From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest)
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Subject: JMDL Digest V2001 #184
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JMDL Digest         Thursday, April 19 2001         Volume 2001 : Number 184



The 'Official' Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be
found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news,
a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more.

The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains
interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more.

Information on the 4th "Annual" New England JoniFest:
http://www.jmdl.com/jfne2001.cfm

The Joni Chat Room: http://www.jmdl.com/chat.cfm
==========

TOPICS and authors in this Digest:
--------
  Question re Joni song                          [scmorris <scmorris@du.edu>]
  Re: Question re Joni song                              [Rusty10113@aol.com]
  RE: Question re Joni song       ["Wally Kairuz" <wallykai@fibertel.com.ar>]
  coyote                              ["Kate Bennett" <kate@katebennett.com>]
  COYOTE                              ["Kate Bennett" <kate@katebennett.com>]
  Re: Cage, Partch, Lemper                                  [FredNow@aol.com]
  RE: TTT Hidden Track njc        ["Wally Kairuz" <wallykai@fibertel.com.ar>]
  Re: That Coyote Guy                    [Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>]
  Re: That Coyote Guy                    [Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>]
  Re: alterations                    ["Mark or Travis" <mark.travis@gte.net>]
  Re: alterations                         ["Kakki" <KakkiB@worldnet.att.net>]
  Re: This N' That (VLJC)                 ["Kakki" <KakkiB@worldnet.att.net>]
  Re:Directions for house concert on April 22!(njc)  ["Victor Johnson" <wayt]
  Re: Road Trip! Atlanta, Nashville, North Carolina NJC  ["Victor Johnson" <]
  Re: That Coyote Guy            ["Victor Johnson" <waytoblu@mindspring.com>]
  re: alterations                   ["Stephen Epstein" <sepstein@agmont.com>]
  Re: Only in California (njc) VERY LONG and HORRIBLY BORING  [Coyote4Joni@a]
  Re: Only in California (njc) VERY LONG and HORRIBLY BORING  ["Kakki" <Kakk]

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 14:24:42 -0600
From: scmorris <scmorris@du.edu>
Subject: Question re Joni song

Hi everbody out there,
I was just recently introduced to Joni Mitchell and have totally fallen in 
love with her music.  However, one of my friends keeps telling me about a song 
with either the title or line "She was so busy being free," but she doesn't 
know what album this song is on.  Can anyone tell me?
Thanks so much
Stephanie

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 16:31:25 EDT
From: Rusty10113@aol.com
Subject: Re: Question re Joni song

Sounds like "Cactus Tree" to me... thorugh freedom is a strong message in 
many of my favorite Joni songs, including Free Man In Paris and even Help Me 
("but not we like our freedom")... hope that helps!

Mitch

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 17:43:02 -0300
From: "Wally Kairuz" <wallykai@fibertel.com.ar>
Subject: RE: Question re Joni song

hi there stephanie!!!!
the song is ''cactus tree''. it's on joni mitchell's first album, ''song to
a seagull''. there's a live version on ''miles of isles'', joni's 1974 live
album. you might want to check both out since the live version is very
similar to the early studio recording and yet ...
wallyK

- -----Mensaje original-----
De: owner-joni@jmdl.com [mailto:owner-joni@jmdl.com]En nombre de
scmorris
Enviado el: Miircoles, 18 de Abril de 2001 05:25 p.m.
Para: joni@smoe.org
Asunto: Question re Joni song


Hi everbody out there,
I was just recently introduced to Joni Mitchell and have totally fallen in
love with her music.  However, one of my friends keeps telling me about a
song
with either the title or line "She was so busy being free," but she doesn't
know what album this song is on.  Can anyone tell me?
Thanks so much
Stephanie

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 13:37:54 -0700
From: "Kate Bennett" <kate@katebennett.com>
Subject: coyote

Steve, the amazing concert archivist wrote >>>I am, was, and always will be
convinced that it is Peter Coyote, and have said so many times, no doubt
boring many to tears. Sometimes she is just saying it like it is, as with
David "Blue".<<<

Well there is some credible hearsay that Blue is not about David Blue, but
instead about Graham Nash. I always thought it was about James Taylor
myself. I could be so wrong but I tend towards the opinion that Joni
wouldn't be that literal about her people....

(my apologies to Paz who hates it when we talk about who Joni's songs are
about ;~})
********************************************
Kate Bennett
www.katebennett.com
sponsored by Polysonics www.polysonics.com
Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html
********************************************

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 13:52:59 -0700
From: "Kate Bennett" <kate@katebennett.com>
Subject: COYOTE

>>>My contention is that it might be somewhat *based* on Robertson and
perhaps others, the first lines notwithstanding.<<<

hmmmm....could be RR...that is the song she chose to sing at the Last
Waltz...
********************************************
Kate Bennett
www.katebennett.com
sponsored by Polysonics www.polysonics.com
Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html
********************************************

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 17:49:44 EDT
From: FredNow@aol.com
Subject: Re: Cage, Partch, Lemper

In a message dated 4/16/01 2:20:56 AM, Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> 
writes:

>If you are interested in people who walk the
>genius/insane line


"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
- -Oscar Levant

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 19:00:03 -0300
From: "Wally Kairuz" <wallykai@fibertel.com.ar>
Subject: RE: TTT Hidden Track njc

oh my!!! this is soooooo funny!!! i love these ''unreleased'' gems you guys
unearth from time to time!!!!!
wallyK, very proud of bob M, who's having a ms rickie lee jones day.

- -----Mensaje original-----
De: owner-joni@jmdl.com [mailto:owner-joni@jmdl.com]En nombre de
SCJoniGuy@aol.com
Enviado el: Miircoles, 18 de Abril de 2001 12:00 p.m.
Para: SMEBD@aol.com; dgrowe227@yahoo.com; ivpaul42@aol.com;
joni@smoe.org
Asunto: TTT Hidden Track


<<I thought "Cat Choking Up Hairball" was actually a second hidden track on
special promotion copies of TTT--not unlike the tin ear in the promo copies
of TI.>>

True, Stephen, and since I couldn't find the lyrics on the JMDL database,
I'm posting them here. If you recall, she uses the same instrumental track
as on "Man From Mars" just changing the lyric expressing her "joy" when the
cat returns. Interestingly enough, she writes from the point of view of the
cat:
NP: RLJ, "Gravity"

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 15:15:11 -0700
From: Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>
Subject: Re: That Coyote Guy

JRMCo1@aol.com wrote:

> I think the first few lines rule Robbie out.     They come from such
> different sets of circumstance,   she's up all night in the studio he's up
> early at the ranch.   It's funny how we (including me) tend to imagine
> the songs are about celebrities.   .It could be just about a rancher who
> picked up a hitcher.
>
> I always hated that song anyway,   too wordy and no tune.

Wow- I thought I was the only one.  I don't hate it but I'd put
it down near the bottom of my list for the reasons you mentioned.

I agree with you about the lyric, too.  This is obviously a
rancher;
    "brushing out a brood mare's tail while the sun is ascending"
I never heard of a pro musician that got up much before noon.
   "you just picked up a hitcher"
seems to indicate a new, chance relationship.  The theme is
about two people that connected on some level, but come from
completely different worlds.
  She says "YOU just picked up a.....prisoner of the white lines on
the highway"
  IMO she is talking about her flight from the cocaine-drenched LA
music scene, another aspect of her "hejira".  And no accident that
she made this the first song on the album.  She was running from
the whole scene, and needed a fresh perspective.  Having an affair
with some cowboy was just what the doctor ordered, at least for
a short time, before she left her man "at a North Dakota junction".
RR

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 15:16:25 -0700
From: Randy Remote <guitarzan@saber.net>
Subject: Re: That Coyote Guy

Randy Remote wrote:

>   She says "YOU just picked up a.....prisoner of the white lines on
> the highway"

OOPs - I meant the free,,,freeway !

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 18:24:16 -0700
From: "Mark or Travis" <mark.travis@gte.net>
Subject: Re: alterations

> Obviously, I'd LOVE to hear it. I'm one of the minority of WTRF
lovers and I especially think "Flat Tires" is excellent, even WITH the
Lionel Ritchie throw-in.

I've always liked this song too!  Always loved the metaphor.  'With a
jack and a spare you're trying to get to where love is.  Comin' in on
a rim & a prayer you're trying to get to where  love is.'  It's one of
those kinda fun songs that a lot of people don't seem to think Joni
should write or sing....

Mark in Seattle

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 18:20:13 -0700
From: "Kakki" <KakkiB@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: alterations

Shane wrote:

>at times she has shown such humility which belies the few
> journalists who have labelled her as 'big ego'....but they often say this
> when she lists herself with beethoven, van gogh, or mozart....so
> what?...she's actually just trying to get across something in the context
of
> what inspires her...its really absence of ego to do this because she knows
> that we're all just human beings in need of graceful inspiration....in
that
> sense there is no 'beethoven', 'van gogh' or 'mozart' since their egos
were not the creators of what they
> received....but chic magazine writers don't get it...

I've always had the same take on the issue and couldn't agree with you more.

>yes joni and b.b. were a neat couple...they seemed to genuinely like each
> other...

Leslie Mixon, who is a great photographer (and musician) here gifted me with
a large print of a photo she took of Joni and B.B. at the Festival.  It has
so much energy and is now nicely framed an up in my hallway.  Leslie was
selling prints of these at one time to raise funds for the website - they
may still be available.  And like Bob and others, I also took great interest
in your story about the original version of Dream Flat Tires - I love that
song and hope we can find a recording one of these days!

>i think it was haunting too at the concert, and
> 'love', which was related to the film about love that liv ullman was
working
> on with joni involved....anyone seen it  and know its title? 'cause i
would
> like to see it...

Thanks to another listmember I have a copy of this film which is titled
"Love."  It's a series of love story vignettes and most of it is pretty
weird but I like Joni's segment (which she also wrote and I think,
directed).  I don't have the ability to make copies of it but maybe we could
get it copied for the next video tree.

Kakki

NP:  Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amor

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 18:40:56 -0700
From: "Kakki" <KakkiB@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: This N' That (VLJC)

Hi Susan

> WOW!  I was recently asking around about Flora, wondered if she was still
> performing.  Hope she makes her way through Chicago!

I hope so, too!  I recall that she and Airto live here in L.A. and they used
to do a few appearances every year but it's been a long time since I've seen
them so I'm looking forward to it.

> Kakki are you the Official Martini Maker or Shaker or both?!  I'll bring
one
> along (shaker) in case you are a two fisted shaker.

LOL - actually my version is pretty unorthodox - lots of ice so one doesn't
keel over right away, and no shaking or stirring - just a few plops of
olives to mix ;-D  But do bring a shaker if you come to New England - we can
always use more hands!

Kakki, off to see Mr. Guerin on his boom boom pachyderms tonight (ooo, he is
still very cute, too ;-)

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:04:53 -0400
From: "Victor Johnson" <waytoblu@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re:Directions for house concert on April 22!(njc)

Here are directions for anyone planning to come to the house concert on
earthday featuring Kate Bennett and Victor Johnson.  Show
up early at 6:30
for homemade eggplant pizza! Music starts at 7:00!


From I-85, exit at Clairmont(exit 91) and head east towards Decatur.  If
you're coming south on 85 you will  pass Spaghetti Junction(285/85
intersection) and also pass Chamblee/Tucker and Shallowford.  If you're
coming north on 85 you will pass Georgia 400 exit and North Druid Hills.
You will get off on Clairmont and head towards the Emory/Decatur area.


At the first light, Briarcliff, turn left.  At the next light, Fisher Trail,
turn right.
Bear right onto Ravenwood. After a block or so, Ravenwood merges with
Alderbrook.  Merge left and then take the first left, Kodiak Drive(school on
corner.)  The house the fifth on the right, 2133 Kodiak Drive.  The phone
there is (404)320-0355.  Hope to see you there!


HOlley and ViCtor






Victor Johnson
http://www.cdbaby.com/victorjohnson

"Just beyond the morning falls the river of your dreams,
Escaping from the day these wild creatures run away

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0400
From: "Victor Johnson" <waytoblu@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Road Trip! Atlanta, Nashville, North Carolina NJC

> Your website is SO awesome, Kate!! I had seen it before but it had been a
while...I should be able to make the 4/22 Sunday House concert...

Whooooohooooo!!!!!  Now we know we'll have a great time!


Victor Johnson
http://www.cdbaby.com/victorjohnson

"Just beyond the morning falls the river of your dreams,
Escaping from the day these wild creatures run away."

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:16:53 -0400
From: "Victor Johnson" <waytoblu@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: That Coyote Guy

". My contention is that it might be somewhat *based* on Robertson and
perhaps others, the first lines notwithstanding.  I only used a smidgen of
my boundless imagination to arrive at the conclusion, too.



Very true.  Songs are not necessarily about one person nor does the person
writing always *know* who they are writing about.  Imagination is such a
wonderful thing though, indeed!

Victor


NP: Renaissance :  Scheherazade

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 23:27:09 -0400
From: "Stephen Epstein" <sepstein@agmont.com>
Subject: re: alterations

Kakki wrote:

"Thanks to another listmember I have a copy of this film which is titled
"Love."  It's a series of love story vignettes and most of it is pretty
weird but I like Joni's segment (which she also wrote and I think,
directed).  I don't have the ability to make copies of it but maybe we
could
get it copied for the next video tree."

The film was four segments, each directed by a different woman.  If memory
serves me correct, JM's segment was directed by Mai Zetterling.  She was a
well-known Scandanavian actress turned director, who died some years ago.

I would love to see this movie also- It was filmed in Toronto, and when I
heard over the radio that JM was in town filming, my best friend and I
raced down to the set and we were able to sneak in and watch a couple of
hours of filming. A masquerade dance party, with Joni dressed as the man
from the cover of DJRD, dancing to Miles Davis- Kind of Blue.
All I know!!

Best regards,

Stephen in Vancouver
NP:  Rickie Lee Jones- Ghostyhead

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

Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 01:38:28 EDT
From: Coyote4Joni@aol.com
Subject: Re: Only in California (njc) VERY LONG and HORRIBLY BORING

In a message dated 4/17/01 11:35:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
revrvl@chartermi.net writes:

<< I find it suspicious that PE&G is crying about money problems the year
 after the movie Erin Brockovitch came out...
  >>

Lord knows I don't want to start a California electricity thread, especially 
when we have been so controversial-free and polite of late.  I've loved all 
the JC (hmmm) posts I've been reading.  However...

The problems in California with the electricity crisis are, in fact, all 
about a botched deregulation plan, not Hollywood films.  Sorry, Vince.  While 
my employer, Southern California Gas Company (which is the nation's largest 
natural gas company) and the State's three investor-owned electric utilities 
(Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and 
Electric, my company's sister firm) all supported deregulation of 
electricity, all were concerned about some aspects of the plan.  Let's face 
it -- the plan was a done deal and for a regulated firm to oppose it was 
political suicide.  However, I was part of huge teams that let the regulators 
know our concerns with mountains of regulatory filings.  Believe me, we very 
PC.

It was only the *Munis* or municipal utilities (those owned by the citizens 
of various cities around the State, yet unregulated by the State), who 
violently and wisely opted out for fears of losing their electricity 
generating facilities (power plants).  The rest of us (as very regulated 
entities, subject to the whims of the State) had little choice but to go 
forward.

It's really quite simple.  The IOUs (investor-owned utilities) were forced to 
sell their electricity generating plants as part of the deregulation plan.  
The fear was that the IOUs could produce and sell electricity much cheaper 
than in-state or out-of-state competitors.  Therefore, if the IOUs retained 
their electricity generating plants, they would still be the cheapest game in 
town and intimidate competitors from coming into the State, increasing 
competition and lowering prices.  

So, the IOUs sold their electricity generating plants mostly to out-of-state 
firms thereby deregulating the generation of electricity.  The California 
Public Utilities Commission now has no say over how the plants are run nor 
the price they charge for the electricity produced.  The new owners could get 
any price the market would support.  The IOUs would still make big money, but 
only on the distribution of electricity -- meaning the shipping of it from 
generating plants (either in-State or out-of-State) through IOU transmission 
(those huge electricity lines you see coming out places like Hoover Dam) or 
distribution lines (the all-to-familiar power poles in most neighborhoods).   

The Munis, on the other hand, retained such electricity generating assets.  
They now, as they always have, and like the IOUs did for 100+ years, produce 
the electricity they sell.  The IOUs', unlike the Munis', prices were 
regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.  But, the Munis' 
prices were usually a bit lower (+/- 10%) than the IOUs since they didn't 
have the overheads the huge California investor-owned utilities managed 
(including State imposed hidden taxes).  Since they were just small (by 
comparison) cities, like Pasadena, Glendale, Anaheim, Riverside, and even big 
old Los Angeles (which only has 1 million meters compared to PG&E's 4 
million).  

Because the State required the IOUs to sell off generation assets, they 
allowed them to charge a CTC or Competitive Transition Charge to their 
customers to recover any losses incurred from the short sale of such assets.  
This charge was allowed on bills until the end of 2002 (or 2001, can't 
remember).  It was a minuscule charge when spread among the millions of 
ratepayers in the IOUs billing files.  It was a good plan.

In return, to ensure the IOUs didn't do any price gouging, the California 
Public Utilities Commission placed a cap on what the IOUs could charge 
customers for the electricity they now had to buy on the open market as 
opposed to generating it from the power plants they sold.  No one ever 
suspected the new owners of the power plants and various out-of-state sources 
would take advantage of the market by jacking up prices much higher than the 
IOUs were allowed to collect.  It's like buying a CD for $6.99 and only being 
allowed to sell it for $4.99 - BY LAW!  So, the *undercollections* started 
with PG&E being the first to fall - billions in debt to the *new* electricity 
suppliers.  Having to pay more for electricity than it was allowed to charge 
its customers.

One of many (in retrospect) bad aspects of the plan was not forcing IOU 
customers to choose another supplier of electricity than their traditional 
IOU.  Customers could opt out and stay with their IOU.  A few firms (Enron) 
came into the State early in the deregulation plan and tried to sell 
electricity to IOU customers, but failed miserably.  The prices they could 
offer weren't that much lower than that offered but the IOUs, which are now 
buying electricity like a haberdasher buys and resells suits.  Customers 
won't switch from the familiar unless there is a significant price reduction.

Let's now look at the Munis.  Nothing changed.  I am a customer of the Los 
Angeles Department of Water and Power (like Joni, Kakki and Clark Carlton and 
other JMDL folks living in the city limits).  Our prices did not and have not 
changed dramatically, if at all.  Why?  Because our utility still makes what 
it sells.  We aren't subject to the price gouging of our unfortunate 
neighbors.  Our utility is in the best financial shape of its history.  The 
new, mostly out-of-state owners of the former IOU electricity generating 
assets are the villains here, not the California IOUs.

I should correct myself to say, even some of the Munis are to blame.  The Los 
Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) made a small fortune from 
selling the excess power it generates to the State grid.  I am talking making 
millions by a not-for-profit organization.  A very smart guy runs the LADWP.  
In fact, he was just made the Governor's energy guru, and resigned his job at 
the LADWP.

And that, my dear correspondents (those that have endured this far) is part 
of what I do for a living -- understanding and explaining this stuff.  And 
yes, I did go to law school.  

Our company slogan is Glad To Be of Service - I hope I have sufficiently 
confused the issue.  GTBOS.

Forgive any typos - I did this fast and it's time for bed.

With regrets,

Coyote Rick (who ain't goin' near the Coyote thread)
Casa Alegre
Hollywood, California

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

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 22:52:02 -0700
From: "Kakki" <KakkiB@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Only in California (njc) VERY LONG and HORRIBLY BORING

Coyote Rick,

Even after your long and detailed explanation (which did help) I think the
situation is so complex that it isn't going to be sorted out any time soon.
It's a complete mess.  I feel very lucky I'm under DWP (a muni) - no
straddled black outs during the day and no 400% increase in my monthly bill.
A friend in Northern California has seen their electricity bill go up from
$100 a month to $760 and my parents' bill has tripled.  I heard a report on
the radio tonight that some people in the Palm Springs desert area are
hocking everything they have at pawn shops to pay their monthly bill.
Unfortunately, if there isn't some kind of solution soon, this could
eventually effect the U.S. economy since we are basically a prime "food
basket" of the country.  I just shake my head.

Kakki

P.S. Chatted a bit with John Guerin tonight - he is astoundingly talented -
very laid back and you barely notice him drumming but it's like he has 6
hands and 4 feet.  He loves Joni's BSN album and said he recently received a
royalty on some group that covered Hissing of Summer Lawns (which he
co-wrote).  He signed my DJRD CD cover - hopefully I can get Airto to do the
same manana ;-)

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

End of JMDL Digest V2001 #184
*****************************

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