From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V4 #542 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Thursday, December 2 1999 Volume 04 : Number 542 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: Paintings and music with Joni ["Lisa Peakes" ] RE: Christmas music - yet another list (NJC) ["Ross, Les" ] Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC ["John Low" ] Joni report (long and good ;-D ["Kakki" ] Re: songbooks ["Helen M. Adcock" ] Re: Joni's VIVID story from PWWAM - VERY LOOOONG ["Helen M. Adcock" ] Re: How about a WORST Christmas Carol list? (NJC) ["Helen M. Adcock" ] Re: Paintings and music with Joni [JRMCo1@aol.com] WOW! [Robert Holliston ] Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC [Siresorrow@aol.com] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D [Siresorrow@aol.com] Re: WOW! [MGVal@aol.com] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D [FMYFL@aol.com] Re:songbooks / Anthology ["Lori REASON"] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D [TerryM2442@aol.com] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D ["Mark or Travis" ] Re: Favorite and Worst Christmas songs (NJC) ["Catherine McKay" ] Taming the Tiger [Emily Kirk Gray ] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: Taming the Tiger [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] The Joni Mitchell Companion ["Paul Castle" ] RE: Joni report (long and good ;-D ["Wally Kairuz" ] Re: Paintings and music with Joni ["Bill Dollinger" ] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D [Bounced Message ] thanksgiving in new orleans [Bounced Message ] Tinker article in OC Register (NJC) [Steve Dulson ] Joni at LACE [Andy Stancliffe ] kakki's report ["gene mock" ] Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC ["Catherine McKay" ] Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D ["Kelly Loughran" Subject: Re: Paintings and music with Joni <> I gotta' hear about this! Glad for the blessings! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 08:35:58 -0000 From: "Ross, Les" Subject: RE: Christmas music - yet another list (NJC) Cathering wrote "It's interesting to notice that often people are reluctant to admit they don't like something. Or to come out and say they *do* like something that someone else has just blasted. Take the topic of Cher that came up recently - - - some people love her, others hate her. Just an observation but, anyone's opinion is as good as anyone else's. If someone flames you for expressing your opinion on something, does that make their opinion any better than yours? People seem to get so angry sometimes. Just wondering..." Yes, this has always suprised me when, in whatever situation, I express an opinion that someone in the conversation will take quite a hostile and contradictory reaction to. Something that might at best be quite a mundane (ie something that perhaps doesn't merit that kind of passion - but what am I saying here) topic. Yes of course there are subjects about which people can and do hold fundamental views and not falling in line with those views can present a challenge that must be met. For me it is the expression of bigotry. Fair enough. But there are times, and I think Catherine is referring to those occassions here, when the reaction exposes the need of the 'agitated party', shall we say, for endorsement of their views to be effected by 'universal' agreement. It seems to me, that the extremity of the antagonism bears a direct relation to the frailty of the challenged opinion or belief. It is just disappointing that the ensuing bluster fails to illuminate and people just shut up and mutter to themselves "well, I like it so back off...etc". By the way : Did someone say that The Cocteau Twins covered Frosty the Snowman. I have to hear this. I think that Elizabeth Fraser is a national treasure and a voice of the millenium. Their rendition of this song would be a hoot to hear. Anyone know anything about it? I have a Christmas Song that always brings on the delicious gooseflesh feeling (?!?!?) at this time of year. It's Greg Lake's (ELP) version of 'I believe in Father Christmas' (Is that its name?) Always makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Don't know why. Maybe it's a fear and loathing reaction and I just haven't recognised it as such. Any other time of the year it's a yeuch experience. Les (in London) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 01:10:00 PST From: "John Low" Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas Songs NJC I wrote: >>And, also, I'm not ashamed to say that I love Rolf Harris singing "Six >>White Boomers". And Catherine asked: >Is Rolf Harris the same guy who did "Tie my kangaroo down"? That was a >biiig hit years ago! Yes, Catherine, that’s the fellow! Rolf is actually a very talented entertainer and a great favourite with children. “Six White Boomers” is a children’s Christmas song he wrote about Santa Claus rescuing a little joey kangaroo from “a great big zoo” and taking him back home to his mum in Australia. Santa’s sleigh is pulled by six white “old man Kangaroos” and the chorus goes: “Six white boomers, snow white boomers, Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun. Six white boomers, snow white boomers, On his Australian run.” It’s a great Christmas song. My kids love it! John (in Sydney). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 01:46:56 PST From: "John Low" Subject: Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC WOW, Catherine, that was a great explanation of the Grinch and Scrooge characters. Thanks for all that info. I bet Raffaele will be off to his local library as soon as he can to borrow a copy of "A Christmas Carol" to read over Christmas! I've seen versions of the Dickens story but I've never seen that Grinch cartoon. I suppose it is too much to hope for that it might surface amongst all the Christmas flotsam and jetsam that will float across our TV screens in Australia this December. John (in Sydney). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 01:52:27 -0800 From: "Kakki" Subject: Joni report (long and good ;-D What a night - I don't know where to begin. Phyliss, Pat and Andy arrived before me at LACE tonight and they all have their own stories to tell. I got there a little late but there she was right in the middle of the room with a glass of wine in hand, in a long black dress with a maroon scarf and a really cute black crinkly silk backpack on. She looked great and was talking on and on about the paintings and everything under the sun. Lindsay made it through the L.A./Hollywood traffic and arrived a bit after me. The paintings were all around and there were a bunch of new ones (!) that will be included in the upcoming standards album. They are fantastic!! Her painting style has morphed or evolved a bit once again - a lot more realism and flatter surfaces, but verrrrry whimsical. There is one of her alone at a smoky bar in a green dress with a glass of wine and a pensive look on her face with the omnipresent cigarette billowing smoke which will be the cover for the upcoming album. There's a still life of a big vase of yellow roses sitting on a table with a lavender background and a framed picture of a very goofy looking Larry Klein sitting on the table. There's a sunset silohette style painting with what looks like Donald and her paddling a canoe and then there's one with her and Donald in a boat on a lake rather graphically French kissing ! ;-) We saw k.d. lang and Larry there and maybe others that we didn't recognize. Many people were constantly going up to her and having her sign stuff and taking pics of her. I just didn't know how quite to approach her. At one point I saw her grab a bunch of friends and head out to a little balcony off the back door. I figured she was going for a cigarette and I was right. I made my way through the hoardes and got my spot out there and she was holding court and talking about al kinds of things. There was the usual bunch of schmoozers coming up to her and she was very sweet and warm to all of them. I finally made my way up to her and introduced myself as from the JMDL and presented her with the Jonifest Box Set. She was truly excited about it and then exclaimed on and on about the cookbook that we did for her!! (So, Marian she got it!!) She truly went on and on about the cookbook to everyone standing nearby and thought it was just the neatest thing! She especially RAVED about the bios that we included - she found them so interesting. She probably mentioned the bios to me about four times! So I said, "well, there is a commonality with a lot of us" and she exclaimed "Nietsche! So many people mentioned Nietsche in their bios"! Her friend Charles Valentine was standing next to her (he's the guy dancing with her in the PWWAM video) and she started raving to him about our recipes and how we used the song titles and came up with these clever recipes. I tell you - she absolutely loves that cookbook! I told her a bit about the Jonifest Box Set and how we have this once a year and how she has inspired so many of us to take up our guitars or paintbrushes again. I also told her that she just had to hear the incredible music of the woman who put together the cookbook, Marian. All through the evening Joni was asking everyone she saw "Have you heard the new album, yet?" She is so totally enthused about it! So she enthused to me about it, too, and expressed how she thought it would appeal to everyone of all ages. I told her my 86 year old dad loved her and that I would be getting a copy to him ;-) She also signed my STARART book. At this point, I felt someone suddenly grab and hug and kiss me and it was Robbie Cavolina! As he was hugging me he handed Joni the prototype art work for the new album! Then the schmoozers started elbowing their way in again, so I said goodbye to her and went back inside to look for the gang. We met another big fan named Ellen who went nuts when we told her about the list. She is going to subscribe right away. Robbie and I talked and caught up on things. He is doing well and has written and will be directing and producing a movie about Anita O'Day starring Rosanna Arquette. Robbie, being the nicest guy in the world, then invited us all over to his place to hear the new album! Joni departed with some friends to a private dinner party and the rest of us waited to go to Robbie's house. Andy and Pat left so it was Phyliss, Lindsay and me who made the trip to his place just a few blocks away. After we met his three very friendly cats, he put on the album and my God, I cannot begin to describe how beautiful it is. You all are just going to be blown away for years over this one - it's got to be one of the classics of all time. The new Case of You and Both Sides Now are just mindblowing. Every single song is unbelievably lush and she sounds absolutely perfect, gorgeous and very emotionally effecting in this style. Robbie also showed us the prototype for the special edition version of the album - for which I'd say he's going to win another Grammy. It's going to be in a little round dark maroon, silk moire hat box. Inside there will be separate miniature lithos of her new round of paintings. It's just stunning. I laughingly suggested that he include a little miniature cigarette in the package a la the tin ear in the special edition TI and he said he'd actually been thinking of including something along the lines of a miniature pack of candy cigarettes! He regaled and entertained us wonderfully as always. What an unbelievable and wonderful night. I'm so glad that some of the group were able to make it and I'm so glad to give her some of us all with the Box Set and to hear her rave about the cookbook. Phyliss and I were saying earlier today that these opprtunities really come to us because of the magic of the quick information of the internet and the list. In the "olden days", we probably would not even have learned about the exhibit tonight. What a dream. Phyliss took a lot of photos, so hopefully we can get them put up on the website. Going off to Dreamland now ;-) Love, Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 22:59:26 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: songbooks WallyK wrote: >lordy! am i the only one that has zero mitchell songbooks? i thought people >would e hopping up and down the streets with joy, writing home about >wallyk's find. well, it looks like i'm going to have a lot of people >xeroxing for ME instead. Of course you're not! In fact I only own two songbooks, which considering I don't play anything, and can't sing above a whisper is strange enough. Mind you the two I own are Carole King: Touch the Sky, and (gulp) The Bee Gees - Tragedy! OK, I was only 12 at the time of purchase, and the album cover didn't have the words. And I've still got it because..... because..... because..... Oh yes, I'm going to use it as a prop next time I go to a 70's disco party. The fact that I've never been to one yet is completely beside the point! Helen _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 23:06:24 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: Joni's VIVID story from PWWAM - VERY LOOOONG Mariana from Argentina complains.. >Am I the only Lister who's never seen Joni live? I want to see her so >badly! Then Jamie wrote: >No, there are two of us. Just you and me it seems ! >Martin. In London. > >And me! > >Along with Raffaele that makes 4! And Helen makes 5. I don't think Joni's ever even BEEN to New Zealand, but I could be wrong. It would probably have been in the 80's when my musical-sluttishness was in it's prime, and I'd never have noticed. Ahhh - youth.... Simple Minds, Scritti Politti, Katrina & The Waves.... Helen NP - Shadows & Light - Amelia/Pat's Solo on continuous play _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 23:10:18 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: Christmas songs Martin wrote: >Christmas for me is about getting together with family, and also perhaps >with friends that I normally don't get to see for the rest of the year. > >There are two or three Joni songs that refer to Christmas and so they >will do me as my choices.. > >River >Chinese Cafe >Facelift Amen to that! If I hear that damn "Red Baron/Snoopy" song one more time..... I don't like Xmas carols, I don't like Xmas cards (that pressure to send a "cheery" greeting to people you don't ever see any more, but have to "keep in touch with" at Xmas), and I don't like Xmas albums (the mere thought of listening to the Mariah Carey one gives me cold sweats). Bah, humbug, too. Helen _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 23:12:36 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: How about a WORST Christmas Carol list? (NJC) Catherine wrote: >Time to pull the claws in, and get the fangs back inside my mouth where they >belong. I've been drooling all over my keyboard and we don't need that, >now, do we? No, no, MORE, MORE! I loved this post! Mind you, I got some strange looks at work while I was giggling hysterically over my keyboard! Helen _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 23:31:39 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D Kakki wrote: >What a night - I don't know where to begin. OH MY GOD! You lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, ..... I better stop while I still can! What a wonderful night you must have had. In fact I'm surprised you could even think coherently enough about it, to write it down! I'd be curled in a corner somewhere, with a big, soppy grin on my face, going "blub, blub, JONI! Blub, blub, JONI! Blub......" I'm green with envy, and now I can't wait for the album - even more so than before! Helen _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 05:41:52 EST From: JRMCo1@aol.com Subject: Re: Paintings and music with Joni I can't wait...sounds wonderful already. So glad you lucky souls got to check it out - -Julius ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 02:52:07 -0800 From: Robert Holliston Subject: WOW! Kakki my love! What an amazing experience - thank you so very much for sharing it!! WOW! That's about all I can say - it's so beyond wonderful that she likes the cookbook - kudos to Marian! And she now has a CD from all of us who journeyed to far-off Topsfield... In keeping with reports from other JMDL Joni meetings, she is indeed gracious and accomodating to her true fans. Couldn't happen to a more deserving person than our Kakki, generous bestower of party stamina awards ;-) Going back to read that email again, Roberto ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 06:46:23 EST From: Siresorrow@aol.com Subject: Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC In a message dated 12/2/99 5:25:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, johnlow40@hotmail.com writes: << I've seen versions of the Dickens story but I've never seen that Grinch cartoon. >> i fully understand this since the grinch is an american character. nonetheless, the grinch is so much an american character for the baby boom generation and those after that most americans would probably put the grinch in among their true tested die hard nostalgia items for the christmas season. he's that big. we should see that you get a copy of the grinch. i offer my help. pat you're a mean one, mr. grinch....i wouldn't touch you with a ten and a half foot pole. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 06:48:20 EST From: Siresorrow@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D thanks kakki. travelling today so i saved it for when i get back to my office and have time to enjoy it. pat ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 07:04:12 EST From: MGVal@aol.com Subject: Re: WOW! In a message dated 12/2/99 4:00:39 AM Pacific Standard Time, rhollis@home.com writes: << Going back to read that email again, >> You know, this is exactly what I've been finding myself doing this morning. Reading and re-reading it. I'm sitting here doing my morning writing, get stuck on a line and then realize it's only because I'm mentally re-reading Kakki's report. What a wonderful experience! Thanks, Kakki, for such an exquisite report that was just.....(Roberto, what was that word again??!), ....WOW! MG ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 08:00:49 EST From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D Way to go Kakki, Phyllis, Pat , Andy and Lindsay!!!! That is so exciting Kakki, and I'm so happy you shared that incredible event with us. You described everything so perfectly. My heart was beating a mile a minute as I read your post. Kudos to Marian!!! She did get the cookbook!!! Thanks for the great report Kakki. Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 14:04:03 +0100 From: "Lori REASON" Subject: Re:songbooks / Anthology Right - I just received Anthonolgy, and for all you gifted guitar players out there I get the point of this being "uncool", but for a "Joni starved fledgling piano player" such as myself it was a joy to be able to sit down and play (Read: hack out) My Old Man, For Free, River, etc. I started out 25 years ago with Songbooks 1& 2, so I'm used to them being wrong. No, they are not perfect, but the basic idea is there to work with - except Woodstock which is in the wrong key. Must check out all the others. I volunteer to be the Euro branch. All I ask for is Ludwig's Tune and Banquet. I miss them so much. Thanks Wally! Lori he will xerox the whole stuff for me so that i can spread joy and sunshine all over the list!!! so if you're interested, write. i'll need a branch in north america, another in europe and another in oceania. well, except for the anthology, the rest of the material is pretty cool and hard to get, right? wallyk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 09:02:00 EST From: TerryM2442@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D I AM SPEECHLESS..but not so speechless that I can't tell you how happy I am for you to have had that incredible experience. Isn't it amazing how warm and engaging she is? How she makes you feel special- like an old friend?? I can't wait to see the photos. I can't wait to hear the album. I can't wait to see how it's packaged. WOW WOW WOW! Thanks so much for sharing. I TOLD you she'd be there! Terry ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 06:06:57 -0800 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D > What a night - I don't know where to begin. Phyliss, Pat and Andy arrived > before me at LACE tonight and they all have their own stories to tell. I > got there a little late but there she was right in the middle of the room > with a glass of wine in hand, in a long black dress with a maroon scarf and > a really cute black crinkly silk backpack on. snip What a dream. Phyliss took a lot of photos, so hopefully we can > get them put up on the website. > > Going off to Dreamland now ;-) > > Love, > Kakki > Bravo, Kakki, Phyllis, Andy, Pat & Lindsey! What a wonderful experience! Can't wait to see the pics. Why oh why do I live in wet, WTO-afflicted Seattle and not sunny, Joni-blessed LA?? Mark heading out to work soon in besieged Seattle PS: Congratulations to Marian and all who contributed to the cookbook! Makes me wish I was a more of a cook myself & had contributed something. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:47:48 -0500 From: Linda Worster Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D Oh Kakki!!!!!! I am SOOOOOO happy for you!!! And I thank for you for representing all of us to our Joan. It thrills me to hear that she knows how we feel about her.... and that she loves the cookbook and that now she has the Jonifest boxed set as well!!! How wonderful that you not only met her... but got to hear the new album!!!! (geez... I've never seen my skin this shade of green..... :~) Thanks for sharing it all with us!!!!!! Linda ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 14:49:15 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Favorite and Worst Christmas songs (NJC) Evian posted: >I also love that Pogue's song, I can't think of the name, but I love >it... I love that too. Anything by the Pogues. >As for worst Christmas songs, this one is probably unique to >Canada. Every Christmas, every frigging station seems to play Corey >Hart's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", and let me tell you, it is >the >most annoying song ever recorded. And I mean, ANNOYING! They >probably >play it to satisfy Canadian content regulations, but I'd >opt for silence. >It's so horrible... and it is recorded live... and >he sings it in the most >annoying tone, with god-awful inflections in >his voice. I don't know if I've ever heard Corey Hart's version (which surprises me) but I can hear it in my head and you're right - it is annoying, like just about everything else he does. He has that dreadful whiney sounding voice and he always sounds like he has trouble breathing - like every breath out has a 'ha' in it (I'm not sure if you're going to understand what I mean by that, but he does tend to aspirate a lot!) I was told by a friend of mine that his dad is in the business and that's how Corey managed to get a recording contract. Don't know whether that's true or not, but it should be - - everything he does sounds exactly the same. You're probably right about the Canadian content thing too - some of the weird shit you hear on the radio just to satisfy those stupid rules (and yet, you don't hear that much Joni, so what gives?) >P.S. and I also have to agree, Stevie Nick's "Silent Night" is >horrible, even though it hurts me to admit it! I realize I'm taking a real chance here, but I've never cared for Stevie Nicks *at all*. Her version of "Silent Night" is truly horrible though. Give that woman some air - I think she's dying of oxygen deprivation! Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 14:53:29 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Favorite and Worst Christmas songs (NJC) Bill wrote: >as far as despised songs, anything by celine dion, who i understand >is >making about five "final" television appearances before going into >self-imposed exile to spawn. ROTFL!!! Bill, this is priceless! You should get it framed! Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 14:24:23 +0000 From: Jason Maloney Subject: Re: NJC Bee Gees (was Christmas music - yet another list) Catherine McKay wrote: > And people are always dissing the BeeGees. OK, so they went disco in the > 70s, but they transformed themselves several times and IMO, they did a good > job of it. Like any other form of music, there's good disco and bad disco > and I think the BeeGees did good disco. I like a lot of the stuff they did > before they went disco. They wrote some fine songs and, even though they had > many hits on their own, other artists also covered a lot of their stuff. I > suspect that a lot of the people who put them down aren't aware of the stuff > they did earlier. Hmm. Some of the UK listees might have noticed that "An AudienceWith The Bee Gees" was repeated on TV last night. I didn't catch it first time. The programme was OK...pretty much par for the course as far as these type of shows are concerned. Barry really impressed however, with his consummate skill and ability to effortlesly rekindle the spark of those sequinned glory days. His impossibly high vocals still manage to cause mirth, especially when heard and seen in a live situation, even though they are probably what helps to make the songs so damn wonderful and unique. I defintiely prefer the post-1975 material. When I originally heard some of their early tracks, I really didn't care for them. I was quite surprised at how different they were to the disco sound I had always associated them with. On any Bee Gees best-of album, I always skip through to Jive Talkin', Nights On Broadway and You Should Be Danicng for the kick-off point. Catherine, I agree that the Bee Gees made good disco. I have never understood the vitriolic flak and prejudice they have often been subjected to. Perhaps, as the saying goes, you had to really *be there* at the time. My memories of their 70s heyday is bathed in the blissful ignorance of a happy childhood when I didn't listen to music all that closely. As with Abba, I just remember those songs as being catchy. It's only been with the more intense re-analysis of recent years that I have really come to realise just how skillfull and expertly-crafted their songs were/are. A quirk of the kind only of interest to chart-anoraks (like me!), is that each of their five albums since returning to recording in 1987 has produced one major hit single. It's not an unusual phenomenon to have just one huge hit from an album (with all the other singles missing the Top 40), but to do it five times in a row is remarkable. Quite why the public only likes one single per album is a mystery to me. In Britain, there has recently been a stream of Bee Gees-penned cover versions, often by youthful bubblegum pop acts. Though none of them even hold a candle to the originals (though I personally love Steps' Tragedy), it proves how durable and top-notch their songs are. Jason. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 15:01:55 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: The Joni Mitchell Companion Stacey says: >The word from my publisher at Schirmer Books is that The Joni >Mitchell >Companion is due to hit the stores on December 15th! Just in time for Christmas. I know what I want in my stocking! Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 10:12:33 -0500 (EST) From: Emily Kirk Gray Subject: Taming the Tiger just a note to say i'm listening to TTT this morning and i really have grown to love it -- the SOUND of this album is so shivery and mournful and perfect, with the sax playing against her guitar (i'm not a musician, so it's hard for me to figure out exactly what makes the sounds...) -- but it's kind of a darkened suppressed bell-like tonal sound, and i love it. i also think "Harlem" is a perfect gem of a song -- lyrics and music and an entire world held together -- you slip into that song ("step right in") just like the young narrator and her friend snuck into the carnival in terms of other lyrics, i've come to love "stay in touch" especially the "part of this is permanent / part of this is passing" verse. also "taming the tiger" (great angry joni) and "face lift" (part of the "let the wind carry me" series). i like TTT for "morning music" somehow...does anyone else play joni's albums for certain times or periods? (i do this with all music too). i also like Clouds for the morning -- but NRH is always "going to sleep" music. Hejira i save for special occasions and i never play it as background music -- i always sit and do nothing but listen. i like MOA and S&L for playing in the background. and for some reason, i play C&S anytime i'm en route to visit my family (on my discman as i ride the bus) -- i have no clue about why, it just seems to fit and i've stuck with it. - -- emily ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 10:20:15 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D Kakki, Not much to say except - WOW! What a wonderful night for you guys and for Joni and for us all... Thanks for taking the time to share the experience in the intimate way that only you can do! And I was especially warmed to hear that Marian was getting her just "desserts"! :~) Bob NP: Gift of The Magi, from Club 47 show ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 10:32:04 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Taming the Tiger Emily said: <> I agree, Emily, I think lyrically it's the apex of the record, although like you I love it all as well. I compare Stay In touch to "Down To You" lyrically for some reason, the cold optimism of the honesty in the lyrics, I suppose...Jericho is like that too...Golly, most folks don't have it in them to write one song this good, and she's written hundreds! Bob NP: Ballerina Valerie, from Club 47 show 01/04/68 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 15:49:28 -0500 From: "Paul Castle" Subject: The Joni Mitchell Companion Stacey at Stacey4882@aol.com wrote: >The word from my publisher at Schirmer Books is that The Joni Mitchell >Companion is due to hit the stores on December 15th! Stacey - Do you know if there is a UK co-edition at the same time? I'd love to be able to get hold of this before the Christmas holiday, too. PaulC ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 13:07:00 -0300 From: "Wally Kairuz" Subject: RE: Joni report (long and good ;-D kakki et al!!! this is too wonderful for words! i feel so sophisticated and refined to know that joni will think i'm as cool as kakki!!! what a superb ambassadress! what a great idea to take the box set along! how fortunate that kakki is a smoker! i can write only in exclamation-ese this morning. thanks oh thanks, wonderful kakki!!!!! wallyk - ----- Mensaje original ----- De: Kakki Para: Enviado: Jueves 2 de Diciembre de 1999 06:52 Asunto: Joni report (long and good ;-D > What a night - I don't know where to begin. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 08:37:02 -0800 From: "rick novosel" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V4 #540 James asked: > Does anyone know anything about (or anyone else have) the recording of a Joni > performance made into a CD called "By the Banks of the River Charles?" I just > found it at a second-hand CD store; it says "recorded live from 'Club 47', > Cambridge, MA, Jan. 1968," And Bob replied that he also has this CD. Well I recently purchased the same concert but on a CD titled Joni Mitchell Flower Child from ebay :-( . And it sounds TERRIBLE. The seller claimed it was an import but it's very obviously a bad duplication of a bootleg tape. The moral of course is "Caveat emptor". All the best, Rick ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 11:42:28 -0500 From: "Bill Dollinger" Subject: Re: Paintings and music with Joni Wow !!! I can't imagine a more thrilling night, kakki! I have to say there is a not-so-little green-eyed monster that is hanging around me today ;-) congrats to all who got to spend time with her siquomb-ness. and it is also thrilling that joni has met such great representatives of our community.... bill NP -Kakki's Report (over and over) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:49:18 -0700 From: Bounced Message Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D From: Ginamu@aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 10:20:44 EST That was just too special!!!!! Kakki's report just put me into a state of euphoria over the upcoming new release. The special edition "hatbox" sounds precious. I would never in a million years been able to approach Joni and though I feel comfortable with not having had the experience, I loved, loved, loved reading about it and I'm so happy for you guys and thankful that you shared it with the rest of us! Thank you so much for being there Kakki and Phyllis and friends! Take care, Gina ================ Think wrongly, if you please but in all cases think for yourself. - -Doris Lessing ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:48:34 -0700 From: Bounced Message Subject: thanksgiving in new orleans From: "patrick leader" Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 23:12:08 -0500 folks, i have been just too crazed to contribute much to the list lately, but i had to take a moment to publicly thank michael paz for being such a great host, for my sister and i, in new orleans. michael took me to lunch at maninda's, where i had my first po-boy and ate the best onion rings i've ever had off of michael's plate. then i went and picked up karen at the airport (following michael through the backstreets of n.o. to avoid traffic) karen and i went into town to check in, then to the quarter for an amazing meal at NOLA, adn extremely inventive new restaurant. thanksgiving at chez paz was sublime, incredible food, incredible company (freda is as wonderful as michael) and great music throughout the night. one of michael's performer friends, denise marie, sang a bit, she did a song that billie sings (though i've not heard billie's version) called 'i'm having my self a time', as well as dylan's 'buckets of rain'. karen and i made a special point of seeing denise play out on friday. wonderful. the rest of the weekend was pretty damn fine as well. we were sleepy folks as we got on our separate flights monday afternoon, but i read 'harry potter and the sorcerer's stone' by the time the plane landed. and by the way, since i've been back, my work has made it clear how much i'm valued there. so life is very good. when i got back monday to 233 messages including some wonderful thanksgiving posts, i was too exhausted to write. but i am very thankful for family and friends and music and life. patrick, who this evening heard lister kay ashley play, for the first time. beautiful originals, including a song inspired by michael hedges, as well as sandy denny's 'the sea' and a killer version of 'black crow'. kay, you need to get to one of these jonifests, pronto! np - dianne reeves - suzanne ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 08:57:00 -0700 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Tinker article in OC Register (NJC) The good news - The full page article that the Orange County Register did on the Tinker's Own is online at: http://www.ocregister.com/search/19991126/entertainment/ocpop.shtml The bad news 1) - it'll be gone from their website by (I think) midnight tonight. 2) They didn't include the cool photo! 3) The author was VERY SELECTIVE when quoting me on my musical influences! Joni (number 2 behind the Beatles) got dropped from the list. We get interviewed by the LA Times after our show Friday. Details to follow. ######################################################### 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: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 08:56:58 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time) From: Andy Stancliffe Subject: Joni at LACE I'm on the digest, so I may be repeating what others had to say, but I was able to attend last night's opening of Joni's painting exhibition at LACE. The twelve paintings included many from the TTT booklet, but also several new landscapes I hadn't seen before, as well as one great self-portrait (with cigarette) that Kakki says will be the cover of the new album. I have to admit that seeing the paintings in person is a different experience than saeeing the reproductions, and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. But best of all, Joni was there at the reception! I couldn't believe I was standing in the same room with Joni Mitchell!! (Not to mention, k.d. lang and Larry Klein as well). Like so many others have said about meeting her, she really engages everyone she talks to, and seemed very interested in what people had to say to her. I hovered nearby a few times to see if I could push my way up to her and say hello, but I didn't really feel comfortable lurking in her peripheral vision, so I didn't talk to her myself. At one point she said something about how she writes songs about such serious subjects that she likes to paint more light-hearted subjects, and that if she painted serious subjects she'd go "bonkers," which made me laugh, and at that moment she met my eyes and started laughing too--that big deep laugh you hear in some of her interviews. It was also my chance to meet Kakki, Phyliss, Lindsay and Pat, which was also quite a treat. Anyway, I'm still on Cloud 9--I've been in the company of greatness. Andy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 09:09:24 -0800 From: "gene mock" Subject: kakki's report another great job by the best investigator on the jmdl. with the kind of luck you have, you should be buying lotto tickets. thanks gene ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 17:44:01 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: "Grinch/Scrooge-like" - NJC Mark writes: >There's a new made for TV version that will air sometime in the next >few weeks with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. I think he'd make a >wonderful Scrooge! Wow! What an excellent casting choice! >I remember the first time I watched the Mr. Magoo version when I was >a >kid. It scared me half to death. I couldn't sleep thinking I was >going to hear chains rattling down the hallway (we didn't have a >basement or cellar). Me too! Isn't it weird what scares you as a kid? The banshee in "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" scared the living daylights out of me too - I kept creeping around the house expecting the banshee to pop out howling from every corner. (There is a banshee story in my family. My mother came from a big family and back in those days, a lot of kids died of diseases for which we now have immunizations and antibiotics, so three of my mother's siblings died before the age of 5 of scarlet fever or similar diseases. Before they died, my grandmother apparently used to hear singing at night for several nights and each night it would get louder - she was the only one who heard it. Creepy stuff!) Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:47:41 PST From: "Kelly Loughran" Subject: Re: Joni report (long and good ;-D Thanks Kakki!Its more than I'd hoped for, aside from being afly on the wall.....:>) Joni forever,Kelly >From: "Kakki" >Reply-To: "Kakki" >To: >Subject: Joni report (long and good ;-D >Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 01:52:27 -0800 > >What a night - I don't know where to begin. Phyliss, Pat and Andy arrived >before me at LACE tonight and they all have their own stories to tell. I >got there a little late but there she was right in the middle of the room >with a glass of wine in hand, in a long black dress with a maroon scarf and >a really cute black crinkly silk backpack on. She looked great and was >talking on and on about the paintings and everything under the sun. Lindsay >made it through the L.A./Hollywood traffic and arrived a bit after me. > >The paintings were all around and there were a bunch of new ones (!) that >will be included in the upcoming standards album. They are fantastic!! >Her >painting style has morphed or evolved a bit once again - a lot more realism >and flatter surfaces, but verrrrry whimsical. There is one of her alone at >a smoky bar in a green dress with a glass of wine and a pensive look on her >face with the omnipresent cigarette billowing smoke which will be the cover >for the upcoming album. There's a still life of a big vase of yellow roses >sitting on a table with a lavender background and a framed picture of a >very >goofy looking Larry Klein sitting on the table. There's a sunset silohette >style painting with what looks like Donald and her paddling a canoe and >then >there's one with her and Donald in a boat on a lake rather graphically >French kissing ! ;-) > >We saw k.d. lang and Larry there and maybe others that we didn't recognize. >Many people were constantly going up to her and having her sign stuff and >taking pics of her. I just didn't know how quite to approach her. At one >point I saw her grab a bunch of friends and head out to a little balcony >off >the back door. I figured she was going for a cigarette and I was right. I >made my way through the hoardes and got my spot out there and she was >holding court and talking about al kinds of things. There was the usual >bunch of schmoozers coming up to her and she was very sweet and warm to all >of them. I finally made my way up to her and introduced myself as from the >JMDL and presented her with the Jonifest Box Set. She was truly excited >about it and then exclaimed on and on about the cookbook that we did for >her!! (So, Marian she got it!!) She truly went on and on about the >cookbook to everyone standing nearby and thought it was just the neatest >thing! She especially RAVED about the bios that we included - she found >them so interesting. She probably mentioned the bios to me about four >times! So I said, "well, there is a commonality with a lot of us" and she >exclaimed "Nietsche! So many people mentioned Nietsche in their bios"! Her >friend Charles Valentine was standing next to her (he's the guy dancing >with >her in the PWWAM video) and she started raving to him about our recipes and >how we used the song titles and came up with these clever recipes. I tell >you - she absolutely loves that cookbook! I told her a bit about the >Jonifest Box Set and how we have this once a year and how she has inspired >so many of us to take up our guitars or paintbrushes again. I also told >her >that she just had to hear the incredible music of the woman who put >together >the cookbook, Marian. All through the evening Joni was asking everyone she >saw "Have you heard the new album, yet?" She is so totally enthused about >it! So she enthused to me about it, too, and expressed how she thought it >would appeal to everyone of all ages. I told her my 86 year old dad loved >her and that I would be getting a copy to him ;-) She also signed my >STARART book. At this point, I felt someone suddenly grab and hug and kiss >me and it was Robbie Cavolina! As he was hugging me he handed Joni the >prototype art work for the new album! Then the schmoozers started elbowing >their way in again, so I said goodbye to her and went back inside to look >for the gang. > >We met another big fan named Ellen who went nuts when we told her about the >list. She is going to subscribe right away. Robbie and I talked and >caught >up on things. He is doing well and has written and will be directing and >producing a movie about Anita O'Day starring Rosanna Arquette. Robbie, >being the nicest guy in the world, then invited us all over to his place to >hear the new album! Joni departed with some friends to a private dinner >party and the rest of us waited to go to Robbie's house. Andy and Pat left >so it was Phyliss, Lindsay and me who made the trip to his place just a few >blocks away. After we met his three very friendly cats, he put on the >album >and my God, I cannot begin to describe how beautiful it is. You all are >just going to be blown away for years over this one - it's got to be one of >the classics of all time. The new Case of You and Both Sides Now are just >mindblowing. Every single song is unbelievably lush and she sounds >absolutely perfect, gorgeous and very emotionally effecting in this style. >Robbie also showed us the prototype for the special edition version of the >album - for which I'd say he's going to win another Grammy. It's going to >be >in a little round dark maroon, silk moire hat box. Inside there will be >separate miniature lithos of her new round of paintings. It's just >stunning. I laughingly suggested that he include a little miniature >cigarette in the package a la the tin ear in the special edition TI and he >said he'd actually been thinking of including something along the lines of >a >miniature pack of candy cigarettes! He regaled and entertained us >wonderfully as always. > >What an unbelievable and wonderful night. I'm so glad that some of the >group were able to make it and I'm so glad to give her some of us all with >the Box Set and to hear her rave about the cookbook. Phyliss and I were >saying earlier today that these opprtunities really come to us because of >the magic of the quick information of the internet and the list. In the >"olden days", we probably would not even have learned about the exhibit >tonight. What a dream. Phyliss took a lot of photos, so hopefully we can >get them put up on the website. > >Going off to Dreamland now ;-) > >Love, >Kakki > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 17:50:22 GMT From: "Catherine McKay" Subject: Re: Favorite Christmas Songs (NJC) Mark says: >And just to be perverse I have to say I can't understand why anyone >would want to listen to 'River' performed by Joni or anyone else at >this time of the year. Depression is a big pitfall around the >holidays. Why invite it in? I agree. Not exactly happy stuff. Even though Joni says "It's coming on Christmas...", I don't think of it as a Christmas song really. Although I admit I LOVE Elvis' "Blue Christmas" - I love this wailing "ooh-ooh-ooh's" behind him! It gives me a chance to do my (not-very-good) Elvis impression. Catherine (in Toronto) cateri@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:44:53 -0800 From: Phyliss Ward Subject: Joni Encounters of the Close Kind (LONG) What an incredible evening! I just got home after spending the night on Kakki's couch. Where to start!? I drove by the gallery three times before I finally spotted it - very inconspicuous - but this was definitely a good thing. You see I was early, allowing myself ample time to drive from Bakersfield through the L.A. traffic. And consequently, I got lucky. I parked my car in the parking lot behind the building and proceeded to transfer essential items from my purse to the goody bag (with StarArt book) I was carrying in and place my purse in my trunk. As I stood over my trunk I noticed a silent couple walk past out of the corner of my eye. As I started on my way I realized it was JONI and some tall guy I didn't recognize, walking towards the gallery! I followed them to the door where Joni pulled and pounded, it was locked. I commented "Don't they have a separate entrance for the star?" She turned and smiled. I stuck out my hand and said "Hi Joni, I'm Phyliss" and she shook my hand. Joni asked if I had any 'special interest', motioning towards the door and I said yes, I had driven all the way from Bakersfield for this. She said she wanted to get in early (it was 15 minutes before scheduled opening) and see how the paintings looked hung. They had been on the floor when she was there last. The gentleman with her (who I later found out was Sam Feldman, her manager) pulled out his cellphone and a paper with the gallery's number on it and tried unsuccessfully to call them - no answer. I told him I knew they were there because they had answered my call for directions just 10 minutes ago. About that time there was some scuffling behind the locked, opaque windows. Someone said " We don't open till 6:00." "This is Joni, PLEASE let me in" was the reply. I don't think they heard her because another minute or two went by - with Joni shaking the door, scuffling. Finally Joni bent over and said to someone through the mail drop - This is Joni Mitchell - Let me in! The door opened, they entered. The whole time this was going on a gentleman was standing nearby, watching quietly with a silly smile on his face. I walked up to him and said " Hi, I'm Phyliss". He said "Hi I'm Pat". And so, I met our own Pat Mead for the 1st time. Synchronicity ,since I had been listening to CD's he had sent me on the way there. to be continued... - -- Phyliss pward@lightspeed.net http://www.bodywise.com/consultants/bpward ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V4 #542 ************************** The Song and Album Voting Booths are open! Cast your votes by clicking the links at http://www.jmdl.com/gallery username: jimdle password: siquomb ------- Don't forget about these ongoing projects: Glossary project: Send a blank message to for all the details. FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. Do you have mailing list-related questions? -send them to Trivia Project: Send your Joni trivia questions and/or answers to Today in History Project: Know of a date-specific Joni fact? - -send it to ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?