From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest)
To: joni-digest@smoe.org
Subject: JMDL Digest V4 #486
Reply-To: joni@smoe.org
Sender: les@jmdl.com
Errors-To: les@jmdl.com
Precedence: bulk
JMDL Digest Friday, October 29 1999 Volume 04 : Number 486
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:
--------
Re: Tar Babie Babble (as in Tower of...) ["Patricia O'Connor"
]
Re: lindsay's miracle ear... [Bob.Muller@fluor.com]
Re: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni (now njc) [Bob.Muller@fluor.com]
Rock Masterclass [Jamie Zubairi ]
RE: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni [Anne Sandstrom ]
Re: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni (now njc) ["Mark or Travis" ]
Un.sub.bing from work (NJC) [Bob.Muller@fluor.com]
Eric Anderson [Steve Dulson ]
Re: Tar Baby [MHart16164@aol.com]
RE: hair & moustaches NJC ["Wally Kairuz" ]
Re : Being Irish NJC [Jason Maloney ]
Re: SJC: Stevie Wonder [AzeemAK@aol.com]
$10 off $10 at Barnes & Nobel (Joni Books & Music) [mann@chicagonet.net]
Re: Re : How much, how often? [Ginamu@aol.com]
Half-rhymes and Squeeze (NJC) [Jason Maloney ]
Re: SJC: Stevie Wonder [SCJoniGuy@aol.com]
NJC Shepherd trial update #1 [Vince Lavieri ]
NJC Shepherd trial #2 [Vince Lavieri ]
Appalling Critic NJC [catman ]
Re: Re : How much, how often? [Jason Maloney ]
NJC Report from Laramie 3 [Vince Lavieri ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 03:38:11 -0400
From: "Patricia O'Connor"
Subject: Re: Tar Babie Babble (as in Tower of...)
Julian wrote:
> Has anyone mentioned that
>DJRD came out at a time when people weren't so worried about political
>correctness, not to mention the evolution of a word or slang terminology?
>These gems like "tar baby" litterally and figuratively get stuck in gooey
>dark syntax and cultural taboos. I really appreciate Debra (Kedabra)'s
"all
>sides now" response....because I feel that's the time we are living in.
The term "politically correct" hadn't yet been coined when DJRD was
released, however that's not to say that one didn't recognize a racial slur
when one met one in a dark alley, or in a crowded bar, or on a record album,
or when one ran head-first into the slur-maker. We didn't call it
politically incorrect, we called it racist.
Semitics as you all know, are Arabs too.
POC
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 01:49:55 -0600
From: evian
Subject: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni (now njc)
Our Kakki wrote:
> As for "Heart's Greatest Hits", this was another unwanted CD which came to
> me in the mail after I'd forgotten to send back my "decline" card to a
> record club. But when I finally decided to give it a listen I was blown
> away. It's fantastic.
>
>
I have loved Heart since I was 6 years old. Of course, the 90's stuff
they have done has been pretty putrid, but I cherish my cd of "Dog and
Butterfly"... The beginning of "Straight On" never fails to force me to
belt out "QUITE SOME TIME...." from the bottom of my stomach. I too
have the Greatest Hits, but just to let you know, there is another
Greatest Hits package out there, I think it is called "Best of Heart" or
something, and I think it is on Epic. It has one of their best (and
probably the least known, since the single and album flopped) songs,
"How Can I Refuse You" from the Passionworks album. Check it out if you
are interested.
How about a thread about the biggest surprise cd that we have gotten
from not returning those damn record club cards? And the worst? I was
blown away by Matthew Sweet's "100% Fun" or whatever it is called, one
of the cds I got from BMG because I didn't send the stupid card back.
Conversely, I still don't think I have recovered from the nausea when I
ended up with Lionel Ritchie's "Dancing on the Ceiling" from Columbia
House.... thank the good Lord they did away with the card thing
finally! Oh, what a feeling, when we're dancing on the ceiling....
UGH!!!!
Evian, who is fighting with CDHQ about a Johnny Lang cd I sent back
which they say they never received.... I'll get them on Judge Judy
before I pay for that frigging thing!
P.S. Anyone interested in making me a tape of Stormy Weather?? I need
to hear Stevie and Joni!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 10:18:03 +0100
From: Jamie Zubairi
Subject: RE: hair & moustaches NJC
Debra Kaufman wrote
All this talk of hair and then Einstein, I have to ask what's happened to
the plain old moustache? You never see just that anymore and some men look
so good in them. VanDykes I like a lot but that's all you see, except for
the (usually older man) full beard.
I guess what's happened the the plain old 'tache is that it has got
swallowed up by some sort of uniform. In London, if you see a man with a
'tache then he's probably gay or German. ;-b
If you see a woman with one, that's another question.
Jamie Zubairi
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 08:10:47 -0400
From: Bob.Muller@fluor.com
Subject: Re: lindsay's miracle ear...
Ric reminisces:
<>
Yes, I recall it everytime I hear "Facelift" Ric...sometimes I even sing it that
way to give myself a smile.
But I'm not about to sing anything about bending over, especially in THIS crowd!
:~D
Bob
NP: "Come In From The Cold"
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 08:27:51 -0400
From: Bob.Muller@fluor.com
Subject: Re: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni (now njc)
Evian said:
<>
Dreamboat Annie is a definite classic! "Magic Man" may have been their
breakthrough hit, but "Sing Child Sing" from that record is still my fave of
theirs...and Ann (or Nancy, I can never remember which is which) can sing Led
Zep in concert just like Robert Plant - they do a kickass version of "Rock and
Roll".
And close on the heels of "Sing Child Sing" is "Barracuda", one of the best air
guitar songs of all time! I remember I was doing yard work one time with some
radio headphones on when "Barracuda" came on...I hoisted the edger up and
immediately started jamming. Luckily, I didn't remove my own appendix with the
blade of the thing!
<< How about a thread about the biggest surprise cd that we have gotten
from not returning those damn record club cards? And the worst?>>
I've only done that once, so the disc I got qualifies as the best and the worst!
It was Natalie Merchant's "Ophelia", which is pretty good.
Bob
NP: "River" from Worcester MA, 12/69
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 14:05:57 +0100
From: Jamie Zubairi
Subject: Rock Masterclass
Dear Listers
Has anyone got a superb copy of the DED rock Masterclass that has been
discussed in the past couple of days? Email me privately if you have. I
believe it's the one with DED done acoustically.
Jamie Zubairi
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:17:26 -0400
From: Anne Sandstrom
Subject: RE: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni
Maurice said: < performance on S.W. CD
> has been played less by me than the other cuts on the CD>>
Actually, I play everything EXCEPT Sandra Bernhardt's cut from SW. Why oh
why is it in the MIDDLE??? :-)
Anne
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:35:30 -0400
From: "Jennifer L. Nodine"
Subject: [Fwd: Re: how much, how often?]
Message-ID: <3819A25D.168E@snet.net>
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:34:21 -0400
From: "Jennifer L. Nodine"
Reply-To: jlhall01@snet.net
Organization: The Mortgage Finance Corp.
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01C-SNET (Win95; U)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: catman
Subject: Re: how much, how often?
References: <38188A03.5BD8292F@ethericcats.demon.co.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I try to at least twice a week. I can't listen to her when my husband
is home because he loathes her music. So on Saturdays when I'm cleaning
house and sometimes when he's working late. I WISH I HAD A CD PLAYER IN
MY CAR or I'd always listen there...maybe I should take up a
collection! Any sympathy out there? ;-)
- -Jenny from CT
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 06:41:30 -0700
From: "Mark or Travis"
Subject: Re: Heart /Sandra/Stormy Weather/Joni (now njc)
...and Ann (or Nancy, I can never remember which is which) can sing
Led
> Zep in concert just like Robert Plant - they do a kickass version of
"Rock and
> Roll".
Ann is the lead singer. She & Nancy occasionally perform with a
smaller group called 'The Lovemongers'. They do a lot of acoustic
stuff. It's kind of their escape from Heart which kinda got to be an
arena rock dinosaur.
Anyway there is an EP that was put out here in the Northwest several
years ago by the Lovemongers that has a cover of Zep's 'Battle of
Evermore' on it. It is truly awesome. Both the Wilson sisters sing
on it and they really wail. There's also a live version of 'Crazy On
You' and covers of 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' and 'Love of the Common
Man'. They are all excellent.
I don't know if this EP was released anywhere outside of the
Northwest. I'd be willing to tape it for people on the list who might
be interested. Email me privately.
Mark in Seattle
Mark in Seattle
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 15:35:57 +0100
From: Jason Maloney
Subject: Re : How much, how often?
I've really enjoyed the responses to my orginal ruminations/queries.
Rather than reply individually to some of the comments/confessions
revealed in each one, I think I'll tackle them as a whole. Otherwise,
they'd be 10 separate postings from me at once, and nobody deserves that
;-)
Eric and Gina remark on how it's the emotinal and intellectual substance
of Joni's work that is the primary "hook", moreso than any "trivia"
knowledge gained. I totally agree. While there is an amazing amount of
knowledge displayed on this list, I didn't mean to imply that it was all
trivia, far from it. I was thinking more of how deep-rooted the
knowledge must be (both emotionally and intellectually), that when any
particular thread crops up, the wealth of thoughts, opinions and related
experiences shared by everyone on here are expressed so eloquently and
with such a keen eye for detail and nuance. I wondered by what means
each person here manages to arrive at such a point.
I figured that the lengthy timespan covered by Joni's recorded work, and
therefore the number of potential years for exposure, has probably
played a significant part. Many of you have also gained a very personal
insight and relationship to her songs through performing them
yourselves. Even so, it occurred to me that most of you must still
listen to (and be inspired/stimulated by) Joni's music on a very regular
basis. From those who have so far posted on this topic, it seems that is
largely true.
Eric is a semi-daily case.....while Catherine slips some in whenever
time permits each day, it appears ;-D Gina, meanwhile, is another
"almost-daily" Joniphile. Anne and Jimmy too. Colin also has at least a
couple of Joni CDs always on hand. Angela freaked me out when she
revealed only three of her entire collection are non-Joni :-) Bob,
though, King Music Slut that he is, throws in as much of everything
(including Joni) as anyone within earshot can humanly tolerate
Heaven forbid you ever have those headphones taken away, Bob! Susan is
probably the only person among the 10 who doesn't listen to Joni "all
that much", but it's clear that she is very much "under the influence"
almost daily :-)
Apologies for the "third-person" referencing....I hope nobody is
offended, but I don't know how to cut-and-paste quotes from ten
different people! :-)
Obviously, the nature and depth of anyone's love and appreciation of
Joni is not directly linked to the amount or regularity of plays given
to her music. If it were, I'd probably be at the bottom of any
"Frequency of Joni listening" polls.
I admit I have rather odd listening habits, in that I don't play CDs
over and over again. Ten years ago, I listened to a lot more music, more
often....my favourite albums would be played maybe 20 or 30 times in
their first 12 months. Nowadays, it's nearer 6 or 7. I have no doubt
that it's largely a side-effect of my ill-health and resulting
brain-inflammation, as well as a symptom of relying on music as my main
source of entertainment for the last 13 years. Because of my illness, I
find it impossible to have music playing while I do something else, and
am even unable to have any playing while I rest or drift off to sleep. I
listen to any music that I play, either reclining in a chair or lying
down. In both cases I invariably have my eyes closed or covered with a
sleep-mask. Music, for me, is more like a "fuel" for my brain,
cancelling out the over-stimulation and mental exhaustion/foggyness that
lowers my ability to function as a human being. What I listen to, and
how often, is very carefully considered. Because I love so many
different artists and genres, and I listen to so little music in a day
(maybe 90 minutes, but usually nearer to 60), the opportunity to
repeatedly play a certain CD is limited. Lately, I have taken to making
compilation tapes of my current favourite tracks on a regular basis, or
sometimes just listening to a selection of songs without actually
comitting them to tape. I find it less "tiresome" than struggling
through a 75-minute CD. I seldom listen to an album in one go....though
if it's under 45 minutes, I may be able to. At the moment, I don't seem
to last longer than about 4 or 5 songs before the restlesness creeps in.
So, in other words, I have slowly but surely become "weary" of exposing
myself to endless bouts of music, and chaning my listening habits has
been the only way to keep my love and enjoyment of the music I play at a
satisfactory level.
New alternatives to listening to music have become available to me in
the last year, as my condition has improved just enough to take in
computers, TV and films. That's another reason why I listen to less
music now. After 10 years of all-music and nothing else, my brain is
telling me "you've got all these other things you can do now...why keep
laying down to listen to a 50 minute album, when you can write e-mails,
play games or watch a movie?". Music is still a vital component in my
daily life - it balances my brain-inflammation so that I can tackle
something else - but I now only "stop for gas" when absolutely
necessary.
I occasionally "fantasise" about getting all my Joni CDs out from the CD
drawers, spreading them out on the floor, and immersing myself in
Joniland for hours while the CDs play one after the other as I study the
view in front of me of all the artwork side by side. It's a nice dream
:-)
For me, Joni is one of the very few artists who I feel a need to have
their entire catalogue of work. All I'm missing now are the live albums,
and I'm sure that in time they will join the 18 CDs I already own. I may
not play them too often, but I'm pretty sure that on average I listen to
more Joni than any other artist in my collection. It must be wonderful
to have such a deep-rooted relationship with her work, and one borne of
so many experiences and emotions. Of course, her music and lyrics do
inspire a whole range of things in me too, as they surely do in
everyone, but I often find myself marvelling at the far-reaching bond so
many of you have with Joni's work. My appreciation has certainly been
enriched to a very significant degree just by being part of the JMDL.
Until I joined, I was someone who adored her DED-onwards releases, and
found great comfort, inspiration and stimulation in them, but I hadn't
felt a great desire to go back in time and investigate the earlier
albums. They were from another time and dimension, as I saw it, and as I
had not really lived through those times (although I was born the month
Blue was released) I felt little connection with them. That all changed
after spending a few months on this list, and reading all the posts. Now
Hejira is among my Top 10 albums of all-time, and has more resonance and
potency than most current music IMO.
Well, I have rambled far too much! :-)
Thanks for listening (if you haven't already deleted!)
Jason.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 10:52:35 -0400
From: Bob.Muller@fluor.com
Subject: Un.sub.bing from work (NJC)
Hey Gang,
Just a quick note to confirm that I am leaving Fluor Daniel (even as I speak)
but NOT the JMDL (It's in my blood like holy wine after all), so please direct
any offlist messages to me to "SCJoniGuy@AOL.com".
Y'all have a great Friday,
Bob
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 08:15:44 -0700
From: Steve Dulson
Subject: Eric Anderson
Bob wrote:
>Eric, on the other hand, is like my dear old Dad, the poor guy just has no
>>sense of key, pitch or rhythm, at least not evidenced in his performances
>here. >I don't think months of rehearsals would've helped him
I havn't heard the Joni's Jazz tapes, so I can't comment on Eric's
performance there. However, I would urge those like Bob who are
unfamiliar with his work not to dismiss him based on this show.
Two of his songs, Thirsty Boots and Violets of Dawn, are true classics
of the folk scare. His album Blue River (with Joni singing backup...
hmmm, that's the first time I made the connection between Blue River
and Blue, which was originally going to be called River) is well worth
checking out, and based on his performance at the '93 Troubadours of
Folk show (which Joni headlined) he still had his chops and was
writing very good material.
NP - Paul Castle - "Louise (Kick off your dancing shoes)"
#########################################################
Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA steve@psitech.com
"The Tinker's Own"
http://www.tinkersown.com
"Southern California Dulcimer Heritage"
http://members.aol.com/scdulcimer/
"The Living Tradition Concert Series"
http://www.thelivingtradition.org/
(Website under construction!)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 11:07:31 EDT
From: MHart16164@aol.com
Subject: Re: Tar Baby
In a message dated 99-10-26 15:56:56 EDT, you write:
<< Patricia said:
>Tar Baby is slang for a black person, IMO an impolite and racist >term.
>>
There is a story (and I'm not sure who wrote it--Uncle tom's cabin) about a
tar baby. The tar baby gets beat but the agressor gets stuck in all the tar.
- -michele
Normally lurking in Louisiana
NP: Earth wind and Fire-Greatest Hits
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 14:32:55 -0300
From: "Wally Kairuz"
Subject: RE: hair & moustaches NJC
In London, if you see a man with a
> 'tache then he's probably gay or German. ;-b
>
> If you see a woman with one, that's another question.
>
> Jamie Zubairi
well, yes. two pages i frequently visit are "men@40", which includes a
special section of pics of men with mustaches, and the self-evident "men and
their mustaches" from australia. there's also "uk 'tached". it seems many
gay men --- emphatically including me --- find mustachioed men extremely
attractive. and you should've seen jim, the guy that picked us up at the
airport for ashara's party...
mark in seattle, whatever your life choices, DON'T shave!!!
wallyk
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:55:03 +0100
From: Jason Maloney
Subject: Re : Being Irish NJC
Usually one of the first things someone will remark upon when meeting me
for the first time (either on-line or in person) is my name. "Ah,
Maloney? So you're Irish?". At school it often served as an easy source
of humour for those needing a reason to poke fun at me for whatever
reason. Many times, it was not done maliciously. As has already been
pointed out, the Irish do - I think - have a very keen sense of
humour....after all, you'd need to given the number of "irish jokes"
that have been in circulation throughout the decades.
I am not first-generation Irish. My grandparents on my father's side of
the family were from just outside Dublin, and my Dad's brothers and
sisters moved to America many years ago. I have never actually met any
of them. However, I am technically more Irish than many of the recent
football players who have graced the national team!
The main legacies of my origins are in my appearance (dark hair, blue
eyes, pale skin....like a young Georgie Best, or so I've been told!),
and in my fascination with Americana. I have long felt some
indescribable "pull" towards the US, and actually find it easier to
strike up friendships with people from either Ireland or America than
the UK. I just seem to have a greater kinship with them.
This penchant for all things American also applies to music and films.
As a teenager, I was more interested in following the Billboard Hot 100
on a saturday afternoon with Paul Gambaccini on Radio 1, than I was with
the UK Top 40 the following day. Virtually all my favourite movies are
American, too, though I obviously enjoy British ones as well.
Just last night, I was watching Pleasantville, which was released on DVD
in the UK this week. I thought it was sensational. I loved The Truman
Show too, but I'm thinking Pleasantville is actually even better. The
use of colour (and the lack of it) was like nothing I have ever seen
before, and the screenplay was extremely clever. The references to the
Garden Of Eden, the shopwindow signs saying "no coloureds", and the
scenes of rampant street violence had echoes of the race riots of the
60s. What I loved most, though, was probably the way it seemed to
capture the essence of that time.....America in the late 50s and early
60s had so much style. The cars, the diners, the music, and the way the
girls dressed ;-) I might have to pass on Momma's home-made blueberry
muffins though....
Jason.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 17:44:29 EDT
From: AzeemAK@aol.com
Subject: Re: SJC: Stevie Wonder
In a message dated 27/10/99 15:42:39 GMT Daylight Time, Bob.Muller@fluor.com
writes:
<< It's great to sing, but the rhymes are kind of suspect, he rhymes
Mississippi with Pretty, Dirty with Early, >>
Well, I have a different take on half-rhymes. I think they can be very
effective, and that their use can be a conscious lyrical device, and not
simply the closest the writer could get. A superb example of this is the
Squeeze song Up The Junction, which is stuffed full of half rhymes, for
example
I never thought it would happen
With me and a girl from Clapham
Out on the windy common
That night I ain't forgotten
The whole song is like that. Obviously, we can't know the process behind the
writing of Stevie's lyrics, but I'm prepared to believe he knew what he was
doing! After all, there are half-rhymes all over the blessed (rightly)
Hejira are there not?? The very first couplet of the album
(circumstance/ranch), loads in Song for Sharon. Some of the most arresting
couplets on the whole album are half-rhymes, for example
I can keep my head at poker but I'm a fool when love's at stake
Because I can't conceal emotion - whatever I'm feeling's written on my face
It doesn't scan either! :-)
I think Stevie is a true genius and a great songwriter, and I agree with
whomever it was who said that his purple patch in the 70s was virtually
unrivalled - and I also love Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. And
here's a question: did that film actually get a cinematic release - and has
anyone here seen it??
Azeem
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 16:49:02 -0500
From: mann@chicagonet.net
Subject: $10 off $10 at Barnes & Nobel (Joni Books & Music)
Hi All,
Better use this one fast! Type in Joni Mitchell under
subject for books and you'll find some old and maybe
books you hadn't heard of before. (I did!) They also sell
music too! Go to: www.bn.com/boo
coupon code is .......CTREATS
Hope this proves useful to some of you!
WARNING: NJC below.........but FUN STUFF if you dare!
U.S. residents (excluding Florida) at least 18 years of age who have
Internet access (as of 10/22/99) can register to win Ziploc brand
Slide-Loc Holiday Bags for Gifts & Storage "Time to Shop" Sweepstakes
by visiting www.ziplocholiday.com.
One grand prize winner will be randomly drawn to win a $1,000
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Those who complete an optional on-line survey will also receive a FREE
Slide-Loc Holiday Bag sample, magnet and coupons for Ziploc brand
Slide-Loc Bags and Handi-Wrap/Saran Cling Plus brand plastic film.
Contest entry and free offer deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST on January 22,
2000.
http://www.ziplocholiday.com/docs/ziploc/ziplocholiday/home.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Downy sample
Please visit http://downy.yourinfohere.com/hello?s=53&site=invitation to
order
a sample today.
Have fun!
Laura
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 18:16:23 EDT
From: Ginamu@aol.com
Subject: Re: Re : How much, how often?
In a message dated 10/29/1999 12:37:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jason.maloney@virgin.net writes:
<< Well, I have rambled far too much! :-)
Thanks for listening (if you haven't already deleted!)
Jason.
>>
First a personal note to Jason:I enjoyed every word. Thanks for such a
sensitive and nicely written post. It's always great when a list members
sends out an invitation for responses, receives them, considers them and then
formulates a thoughtful post with their reactions. I really enjoyed this
thread. And as an aside, Jason, where were you when I needed help defending
SuzyV on the JMDL? I wimped out without you! I'm assuming that we both feel
she doesn't need defending, yes? ; }
While it's true I play Joni almost daily to some extent, I also play a wide
variety of other people's music a great deal at work and at home too,
particularly while doing work around the house, preparing dinner or just
puttering. But with Joni, I prefer to be alone while listening to her ( uh
oh... in terms of addiction, is this anything like an alcoholic preferring to
drink alone? ) ; } I can't concentrate well on anything else when I
play Joni, so I tend to have an all or nothing sort of inclination toward her
work. Either I give her music my full concentration or I just have it on as
background music. With other artists, I can usually listen with half and ear
and still keep up my pace at work. Ringing phone, reports to write, people in
and out of my office, kids clamoring for my attention and I can still tune
in. My listening time with Joni is almost sacred to me and if I listen to her
at work and the phone rings, I feel like saying something such as "Can't talk
now, I'm listening with new ears to Boho Dance (thanks to a JMDL thread)
Gotta go!" Or saying to someone walking into my office "Can't you see I'm
absorbed in Amelia like it was the first time I heard it??? Please leave." :
} Such is my life with Joni and thus the reason for my bedtime and commute
listening rituals reserved mostly for her music. That's why my NPs are often
*not* Joni. This is such a brilliant and dynamic list that it requires my
full attention and because any kind of coherent post from me requires a great
deal of effort, that usually means no Joni with my JMDL time. Kind of odd
that the JMDL and Joni should sort of be mutually exclusive, but that's
genuinely how it works for me.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Gina
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 23:28:38 +0100
From: Jason Maloney
Subject: Half-rhymes and Squeeze (NJC)
Azeem, it took me years to get those lyrics out of my head...now look what you've
gone and done!
Well, I rate Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook among the very best lyricists I
have ever heard. Their use of language is so broad....taking in a wonderful array
of colloquialisms, cockney, and more seldom-used words than you can shake a stick
at. Virtually every Squeeze song has something unique lyrically. They are
quinessentially English, yet somehow (or perhaps because of it) America took them
into its bosom, and still affords them a warm (if comparitvely small) place in
its heart from what I hear.
Sometimes I feel the music lets them down a little and doesn't quite do justice
to the lyrical invention and potency, but Glenn Tillbrook's delivery always
provides a killer touch. I also feel they have improved with age.........the
cleverness of a few earlier songs sometimes overshadowed the emotional poignancy.
A poignancy which probably reached its apex on the excellent "Play" and "Some
Fantastic Place" albums from 1991 and 1993.
Jason, losing track of how many Joni posts he's written today ;-)
AzeemAK@aol.com wrote :
> Well, I have a different take on half-rhymes. I think they can be very
> effective, and that their use can be a conscious lyrical device, and not
> simply the closest the writer could get. A superb example of this is the
> Squeeze song Up The Junction, which is stuffed full of half rhymes, for
> example
>
> I never thought it would happen
> With me and a girl from Clapham
> Out on the windy common
> That night I ain't forgotten
>
> The whole song is like that.
>
> Azeem
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 18:40:05 EDT
From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com
Subject: Re: SJC: Stevie Wonder
In a message dated 10/29/99 4:27:01 PM US Central Standard Time,
AzeemAK@aol.com writes:
<< I think Stevie is a true genius and a great songwriter, and I agree with
whomever it was who said that his purple patch in the 70s was virtually
unrivalled - and I also love Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. And
here's a question: did that film actually get a cinematic release - and has
anyone here seen it?? >>
Azeem, I was the one who commented about his amazing streak in the
70's...broken imo with "Plants", which I bought, of course, and just barely
found enough decent stuff on it to put on half of a 90 minute tape (it was a
double LP). I think the soundtrack was to a TV film and not a cinematic one,
but I could be wrong.
Bob
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:18:54 -0400
From: Vince Lavieri
Subject: NJC Shepherd trial update #1
JMDL friends:
for those who are interested...
(the Rev) Vince
Henry Messer wrote:
> THIS IS ONE IS A SERIES OF PERIODIC DISPATCHES FROM LARAMIE, WYOMING, WHERE
> I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE TRIAL OF AARON McKINNEY. McKINNEY IS FACING
> CAPITAL MURDER CHARGES FOR THE BEATING DEATH LAST YEAR OF MATTHEW SHEPARD.
>
> FEEL FREE TO CROSS-POST THIS AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT
> INCLUDE THE ABOVE ADDRESS LIST IN ANY RE-POSTS. THANKS...
> Jeffrey , trijeffm@aol.com
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> DISPATCH FROM LARAMIE
> Monday 25 October 1999
>
> McKINNEY'S TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY WITH OFFENSIVE DEFENSE
>
> Testimony began Monday in Aaron McKinney's murder trial, but not until
> after the most astounding, blatant exhibition of a "gay panic" defense was
> outlined by the team representing the accused, and admitted killer of
> Matthew Shepard.
>
> By the start of the afternoon session the jury had been selected with ten
> men and six women on the final panel. Of that number, three are students
> at the University of Wyoming.
>
> So by the start of the afternoon session, and a year after the horrific
> killing of Shepard, the opening statements were finally to be heard.
> McKinney was escorted in, wearing a black suit that was in high contrast to
> his ashen, stark white complexion. Judy Shepard sat stoically in the front
> row, while across the aisle sat members of McKinney's family.
>
> Prosecutor Carl Rerucha presented a clear a concise overview of the State's
> case against McKinney. He provided a story of the harrowing last ride of
> Shepard in the truck driven by Russell Henderson and with fellow passenger
> McKinney. Rerucha said that this is not a case about Shepard's life, but
> about the pain and suffering and death he suffered at the hands of Aaron
> McKinney.
>
> The prosecutor told of McKinney and Henderson assessing Shepard as a victim
> at the Fireside Lounge, the bar where they first encountered each other.
> Once in the truck McKinney told Shepard, "We're not gay and you're getting
> jacked." Then the beating commenced; the beating with a 357-magnum handgun.
> They drove to an area familiar to McKinney, the Fence on the outskirts of
> Laramie. After several more blows, McKinney and Henderson left Matt
> Shepard knowing he was dead, or soon would be.
>
> The defense followed with their version of events, and their unequivocal,
> unscrupulous touting of so-called "homosexual panic" was both riveting and
> revolting. Defense team member Jason Tangeman began by announcing
> disingenuously (and, it turned out, portentously) that Matthew Shepard is
> innocent. He assured the panel that they would not like McKinney, and that
> murder is never pretty. Neither, it became apparent, will be this defense.
>
> Many observing this case had speculated that "gay panic" would not even
> surface here, even while activists were becoming weary with saying it would
> be inevitable. We had been arguing that in order to make the case for a
> reduced verdict of manslaughter, it would become essential for the defense
> to tie the brutal beating to some motive.
>
> Tangeman wasted little time in establishing that motivation. McKinney, he
> explained, was "furious" with rage because Shepard had "come on" to him,
> had groped him and even licked McKinney's ear. Shepard was a predator that
> evening, according to Tangeman's tale. And McKinney was high on
> methamphetamines and alcohol. The touch set McKinney into a rage and he
> knew not what he was doing from that moment on.
>
> More than ten blows to the head later, including those that resulted in
> crushing Shepard's brain stem, McKinney and Henderson fled the scene. But
> not before they tied their 105-pound victim to the Fence and relieved him
> of his shoes.
>
> Then, the most staggering news of all. McKinney, as told by Tangeman, had
> a history of homosexual abuse. And it "haunted" him. When he was a
> youngster a neighborhood "bully" had forced McKinney to have sex with him,
> McKinney had also been forced to have sex with another boy, he had yet
> another sexual encounter with a male cousin. There were rumors that Aaron
> might be a fag. Finally, just two years ago, McKinney, along with his
> girlfriend, was vacationing in Florida and happened into a "gay" church.
> These "sexually confusing events in his past," in Tangeman's words, are
> what set him on his murderous attack of Matthew Shepard. This last element
> was dazzling, as though the attorney had pulled a rabbit out of a hat,
> right before our very eyes!
>
> According to Tangeman, homosexual humiliation fueled by drugs and alcohol
> brought up the past and well the picture should be clear.
>
> By mid-afternoon, the Tangeman's deed was done and the gay panic defense
> had been thrown down as a gauntlet. Now for the defenses next trick
> _______________________________________________
> Jeffrey Montgomery has been able to observe and comment on this case in
> Laramie through the generous support of the Triangle Foundation and its
> supporters; The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs; Gay & Lesbian
> Alliance Against Defamation; and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:20:38 -0400
From: Vince Lavieri
Subject: NJC Shepherd trial #2
and this is the next part...
Henry Messer wrote:
> THIS IS ONE IS A SERIES OF PERIODIC DISPATCHES FROM LARAMIE, WYOMING, WHERE
> I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE TRIAL OF AARON McKINNEY. McKINNEY IS FACING
> CAPITAL MURDER CHARGES FOR THE BEATING DEATH LAST YEAR OF MATTHEW SHEPARD.
>
> FEEL FREE TO CROSS-POST THIS AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS THANKS...
> Jeffrey , trijeffm@aol.com
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> DISPATCH FROM LARAMIE
> Tuesday 26 October 1999
>
> FLUCTUATE YOUR VOICE
>
> Things can always get worse, even when you don't think things could get worse.
>
> I didn't think this defense team could get any worse than they were
> yesterday. That was when they rolled out the Y2K compatible, Millennium
> Edition of the "Homo Panic Defense." This new version, the one specially
> minted for the Aaron McKinney trial in Laramie, is designed to be as
> offensive and vulgar as past models, but has been outfitted with a late 90s
> look of unabashed loathing and contempt. It's built to last.
>
> Anyway, Tuesday was a day that featured a full morning of testimony
> dedicated to the medical examiner's report and findings of how Matthew
> Shepard actually died (multiple blunt force trauma, causing skull fracture,
> crushing the brain stem), complete with poster-sized blow-ups of autopsy
> photos. The afternoon provided an absorbing account of an excellent piece
> of police work by Laramie cops, involving McKinney's second vicious attack
> on innocent people on the same evening that he beat the hell out of
> Shepard. That would be the attack on two Latino men.
>
> In that second incident, McKinney and his pal Russell Henderson, fresh from
> their visit to the Fence with Shepard, used the same blunt object
> (357-Magnum revolver) that did the job on Shepard to bust open the skull of
> young Mr. Morales. McKinney gives a new meaning to the concept of
> "handgun." With Aaron, why waste money on bullets?
>
> But for me, the most fascinating revelation came through defense team
> questioning of two employees of the Fireside Bar & Lounge. The Fireside is
> the venue where McKinney and Henderson ran into Matthew and from which the
> three left together. The Fireside witnesses were Matt Galloway, who
> self-identified as a "student/bartender" (pronounce the word "slash" in
> that phrase), and Douglas Ferguson. Ferguson was a bouncer in October of
> '98. He's now a bartender.
>
> Defense team co-captain, Jason Tangeman was back for day two, following his
> masterful work of introducing the "Homo Panic" strategy the previous day.
> He wasted no time to dispel any notion that denigrating homos in general
> and Mr. Shepard specifically was a one-day exercise. He continued to
> defame and disparage Shepard by insinuating that he was a lush. But he
> really made advances when he questioned the two lounge employees.
>
> To Mr. Galloway: "Was Mr. McKinney acting gay?"
> To Mr. Ferguson: "Were [Henderson & McKinney] acting gay?"
>
> Each of the young men, Galloway and Ferguson, didn't think so.
>
> But I was wondering (and I wasn't the only one who was) what that meant.
> What would either of these two guys do, how would they pull off, "acting gay?"
>
> Well, no one would wonder long. Tangeman provided the clue; the give-away
> that someone is "acting gay." He followed his question to Ferguson with
> this helpful inquiry: "Did they fluctuate their voices?"
>
> Fluctuating voices. That's how you know! Now I know why all those gay guys
> in all those bars are always fluctuating their voices. That's always
> annoyed me all those fluctuating voices, but now I know ---the world
> knows--- that those guys are simply acting gay!
>
> Tangeman has evidently studied gay culture.
>
> Although Shepard had been in the Fireside several times and was a
> respectful and respected patron, Galloway told reporters outside the
> Courthouse following his testimony that he had never been sure whether
> Matthew was gay or not.
>
> Shepard obviously never fluctuated his voice.
>
> So it's going to get progressively worse.
> _______________________________________________
> Jeffrey Montgomery has been able to observe and comment on this case in
> Laramie through the generous support of the Triangle Foundation and its
> supporters; The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs; Gay & Lesbian
> Alliance Against Defamation; and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 00:08:57 +0100
From: catman
Subject: Appalling Critic NJC
I really don't think much of critics:
Tina Turner-Twenty Four Seven
Twenty Four Seven, eh. Well, I must say it is very brave of Miss Turner
to come clean about her age-247. Human years or dog years, I wonder?
from the howling on this record one has to assume the latter. It is ll a
tad unbecoming, rampaging around to a wine-bar soundtrack and growling
rather base human desires. As all wrinkly rockers do at this stage of
their career(the twilight years), they call in a modern production team
to give the proceedings a contempoerary gloss-forgetting the rather apt
maixm that you can't teach an old dog new tricks...at least I know a
good home this dog of a record can go to. woof, woof.
This is not a review but the outpourings of a snotty, nasty little hack
who thinks he/she is being very clever and trying to get a name for
themselves.
This review was printed in the Evening Standard and was by one of four
people credited: Tim Lusher, Pete Clark, Chris Burkham or Zoe Williams.
- --
"It is better to be hated for what you are
than to be loved for what you are not."
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 00:32:55 +0100
From: Jason Maloney
Subject: Re: Re : How much, how often?
Ginamu@aol.com wrote:
> First a personal note to Jason: I enjoyed every word. Thanks for such a
> sensitive and nicely written post. It's always great when a list members
> sends out an invitation for responses, receives them, considers them and then
> formulates a thoughtful post with their reactions. I really enjoyed this
> thread.
I am glad I decided to write that post. I've had such a wonderfully positive
response from so many people, and I am genuinely thankful to you all. There are
many times I wish I could be a more active participant in the discussions, but
it's not often I can summon the energy to do so. My post this afternoon took me a
couple of hours to write, but I felt I needed to share my thoughts with you all
for a change. Mostly, I never get past the stage of thinking them, and leaving it
at that.
> And as an aside, Jason, where were you when I needed help defending
> SuzyV on the JMDL? I wimped out without you! I'm assuming that we both feel
> she doesn't need defending, yes? ; }
Oops...hahahaha. Sorry Gina! Well, I was sorely tempted to weigh in. SV is the
only artist besides Joni who I feel has made consistenly outstanding music. There
is not one SV track from her 5 albums which is below-par. Actually, I seem to
recall sending a post in to the list at the time, no? Perhaps I forgot to send
it....I can be absent-minded like that during chaotic times.
> While it's true I play Joni almost daily to some extent, I also play a wide
> variety of other people's music a great deal at work and at home too,
> particularly while doing work around the house, preparing dinner or just
> puttering. But with Joni, I prefer to be alone while listening to her ( uh
> oh... in terms of addiction, is this anything like an alcoholic preferring to
> drink alone? ) ; } I can't concentrate well on anything else when I
> play Joni, so I tend to have an all or nothing sort of inclination toward her
> work. Either I give her music my full concentration or I just have it on as
> background music.
Oh, I hear you on this! I am like that with ALL the music I listen to, though. I
sometimes wonder if it would be easier on me if I was more "easy-going" in this
respect, but then again it means I really do savour what little music I listen
to. I don't listen to the radio either, so everything I hear is due to a
conscious desire to on my part.
> This is such a brilliant and dynamic list that it requires my full attention
> and because any kind of coherent post from me requires a great
> deal of effort, that usually means no Joni with my JMDL time. Kind of odd
> that the JMDL and Joni should sort of be mutually exclusive, but that's
> genuinely how it works for me.
Again, I can fully identify with what you are saying. That's why you'll probably
find me posting in fits and starts. I'll get on a roll, and find the necessarly
mental energy and coherence to put my thoughts into words, and it will last for a
few days. Then it disappears again for a while, and so do I ;-)
> Have a great weekend everyone!
And you too, Gina..!!
Best wishes,
Jason.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:48:21 -0400
From: Vince Lavieri
Subject: NJC Report from Laramie 3
Henry Messer wrote:
> FROM LARAMIE, WYOMING, WHERE I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE TRIAL OF AARON
> McKINNEY. McKINNEY IS FACING CAPITAL MURDER CHARGES FOR THE BEATING DEATH
> LAST YEAR OF MATTHEW SHEPARD.
>
> FEEL FREE TO CROSS-POST THIS AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS THANKS...
> Jeffrey , trijeffm@aol.com
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> DISPATCH FROM LARAMIE
> Thursday 28 October 1999
>
> DRAMA, PANIC & VIDEOTAPE
>
> DRAMA
>
> The murder trial of Aaron McKinney in the beating death of Matthew Shepard
> is moving at a faster-than-expected pace. There is expectation that the
> prosecution's case may be completed tomorrow morning. That expectancy has
> only heightened speculation about how will be resolved one of the two big
> sidebar dramas playing out here in the Albany County Courthouse.
>
> On Wednesday, Judge Barton Voigt told the defense team that their plan to
> use a blatant version of the so-called "homosexual panic" defense wasn't
> going to fly. Judge Voigt compared the strategy to Wyoming's "battered
> woman's defense," which is enshrined in a State Statute bearing the
> syndrome's name. It allows, as an element of self-defense, for an argument
> in cases where women are accused of killing their abusers.
>
> Alas, there is no similar "Gay Panic" statute in Wyoming (or anywhere else
> in the country, for that matter). So the judge ---who was clearly chagrined
> by the introduction of the strategy--- ordered Dion Custis, captain of the
> defense team, to come up with a convincing legal justification for the
> scheme to have standing in this case. The judge's dressing down of the
> defense crew was stunning.
>
> It has also provided the gallery observers with hours of speculation about
> what ramifications will result from the Judge's ruling, especially on the
> eve of defense's case.
>
> As though this case needed any further turmoil, Russell Henderson,
> sentenced to life in prison for his confessed role in Shepard's killing
> (brokered last April in exchange for a life sentence and to avoid a
> possible death sentence), was a no-show today. His name appeared on the
> day's witness list and he had even been spotted in the courthouse, but he
> reportedly balked at the last moment. Matter of fact, Henderson was seen
> in the courtroom during the mid-morning break. Then he went into the
> judge's chambers with McKinney and the defense lawyers. After that meeting,
> McKinney emerged smiling broadly and Henderson headed for the elevator. He
> was returned to jail for the afternoon.
>
> Henderson had been expected as a witness for the prosecution and his
> anticipated testimony would have probably helped portray McKinney as the
> lead actor in the savage scene at the Fence and the sole actor who bashed
> Shepard's skull, before leaving the bashed and thrashed victim tied to the
> Fence.
>
> With Henderson bolting the trial, he left behind a catalog of questions.
> Would he return another day? Is he now going to be a defense witness? Is
> his story changing, the story he touted at his sentencing hearing last
> spring? Will his testimony be entered into the record by using his
> previous, under oath statements? If he fails to participate completely,
> can the State revisit its offer of leniency and re-sentence him?
>
> Between Judge Voigt's challenge to Mr. Custis, and the AWOL Russell
> Henderson, this epic episode has taken on yet even more extraordinary stuff.
>
> PANIC
>
> Judge Barton Voigt's ex cathedra lecture last Tuesday, challenging Custis &
> Co. to justify their plan to mount a so-called "Homosexual [or Gay] Panic,"
> brought that dubious scheme instantly into the national spotlight. It
> could have only happened here, at the trail of Matthew Shepard's killer,
> with bright national Klieg lights beaming up from Laramie.
>
> Many of the major print and broadcast news outlets that are covering the
> McKinney trial are developing stories about the "Gay Panic" defense and its
> effect, both historically and in recent trials. And suddenly everyone's
> talking about it. Triangle, as well as every other member agency of the
> National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) have tried to work
> this story at countless gay-killer trials for years. Our work, for example,
> to generate broad discussion of "GP" during the Schmitz murder trials in
> the death of Scott Amedure was only successful to a point. Of course
> during those cases we were elbowing for space in a tent crowded by Jenny
> Jones, celebrity shrinks, bombast lawyers and Grave's disease.
>
> In the McKinney case, the Custis defense squad coupled with Matthew
> Shepard's status as the poster boy for heinous and waunton hate violence,
> have thrust the issue to the top of the charts. But just as no single
> victim, or his memory, should bear the burden of singularly standing for
> the issue, it is also morally flawed to raise Matthew Shepard up to such
> sainted status over those we know to suffer such violence every day.
>
------------------------------
End of JMDL Digest V4 #486
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