From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2002 #222 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Monday, May 20 2002 Volume 2002 : Number 222 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. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? [Mags N Brei ] Harlem or Havana ["Marianne Rizzo" ] still have some questions! ["Josh Eubank" ] Re: And now for A Case of You . . . ["Garret" ] Re: And now for A Case of You . . . NJC ["Garret" ] FTR live and Covers Volume 29 ["Sherman" ] Re: "Blue" venue? ["Patricia O'Connor" ] Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? ["Patricia O'Connor" ] forgot to title my last post - twas a reply to the COU thread ["O" ] Re: JMDL Digest V2002 #219 [Randy Remote ] question for the list ["James Phillips" ] And now for A Case of You . . . ["Kate Bennett" ] "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC now ["kerry" ] At My Funeral (Crash Test Dummies) [OzWoman321@aol.com] NYT book review [Dflahm@aol.com] Re:Joni in Fiction/"About a Boy" [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re: NYT book review [Relayer211@aol.com] New Joni in Fiction entries [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re: NYT book review [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re:Joni in Fiction/"About a Boy" - njc [Murphycopy@aol.com] Re: May 17th (NJC) [Murphycopy@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 04:39:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Mags N Brei Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? - --- Kakki wrote: > << perfectly > expresses the cycle of starbursting love and high passion, the > emotional > roller coaster down and the stark pang of loss.>>> this is one of the things that gets to me every time i listen to Electricity...I can feel that pang of loss ... gives me shivers and brings tears to my eyes. It just does. There is a longing as well as some kind of acceptance almost. And there's that melancholy feeling again, and she's trying to understand. She laments the loss, and at the same time seems okay with it, as hard as it is on her. Amazing what each of us reads into it :-) Eversince Brei gave me my headphones, whole worlds have opened up in terms of how I hear music. And here it is, all of it, with no distractions. With 'diminshed hearing', life is VERY frustrating at times because of all the subtle things I miss. > < where Joni > wrote the songs of FTR. They are so uniquely beautiful and apart > from > anything she wrote before and after.>> The B.C. landscape is gorgeous, breathtaking. I haven't been there in a very long time, however I still remember it well. I can certainly see why this album in particular reflects Joni's immersion into such beauty all around her. So much power and clarity within each and every song. I am appreciating this CD like never before, thanks everyone for the contributions. magic in the water...yea, it makes men do things like wear red shoes. ;-) Kakki, you'd love it out there! Mags, wondering what song/CD we will study next at the University of Muller and hoping that someone is planning to perform Electricity at the Fest this year. np: Woman of Heart and Mind > ===== You open my heart, you do. Yes you do. - JM LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 09:03:30 -0400 From: "Marianne Rizzo" Subject: Harlem or Havana Bree Mcdonough asked: Anybody know where Auntie Ruthie is from? Bree, I believe she's from Harlem or Havana. Marianne :) Is she the tall girl? _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 10:10:55 -0400 From: "Josh Eubank" Subject: still have some questions! I wrote yesterday about Joni's new guitar system! I got replies saying she uses a Parker Fly, what is that? I'm including this next bit of info just in case it would help any members in the future who write me in response to something I wrote, I'm a totally blind computer user and somewhat guitar player! I appreciate what I've been getting as answers so far, it's just somewhat difficult for me to put it all together since I can't visualize what poeple are explaining to me! I'll send the message again, and anyone who feels they may be able to help more, feel free to reply! Thanks to all for your replies so far! Josh P.s. My original message I wrote follows! My name is Josh Eubank and I am a new member to the "Only Joni" list! I have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer for me! I know that on Taming the Tiger, Joni uses a new guitar system which I've heard called two things. Mainly most people who knew a lot about guitars said it was called the Roland VG-88, although when I read about it in her biographical section of jonimitchell.com, it was refered to simply as the Roland VG-8! Basically here are my questions! Are the Roland VG-8 and VG-88 two different things that Roland manufacture, or is it often just shortened to the VG-8 with the second 8 left out to save time or something? Also, what does it do, and what kind of guitar is Joni using it with, I've heard a custom-made strat! But how can you build a Strat? Didn't she already have the Strat and then send it off to Roland to have them do the modifications that were required before it could work with the system? Any info anyone has would be great. Thanks very much! Josh Eubank ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 14:39:28 +0100 From: "Garret" Subject: Re: And now for A Case of You . . . I remember on the list a long time ago, we had the discussion about ACOY, and of course the "mouth like yours" issue came up. I had always thought that this meant that Joni met a woman that reminded her of the object of her affections. She met someone with a similar personality and had had smiliar experiences in *her* life as this man. It wasn't that the woman was physically related to her "holy wine", i never thought of it as a looking alike or being related thing. It's that she carried her conversations in the same way as Joni's man; she reminded Joni of this man. This other woman would have told Joni that despite the hardships in getting to know her, it is ultimately worth it for *her* lover (?!?). Joni extrapolated from this and generalised it onto the issue occupying her mind; her experience with this other woman gave her an insight into the others perspective, the perspecitive of her gentleman friend. This woman reaffirmed for Joni that the man has a "sweet" side, once the the "bitter" side could be overcome. Then of course the discussion on this list made me think of it in another way (hell, isnt that one of the great strengths of this particular list?). I think someone speculated that it could have been Leonard Cohens sister (although i don't remember exactly). So now, i think i can see that this woman with the "mouth like yours" may be *someones* mother or sister, and when you put it into the Joni chronology, i do think that you come up with James Taylor as l'homme du jour. BUT, she may have been writing in hindsight. She may have been working through feelings she harboured from a previous relationship, so i'm not so sure if it's always a good idea to speculate about the object of her affections (not that i don't like a good piece of gossip of course, lol) GARRET np- A Case Of You, Joni ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 14:16:47 +0100 From: "Garret" Subject: Re: And now for A Case of You . . . NJC Catherine McKay wrote: >don't think having e-mail addresses for pets is weird at all. I have a friend whose dog is always sending e-mails to my dog; however, my dog is a bit technophobic and doesn't like using computers if she can help it. I'm also convinced my cats are running some kind of web-related scam when no one's at home, but i've never been able to pin anything on them. (I'm on the case though - I know what cats are like!) > that's gas Catherine! I regularly recieve e-mails from Miffy, the dog of my friend. Miffy evidently has a fetish for potted plants! GARRET ps- sure my e-mail address is after my favourite christmas time vegetable:) so, no, pet email addresses is not weird at all! np- My Old Man, Joni ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 10:48:36 -0400 From: "Sherman" Subject: FTR live and Covers Volume 29 I received my dual package of winning CD's from South Carolina yesterday ( Thanks, Bob!) They are not only beautifully labeled ,but boy do they pack a punch. The live FTR is incredible. With all this talk about Electricity, it was quite apropos to receive this special recording of it and others from FTR. Her voice is in top form on these and such EMOTION!! I, too, have always felt Electricity was about my beloved JT who had to have torn her heart out, of course, I have to blame it on that darn Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire. I have also wondered if this song was not in response to Carly's frustrations with JT? She obviously still wants a connection to him despite the Minus's current lovelessness. She sees a change due to his uprising stardom ( FTR), and maybe she's projecting some self-loathing because of what she felt the fame and industry did to her???? No matter, Joni still wants to SEE HIM SOMETIME. And if you've heard the 1970 BBC duet concert of them, it sounds like one of her happiest times. She is almost giddy. Plus, when he comes out on the stage at her recent TNT Tribute, and sings River, it is to me, her most engaged response...... and now he has twin babies to raise and she had 2 grandchildren!!! Where am I going here? THANKS again BOB. You are the best. Only have listened to Dawntreader so far on Covers #29, man what a couple of velvet voices for that one! Fabulous. Best to all, Janine Where are you now Are you in some hotel room Does it have a view? Are you caught in a crowd Or holding some honey Who came on to you? Why do you have to be so jive OK hang up the phone It hurts But something survives Though it's undermined I'd still like to see you sometime I'm feeling so good And my friends all tell me That I'm looking fine I run in the woods I spring from the boulders Like a mama lion I'm not ready to Change my name again But you know I'm not after A piece of your fortune And your fame 'Cause I tasted mine I'd just like to see you sometime Pack your suspenders I'll come meet your plane No need to surrender I just want to see you again We're in for more rain I could sure use some sunshine on my apple trees It seems such a shame We start out so kind and end so heartlessly I couldn't take them all on then With a headful of questions and hypes So when the hopes got so slim I just resigned But I'd still like to see you sometime I'd sure like to see you ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 11:47:24 -0400 From: "Patricia O'Connor" Subject: Re: "Blue" venue? > "Crown and Anchor"......coincidence, or a Joni influence? I think that Crown and Anchor is an insignia of the British navy, sailors for centuries were tattooed with the Crown and Anchor so they could easily prove that they were sailors of the British navy. So..."songs are like tattoos, Crown and Anchor me, or let me sail away." Patricia O'Connor p.a.oconnor@att.net ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 11:47:17 -0400 From: "Patricia O'Connor" Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? > It's basically a songwriting > exercise on a love song using electrician's metaphors. > Being a genius at wordplay, Only Genie Joni could turn the mundane electrical ground into the mysterious"he talks to the land." Patricia O'Connor p.a.oconnor@att.net ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 08:56:26 -0700 From: "Bree Mcdonough" Subject: Re: still have some questions! >I wrote yesterday about Joni's new guitar system! I got replies saying she >uses a Parker Fly, what is that? I'm including this next bit of info just >in >case it would help any members in the future who write me in response to >something I wrote, I'm a totally blind computer user and somewhat guitar >player! Hi josh and everyone.....happy sunny Sunday to you... The Parker Fly is a guitar....stratlike. Randy had pointed out that it is very lightweight. Because of Joni's childhood polio this left her with very little muscles in her back. This guitar has been a blessing. I would say this is the main reason she uses the Parker Fly.... because it is so lightweight. I'm glad you are here... Take care, Bree NP:Steely Dan...AJA _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 12:14:06 -0400 From: "Josh Eubank" Subject: The Parker Fly Does anyone know what type of Parker Fly Joni has? I know that it' sgreene but that's it! She has it hooked up, as I understand to the VG-8 with the programed sound of a modified Strat, right? Can anyone who owns both the VG-8 and the VG-88 email back with any info on the two things, Parker Fly, and the two Roland systems? Thanks very much! Happy Sunny Sunday to all! Josh ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 15:32:23 +0100 From: "O" Subject: forgot to title my last post - twas a reply to the COU thread Just a quick post to draw attention to the fact that my last post was a reply to Matt's question about ACOU. peace, O ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 15:41:43 +0100 From: "O" Subject: re: "Blue" venue? There's a pub in Covent Garden in London called 'The Crown and Anchor' - I think it's quite a common name for pubs here in the U.K, but maybe (just maybe) Joni stopped in for a drinking session on her travels in 1970 and wrote 'Blue' while drowning her sorrows (to keep up the nautical theme)... unlikely, but it's a thought! O ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 10:37:35 -0700 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2002 #219 Chorando6@aol.com wrote: > THe remix of Big yellow taxi for the friendssoundtrack was a little dull and > dare i say unimaginative. Was it joni that > remixed it?? Reprise also put out a CD called Joni Mitchell "Big Yellow Taxi". Besides the "Friends" remix, there were five other remixes (of BYT) and a nice remaster of the original LOTC version with the 'doo-wop' vocals removed. Joni is listed as producer the versions are Radio Mix* "Friends" Album Version** Late Night Club Mix* N.Y. Cab To Club Mix*** Double Espresso NRG Nix Tribal Dub*** Original A Cappella with Guitar *Additional Production and Remix by Sam Ward and Ming Freeman **Additional Production and Remix by Robin Goodfellow ***Additional Production and Remix by Sam Ward and David Ruberto ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 02:13:55 +0800 From: "James Phillips" Subject: question for the list dear list: I was wondering if anyone knows whatever happened to the live album Joni had recorded concerts for after her first release? I had no idea about it until reading it in the Rolling Stone article in the interviews archives on the JMDL site. Any answers would be appreciated, James Phillips now playing "The Loving Country" by Cindy Scott - -- Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 11:50:51 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: And now for A Case of You . . . also constantly in the darkness could refer to him being in depression... also the line 'part of you pours out of me in these lines from time to time' ... more than just her love for him pouring out...it could be his musical/lyrical influence on her that comes pouring out of her... add to that the oh canada reference & i think it could be about l cohen... ******************************************** Kate Bennett www.katebennett.com sponsored by Polysonics Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html ******************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 15:31:25 -0500 From: "kerry" Subject: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC now > --- ms. magsie's southern bro Bob wrote: > > > -lyricist > > -composer > > -vocalist Mags wrote: >To which I will add: > -painter > -poet >anyone else want to tag on some more dimensions of joni? How about.... "A woman of heart and mind" >how would you >describe what Joni is all about and why you love her/her music so much >to someone who was not familiar with her? Yikes. It's hard enough to explain this list and Jonifest to people! Two of my (ex) friends thought we were insane for having a Jonifest without Joni! :>) Kerry NP - Neil Young - "Are You Passionate?" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 22:37:50 +0100 From: "Garret" Subject: The 10 Essential Joni Mitchell Albums on cdnow.com (long) I was going to post the link, but i know of at least three people on the list that do not have internet access, so i'll just copy and paste this (it's actually an advertisment, but interesting to see what they had to say all the same). The 10 Essential Joni Mitchell Albums By Rob O'Connor CDNOW Contributing Writer Joni Mitchell is that rare musical artist who, during the early 1970s at least, ably matched her creative drive with the whims of the marketplace, recording songs that have stood the test of time and albums that are clear signposts of the age while remaining consistently innovative. Few musicians can match Mitchell's emotional intensity or her visionary flair for the unusual. Hearing to her albums in chronological order allows the listener to follow Mitchell's musical meanderings, from folk to rock to pop to jazz. from earnest Canadian teenager to California folkie to worldly traveler and political commentator. A singer with a unique internal rhythm, a wry sense of humor and an expressive voice ready to take flight, Mitchell is one of the few musicians for whom it is difficult to pick out the influences. Her influence, however, is immediately recognizable in the works of male and female artists alike, from Rickie Lee Jones to Prince to Rufus Wainwright and Fiona Apple. 1. Blue The early 1970s was the perfect time to be a sensitive singer-songwriter. Quiet songs of great reflection were in perfect tune with the needs of then-progressive late-night FM radio. Blue, with its dark piano tones and airy acoustic guitars, is simply perfect. While the immediately recognizable "River" gets carted out every Christmas for its seasonal references, there is no shortage of great songs here. From the freewheeling rhythm of the opening track, "All I Want," to the somber finale, "Last Time I Saw Richard," Mitchell careens through with the poise of a heart-wrenching pro. 2. For the Roses "You Turn Me on I'm a Radio" was the playful, obvious hit. But the true treasures of this set, the follow-up to Blue, are the subtle ones: the way, for example, "Lesson in Survival" segues into "Let the Wind Carry Me." These are not your standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus songs, but lyrical compositions that unwind slowly with unconventional twists of melody creating fresh new ground. 3. Hejira Her wandering spirit has been no secret, so it's only natural that Mitchell conceive an entire album centered on traveling and her fascination with the road. The production is chilly, sprung from the eel-like bass slithering of Jaco Pastorius and Max Bennett, and Mitchell's own sparse, cold electric guitars. Warmth is found in Mitchell's deepening voice (a lifetime of cigarettes catching up with her) and the beautiful, elliptical compositions ("Refuge of the Roads," "Song for Sharon"). 4. Court & Spark Her greatest commercial success --"Help Me," "Free Man in Paris" and "Raised on Robbery" -- all of which earned heavy radio play -- combines an unlikely accessibility with Mitchell's usual fiery artistic strokes. Her personal obsessions, however, are turning more to the vicissitudes of fame, whether it's her label boss David Geffen's ("Free Man") or her own ("People's Parties"). Her opinion of human nature is turning cynical as well ("Down to You"), but Mitchell was soon to forge a new path. 5. Ladies of the Canyon Mitchell's third album features several of her most well-known songs. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young would hit with an amplified version of "Woodstock," but here it's a gentle call to the wild. "Big Yellow Taxi" is a standard, and "The Circle Game" has a childlike simplicity that makes it a natural sing-along. Complimenting these obvious gems are the allegedly Leonard Cohen-inspired "Rainy Night House" and "The Priest," songs of powerful spiritual longing. 6. Clouds Mitchell pulled all the pieces of her artistic puzzle together effectively for the first time with her second album, Clouds. Her playful language is matched perfectly to melodies that immediately grab the listener. "Both Sides Now" was also a hit for Judy Collins; "Tin Angel" had been brilliantly covered by Tom Rush, and "Chelsea Morning" is glorious. .7 The Hissing of the Summer Lawns As Mitchell writes in the album's liner notes, "This record is a total work conceived graphically, musically, lyrically, and accidentally -- as a whole." Such artists as Prince and Annie Lennox would both praise the album for its creative symmetry, though many critics of the time were confused by its unorthodox approaches. (Its use of the warrior drums of Burundi for "The Jungle Line," for example, is a masterstroke.) Mitchell's multitracked vocals and synthesizer experiment with "Shadows and Light" express further freedom from conventional expectations. 8. Night Ride Home Mitchell spent most of the 1980s writing songs of sharp socio-political commentary backed with music often colder than the world it criticized. 1991's Night Ride Home brought back the missing warmth with a song cycle that further expressed Mitchell's earthly concerns, balanced here with a rich, mature melodicism. Like Van Morrison, Mitchell's range continued to deepen and shrink with age, but her ability to phrase and emote had expanded. 9. Turbulent Indigo By 1994, Joni Mitchell was both a respected music industry veteran and someone immune to the whims of fashion. Her albums were recorded with musicians she respected -- Larry Klein, Wayne Shorter, Jim Keltner -- and her songs reflected both her acceptance of her own moody world (the title track) and her amused disgust with the outside one ("Sex Kills"). Like letters from an old friend, Mitchell's work is infused with both a familiar voice and new concerns. 10. Hits For the unsure, the uninitiated, or those who like it short and sweet, Hits collects the obvious, well, hits, as well as an early demo of "Urge for Going" that is essential to Mitchell completists. But for everyone else, it's a super-quick spin through the songs that made Mitchell famous. No real surprises, but a solid collection from start to finish. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 20:33:27 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: FTR live and Covers Volume 29 <> How true, Janine...if you wanna hear what people in love sound like, just listen to that recording! btw, thanks for the good words for the CD's, hope you enjoy them muchly. Bob NP: Cornelius, "Drop" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 21:04:04 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: "Electricity" What's it all about? 100% JC now - --- kerry wrote: > It's hard enough to explain this list and > Jonifest to people! Two > of my (ex) friends thought we were insane for having > a Jonifest without > Joni! :>) You wouldn't believe how many people I *tried* to explain a Joni-fest to thought she was going to be there. I wish... ______________________________________________________________________ Find, Connect, Date! http://personals.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 20:42:42 -0700 From: juancito@juno.com Subject: question about "For Free" Hi everyone, I'm new to the list, so please forgive if I'm treading on old ground. My question is this. Does anyone know which song came first: For Free, or James Taylor's "Hey Mister, That's Me up on the Jukebox" ? Not having any JT albums, I can't put the chronology together correctly. Any responses would be appreciated. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 21:07:52 -0500 From: "J.David Sapp" Subject: joni in fiction The City of Shy Hunters a novel by Tom Spanbauer - Grove Press 2001 setting mid 80's Manhattan Fiona is one of the lead characters and is an avid fan of Joni and Leonard Cohen. Joni is mentioned several times. For example on page 76 - Fiona says "You don't wear an earring do you? Nothing more beautiful on a man. Remember that Joni Mitchell song, And you stood out like a ruby in a black man's ear? Joni Mitchell is so underrated. She and Leonard Cohen. Mick Fucking Jagger is still on MTV, but Joni-no!" great book BTW peace, david ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 22:14:17 EDT From: OzWoman321@aol.com Subject: At My Funeral (Crash Test Dummies) Hello, All - I'm a fairly new lister but long-time Joni lover - she (along with Dar Williams) has always been my "litmus test" by which all others are musically measured... and most come up seriously lacking... :-) I've very much enjoyed reading the digests for the last few weeks, getting a feel for the list - I just wanted to chime in on a few things: ~ The recent discussion on Israel just proves what a close-knit community you are - just as when a family gets close, I have found that list members can take on that same entwinement (enmeshment?). As in any relationship, intimacy leads to intensity - it's to your credit that the conversation found its way back to civility and respect... :-) ~ Bob, in reply to your request for Joni appearing in fiction, I only *just* finished re-reading a favorite novel, The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg - - I can't come up with the word for the quote page at the beginning of a book (not dedication... inscription... attribution... prologue... introduction... foreshadowing... but I'll be d*mned if I can remember what it *is*!), but... on that particular page it says: Upon being asked if she knew how to be fifty, Joni Mitchell answered: It will make itself known". Amazon.com: buying info: The Pull of the Moon ~ Morbid or not, I also felt the need to make my funeral music wishes known, and five years ago mixed my own 90-minute cassette of the special offerings, opening with my e-mail subject-titled song and closing with Joni's Both Sides Now, a song that perfectly sums up what I've experienced so far in my 47 years on this planet ("something's lost and something's gained in living every day"). Oz fanatic that I am, flautist Nestor Torres' version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow is included, along with James Taylor's The Secret o' Life, The Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band, Carole King's Tapestry, The Kinks' Don't Forget to Dance and Jimmy Buffett's Lovely Cruise... among others - there have been so many wonderful songs released since then I'm thinking of making a Volume 2! Thanks for letting me join the party - I won't post frequently, but I will listen and learn and share when I have the time/energy/inclination. I'm so thankful that Joni came into my life in high school in the early 70's, and remains such an integral part 30+ years later - she's taught me much about how to be A Woman of Heart and Mind... <3 P.S. I'm also a buddy of Gregg Cagno's - that should get me some extra brownie points, right? :-) Susan http://www.heartsdesireconcerts.com "Guiding a ship, it takes more than your skill It's the compass inside, it's the strength of your will..." ~ Dar Williams ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 23:24:50 EDT From: Dflahm@aol.com Subject: NYT book review On the "CRIME" page (by Marilyn Stasio), I saw this: "Like every other title in Paul Charles's series of detective novels about Inspector Christy Kennedy, THE HISSING OF THE SILENT LONELY ROOM (Do-Not Press/Dufour, cloth $29.95; paper $15.95) sounds as if it wants to be a song title. Only this time the musical tonalities of the writing harmonize with the moody themes of the story, which begins with the death of Esther Bluewood, a beloved American singer-songwriter ("the missing female link between Joni Mitchell and the New Wave") who apparently gassed herself in the kitchen of her London home. If Esther gets no sympathy from those who were closest to her, including her faithless husband and her sullen lover, she is treated gently by Inspector Kennedy, whose analysis of her music and her personal journals convinces him that her death was a cunningly contrived murder. For someone who is dead when the narrative opens, Esther emerges as an extraordinarily vital character, warmed to life by an uncommonly sensitive cop." LAHM ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:05:54 -0400 From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re:Joni in Fiction/"About a Boy" Jacky wrote: << sadly, all Joni Jreferences have been removed. I say sadly, but in a way it's a good thing as I think her music would have been presented in a pretty bad light if it had been included - very uncool. J>> Thanks for the update, Jacky. And I agree, even though I have yet to see the movie. The odd thing about Nick Hornby is that while he has written or edited the most books with Joni mentions in the upcoming Joni in Fiction section, he pretty much trashes Joni in "About a Boy" (the novel) in order to make the Will character (played by Hugh Grant in the movie) appear to be cool. (Although I think Hornby is pretty much enamored of Joni since he mentions her so many times in his novels.) The boy, Marcus, and his depressed hippie mother love Joni, so Will turns Marcus on to Kurt Cobain in order to "save" him. From what I've read in movie reviews for this film, they also dropped the novel's mentions of Cobain and references to the day he died (which were a crucial part of the book's storyline) from the film in order to have the movie take place now, rather than in 1994 when Cobain died. The film was produced by Robert Dinero, who is a pretty hip guy. My guess is that he, or someone else with half a brain, decided that a movie that bashed one of the greatest talents of our time would alienate too many moviegoers, so that's why they used Robera Flack and the Carpenters as musicians who would be uncool to the Will character. J--Bob ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:07:08 EDT From: Relayer211@aol.com Subject: Re: NYT book review Does anyone think the "Hissing" title was a referance to HOSL?That's what came to my mind at any rate. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:26:10 -0400 From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: New Joni in Fiction entries Thanks to David Lahm, Susan and Davd Sapp for these new Joni in Fiction mentions. We already knew about "The Hissing of the Silent Loney Room," but we had no information about it at all. And " The Pull of the Moon" and " The City of Shy Hunters" are news to us. Sincere thanks to you all for helping to make the Joni in Fiction the impressive feature it is becoming. I have been kidnapped by my best friends and taken out of state for my birthday weekend. I will update the Joni in Fiction database as soon as I get back home. Thanks to David Lahm for: << "Like every other title in Paul Charles's series of detective novels about Inspector Christy Kennedy, THE HISSING OF THE SILENT LONELY ROOM (Do-Not Press/Dufour, cloth $29.95; paper $15.95) sounds as if it wants to be a song title. >> And to Susan for: << I only *just* finished re-reading a favorite novel, The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg - I can't come up with the word for the quote page at the beginning of a book (not dedication... inscription... attribution... prologue... introduction... foreshadowing... but I'll be d*mned if I can remember what it *is*!), but... on that particular page it says: Upon being asked if she knew how to be fifty, Joni Mitchell answered: It will make itself known". >> And to David Sapp for: << The City of Shy Hunters a novel by Tom Spanbauer - Grove Press 2001 setting mid 80's Manhattan Fiona is one of the lead characters and is an avid fan of Joni and Leonard Cohen. Joni is mentioned several times. >> --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:27:19 -0400 From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re: NYT book review In a word . . . absolutely! --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:26:48 -0400 From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re:Joni in Fiction/"About a Boy" - njc I allegedly wrote: <> I guess this is what happens when you use AOL from someone else's computer. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 01:59:06 -0400 From: Murphycopy@aol.com Subject: Re: May 17th (NJC) Jimmy wrote: << H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y T O BOB "The Smurph" MURPHY. Joni even wrote a song about him. check out: http://websmurfer.devnull.net/cgi-bin/translator.cgi?mode=smurf& url=http://www.jmdl.com/lyrics/MyOldMan.cfm >> Thanks so much to you, Jimmy, and to all the JMDLers who made my birthday happier. I am, however, more than a little disappointed with Joni. "My Old Smurfy Man?" Not since Sir Elton threw "Goodbye England's Rose" together for Princess Diana's funeral have I been so appalled at songwriting laziness. I hope Vince Mendoza comes up with a satisfactory arrangement for it at least. Thank you all. XO, --Bob ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2002 #222 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she?