agitated by a man being taken from the stage, while Joni was trying to perform - I won't go into detail about why he was there. I quote: "Listen a minute, will you? WILL YOU LISTEN A MINUTE! Now, listen! A lot of people who get up here and sing...I know it's fun, you know, it's a lot of fun, it's fun for me, I... I get my feelings off through my music. But listen, you got your life wrapped up in it, and it's very difficult to come out here and lay something down when people...it's like last Sunday I went to a Hopi ceremony down (?) in the desert and there were a lot of people there, and there were tourists, and there were tourists who were getting into it like Indians, and Indians who were getting into it like tourists. And I think you're acting like tourists, man. Give us some respect!" She was fairly upset during this monologue, but received a huge round of applause from the crowd. As far as I'm concerned, Joni Mitchell is famous because music is what she was meant to do with her life (which, from her initial comments above, she obviously thinks as well), and no matter how much the record companies wanted hit songs, they would never have been hits, and Joni would not still be performing now, if the quality of music wasn't there. Who cares if she "bowed" to the music industry? I'd rather she did, and have a couple of songs with maybe a little less poetry, than have her left in the wilderness by the industry, maybe never to record again (little chance with her talent - but imagine if it HAD happened!). Thank God she's great enough to produce a hit on demand - and still be true to herself, and her music! Helen - someone who just loves the music and the poetry - no matter how it got here! NP - Chris Stills - 100 Year Thing (so much like his father, it's scary!) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 99 19:38:06 -0700 From: Wally Breese Subject: Whoops! Hi everybody, Good catch to those of you who spied the mistake in my last post. Here's the corrected version. Thanks! Joni's classic album, Blue, is cited as one of the "25 essential rock 'n' roll albums of the '70s" in the March 12th edition of Goldmine magazine. They say about the album: "'Help Me' (!!!!) was a chart-topper, but there is a whole lot more to this release than just the single. Joni Mitchell proves herself once again as a singer-songwriter of the very highest caliber." I suppose this is one of the honors that Joni would call dubious, since the writer puts "Help Me" on the wrong album (It's on Court And Spark). Some of the other albums cited were Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones, Let It Be by The Beatles, Ziggy Stardust by Bowie, Blood On The Tracks byDylan and Tapestry by Carole King. Later, Wally Breese The Joni Mitchell Homepage http://www.JoniMitchell.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:00:26 -0600 From: Michael Paz Subject: Possibly, All of the Above (NJC) Bob wrote: " I thought it referred to the Consolidation of A&M, Polygram, Island, etc. that's tossing a lot of artists out on the streets..." And then again it could be all of the above and some we have not heard just yet. Michael ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 20:08:12 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Possibly, All of the Above (NJC) >Bob wrote: >" > I thought it referred to the Consolidation of A&M, Polygram, >Island, etc. that's tossing a lot of artists out on the streets..." Bob - Polygram acquired A&M, Motown and Island years ago. Last year MCA acquired Polygram. All of the individual labels themselves continue to operate as their own entities. For example, Mars Candy Co. acquired Dove Chocolates. That doesn't mean that they will discontinue Dove Bars and force us to eat only Milky Way and Snickers Bars, it just means that Mars expanded their product base and profits for the bottom line. >And then again it could be all of the above and some we have not heard >just yet. O.K. I'll give it a shot ;-) I thought it meant that the so-called "older" generation of artists may have to band together or consolidate to keep their place in the biz in light of the onslaught of the "new" generation. So a good example of this is Joni, Herbie and Stevie banding together on Herbie's album to better attract and reach their intended audience (market) and bring us who love them more bang for our buck. Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:32:33 -0600 From: Michael Paz Subject: There could have been more... Kakki wrote: "O.K. I'll give it a shot ;-) I thought it meant that the so-called "older" generation of artists may have to band together or consolidate to keep their place in the biz in light of the onslaught of the "new" generation. So a good example of this is Joni, Herbie and Stevie banding together on Herbie's album to better attract and reach their intended audience (market) and bring us who love them more bang for our buck." I LIKE IT I LIKE IT. Thanks for yet another interesting viewpoint from the west coast. OK anyone on the eastern seaboard wanna give it a shot? Michael ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 00:26:24 EST From: Anayajay@aol.com Subject: How Do YOu Stop? Listening to Turbulent Indigo... I realize Joni didn't write "How Do You Stop?" but does the line... "how do you stop a baby being born...?" Does this exert a pro-life stance? What is Joni's stance on abortion, as a woman who gave up a child for adoption??? Jen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:42:54 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: There could have been more... Michael wrote: >I LIKE IT I LIKE IT. Thanks for yet another interesting viewpoint from >the west coast. OK anyone on the eastern seaboard wanna give it a shot? I think it's that word "consolidate" which is causing some cognitive dissonance in some of us. It's hard for us to imagine these artists, who are each so stellar in their own right, having to merge into one entity of sorts to maintain or keep their musical foothold. If we understand the serious side of the joke, it *is* sort of a painful concept to consider! Kakki (thinking she took took much Ginko Biloba this morning ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 03:17:08 -0300 From: "Wally Kairuz" Subject: Hejira For some of us there was also the advantage of having heard Hejira when it first came out. It was sometyhing SO NEW and complete in itslef, almost a concept album [remember those?]. Pastorius existed before Hejira, and so did gospel-like background vocals and love songs, but Hejira synthesized it all. It's like a house with many interconnected rooms: as you leave one and you think you've got the picture, you find there's yet another one ahead, a little more sombre or noisier or sweeter or funnier. And the great thing is that you can finish Refuge and go straight on to Coyote again, and the circle will keep moving smoothlly. Hejira comprises all the stages of hurt, fall, ascent and restoration through the image of traveling. It's the age-old myth of the hero that must pass through a number of ordeals to become whole again. But, of course, only for as long as it will take love to suck you back that way. WallyK ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 02:41:02 EST From: Strummed@aol.com Subject: Re: There could have been more... i think the quote was "lets all date" or were they talking about an appointment at one of their lawyers ? a strain of figs maybe ? consuellos late? give advice on going out ? geez, Chri$. ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V4 #119 ************************** There is now a JMDL tape trading list. Interested traders can get more details at http://www.jmdl.com/trading ------- The Song and Album Voting Booths are open again! Cast your votes by clicking the links at http://www.jmdl.com/gallery username: jimdle password: siquomb ------- Don't forget about these ongoing projects: FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. 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