From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest)
To: joni-digest@smoe.org
Subject: JMDL Digest V4 #304
Reply-To: joni@smoe.org
Sender: les@jmdl.com
Errors-To: les@jmdl.com
Precedence: bulk


JMDL Digest           Monday, July 12 1999           Volume 04 : Number 304



The Laborday JoniFest is happening this fall!
For information: send a message to <info-laborday@jmdl.com>
Join the mailing list at: <http://www.jmdl.com/lists>
-------
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://www.jmdl.com and contains
interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more.
==========

TOPICS and authors in this Digest:
--------
  Aimee Mann (NJC)                            [Jason Long <jase@bconnex.net>]
  Audiophile's Corner: Vinyl  <NJC>    ["Jim L'Hommedieu" <jlamadoo@one.net>]
  btw: <NJC>                           ["Jim L'Hommedieu" <jlamadoo@one.net>]
  Re: NJC Anagrams                                         [RMuRocks@aol.com]
  Philly Dreaming'                                       [Ladygrammy@aol.com]
  NJC Re: Where's Le Vierge?                      ["Tube" <ramnix@pronet.it>]
  Re: Steeleye Span (NJC)                                  [philipf@tinet.ie]
  Re: Aimee Mann (NJC)                                     [philipf@tinet.ie]
  Re: Joni and Tarot Musings                                 [Ashara@aol.com]
  Taming The Tiger(JC)            [Lisa Kowalski <magicflute@mindspring.com>]
  RE: JMDL Digest V4 #303            [Doug Barrett <JDBarret@unanov.una.edu>]
  Seeds, trees, branches, leaves...(NJC)  ["Paul Castle" <pdcmusic@freeuk.co]
  Friends have come to find they can't be friends         [CarltonCT@aol.com]
  Re: Those engraved numbers on records (NJC)  [Jason Maloney <jason.maloney]
  Hi Joniphiles everywhere!             ["R Joseph" <hrodelbert@hotmail.com>]
  An old fan!                       ["Barbara Jolley" <jolleyba@hotmail.com>]
  Re: Furry Sings the Blues  ["Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.n]
  Re: Furry Sings the Blues      [Melinda Everett <melindae@mail.utexas.edu>]
  re: joni smoking (NJC)          ["Takats, Angela" <ATAKATS@ninenet.com.au>]
  re: park tribute                ["Takats, Angela" <ATAKATS@ninenet.com.au>]
  Re: Furry Sings the Blues      [Bob.Muller/GV/FD/FluorCorp@fluordaniel.com]
  Re: An old fan!                [Bob.Muller/GV/FD/FluorCorp@fluordaniel.com]
  NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed               [Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>]
  Re: Furry Sings the Blues  ["Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.n]
  Silliness                                  ["Mary August" <memeca@jps.net>]
  joni's jazz, dreams and grandchildren  [Nicholas Bates <NBates@doh.health.]
  Cowboy Junkies - NJC    ["Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.net>]
  Re: NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed          ["Beverly" <TheFishPond@prodigy.net>]
  * joni's jazz tape?          ["Eric G. Postel" <EricPostel@compuserve.com>]
  Re: NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed                     ["Kakki" <kakkib@att.net>]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 03:48:51 -0400
From: Jason Long <jase@bconnex.net>
Subject: Aimee Mann (NJC)

Although I don't recall too much discussion about her in the past, I do
remember having seen Aimee Mann mentioned a few times, so in case anyone
here is a fan of hers, I thought I would mention that there is a great
article about her in today's issue of the New York Times Magazine. It's
fairly in-depth, and documents not only her career, but her many struggles
within the major-label system. It makes for a good read, not to mention a
good commentary on the current state of the music industry. If you think
Joni has some issues with the current "junk food for juveniles" music
business mindset, well, Aimee makes some pretty damning comments herself,
and with good reason.

If anyone is interested in reading the article but is unable to get ahold of
the issue, let me know and I can forward the article to you if you'd like --
I just finished e-mailing it to a few friends of mine and still have it saved.

Also, Aimee is embarking on a short US tour towards the end of this month,
including four dates with the Lilith Fair. If anyone's interested, you can
find the dates by going to the official Aimee Mann site at
<http://aimeemann.com/cgi-bin/whatever.pl?start>. There's also a short
message there from Aimee which was posted recently, in which she talks about
her current situation of trying to buy her new record back from Interscope
(who are declining to release it) so she can put it out herself. She also
mentions that she will have a 10-song CD ready to sell at the upcoming
shows, and while it's not the completed new album, many of the songs from it
will be on the final release.


Jase

_______________________________________________________________________________
"From my perspective, record companies are looking for people who are almost 
freakishly multitalented, and music's the last on the list. People who are 
really attractive, so that they know how to model, because making videos and 
taking photographs is an enormous part of it. And you also have to be like an
actor with an enormous capacity for schmoozing and talking to hundreds of 
people and making them like you, so there's a politician element to it. And 
you have to have an enormous amount of physical stamina to travel a lot and to
be a big all-around entertainer, onstage and off. The music has become just a
soundtrack to the whole enterprise of celebrity. If Jackie O. could sort of
carry a tune, she'd be perfect."             - Aimee Mann
_______________________________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 04:14:17 -0400
From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" <jlamadoo@one.net>
Subject: Audiophile's Corner: Vinyl  <NJC>

Hey Kakki,
You hit the nail on the head when you pointed out that the audible
advantage of the older records is that they weigh more.  Audiophiles
today are paying $25 + shipping for records pressed on 180 grams of
vinyl.  I was very glad to pay that for my beloved "The Trinity Session"
by the Cowboy Junkies.  (Hi Margo!)

Anyway, I was reading in Stereophile (now more widely available than
ever!) about RCA records.  Here's an excerpt:

"Most of you know that when RCA went from 'Living Stereo' to
'Dynagroove' the sound, almost instantly, went to living hell.  That's
why, while many Living Stereo records still command large sums despite
the fine-sounding (Classic Record Company) and Chesky reissues, you
can't give away most Dynagroove pressings (though there are a few
exceptions)." see Stereophile, Feb 98 on page 53.

On top of that, I've read that the record companies used too much
"recycled" vinyl in their formulations and cut costs by putting
floor-sweepings in the vinyl.  *NOT*
- -- 
All the best,
Jim L'Hommedieu  ** Get well Wally! **  Tolerance, tolerance, tol...

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 04:20:04 -0400
From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" <jlamadoo@one.net>
Subject: btw: <NJC>

I hit 'send' before I inserted this link to "Acoustic Sounds", a company
that sells those thick, heavy reissues on vinyl:
http://www.acousticsounds.com/acoustic/index.html
More importantly, I forgot to say,
np: Hot August Night by Neil Diamond
- -- 
All the best,
Jim L'Hommedieu  ** Get well Wally! **  Tolerance, tolerance, tol...

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 07:19:53 EDT
From: RMuRocks@aol.com
Subject: Re: NJC Anagrams

In a message dated 7/11/99 12:02:05 AM Central Daylight Time, 
zapuppy2@webtv.net writes:

<< Genuinely piss on bob.   >>

Oh sure, now that you've got your tapes, just spray away! :~D Please, in the 
name of Joni, aim for the fireplace or the parking lot...

Bob

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 10:25:13 EDT
From: Ladygrammy@aol.com
Subject: Philly Dreaming'

Dear Jim,
I was so excited to read about the show in Philly at the second fret in 1968. 
Philly is where I am from. I was just discovering Joni at that time buying 
her albums near Temple University at Jerry's records for $2.99 a piece. Boy I 
would love to have any recording of my girl that I can find. Tell me how to 
send you a tape or DAT and I will be happy to do it. 
Still enjoying this whole list. Still laughing at what Joni might think of so 
many people analyzing her existance. Jan

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:28:03 +0200
From: "Tube" <ramnix@pronet.it>
Subject: NJC Re: Where's Le Vierge?

>From: "Wally Kairuz" 
>Subject: RE: NJC Anagrams
>where's le vierge where one needs him? born anagram master: i invoke thee!
>wallyk

If you build it, he will come...

Tube

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:31:55 +0100
From: philipf@tinet.ie
Subject: Re: Steeleye Span (NJC)

> And Mark says:
> 
> They didn't record anything prior to 'Hark! The Village Wait', then?
> 
Mark,
I don't know of any recording by the initial line up but I think it's
amusing that such an essentially english group was initially staffed mostly
by irish folk.     Kind of like if Martin Carthy had been in the early 
Cheiftains.   Speaking of Carthy,  I wonder how many times he joined 
and left Steeleye Span.   For a while there it seemed that if you blinked 
he was gone. 

Philip

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:38:03 +0100
From: philipf@tinet.ie
Subject: Re: Aimee Mann (NJC)

Jason pointed to :

>I thought I would mention that there is a great
> article about her in today's issue of the New York Times Magazine.

Thanks for the pointer to this article about a great artist. Of all the
songs
with the title Fourth of July,  Aimee Mann's is by far the best.   It's a
mystery to me why she's not a superstar.  Great songs and stunning
looks are not enough apparently.

Philip

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 11:52:53 EDT
From: Ashara@aol.com
Subject: Re: Joni and Tarot Musings

Melinda pondered:

<< Any tarot readers in JMDL land? >>

Rest assured, Melinda, you are not alone! I have been reading cards for many, 
many years as one small part of my work. Although, in the past 5 years or so, 
I have hardly used them. Colin said it so eloquently:

<<Tarot cards are often used by people as a 'focus' for their 'gifts of the 
spirit' until they realise they don't need such a focus. The contemplation 
needed and the intuition and feelings etc can come without them when one 
grows more confident of one's abilites/gifts. >>

So true, yet they are still fun and magical at times, to take out and ponder 
over.

Then Bob said: 

<<(incidentally not a tarot card reader but a mean Hearts & Bridge 
player...)>>

Hmmmmm....if we can find two more, we can have a cookin' bridge game during 
Jonifest! Will you be my partner, Bob? .....3 no trump?   

Hugs,
Ashara {from the glorious mountains of New Hampshire....I may NEVER leave!}

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 12:17:01
From: Lisa Kowalski <magicflute@mindspring.com>
Subject: Taming The Tiger(JC)

        I found this very interesting book at Borders Books the other
day;Cats compiled by Andrew Edney.It's a collection of more than 300
depictions of cats in art.One particular painting caught my attention
;"When The Stars Threw Down Their Spears"by Iris Polos and I thought that
sounds like a Joni lyric!In TTT Joni sings "I watched the stars chuck down
their spears" and I thought I wonder if this is where Joni obtained that
particular phrase? This could not be a coincidence.Well it turns out that
this particular painting is part of series of five paintings entitiled
Tyger:New Drawings,each of which interprets a stanza from the poem The
Tyger by William Blake!!One human body feature is incorporated in each
painting and the series culminates in the portrayal of God as a complete
human body with a tigers face.So I don't think that phrase in the song was
a coincidence! I thought it was very interesting and didnt know if anyone
else on the list was aware of the origin of that particular lyric so I
thought I would share!

                                       Take care...Lisa            

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 12:33:20 -0500
From: Doug Barrett <JDBarret@unanov.una.edu>
Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V4 #303

<<To me, the core of what Joni is about (if I ever find out what the heck that 
is) is all there. I don't remember what kind of comments Joni has made about 
the album, but I doubt very much she would have proceeded with the project if 
she felt uneasy about it.  (A reference to DED)>>

In my opinion, this album represents a somewhat failed attempt at conquering 
one more mountain.  She had already scaled folk, jazz, and pop (with the 
meanest and most audacious fusion that would make even Van Morrison and Steely 
Dan somewhat jealous).  She had recorded perhaps the best and most daring run 
of albums from Blue to DJRD in history.  What was left to do?  Well, techno 
was hot at the time, so why not go out and conquer it too?  The results are 
there for all.

It is not that DED is a "bad album," but by Joni standards it ranks near the 
bottom for most fans.  (Apologies to any in the minority.  I think I saw the 
DED fan club riding a unicycle recently.)  In any event, if this album had 
been recorded by another techno artist (say, Howard Jones) it would have been 
hailed by critics with four stars.  And you must remember, many of her fans 
(and critics) were almost orgasmic following WTRF, hailing it as a return to 
the C&S days (though just why I have yet to understand).

Personally, I rank DED near the bottom.  This says much more about the 
extremely high quality of her other efforts that the low quality of this one.  
My biggest problem with DED is the low quality of the music.  The lyrics stack 
up fairly well.  Of course, as Lennon said, if you want great lyrics then read 
poetry.  This album is especially a letdown in that it signaled an end to the 
run of her jazzy stuff (which, thankfully returned on TTT).  Even WTRF had a 
strong jazz component, though obviously nothing compared to the Mingus that 
immediately preceded it.  Of course, I have found much of her post-DJRD worth 
many repeated listenings.  DED is the one that logs the least time in my CD 
player.  That, I suppose, is the best indicator.

Doug     

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:17:38 +0100
From: "Paul Castle" <pdcmusic@freeuk.com>
Subject: Seeds, trees, branches, leaves...(NJC)

Michael Paz michaelpaz@worldnet.att.net wrote:

>I am dying to hear a tape of this show.... I now have CD burning
>capabilities and would be happy to be a branch for people who want CD's.

I do too, and would be happy to be a branch for any of the Brits/Europeans
on the list.

In addition to the Summerstage show  (oh, how I wish I'd just said "sod the
expense" and jumped on a plane over),  I had also been waiting a while for
the dust to settle on the 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' demo but can wait no
longer. I can't tell you how much I would love to hear this and, again,
would be happy to be a CD-cutting branch for the Europeans (or anyone
really).  Can someone help with reasonable quality copies (CD, DAT or
Cassette)? I will send all costs plus something you want, perhaps??.

PaulC
np Angel in Labour - Debbie Cassell

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 14:02:43 EDT
From: CarltonCT@aol.com
Subject: Friends have come to find they can't be friends

Hey JMDLers - 

Feel like I have been away from all of you for too long, but I've been 
meeting a deadline.  I've read a lot of posts in the past in which some of us 
describe ROSES BLUE as their least favorite track from CLOUDS, but it's 
always been an important song to me: Joni's portrait of someone who gets in 
too deep on New Age beliefs.   

I've just seen too many friendships, businesses and relationships get 
destroyed when people took a tarot reading or clairvoyant prophecy as truth.  
 I worked at a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding people with AIDS 
and it was nearly destroyed by its once famous founder who justified her 
rash, destructive behavior as being sanctioned by her unique channel to God.  
She used astrology to determine a candidate's eligibility in interviews for 
positions, and fired employees when she learned that they had different 
spiritual beliefs -- especially if they were beliefs that did not validate 
her as a guide in their lives.   She consulted both the Tarot and the Ouija 
board.  

We also had a particularly power hungry volunteer who was a  psychic who used 
her cheery predictions to lure people into her influence,  and then proceeded 
to fuck with their lives and manipulate them.  The end result was a 
disastrous feud that nearly ended this important organization.   And NONE of 
that psychic's predictions ever came true but I hear that she still wields 
influence over some of the people who remain there.  That is just one story 
- -- I have many.  

Colin's right -- the magic comes from within.   I love looking at the 
pictures of the Rider Tarot deck, but it's better to look through the whole 
deck and pick out the ones which have meaning for you on any given day rather 
than accept the ten random ones which are dealt to you.  

Given my own skeptical nature, I make the assumption that Joni is as much of 
a skeptic as I am.  "Advice and religion you can't take them, you can't seem 
to believe them."  Then again, she mentions saying a little prayer at the 
moment Klein asked her to play video games at the Santa Monica pier. 

- - Clark

np: Scritti Politti, Cupid and Psyche

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 19:45:01 +0100
From: Jason Maloney <jason.maloney@virgin.net>
Subject: Re: Those engraved numbers on records (NJC)

j.pukkila@pp.inet.fi wrote:

> There was no internet (barely computers) and I considered myself lucky > to know that the record was released that day. Today I would have seen > a picture of the sleeve on the net in advance and perhaps even heard 
> sound samples, so this was unspoiled and EXCITING.   
>
> --jussi

I often find myself reminiscing about those "good old days". There is
still so much wonderful new music coming out, but I can't help feeling
that everything (not just music) is suffering a little from
over-exposure and pre-release/issue hype. It's harder - unless you live
under a rock or on Mars - to actually discover a major new release
"accidentally" in the stores.

I always cite the case of Prince's 1985 album, Around The World In A
Day. Now, in the UK at least, there was NO pre-release info whatsoever,
and one Monday morning, on the bus to school, I saw this wonderful
psychedelic album sleeve in the "just arrived" section of the window
display of Our Price (leading music store in the UK at the time). Purple
Rain - and Prince in general - was "it" (excuse the pun) for me back
then, and I will never forget the sheer thrill of surprise and then
expectation when I discovered who this mystery album was by. 

I really don't think that could happen these days.....the market has
changed so much, and the need for maximum exposure to generate obscene
sales figures has largely seen to that. Maybe, though, some artists will
eventually take it into their own hands (and on their own labels) and
one day bring back this kind of "surprise" event. 

Jason (wandering off down memory lane) :-)

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 21:06:43 BST
From: "R Joseph" <hrodelbert@hotmail.com>
Subject: Hi Joniphiles everywhere!

I am a long term Joni freak from England who would love to contact similarly 
gifted people the world over!  British people who have discovered the magic 
are VERY thin on the ground over here so I would especially like to hear 
from any Brits or Europeans.  But if you're a Joni fan and particularly if 
you're into the "Hissing of..." to the "Shadows and..." era (plus the latest 
two albums) - it would just about make my year to get a reply or two.

I saw Joni just the once (in London in 1983 when I was very very young!) but 
still consider it the most special day in my life.

Please please, someone e-mail me on:   hrodelbert@hotmail.com

Robbie J, UK.


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 22:20:47 BST
From: "Barbara Jolley" <jolleyba@hotmail.com>
Subject: An old fan!

Just found the discussion cafe via Wally Breese's web page.  Would like to 
hear from any other fans who were "there at the start"!
Barbara

jolleyba@hotmail.com


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 14:25:36 -0700
From: "Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Furry Sings the Blues

> Very interesting comparison, this between For Free and Furry--nice
> alliteration, too ;-)!  There's a nice juxtaposition/limbo that
Joni's
> in.  In For Free, she's a few steps ahead of the clarinetist on the
> street corner, and is exploring the nature of this difference.  And
in
> Furry, to me she is seeing an Elder, an experienced, weathered
musician.
> She looks up to both, but also moves on after gleaning what is
meaningful
> to her.

This hadn't occured to me but I like it!  She is further down the road
of her carreer than the clarinetist and Furry's career is pretty much
over when she meets him.   She's seeing the possibilities of what her
own life might be or might have been like.

>  > I've got
>  > some ideas about Hejira running around my head.  But I guess
Hejira's
>  > kind of obvious so I won't bore you with it now.
>  >
>  > Later,
>  > Mark in Seattle
>
> Mark, bore away! (in private if you wish)
>
> Melinda
>
Thanks, Melinda.  I'm still mulling it all over but basically I see
the line in Coyote 'I tried to run away myself' as the jumping off
point and theme of Hejira.  She's reached a state of crisis in her
life and the opportunity appears to run away from it and she goes for
it.  Amelia states the various directions she either can run or
already has run.  None of them pan out.  Then there are two portraits
of people who, in their own way, either have run away or are running
away.  Furry by becoming a besotted hermit and the Strange Boy by
refusing to face reality and grow up.  Hejira re-examines her own
escape and some of the reasons for it.  Song for Sharon is addressed
to an old friend who has chosen a more conventional and settled
lifestyle.  Sharon provides a sounding board and a contrast to Joni's
frenetic existence.  Black Crow is Joni looking straight in the mirror
and facing her demons, very little intellectualizing, just a visceral
examination of her restless nature.  She is the black crow, diving
down to pick up on every shiny thing.  But by this time she's getting
tired of running.  In Blue Motel Room she's ready to go home and
wondering if there's any chance she can put the relationship that was
falling apart back together and make it succeed.   Refuge of the Roads
is the summing up.  She has found some solace in her restless moving
around but that thunderhead of judgement tells her that the road is
not an ultimate solution.  At least not for her.  She has, however,
gained some perspective as she looks at that marbled bowling ball on
the wall of that service station.  She has learned that the problems
of one little singer-songwriter don't amount to a hill of beans in
this crazy world.  But I think she has also learned that the view from
the lofty height, above and apart from everything is ultimately less
than satisfying.  You can't see a city or a forest or a highway or all
of the little details of life that can be the source of endless
delight.  Running away is not an answer.  But neither is being
isolated in an ivory tower surrounded by sycophants and people in the
'biz'.  As always, she ends up trying to find the right balance.

Mark in Seattle where we're having yet another Sunny Sunday.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 18:41:14 -0500
From: Melinda Everett <melindae@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: Re: Furry Sings the Blues

zzzzzzzzz .. . . snore .. . . huh?! *yaaawwwwwwnnn* OH? Were you saying
something . . . sorry I dozed off there . . . ;-)  just kiddin'! :D  Not
boring 't all!

Mark, I'll buy that for a dollar!  Actually, I think it's a great
synopsis of Hejira!  It'd make a great movie, the whole album would, and
the soundtrack's already done .. . but we've already been there . . .

[Aside:  I love thinking of Joni on the Gulf Coast; I'm from there and to
think she went to the lil' old town of Lake Jackson, TX is pretty neat!]

The only thing I'd add is that running away can be great--certainly it
was fruitful for Joni in learning a life lesson.  Often what you run to
teaches you about what you're running from, maybe?  But you can't go on a
permanent escape, like Furry or Strange Boy.  Or you can, I guess:  "Give
me one good reason why!" [he should grow up]

Melinda in Austin, where we're having a Seattle Sunday

(in fact, one of my housemates had this silly idea to draw a picture of
the Seattle Space Needle complete with Starbuck's sign a la Austin Powers
and tape it to the window with the gray pouring rain in the background
then struck a cheesy over-enthused tourist pose, "HI FROM SEATTLE!"--he's
a total goofball!)

Mark wrote:

> Thanks, Melinda.  I'm still mulling it all over but basically I see
> the line in Coyote 'I tried to run away myself' as the jumping off
> point and theme of Hejira.  She's reached a state of crisis in her
> life and the opportunity appears to run away from it and she goes for
> it.  Amelia states the various directions she either can run or
> already has run.  None of them pan out.  Then there are two portraits
> of people who, in their own way, either have run away or are running
> away.  Furry by becoming a besotted hermit and the Strange Boy by
> refusing to face reality and grow up.  Hejira re-examines her own
> escape and some of the reasons for it.  Song for Sharon is addressed
> to an old friend who has chosen a more conventional and settled
> lifestyle.  Sharon provides a sounding board and a contrast to Joni's
> frenetic existence.  Black Crow is Joni looking straight in the mirror
> and facing her demons, very little intellectualizing, just a visceral
> examination of her restless nature.  She is the black crow, diving
> down to pick up on every shiny thing.  But by this time she's getting
> tired of running.  In Blue Motel Room she's ready to go home and
> wondering if there's any chance she can put the relationship that was
> falling apart back together and make it succeed.   Refuge of the Roads
> is the summing up.  She has found some solace in her restless moving
> around but that thunderhead of judgement tells her that the road is
> not an ultimate solution.  At least not for her.  She has, however,
> gained some perspective as she looks at that marbled bowling ball on
> the wall of that service station.  She has learned that the problems
> of one little singer-songwriter don't amount to a hill of beans in
> this crazy world.  But I think she has also learned that the view from
> the lofty height, above and apart from everything is ultimately less
> than satisfying.  You can't see a city or a forest or a highway or all
> of the little details of life that can be the source of endless
> delight.  Running away is not an answer.  But neither is being
> isolated in an ivory tower surrounded by sycophants and people in the
> 'biz'.  As always, she ends up trying to find the right balance.
>
> Mark in Seattle where we're having yet another Sunny Sunday.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 10:18:14 +1000
From: "Takats, Angela" <ATAKATS@ninenet.com.au>
Subject: re: joni smoking (NJC)

Lisa writes:

<<But which ones? There's a lovely tourquoise-colored pack - they seem
pretty
robust - there's a light sage- colored pack (lights?) - a sunny
yellow-colored pack (medium?) - a coffee-with-milk-colored pack
(??non-filtered?)  I'll bet Joni smokes the blues  - but Angela may want to
coordinate pack color with her stunning Joni outfit?>>

All this talk of cigarettes and smoking!!....anyone would think you JMDLer's
were encouraging a young and impressionable gal like me to take it up for
good - in the name of JONI of course!!! ;) ;)
Ange
Sydney

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 10:59:22 +1000
From: "Takats, Angela" <ATAKATS@ninenet.com.au>
Subject: re: park tribute

If there is a God out there....could this PLEASE happen to me one day!!!!!!
Ange - (feeling like I'm never even going to come close)
Sydney

Chris wrote:
<<I looked over and Joni was sitting there all alone; could you 
imagine. Allright, now or never. I got up walked over and introduced 
myself. I mentioned the website and she said Oh yeah have a seat. 
AHHHHHH! Well the deal is I sat with her for the next hour and just 
talked and talked.  She mentioned the site and I said you said hello (I'm 
sure you don't mind) and she genuinely wanted to know how you are doing. 
We talked about how great the site is; she obviously is very 
appreciative. I then brought up the fact that I heard she is going to be 
a grandmother again. She gave me this look and half screamed it happened! 
Apparently that day. No wonder she was in such a good mood. I talked 
about some of her lyrics; got into a discussion about Picasso, had some 
munchies, then Chaka came by and sat down across from me and said Joni 
lets go, I found a great club (she's an original and the one who really 
did justice to the songs). Well I walked her out to the car, (just the 
two of us) gave her a hug and said goodbye. The thing is, is that even 
when we were walking out she was only focused on me (or so it seems in my 
overloaded mind). She never let the conversation go dead. She was 
interested in everything I said and I was interested in everything she 
said. It really was like sitting down with an old friend. She even 
remembered we had met outside David Letterman last year and had had a 
conversation. Oh well, I'm still absorbing the whole thing (was I 
dreaming?). Arghh! I think not. Just wanted to let you know. I hope your 
feeling okay. Be well. Chris D. >>

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 20:52:14 -0400
From: Bob.Muller/GV/FD/FluorCorp@fluordaniel.com
Subject: Re: Furry Sings the Blues

       Mark, attempting to sum up the greatest record ever made in a
       paragraph, says:

       <<She's reached a state of crisis in her life and the
       opportunity appears to run away from it and she goes for it.>>

       (Which of course is the definition of "Hejira"...)

       Great post Mark! I would never have thought the record could be
       capsulized in such concise and accurate language...now explaing
       DJRD in 50 words or less! :~)

       Bob

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 20:45:59 -0400
From: Bob.Muller/GV/FD/FluorCorp@fluordaniel.com
Subject: Re: An old fan!

       Barbara sez:

       <<Just found the discussion cafe via Wally Breese's web page.
       Would like to hear from any other fans who were "there at the
       start"!>>

       Well Barbara, you've come to the right place! Welcome! The vast
        majority of us here I would say are long-time fans of Joni's
       and there are some who worked with her back in her coffeehouse
       days. So pull up a chair and lend an ear, and you'll hear
       plenty!

       Bob, who admittedly wasn't a fan from the start but would've
       been if he'd heard "Song To A Seagull" when it came out...

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 18:26:02 -0700
From: Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>
Subject: NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed

Billboards website reports that CSN&Y will not be touring
the US until January.  The reason given was that it would mesh
better with plans to tour other parts of the world.  Still no word
on that new album project.  Neil, did you quit again?
RR

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 18:36:33 -0700
From: "Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Furry Sings the Blues

Bob challenges with:

>        Great post Mark! I would never have thought the record could
be
>        capsulized in such concise and accurate language...now
explaing
>        DJRD in 50 words or less! :~)
>
>        Bob

And I wimp out with:

I was afraid someone would bring up DJRD.  I should have known who it
would be! ;-)  I don't think it can be done, Bob.  You can maybe make
up a plausible story line but thematically it's all over the map.  If
you took each of the four original sides separately, however.....
Hmm....  I'll have to think on that one for awhile...

Mark in Seattle

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 19:14:42 -0700
From: "Mary August" <memeca@jps.net>
Subject: Silliness

In a message dated: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 07:33:30 EDT
>From: WirlyPearl@aol.com

Pearl said:

>That might even be an interesting thread..to pick a movie and
>see what Joni songs should have been in it.
>
Well, we didn't have many takers on this one, so please forgive my silliness
as I attempt once more to ponder the possibilities...

Joni sings Titanic:
Cold Blue Steel..., I Had a King ("I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!"), Help Me,
Lesson In Survival, Don't Interrupt the Sorrow, (and at the end as Leonardo
slips into the abyss)   Blue Boy.

Seriously, though, I do so enjoy the heartfelt offerings of those of you who
can so touchingly convey your appreciation of Joni's music.

Mary (meca)

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 11:21:13 +1000
From: Nicholas Bates <NBates@doh.health.nsw.gov.au>
Subject: joni's jazz, dreams and grandchildren

All this reporting from joni's jazz has been playing havoc with my psyche. The other night I had the most vivid Joni dream. I could have sworn  it was real - just the two of us having an intense conversation following a concert she gave ( a mythical concert since there was no band and no other hangers on). This dream echoes one I had several years ago in which Joni was holidaying in the Blue Mountains near Sydney and I dropped by (as one does)  and again we had this intense, cathartic conversation which was so real that waking up was the bitterest dissappointment.

Then I read Wally's page and there is a contribution from Chris where he talks about his hour long conversation with Joni where, just as in my dreams, her focus appeared to be just on him. It seems from what people say who have met Joni, especially fans, that when she does turn her light on, she has that rare quality to  make you feel as if you are what really matters. In my experience very few people have this quality - they say Clinton and Hilary have it and somebody I know who met both of the Carters, claimed they had it too (Maybe Joni should go into politics!) and I guess we can probably all think of at least one person we know who has it. In some cases maybe its just charm but in others I think its about really be interested in what another person can bring to your life in that moment!

As for my dreams, I know they're just projection but  when I read accounts of Jone  from people other than journalists I feel that we are seeing the Joni that knows so much about us and in a tenuous (but it feels real) is part of us. So often people use the word gracious and what a great word that is because it is a quality that doesn't always come across in her press comments and yet is clearly part of how she is in day to day life.

Whether I ever meet Joni is irrelevant (and of course the right setting is one where you don't intrude on her personal life) because I have already met the part that matters to me and that is a relationship best sustained through the music and the words.

Oops, this has got into a bit of a rave! 

Yours, in undying fandom

Nicholas in Sydney

PS Can we have confirmation  that Donald Freed was at the concert. If so they are clearly they are still friends (or more) which is always great. 

And I agree with whoever said that I hope Joni isn't anonymously out there! Our obsession needs some kind of privacy!

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 19:24:53 -0700
From: "Mark or Travis" <mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Cowboy Junkies - NJC

> We're going to see Cowboy Junkies this Saturday.  Margo Timmins is a
> wonderful singer.  I think she just gets better and better.  Her
voice
> has a soft sound to it but that's deceptive.  With the right song
she
> can really pack a wallop.   Michael's songwriting continues to
develop
> also.  I rank some of his lyrics right up there close to Joni's.
Not
> as melodic, perhaps, but that seems to develop further with each new
> record also.  I've never understood why this band doesn't get more
> mention on this list.  To each his own, I guess!

We lucked out last night.  Summer finally arrived in the Northwest
about a day after the 4th of July.  Yesterday was sunny & in the 80's
during the afternoon and by the time we got to the pier on the Seattle
waterfront where the Summer Nights at the Pier concerts are held, the
weather was still hot but bearable.  When the sun went down a couple
of hours later, the temperature was perfect.  Margo Timmins was
singing 'Good Friday' right about that time and staring off into the
sunset - 'purple sky, slowing turning golden...'

Leo Kottke opened for Cowboy Junkies last night.  I must confess that
I know next to nothing about Leo Kottke except that he is a noted
guitarist.  His skill and dexterity with the instrument is remarkable.
He played both 12 & 6 string acoustic during his set (with no other
accompaniment) which included the song 'Corrina, Corrina', a similar
but different version from Joni's 'Bird that Whistles' take.  Leo is
very casual with a wry sense of humor and a laid-back singing style.
As I said, he can play guitar like nobody's business but after awhile
one song started sounding pretty much like the next and the one before
it.  I did find his playing impressive but ultimately unengaging.  I
hope there aren't any die-hard Kottke fans out there who are ready to
chew me up & spit me out.  I mean no offense.  I have to respect the
man's talent.  I guess it just isn't 'my thang'.

I was delighted that Cowboy Junkies started their set with 'Southern
Rain' from the Black-eyed Man album because they didn't do any songs
from that album when I saw them last fall.  That concert in the fall
was in the Moore Theatre which has exceptional acoustics.  So the
sound out in the open on the pier was not as good.  Also the band Over
the Rhine opened for them last fall and several of their members
played with Cowboy Junkies during that concert.  The lead singer and
keyboard player from Over the Rhine played with CJs last night but it
wasn't as full a sound.  Still the concert was most enjoyable with
Margo in fine voice.  There were several sailboats enjoying a free
concert very near the pier so Margo dedicated the next song to 'all
those people floating around in boats behind us.  It's called "Cause
Cheap is How I Feel."'  They also performed several songs from their
new cd, Rarities, B-Sides and Slow Sad Waltzes.  One of these is a
prequel to 'Bea's Song (River Song Triology: Part 2)' from Lay it Down
(apparently this song is Part 1).  Of course they performed their
standard concert numbers:  Sun Comes Up It's Tuesday Morning,
Misguided Angel, Sweet Jane & Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis).
Their first encore was a very moving version of 'Those Final Feet'
from Miles From Our Home.  Michael Timmins (lead guitarist, writer of
almost all of CJ's lyrics and Margo's brother) actually sang this as a
duet with Margo and his guitar was the only accompaniment.  Margot
said this song was written for their grandfather.  They closed with
'To Live Is To Fly', another song from Black-eyed Man and it was
great.  All in all it was a fine night and a great concert!  I urge
anybody who appreciates well-written, well performed music sung by
someone who has the voice of an angel to catch Cowboy Junkies if they
ever play in your neck of the woods.

Mark very happy to be living near Seattle

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 22:29:53 -0000
From: "Beverly" <TheFishPond@prodigy.net>
Subject: Re: NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed

>Billboards website reports that CSN&Y will not be touring
>the US until January.  The reason given was that it would mesh
>better with plans to tour other parts of the world.  Still no word
>on that new album project.  Neil, did you quit again?


Yay!!!  This news makes my heart sing!!!  I couldn't believe that out of 365
days, CSN&Y were going to be coming to a town near me on the exact same day
as Ashara's JoniFest.  Now, maybe, I'll still get to see them!

Bev

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 23:57:32 -0400
From: "Eric G. Postel" <EricPostel@compuserve.com>
Subject: * joni's jazz tape?

did anybody tape this?  would love to trade for it?

thanks,
eric

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 23:06:22 -0700
From: "Kakki" <kakkib@att.net>
Subject: Re: NJC-CSN&Y tour postponed

Randy wrote:

> >Billboards website reports that CSN&Y will not be touring
> >the US until January.  The reason given was that it would mesh
> >better with plans to tour other parts of the world.  Still no word
> >on that new album project.  Neil, did you quit again?

According to a post on the CSN list from Rolling Stone Online - they just
finished recording July 1st and it is now being sequenced and mastered.
Reprise has pushed the release date to Sept. 7th.

Beverly wrote:

> Yay!!!  This news makes my heart sing!!!  I couldn't believe that out of
365
> days, CSN&Y were going to be coming to a town near me on the exact same
day
> as Ashara's JoniFest.  Now, maybe, I'll still get to see them!

Some more good news is that the postponement of the CSNY tour has prompted
CPR to play a bunch of dates in Mass. and NY in August.

Kakki

------------------------------

End of JMDL Digest V4 #304
**************************

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