From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2000 #124 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Thursday, March 2 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 124 Ashara has set up a "Wally Breese Memorial Fund," with all donations going directly into the upkeep of the JoniMitchell.com website. Wally kept the website going with his own funds, and it will now be up to Jim to continue. If you would like to donate to this fund, please make all checks payable to: Jim Johanson and send them to: Ashara Stansfield P.O. Box 215 Topsfield, MA 01983 USA ------- The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage can be found 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: NJC: Happy Leap Year's Day! etc. ["Alan Lorimer" ] Re: metaphysical speculation: NJC [catman ] Re: Geffen article-Joni reference [Rob Jordan ] Re: Leap Year NJC [w evans ] Re: Geffen article-Joni reference [Don Rowe ] Re: Geffen article-Joni reference-njc ["Mark T. Domyancich" ] Re: BSN / A Case Of You /1973 "Case of You" Cd Available(NJC) [Scott and ] Re: Fw: BSN on the web ["Ken (Slarty)" ] Smoking - Funny (NJC) [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: Geffen article-Joni reference-njc ["Reuben Bell" ] BSN disc replaced [Randy Remote ] HOSL musings ["cassy" ] Re: "Two Against Nature" -- An NJC Review (SDC) NJC [CaTGirl627@aol.com] Re: The Times [CaTGirl627@aol.com] RE: Rainbow's Rambling (NJC) [Alan Poff ] Re: NJC: Happy Leap Year's Day! [luvart@snet.net] Singers Sans Band (NJC) [Joseph Palis ] The Joni Mitchell Companion ["Carver, Dax" ] Joni's pretty voice [Relayer211@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 19:38:22 +1100 From: "Alan Lorimer" Subject: Re: NJC: Happy Leap Year's Day! etc. David Wright had all the right numbers, but for the record: Years evenly divisible by 100 such as 1800, 1900 are not leap years unless they can be evenly divided by 400 in which case they are. So the year 2000 is a leap year, as will be 2400, but the year 2100 will *not* be a leap year. Maurice mentioned "Creep". I assume he was referring to the group "Radiohead" ps: Down here in Tassie people seem to have forgotten that girls can propose to guys on February the 29th. Would you believe that I did not receive a single proposal ;-) Alan Lorimer Hawley Beach Tasmania ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 22:40:19 +1300 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: Catgirl joins band SJC Catgirl wrote: >With all this going on I will be lurking but will pop in from time to time. >I love all you guys and thanks for all the confidence at the Joni Fest in >Boston. It really helped give me the extra push I needed!! And if what I've heard from the Jonifest Box Set is anything to go by, you will have huge success - but please don't be too much of a stranger! I bet "from time to time" turns into a lot more than you think. Come on, you know you won't be able to resist us! All the best, break a leg (string), hugs, purrs and "all things Joni"! Hell _______________________________ "I don't believe in livin' in the middle with available extremes" - Carole King hell@ihug.co.nz ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 11:05:43 +0000 From: catman Subject: Re: metaphysical speculation: NJC Mark-i wouldn't call your mail rambling. You make the case very clearly. I try to meditate twice a day. The day goes much more smoothly when i do. I need to keep myself centered and that is how I do it. I always had much difficulty with meditation until I learned a very simple way which just involves repeating a meaningless word in my mind over and over. It works very well. One can feel the relaxation straight away, the breathing almost stops! Apart from that, it gives more energy and a clearler mind. 15 mins twice a day is not much at all. Thos I am not the most disciplined person. It is sad to hear of your friend. Bad things happen to good people all the time. take care colin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 11:10:46 +0000 From: catman Subject: Re: NJC: Happy Leap Year's Day! etc. > > > ps: Down here in Tassie people seem to have forgotten that girls can propose > to guys on February the 29th. Would you believe that I did not receive a > single proposal ;-) Count yourself blessed! > > > Alan Lorimer > Hawley Beach > Tasmania - -- To change the world-change your self "It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not." ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 07:48:25 EST From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: BSN / A Case Of You /1973 "Case of You" Cd Available <> Proving once again what I've known for awhile... JODY RULES!! Thanks Pally! Bob NP: Artist, "One Kiss At a Time" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 07:51:42 -0500 From: Deb Messling Subject: BSN on the web This from Jonimitchell.com; don't know if it's too late already. Special note for those of you who may be interested in hearing Both Sides Now on your computers (and since you're reading this on a computer, I'm guessing there may be a few of you out there): Bradford Community Broadcasting in West Yorkshire, England will be broadcasting a 78-minute program devoted to the new CD. Host Karl Dallas tells me that "in addition to including every track from the new album in its entirety, the program also includes 'Both Sides Now' and "A Case of You" from the Miles of Aisles album, plus comparative clips from Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday and Buddy Greco of the songs on BSN." The broadcast will take place at 9 PM GMT (that's 1 PM PST, 4 PM EST if I'm not mistaken -- somebody PLEASE e-mail me if I'm wrong!); you can catch it on the Web by following the link below if you have RealAudio installed on your Web browser. The program is likely to be archived so it can be heard later. I'll let you know what the URL for the archive is when it becomes available. LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES NOW WEBCAST IN REALAUDIO (PLEASE NOTE broadcast time above!) (2/28/00) Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ I love cats. They give the home a heartbeat. - Joni Mitchell ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 13:03:46 +0000 From: Rob Jordan Subject: Re: Geffen article-Joni reference At 12:10 AM 2/29/00 -0700, Steve wrote: >Hello all! > Someone gave me an article about an author who wrote a book about >David Geffen. In a sidebar article, the author talks about some >interesting Joni references-here it is: Extracts from Tom King's new biog of Geffen have been serialised in the Guardian (UK newspaper). There was a Joni reference that amused me. Sorry I don't have it verbatim, but essentially it said that one of Geffen's favourite ploys to attract companions was to comment "Oh, you don't have any Joni Mitchell in your collection - I must get you a copy of Court and Spark - oh, by the way, Joni wrote this song about me!" Rob ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 08:47:47 -0500 (EST) From: w evans Subject: Re: Leap Year NJC David had is sorta backwards... in four years, we lag behind the solar year by almost a day... so we add an extra day. But since we only lag behind *almost* a day, and not a whole day, in a hundred years we've added 25 days and that's a little over one too many.. so we only add 24 days each century by NOT having a leap year in years ending in 00. With the exception of those which are divisible by 400, because we do need that one extra day (yesterday) every 400 years. So, there was no leap day in 1900, nor will there be one in 2100, but there is one in 2000. To put it another way... if we allow 400 years to go by without a leap year, we would be 97 days behind the solar year. So to add 97 leap days in 400 years requires adding a leap day every four years, except leaving out 3 of them. The three to be left out are the ones in years ending in 00 but not divisible by 400. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 07:19:58 -0800 (PST) From: Don Rowe Subject: Re: Geffen article-Joni reference - --- Rob Jordan wrote: > but essentially it said that > one of Geffen's > favourite ploys to attract companions was to comment > "Oh, you don't have > any Joni Mitchell in your collection - I must get > you a copy of Court and > Spark - oh, by the way, Joni wrote this song about > me!" > Is it just me, or does this strike anybody else as even scummier than selling JM bootlegs on E-bay? Oh well, consider the source ... Don Rowe ===== "I want a stillness inside, and a quiet of mind, and to stop dreaming of the comfort of strangers." -- Julia Fordham __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 10:38:03 -0600 From: "Mark T. Domyancich" Subject: Re: Geffen article-Joni reference-njc Geffen is a pompous fuck. He dicked over one of my favorite bands, The New Bohemians, in 1990. At the time of their second release Geffen had wanted them to drop the New Bohemians and just go with Edie Brickell. This set off a battle between the group and eventually split up. Last year Geffen was going to put out a Best Of album and decided to shelve the idea after much hype and work. Again, he puts money before music. Didn't Joni have some to-do with him after NRH? At 7:19 AM -0800 3/1/00, Don Rowe wrote: >Is it just me, or does this strike anybody else as >even scummier than selling JM bootlegs on E-bay? Oh >well, consider the source ... - -- Mark Domyancich Harpua@revealed.net http://home.revealed.net/Harpua ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 12:53:43 -0600 From: mann@chicagonet.net Subject: $10 Movie Tix, Blockbuster, Wendy's etc. (NJC) Here's $10 Blockbuster Gift Certificate.........and/or more for FREE!!! Remember S&H Greenstamps? I collected these when I was a kid. Now they're online!! Here's some of what you can get FREE for signing up (looks like US residents only). Blockbuster Gift Certificates Wendy's Gift Certificates Frequent Flyer Miles (JoniFest????) Movie Theatre Tickets (various theatres) My Music Maker (for kids.....may have to pay shipping) and there's more! Go to http://www.greenpoints.com:8001 1. sign up for a new acct (3000 points) 2. Login, (password emailed to you) 3. update your profile (1000 points) 4. click "earn greenpoints", do 6 question survey (500 pts) 5. click "HOME", do 1 question survey (top center of page)(500 pts) You should have 5000 points in roughly 5 minutes. Click "use greenpoints." Do a search for everything under 5000 points (SEARCH is at the page bottom). Pick what you want, free shipping on Blockbuster GiftCards and Restaurant Certificates! There are other gifts available, BUT not all of them have free shipping and are tax free. I would guess that the other gift certificates fall into that NO SHIPPING CHARGE category though. Oh yeah... If you go with the gift certificates, you don't need to enter any credit card info. Free and Clear. I ordered a $5 Blockbuster GC and a $5 Wendy's GC (my 6 year-old says they have the best cheesburgers because they're 'old fashioned'. Guess they're advertisements work!!). I ordered today so still havent' received it yet........... says will take about a week. But it looked like a great deal. Enjoy! Laura P.S. I saw nothing in the RULES about signing up again (for another family member) if they have their own e-mail address. Looks legit to double the goodies! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 14:06:52 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Re : Rainbow's Rambling NJC.. A bit long too. > Does this make any sense to anyone? What you said makes perfect sense to me. Who the hrmf do we think we are anyway? Grumble, grumble, going back to crawl under my rock again, mumble, mumble. ===== Catherine (in Toronto) catrin_of_aragon@yahoo.ca (the former cateri@hotmail) _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 11:23:42 -0800 (PST) From: leslie@torchsongs.com Subject: The Times For those of you who would like to purchase the February 26th issue of the London Times (with the extensive Joni article)- you can order it at the following website: http://www.remember-when.co.uk/index.htm Leslie Mixon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 14:18:42 -0500 From: "cassy" Subject: Fw: BSN on the web From: Deb Messling >Oops! Here's the link: > >http://www.legend.co.uk/~bcb/bcb.ram > >Would you mind posting this to the list? I'm not >subscribed at work and my message will bounce. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 13:39:29 -0600 From: Scott and Jody Subject: Re: BSN / A Case Of You /1973 "Case of You" Cd Available(NJC) Bob Wrote: > Proving once again what I've known for awhile... > JODY RULES!! > > Thanks Bob, but I wouldn't go that far. I'm just so appreciative of all the great music that I've acquired from folks on this list - you included. Actually, I'm thrilled that I have something I can share for once. jody ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 16:22:44 -0500 From: "Ken (Slarty)" Subject: Re: Fw: BSN on the web As far as I can tell this is tomorrow night at 9pm This url for real audio also works: http://www.bcb.yorks.com/bcb.ram and the web page is: http://www.bcb.yorks.com/index.html cassy wrote: > From: Deb Messling > > >Oops! Here's the link: > > > >http://www.legend.co.uk/~bcb/bcb.ram > > > >Would you mind posting this to the list? I'm not > >subscribed at work and my message will bounce. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 16:25:50 EST From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Smoking - Funny (NJC) No preaching about smoking this post. A friend told me to call the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation to listen to their customer service message. It's real and kind of funny. Dial 1-800-578-7453 and listen to the greeting (all of it), then hang up when they request for an extension. Sorry to post such a thing, but the list is slow right now. Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 13:26:56 PST From: "Reuben Bell" Subject: Re: Geffen article-Joni reference-njc I didn't know this about the New Bohemians. I too, was sad to see them split. I was never too impressed with Edie Brickell's solo work, however. She lost the groove without the band. What would they have drawn a compiliation album from...the first two albums? Reuben >From: "Mark T. Domyancich" Geffen is a pompous fuck. He dicked over one of my favorite bands, >The New Bohemians, in 1990. At the time of their second release >Geffen had wanted them to drop the New Bohemians and just go with >Edie Brickell. Last year Geffen was going to put out a Best Of album and >decided to shelve the idea after much hype and work. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 14:01:23 -0800 (PST) From: leslie@torchsongs.com Subject: BSN Broadcast! Special note for those of you who may be interested in hearing Both Sides Now on your computers (and since you're reading this on a computer, I'm guessing there may be a few of you out there): Bradford Community Broadcasting in West Yorkshire, England will be broadcasting a 78-minute program devoted to the new CD. Host Karl Dallas tells me that "in addition to including every track from the new album in its entirety, the program also includes 'Both Sides Now' and 'A Case of You' from the Miles of Aisles album, plus comparative clips from Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday and Buddy Greco of the songs on BSN. The broadcast will take place on Thursday, March 2 at 9 PM GMT (that's 1 PM PST, 4 PM EST if I'm not mistaken - -- somebody PLEASE e-mail me if I'm wrong!); you can catch it on the Web by following the link below if you have RealAudio installed on your Web browser. There's a link on JoniMitchell.com you can follow directly to get to the URL, which is http://www.legend.co.uk/~bcb/bcb.ram. The program is likely to be archived so it can be heard later. I'll let you know what the URL for the archive is when it becomes available. Leslie Mixon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 18:48:19 -0500 From: "Carver, Dax" Subject: Aarg! Where is my BSN! Every one is talking about their copies and I still haven't received mine! I know, I know, back order. But, when it comes to Joni I never want to wait. I hope everyone is enjoying listening to theirs! :) dax carver ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 18:49:52 EST From: RickieLee1@aol.com Subject: all joni, all the time greetings listers! i bring tidings from the outer regions of lurkdom! it has been all joni, all the time in my car ever since BSN arrived and who else could i talk to about it with, but this list? hence, the intrusion. so here goes: i was listening to "please answer me my love" (is that even what it's called? that old hatbox of a case is rolling around in my backseat somewhere, and i am too lazy to go down and try and catch it to check the title. i hate that box!! but you know which cut i mean...) and this bit of fancy occurred to me. i wondered about joni's motivation for the performance contained in that song. it seems, to my amateur ear, her voice thickens with emotion, that's just a little bit different from the emotion in the other cuts. there are certainly a number of romantic attachments in her life who could provide ample backing, but i wondered if she might not be using what happened between her and the music industry - that tired old beef of hers, as a source for the emotion she achieves in that particular vocal. and couldn't the song be addressed to the armies of fans who deserted her, starting with the release of hissing of summer lawns? is that silly? if nothing else, it put a different slant on what i was hearing and piqued my interest all over again in her gorgeous rendering of those lyrics. so i wondered... hey! it could be!! and then i got to thinking about that exodus, and how it was just - well - inevitable. what else could she have expected, following court and spark with THAT album, HOSL? to a degree, i was one of those fans. i didn't desert her, of course, but i was not thrilled with HOSL, mostly because, i see now, it was just not what i was expecting to hear. how could it have been? HOSL, it seems to me, is not so much a deviation off the course she had been charting since BLUE. it truly was a giant leap forward! really, there should have been at least TWO additional albums between court and spark and HOSL, two more steps in that progression, to lead us to the place that album so fully inhabited. as sophisticated as court and spark was, HOSL was light years further along, abstract and arcane. what was arcane about court and spark? so, of course, she lost a huge portion of her audience, all the one's who simply were not prepared and would not go where she was leading. the sad part is that she never got them back. and it's a pity, because this album, BSN, deserves a much wider audience than she has tried to access in ages and ages, and i doubt if it's going to get it. and that, listers, is the sum total of my thoughts on joni mitchell, this first day of march, 2000. except for this question, and i hope you answer, because i am really curious. is there ANYONE'S heart that doesn't break, just a little bit, when they hear joni sing "it's love's illusions that i recall..." ? god! all the complaints about what she's done to her voice should be silenced by what she accomplishes on that line alone! the artistry makes my heart clench. no wonder the orchestra was in tears! her voice always was her greatest instrument. nothing much has changed. i hope this finds all of you well. peace, ric ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 18:21:00 -0800 From: Randy Remote Subject: Joni news The rear cover of the March 4 issue of Billboard has a full page ad for BSN. It is a cropped blowup of the "Heart on Her Sleeve" painting, it is so large and clear you can see the brushstrokes and the texture of the canvas. I must say it looks better up close than at a distance. The caption over her head is "A classics love affair", at the bottom "Joni Mitchell" and "Both Sides Now", "Classic love songs performed by contemporary musical great Joni Mitchell accompanied by members of the London Symphony Orchestra. Featuring the songs:"Both Sides Now," "Stormy Weather," "A Case Of You," "You're My Thrill" and many more." Production credits for Larry and Joni in small print, management info,and the reprise and jonimitchell.com websites AND THIS: [TNT Logo] Be sure to catch "An All Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell" April 16th at 9 PM est/pst on TNT !!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are near a newstand, this is worth a look if not the six bucks..... RR ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 18:25:58 -0800 From: Randy Remote Subject: BSN disc replaced I got my replacement disc from Reprise today. It only took them 5 days to send it. It came in a clear jewel case, and though it had come off the spindle, was not scratched. To get your scratched disc replaced, send the damaged disc along with your name and mailing address to Warner Bros. Records Quality Assurance 3300 Warner Blvd Burbank, CA 91505 or call (818) 953-3208 **Thanks to Deb M for this info** ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 21:45:40 -0500 From: "cassy" Subject: HOSL musings RickieLee writes: >and then i got to thinking about that exodus, and how it was just - well - >inevitable. what else could she have expected, following court and spark with >THAT album, HOSL? to a degree, i was one of those fans. i didn't desert >her, of course, but i was not thrilled with HOSL, mostly because, i see now, >it was just not what i was expecting to hear. how could it have been? > >HOSL, it seems to me, is not so much a deviation off the course she had been >charting since BLUE. it truly was a giant leap forward! really, there >should have been at least TWO additional albums between court and spark and >HOSL, two more steps in that progression, to lead us to the place that album >so fully inhabited. as sophisticated as court and spark was, HOSL was light >years further along, abstract and arcane. I recently emailed a list member about one release he had missed referencing on his web site. It was Miles of Aisles, and in my view it was very pivotal in her career. C&S was probably one of Joni's more commercially accepted releases, but then came her MOA tour (I was fortunate to attend two of the shows). Accompanied by Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, she used a "larger" sound with a great deal of jazz influence. After buying HOSL, I believed that she had spent so much time around jazz musicians on her tour that her creative juices flowed, as they are wont to do, in a new direction. It was just my opinion, but I believed MOA was a foreshadowing of the jazzier era of Joni. I guess I was one of those "die-hards" who listened to HOSL (and still do) I enjoyed the fact that Joni had taken me by surprise with some delicious new sounds. It seemed that she was shadowing my own tastes, once again. The crisp clarity of Larry Carlton's guitar wowed me, the rhythms intrigued (an stirred) me. I went out and bought records by the Crusaders so I could hear more of Joe Sample, Larry C. and Wilton Felder (I continue to keep up with Sample's releases). As always she surrounded herself with some of the best musicians the genre had to offer at the time. I would like to say HOSL is my favorite release of Joni's, but my favorite tends to change with the wind, I could make a case for each of her releases being my favorite at one time or another. Cassy NP: Shades of Scarlett Conquering ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 21:47:14 EST From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Subject: Re: "Two Against Nature" -- An NJC Review (SDC) NJC In a message dated 2/29/2000 2:39:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, dgrowe227@yahoo.com writes: << Highlights: "two against nature", "janie runaway" and "cousin dupree" Grade: A Don Rowe >> Thanks for the revue Don. I ordered that and the Pat Metheny Trio Cd. I am sure I will be happy with both. The local radio station had a Dan Day on Tuesday and played mainly Dan the whole day...whoo-hooo! Catgirl ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 22:31:43 EST From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Subject: Re: The Times In a message dated 3/1/2000 2:10:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, leslie@torchsongs.com writes: << For those of you who would like to purchase the February 26th issue of the London Times (with the extensive Joni article)- you can order it at the following website: http://www.remember-when.co.uk/index.htm Leslie Mixon >> Leslie!!! You rule. I just wonder how much it will cost? Looks great though!! Catgirl ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 22:40:28 -0500 From: Alan Poff Subject: RE: Rainbow's Rambling (NJC) Marian wrote: > "To a great extent, we really cannot control what happens to us - we cannot > prevent the broadside accidents. We can only control our reaction to what > happens to us. I see the world as a place for our spirits to experience > and to react - the experiences are opportunities to love or not, to be kind > or not, to be gentle or not, to forgive or not, to judge or not, to believe > the best or not, to smile or not, to help or not, to give or not." I rarely have time to read the JMDL digests lately (little less, post!). But I gave myself some time off tonight, and I just wanted to mention what a beautiful thought this was. I've always been torn between the philosophy of the belief that with the force of will we can shape our world, and the pragmatic pathos of accepting that we are, both figuratively and literally, dust (stardust!) in the wind. Joni expresses that duality of existence better than most. (Here's a "me too," from another post, she has indeed written the soundtrack of my life.) I've seen so many people turn bitter, and then blame the world for their bitterness. But you're exactly right Marian, and they've got it backwards. The measure of our spirits are revealed by how we respond to the world. Our responses reflect the state of our being, not the state of the world. Alan Poff. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 22:55:36 -0500 From: luvart@snet.net Subject: Re: NJC: Happy Leap Year's Day! I had also heard that the beginning of the year used to be March. September was actually the 7th month instead of the 9th month( 'sept=7') and October was the 8th month ('oct=8'). Any extra day would be filled in at the end of February since it was the last month of the year. Heather At 09:36 PM 2/29/00 -0500, David Wright wrote: >On Tue, 29 Feb 2000, Vince Lavieri wrote: >> Can anyone explain why some people are saying that every four years is not a >> leap year? > >If I remember the astronomy class I took three years ago correctly, this >might be why: > The leap day is added to the calendar every four years to correct >the discrepancy between the calendar year and the solar year, which is >actually something like 365-and-a-quarter days in length. However, over a >period hundred years (or maybe its four hundred years, I forget which), >the added days begin to add up to too much, so once every hundred (or four >hundred) years, the leap day is omitted when it would otherwise occur. > >--David > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 12:02:02 +0800 (JST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Singers Sans Band (NJC) I often wondered how some singers managed to be known for their solo effort than when they were singing in bands. I like Natalie Merchant then and now, but I feel that the bite and the hard-driving edge that made 10,000 Maniacs a unique band was because of the band members themselves. Unfortunately their LOVE AMONG THE RUINS album (with Mary Ramsey replacing Merchant) was not that cutting-edge. Natalie herself sounded different without the band that backed her up through the years. Same goes for Edie Brickell. I seem to miss the Edie when she was with the New Bohemians. That "as homey as a cookie" voice is still there in her solo albums but no longer as exciting. Or it could just be me clouding my judgement. Although there are surely exceptions: Ella and Billie started as girl singers in the 1930s and when they went solo, their unique talents were even more appreciated. I hope Tracey Thorn will always be part of EBTG; same with Liz Fraser in the Cocteau Twins; or Corinne Drewery in SOS. Joseph (with a buzz cut exactly 10 minutes ago) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:17:10 -0500 From: "Carver, Dax" Subject: The Joni Mitchell Companion I've been reading an article out of the JONI MITCHELL COMPANION every night before I go to bed. As a lover of every Joni album, I was very surprised at the reaction the media had to Joni since THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS. The article, written by Noel Coppage from Stereo Review in 1976 is not a bad review of the album though he complains of Joni's "how much 'reality' is good for us." However, I just can't believe all the remarks about Joni switching from first person singular to the narrative. First of all, 4 of the 10 songs are in first person. Second, this isn't the first time she's used the narrative voice (anyone remember MARCIE, LADIES OF THE CANYON)? I just don't see what the point is to bring this up. I'm 25 and came into Joni when NIGHT RIDE HOME came out. So, I wasn't raised on her. I immediatley fell in love with her after hearing the album. Someone told me she was great and I picked up the album at a used CD store (I didn't want to take any chances!!!). Within the next few months or so I had gone out and bought every Joni album! I bought them in order because I have this thing about doing things in order. I listened to them in order too. When she sang follk, I loved folk; when she switched to folk-rock, I loved folk-rock. It was the same for the confessional rock, the jazz-rock and the jazz. Remembering my growing up in the early 80's, her 80s stuff really hit home to me. I loved it. Then I got back to NIGHT RIDE HOME and loved it even more. And since then, I've loved each album as they've come out. She's so wonderful. Anyway, now that you know where I'm coming from, back to Joni. Did everyone think Joni would continue to write and sing songs like FOR THE ROSES and COURT AND SPARK? C'mon! This is a woman whose musical style had already changed on every album she produced. Therefore, a switch from first person to narrative should not have been a big deal. THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS is absolutely some of the best writing I've ever seen on an album! Don't get me wrong, I love love love BLUE, FOR THE ROSES and COURT AND SPARK and the writing is great on those albums as well. I think the problem wasn't as Mr. Coppage stated. I think the problem is the Pop audience of ANY era. Unfortunate for them, many people grow up listening to a certain kind of music and then stick with that all through their lives, causing them to put up blinders to new music. This is why our parents don't like our music and their parents didn't like their music. Though I would never classify Joni as a Pop artist (because I have unfortunate negative thoughts about the word Pop due to the fact that Pop culture is so trendy), she had become in the minds of people from 1971 through 1974 a Pop artist. But, Joni was never a Pop artist really, she was an experimentalist. It had to be good for her, not for the music machine. So, when she took on a new experiment, which actually started with COURT AND SPARK but nobody recognized that then, her Pop fans turned away from her as they do. Many of these same people today (now older) are still listening to the same music they loved in the early seventies and still won't give new music a try. This isn't a hypothesis I just came to. In 1998 I went to see Joni Mitchell at her concert in Atlanta. (It was great, we got to sing Happy Birthday to her!). She was singing SONG FOR SHARON and this older guy from behind me yelled out "Sing Some Old Stuff!" I was floored!!! I turned around and looked at him in the eye (red from pot I'd say) and said, "Do you even know Joni Mitchell! This is old and one of her finest at that!!" So, Joni lost some of her fans. Fortunately, she picked up new fans. The book goes on to an article written in The Village Voice by a Perry Meissel in 1977 titled AN END TO INNOCENCE: HOW JONI MITCHELL FAILS. This article is much much more insulting than the last. He calls the lyricism in HEJIRA "an embarrassment" to her listeners!!! On top of that, the entire, lengthy article sounds like it was written by what I like to call an academic / English snob. As an English major who just graduated in 1998, I met many of these self-important people who thought their ideas of how words should go together were superior to everyone else's. Anyway, Mr. Meisel comes to his over-stated conclusions about HEJIRA by comparing a line from one song with a line from another song even when the songs are clearly about different topics. I know the theme of the songs flow together, that is what makes it a great album. He even goes as far to say that Joni has always thought of herself as a poet because she writes her lyrics in the sleeves of her albums! How absurd is that? Basically, he's calling her self-important and vain throughout the entire article and says that until she confronts it (her work being compared to the mythology of the garden (WOODSTOCK?)) within her conscious imagination, her work will be haunted by the prospect of its own annihilation. He even states that Joni "clearly lacks any real understanding of what her work is or how it behaves!" He does give her some credit though for some great lines and states that her voice is better than ever. Overall though, the article is condesending. I've read over it a multitude of times and really I still can't figure out quite what he is trying to get at with all of his comparisons. It's so convoluted that an English major (whose entire academic career was spent writing critical essays on literature) can not understand it. It's almost like he is purposely looking for something wrong with this album. Of course, I have to admit my own failing. I love Joni's work and HEJIRA is one of my favorite albums. I understand a lot of what she is saying on that album (as with all of her albums) and I feel very close to it. Therefore, I don't see the critic's points. But, truly I don't think Joni failed with HEJIRA or HISSING at all. The article on DON JUAN'S RECKLACE DAUGHTER and MINGUS where amazing enough, very positive. This brought me some relief. Okay, sorry everyone that this post was so long. later dax ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:30:44 -0500 From: "Carver, Dax" Subject: FW: The Joni Mitchell Companion arrgh! also, sorry for all the grammatical mistakes. It's 11:30, way past my bedtime. tired tired dax > -----Original Message----- > From: Carver, Dax [SMTP:DC200009@Exchange.AtlantaGA.NCR.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 11:17 PM > To: joni@smoe.org > Subject: The Joni Mitchell Companion > > I've been reading an article out of the JONI MITCHELL COMPANION every > night > before I go to bed. As a lover of every Joni album, I was very surprised > at > the reaction the media had to Joni since THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS. The > article, written by Noel Coppage from Stereo Review in 1976 is not a bad > review of the album though he complains of Joni's "how much 'reality' is > good for us." However, I just can't believe all the remarks about Joni > switching from first person singular to the narrative. First of all, 4 of > the 10 songs are in first person. Second, this isn't the first time she's > used the narrative voice (anyone remember MARCIE, LADIES OF THE CANYON)? > I > just don't see what the point is to bring this up. > > I'm 25 and came into Joni when NIGHT RIDE HOME came out. So, I wasn't > raised on her. I immediatley fell in love with her after hearing the > album. > Someone told me she was great and I picked up the album at a used CD store > (I didn't want to take any chances!!!). Within the next few months or so > I > had gone out and bought every Joni album! I bought them in order because > I > have this thing about doing things in order. I listened to them in order > too. When she sang follk, I loved folk; when she switched to folk-rock, I > loved folk-rock. It was the same for the confessional rock, the jazz-rock > and the jazz. Remembering my growing up in the early 80's, her 80s stuff > really hit home to me. I loved it. Then I got back to NIGHT RIDE HOME > and > loved it even more. And since then, I've loved each album as they've come > out. She's so wonderful. > > Anyway, now that you know where I'm coming from, back to Joni. Did > everyone > think Joni would continue to write and sing songs like FOR THE ROSES and > COURT AND SPARK? C'mon! This is a woman whose musical style had already > changed on every album she produced. Therefore, a switch from first > person > to narrative should not have been a big deal. THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS > is absolutely some of the best writing I've ever seen on an album! Don't > get me wrong, I love love love BLUE, FOR THE ROSES and COURT AND SPARK and > the writing is great on those albums as well. > > I think the problem wasn't as Mr. Coppage stated. I think the problem is > the Pop audience of ANY era. Unfortunate for them, many people grow up > listening to a certain kind of music and then stick with that all through > their lives, causing them to put up blinders to new music. This is why > our > parents don't like our music and their parents didn't like their music. > Though I would never classify Joni as a Pop artist (because I have > unfortunate negative thoughts about the word Pop due to the fact that Pop > culture is so trendy), she had become in the minds of people from 1971 > through 1974 a Pop artist. But, Joni was never a Pop artist really, she > was > an experimentalist. It had to be good for her, not for the music machine. > So, when she took on a new experiment, which actually started with COURT > AND > SPARK but nobody recognized that then, her Pop fans turned away from her > as > they do. Many of these same people today (now older) are still listening > to > the same music they loved in the early seventies and still won't give new > music a try. > > This isn't a hypothesis I just came to. In 1998 I went to see Joni > Mitchell > at her concert in Atlanta. (It was great, we got to sing Happy Birthday > to > her!). She was singing SONG FOR SHARON and this older guy from behind me > yelled out "Sing Some Old Stuff!" I was floored!!! I turned around and > looked at him in the eye (red from pot I'd say) and said, "Do you even > know > Joni Mitchell! This is old and one of her finest at that!!" > > So, Joni lost some of her fans. Fortunately, she picked up new fans. > > The book goes on to an article written in The Village Voice by a Perry > Meissel in 1977 titled AN END TO INNOCENCE: HOW JONI MITCHELL FAILS. This > article is much much more insulting than the last. He calls the lyricism > in > HEJIRA "an embarrassment" to her listeners!!! On top of that, the entire, > lengthy article sounds like it was written by what I like to call an > academic / English snob. As an English major who just graduated in 1998, > I > met many of these self-important people who thought their ideas of how > words > should go together were superior to everyone else's. Anyway, Mr. Meisel > comes to his over-stated conclusions about HEJIRA by comparing a line from > one song with a line from another song even when the songs are clearly > about > different topics. I know the theme of the songs flow together, that is > what > makes it a great album. He even goes as far to say that Joni has always > thought of herself as a poet because she writes her lyrics in the sleeves > of > her albums! How absurd is that? Basically, he's calling her > self-important > and vain throughout the entire article and says that until she confronts > it > (her work being compared to the mythology of the garden (WOODSTOCK?)) > within > her conscious imagination, her work will be haunted by the prospect of its > own annihilation. He even states that Joni "clearly lacks any real > understanding of what her work is or how it behaves!" > > He does give her some credit though for some great lines and states that > her > voice is better than ever. Overall though, the article is condesending. > I've read over it a multitude of times and really I still can't figure out > quite what he is trying to get at with all of his comparisons. It's so > convoluted that an English major (whose entire academic career was spent > writing critical essays on literature) can not understand it. It's almost > like he is purposely looking for something wrong with this album. > > Of course, I have to admit my own failing. I love Joni's work and HEJIRA > is > one of my favorite albums. I understand a lot of what she is saying on > that > album (as with all of her albums) and I feel very close to it. Therefore, > I > don't see the critic's points. But, truly I don't think Joni failed with > HEJIRA or HISSING at all. > > The article on DON JUAN'S RECKLACE DAUGHTER and MINGUS where amazing > enough, > very positive. This brought me some relief. > > Okay, sorry everyone that this post was so long. > > later > dax > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 00:03:19 -0500 From: "cassy" Subject: Re: The Joni Mitchell Companion The long post was welcome Dax. I love to read other peoples opinions, even when they differ from my own. I have to say that your opinions don't differ from mine much at all though! I discovered Joni Mitchell during my sophomore year in high school (boy am I getting old) that was thirty years ago. With anticipatory anxiety I bought each record as it came out, wondering what changes she might have undergone THIS time. It seems she has sung my whole life, it used to amaze me that her apparent emotions often parrallelled my own but I have come to accept it now. When CD technology hit the mainstream I balked, not wanting to change with the times. Then I realised it was inevitable and succumbed to trying to replace all my favorite LPs with CDs. I now own all of Joni's LPs and CDs along with a few limited items such as the TI booklet, BSN display unit and NRH limited issue. I have the original Hejira poster, framed, hanging in my living room. I can't believe I only recently found my way to this list. I'm amazed daily at the depth of feeling Joni's fans have for her (rivalling my own I'm sure) I thank you for posting as you did, I am like a sponge soaking in all this wonderful information about my favorite lady and I don't worry about grammar, mine isn't all that great anyway. Thank you Cassy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 00:13:56 EST From: Relayer211@aol.com Subject: Joni's pretty voice People talk about they love Joni's deeper voice,because of it's maturity and life experiance,but for some reason I love high,pretty voices like early Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins and Karen Carpenter.(maybe Karen's voice wasn't high,but it was very pretty.)Does anyone else feel this way? Also: My top 5 Joni albums are :1)For The Roses 2)The Hissing of Summer Lawns 3)Blue 4)Court and Spark 5)Clouds ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2000 #124 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?