From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2006 #498 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/joni Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Tuesday, January 2 2007 Volume 2006 : Number 498 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Joni Covers #84 - Happy New Covers! [Bob Muller ] Happy New Year's njc [RoseMJoy@aol.com] Synesthesia & Laura Nyro [birdie ] "Love" by the Beatles and the Martins, njc ["Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" ] Re: Best of 2006 [Michael Flaherty ] Light of Day Foundation goes to Italy & Jesse Malin njc [RoseMJoy@aol.com] Re: Best of List 2006 njc [Bruce Eggleston ] Re: Best of List 2006 njc [Bob Muller ] Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC [Bob Muller ] Re: Best of List 2007 [Norma Jean Garza ] Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC [Norma Jean Garza ] re: Saddam Hussein's hanging (njc) ["anne@sandstrom.com" ] Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC [Gary Z ] Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC [birdie ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 15:08:54 +0100 (CET) From: Bob Muller Subject: Joni Covers #84 - Happy New Covers! Bye bye to 2006 - a great year for Joni covers, and Hello to 2007, hopefully the same. We kick it off with a really solid collection of Joni tributes, matter of fact Mrs. SCJoniguy herself told me that it didn't totally suck - high praise from the lady who had no idea when she took her wedding vows that she would be subjected to 500 covers of Both Sides Now. Thanks once more to my buddy Paul for his contributions...in this volume we get a return from an old favorite, some JMDL exclusives, some knowns, some unknowns, and some what-were-they-thinkings. You can be the judge - go download it for yourself here: http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=51058FD96CB00FD5 And if & when you do, here's what you'll find: 1. Upper Left Trio - All I Want: Yummy yummy, we start you off with a nice airy jazz appetizer, it melts in your ear and not in your hand. I love the way the intro teases you before plunging in with the hook. A lovely instrumental featuring piano, bass & drums - - some snaky charming bass workings along with the fine piano featured. All in all, a real knockout from an upper left. 2. Generations - Both Sides Now: This 2002 CD is interesting because it was a collaboration between a Mother-Daughter (hence the title)...the daughter turns out to be Holly Brook who went on to become a recording artist in her own right and put out a nice cover of All I Want in 2006. We'll get to that one later, for now you can enjoy this pretty spirited cover of the franchise. 3. Bloomsbury Pops - Big Yellow Taxi: A somewhat schmaltzy voice & keyboard rendition. The CD is called "Modern Lounge" so they knew what they were going for - very lounge-ish. 4. Brooke Fraser - Woodstock: This one (both singer and song) is really beautiful. It was a bonus track on a CD-single of Brooke's. Another contribution from Kiwi country. 5. Don Stewart - Both Sides Now: Mmm, this one is silky smooth with some nice smooth jazz touches. Hailing from Ontario and claiming influences like Nat King Cole & Stevie Wonder, and produced by none other than Bob Murphy! 6. The Anntones - Carey: The Anntones are Anne & Tony Harpen from Ohio, a brother-sister act. Their sound is pretty plain and under-produced, I guess she's a big Joni fan since they do two of her songs. Bonus points for her for singing "Mattala Moon". Minus points for her tackling songs she doesn't have the vocal range to handle. 7. The Anntones - Help Me: More of the same. 8. Jonny Boston - Both Sides Now: A pleasant arrangement and vocal from UK vocalist Jonny Boston. A little touch of Gilbert O'Sullivan if anyone remembers what he sounded like - clear and easy to listen to. Inspired (it sounds like) by Joni's orchestral recording, Jonny's orchestra is much more subtle and smaller though. Nice. 9. Pat Harris-Thomas - Twisted: Pat swings this cover of the classic, showing her R&B and jazz sides. She gets much help from an excellent band, who both complements and struts in their own right. It ends sooner than I would like, but unless an artist wants to put some solos out there it's a pretty short song. 10. C.S. Heath & Jonas James - - Big Yellow Taxi: Piano & guitar duo with some faint percussion tossed in for luck, this instrumental is a tad on the bland side. 11. Mike The Swan - Woodstock: Jim Morrison lives! Well, probably not but that's who Mike the Swan reminds me of. Probably wound a bit too loose to suit most folks but I like the raggedness of it. "Well I came upon a child of God, and he said Father, I want to kill you..." 12. Pat C - Both Sides Now: A little touch of Carly Simon to her voice - I don't know anything about Pat C, sounds like it's just her and her guitar, fairly nice. She changes the words around for some reason...no, I think Joni pretty much wrote the right ones. Maybe that's why we don't know much about Pat C. 13. Christine Collister - Amelia: Another entry from one of the finest voices to ever grace a Joni cover, this one is a bit different from her previous two in that it is done acapella style with a haunting backing chorus and the sound of a desert wind. It's not what I was expecting, but then again that's Ms. Collister's style - never doing the predictable thing. This one comes from her 2005 release. 14. Lydia Fortune and Company - Urge For Going: Lydia has been a folk/blues/jazz singer since the early 70's. Lots of nice harmonies here, it sounds like the song "White Bird" by It's A Beautiful Day". Lydia has been a mainstay in the Worcester, Mass music scene so maybe some of you JMDLer's have heard her before. 15. Generations - All I Want: The other track from this CD, Holly sings and plays dulcimer with her Mom on guitar. Nice job too on both counts. Just goes to prove that not all kids reject their Joni upbringing. 16. Catherine Hickland - - Both Sides Now: From a benefit CD featuring songs sung by Soap Opera stars. Catherine is a star on One Life To Live. This recording is pretty annoying. It's multi-tracked, but most of the tracks are singing melody, as if she didn't have enough confidence in her voice to just sing it outright but rather preferred to have several layers. That's probably a little harsh, she does do lots of harmonies...still...annoying. Maybe you'll think differently. 17. Chantry Parrish - California: hee hee hee...probably my fave track on the CD. Probably the only Joni cover ever to start out with "me love you long time". If Ben Folds did a Joni cover it would sound like this, wonderful playful piano pop, harmonies and many other elements. Not for the purists but definitely my cup of tea. 18. Lili Meyer - Chelsea Morning: Proving that Joni didn't actually write the song, this track comes from a 1932 Ziegfield's Follies show. Not really, I just made that up, but it sounds like it could have, doesn't it? Don't know much about Lili except that she went to North Toronto Collegiate Institute. 19. Keren Ann - Big Yellow Taxi: A nice recording from a 2003 live show, singer-songwriter Keren Ann plays and sings a crowd-pleasing BYT with some nice slide work thrown into the mix as well. 20. The Minstrels Of Troy - Both Sides Now: From 1970, The Minstrels were an offshoot of the Catalina High School Concert Choir. While this seems cheesy at first, the arrangement is very unique - they work some really interesting harmonic things in here, not always going where I was expecting them, and the samba style guitar is cool as well. And once again, we come (and always too soon) to the end of another edition of the longest running tribute series in show business. Twelve times more volumes that Harry Potter! Hope you dig it, and if you don't - stay tuned and in a month we'll bring out another debutante for their introduction into Joni society. And look for another in our retro series coming up in a couple of weeks. Yours truly in Joni Covers, Bob NP: Ben Folds, "Air" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 10:59:22 EST From: RoseMJoy@aol.com Subject: Happy New Year's njc To Joni and all her Joniphiles here... I hope 2007 is the best year ever..... rocked the New Year in with my our beloved Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes....It's become a tradition for me Jukebox set not delivered in time for the show...can't hardly wait for it. best, rosie in nj xxoo ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 10:13:28 -0800 From: birdie Subject: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro Hi There, I heard a BBC Radio 2 tribute programme about Laura Nyro - produced by Vicki Wickham - and found it to be rather revealing that friends and producers ( It may be still in their archives) made rather disparaging remarks about Laura - as she used to hear colours and in the studio would say to producers things like "it needs to be more...." and she would say a colour. They all - judging from the interviews - thought she was nuts and/or really eccentric....and talked about it in this gossipy sort of way. What a poorly researched radio "tribute" - OBVIOUSLY - Laura was a synesthete. I contacted her son, Gil, about this cos it's very important information, can be hereditary, and Synesthetes really shouldn't do drugs - like LSD - cos it pushes it into overdrive. Laura was famous for not handling drugs well. Anyway.... Hopefully, if anyone else does a "tribute" to Laura - it really will be one - and - people who LOVED her can discuss the fact that she heard colours, and Synesthesia. Rather than, she heard colours and snickering over it. I so wish she was alive to share the information with her, as no doubt, she would have found it very valuable and interesting. Clearly, she went through life not knowing and/or at least her friends and co-workers sure didn't figure it out! Hello! Birdie >------------------------------ > >Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:37:14 +0000 >From: "Sherelle Smith" >Subject: Re: Synesthesia article > >Thank you for this article Rick. I brought up a childhood experience of mine >here a few years ago and one of my dear Joni amigos was pretty sure it was >synesthesia. It turns out that it was. I am a color-music what they call >"syn" and I have been networking with other synesthetes ever since. What was >explained to me by experts in the field that are part of this syn network is >that synesthesia is a joining of the senses. When we are all babies, the >nerve endings in our brain are conjoined so in a sense, we are all born >synesthetes. As the baby grows and matures the connections die and form the >five senses we know of. So it's very possible that Joni could have >synesthesia. I have to say I've never seen this article but I will pass it >on. I'm sure the professors that are a part of the synesthesia network may >be already aware of it. Thanks again Rick. > >Sherelle > >Rick wrote: > >Here9s an interesting article about synesthesia: http://www.tiny.cc/KvJhG >Joni may have it, but according to the article, we all do to some extent, >but just can9t access the sensations. > >Rick ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 13:37:09 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" Subject: "Love" by the Beatles and the Martins, njc In the Anthology video, McCartney talked about a Beach Boys influence in Sgt. Pepper. I never heard it unless you count the production layers (as opposed to the skiffle era.) I've listened to "Love" several times and in "Because", I hear the influence of the Beach Boys. The intervals sound like Brian was assigning parts. I wonder what would have happened if Brian Wilson had had different voices to work with. (Have you guys heard a school choir tackle "Good Vibrations"?) Thinking about rock band which attempt harmonies, I think maybe the Beatles were the best. Some bands had some bad days but I haven't heard a recording where the Beatles were flat. Gees, those guys were the best of the best in many ways, yet it sounds trite to say they are the best rock band of my generation. In the new year, I'm thinking less and listening to music (in the foreground) an hour a day. Jim L. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 10:40:41 -0800 (PST) From: Em Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Hi, I'm just finishing up a biography of Laura Nyro. I'm fairly smitten, and Im wanting to get into her music. or *try* to - not sure I can penetrate. (I have literally NO Laura Nyro music in my collection, so if someone can recommend a jumping off point that would be cool) I guess the difficulty working with a person who thinks of music in terms of visual things is just part of the deal - goes with the territory. Would have been nice for her to find a semi-permanent band that accepted her that way. From what I'm reading, having to put studio crews together to get a job done was probably not the best thing. Lots of compromise. She resisted the compromise quite a bit but still there was compromise. I like when she told one guy she wanted his instrument (whatever it was) to sound like an old cane chair. hehehhhhhh...that tickled me. From what I'm reading I sure wish I could have known her. I'm thinking the synesthesia was not a problem *to her* though, except in communicating with others. Since she came from a family with painters in it and was raised around alot of visual art. I can imagine it would be exhilirating. Sooooooo much turbulent indigo...so little time. ooops, wrong songwriter. lol Em PS Hi Gary, (if you are listening) have been thinking about you while reading this.... - --- birdie wrote: > Hi There, > > I heard a BBC Radio 2 tribute programme about Laura Nyro - produced > by > Vicki Wickham - and found it to be rather revealing that friends and > producers ( It may be still in their archives) made rather > disparaging > remarks about Laura - as she used to hear colours and in the studio > would say to producers things like "it needs to be more...." and she > would say a colour. They all - judging from the interviews - thought > she > was nuts and/or really eccentric....and talked about it in this > gossipy > sort of way. What a poorly researched radio "tribute" - OBVIOUSLY - > Laura was a synesthete. I contacted her son, Gil, about this cos it's > > very important information, can be hereditary, and Synesthetes > really > shouldn't do drugs - like LSD - cos it pushes it into overdrive. > Laura > was famous for not handling drugs well. Anyway.... Hopefully, if > anyone > else does a "tribute" to Laura - it really will be one - and - people > > who LOVED her can discuss the fact that she heard colours, and > Synesthesia. Rather than, she heard colours and snickering over it. > I > so wish she was alive to share the information with her, as no doubt, > > she would have found it very valuable and interesting. Clearly, she > went through life not knowing and/or at least her friends and > co-workers > sure didn't figure it out! Hello! Birdie > > >------------------------------ > > > >Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:37:14 +0000 > >From: "Sherelle Smith" > >Subject: Re: Synesthesia article > > > >Thank you for this article Rick. I brought up a childhood experience > of mine > >here a few years ago and one of my dear Joni amigos was pretty sure > it was > >synesthesia. It turns out that it was. I am a color-music what they > call > >"syn" and I have been networking with other synesthetes ever since. > What was > >explained to me by experts in the field that are part of this syn > network is > >that synesthesia is a joining of the senses. When we are all babies, > the > >nerve endings in our brain are conjoined so in a sense, we are all > born > >synesthetes. As the baby grows and matures the connections die and > form the > >five senses we know of. So it's very possible that Joni could have > >synesthesia. I have to say I've never seen this article but I will > pass it > >on. I'm sure the professors that are a part of the synesthesia > network may > >be already aware of it. Thanks again Rick. > > > >Sherelle > > > >Rick wrote: > > > >Here9s an interesting article about synesthesia: > http://www.tiny.cc/KvJhG > >Joni may have it, but according to the article, we all do to some > extent, > >but just can9t access the sensations. > > > >Rick > "http://www.cafepress.com/pitbull_shirts" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 12:09:19 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Flaherty Subject: Re: Best of 2006 Here's mine: 1. Tom Waits: Orphans 2. Rosanne Cash: Black Cadillac 3. Tom Verlaine: around 4. Damien Rice: 9 5. Adrian Belew: Side 3 6. John McLaughlin: Industrial Zen 7. Tool: 10,000 Days 8. Sonic Youth: Rather Ripped and Melbourne Direct 9. T Bone Burnett: The True False Identity 10. Jeff Beck: Official Bootleg Only two of the above artists debuted before 1970, btw. ;) Michael Flaherty Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 15:17:06 EST From: RoseMJoy@aol.com Subject: Light of Day Foundation goes to Italy & Jesse Malin njc Awesome video clips of thier performances ....Light of Day, NJ songwriters in the round for the Italian Parkinson's Foundation. An Acoustic night of Rock, December 9, 2006. Give these guys a round of applause....Willie Nile, Jesse Malin, Joe D'Urso and Lorenzo Semplini, Some of you will remember Jesse Malin from the Joni Tribute at Carnegie Hall... enjoy the show _http://www.marte-webtv.net/lightofday/lod06/lod06mov.htm_ (http://www.marte-webtv.net/lightofday/lod06/lod06mov.htm) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 13:18:02 -0700 From: Bruce Eggleston Subject: Re: Best of List 2006 njc In no particular order: 1. Josh Ritter - The Animal Years, Idaho boy makes good, very good, this is one for the ages. 2. Paul Simon - Surprise, more classic songs form Mr. Simon, some good treatments with Brian Eno, some not so good where the songs is better than the arrangement. 3. Mark Knophler and Emmylou Harris - All the Road Running, a pairing made in rock 'n' roll heaven, songs for aging children and lovers, too. 4. Neil Young - Heart of Gold, a movie by Jonathan Demme, Neil fighting off death and depression with consumate style and artisianship, a highlight in a career of visonary work. I stand in total awe of this man's art and spirit. The new material is great and the performancs of his older works take on a glow and shine that only life and love can give to fine art. 5. Neil Young - Living With War, see above. Neil lays it down for all to see. Keep the faith, babe. 6. The Beatles - Love, sounds like what might have been in their heads to start with, without the technical ability to get it on tape. 7. Bob Dylan - Modern Times, What's that? Another great work from Bob, what else! These are prime compositions from the master. Thanks again, Mr. Dylan. 8. Rory Block - The Lady and Mr. Johnson, Rory meets the master head-on, a love affair consumated by four hands one mind and two hearts beating together. 9. KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope, don't have the album, but saw her on Austin Gity Limits, and I'm sure the album is wonderful. 10. Sufjan Stevens - Avalanche, owe this to my 22 year old son, smart boy! Mr. Stevens deserves some kind of award for yet again re- inventing what can be done with an acoustic guitar, great talent in song writing and the pop/folk song format. Bonneville Bruce Wishing you all a loving and peaceful New Year from the Sunnyslope, Idaho. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 13:21:32 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Best of List 2006 njc <10. Sufjan Stevens - Avalanche, owe this to my 22 year old son, smart boy! Mr. Stevens deserves some kind of award for yet again re- inventing what can be done with an acoustic guitar, great talent in song writing and the pop/folk song format.> And I'm sure you're aware that these were bonus, leftover and alternate tracks from his 2005 tour de force (Come On Feel The) Illinoise. If you haven't heard it, borrow it from your son or persuade him to pick it up & share it with you. It was the other way 'round for me - I picked up on him and my 20-year old picked him up from me, and passed it around all over his college campus. I can practically hear his cover of "Free Man In Paris" in my head, which likely means that it will be something totally different. Bob NP: The Chi-Lites, "Oh Girl" Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 13:28:50 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Hi there Em - - hope the new year is treating you right thus far. I was a minor Laura fan when I joined the JMDL and with the help of all the Laura talk we've had I've become a major fan. A good starting point would be: 1. New York Tendaberry 2. Christmas & The Beads Of Sweat These are, imo, her true total masterpieces. After you get your good fill of those, you can dig in for more and discover that it's all pretty dang good. Bob NP: Living Colour, "Solace Of You" Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 14:31:01 -0800 (PST) From: Norma Jean Garza Subject: Re: Best of List 2007 Last night, I experienced the most splendid isolation, under the mantle of the illuminating moon, as if some surrealist painted the new year blue, blue sky. It was my heart, soul and mind entwined with that of Joni's and Ry's in a special place named Chavez Ravine. The songs on Ry Cooder's Chavez Ravine are absolutely beautiful. Sounds from all over the place in paramount colors played for me as I welcomed in the new year. On new year's eve, I even found myself a red t-shirt at the Gap with Chavez Ravine written on it. I thought that was a sweet coincidence...Jung would have called it synchronicity. So, to be even more synchronized, I changed t-shirts over to my Joni t-shirt where she's carrying her nice kitty-kitty, which I purchased in Vancouver. Overall, it was truly the best New Year I ever had with Joni, Ry and me carrying up our heavy load on the road up to Calvary. For me, there's no other way. NJ PS Next New Year, I'll be playing Joni's latest release all night long. I CAN'T WAIT!!! Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 14:40:28 -0800 (PST) From: Norma Jean Garza Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC The phrase which has stuck in my mind for so many years has been that of Laura Nyro's, which appeared on her Christmas and The Beads of Sweat. It goes, like this--"The sins of politics and the politics of sin." To me, that sums it all. I've also often wondered, if she was making a reference to Christ with the name of the album. "Beads of sweat,". to me, sounds also like "beads of blood," especiallyt after the word, "Christmas." I don't know. She was Jewish. I've always enjoyed her music. NJ Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 14:51:12 -0800 (PST) From: Norma Jean Garza Subject: Re: Saddam Hussein Executed for War Crimes NJC Bad, ugly news with serious consequences. This is a world where the leaders are acting and reacting like absolute dopes and fiends. It's so sad and sickening. I recently saw the documentary about Enron. Scam artists of the first degree and so many billions of dollars in ties with the Bush family! No thanks, I'll make my own hike and hejira with Joni to a place nobody knows...and that's my refuge! Norma Jean - --- gene wrote: > they hanged saddam. iraq people are still poor and > w/o basic living > conditions. they are still fighting, iraqs are > dying americans too. middle > east in turmoil and chaos. we have spent gazillion > dollars that could have > been spent here in america. > you feel any safer????? > > happy new year, gene > > "let bygones be bygones, have fun everyday of your > life, love your fellow > man, and never lose your self respect" > august gibbs, texan > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 10:21 PM > Subject: Re: Saddam Hussein Executed for War Crimes > NJC > > > > Maybe I felt sad because his death won't > >> change a damn thing. > >> > > > > > > Change is inevitable. Life isn't static. Things > are changing all the > > time. People were celebrating in the streets. > Many who were afraid fear > > no longer. > > > > Undoubtedly something good will come from all that > has transpired. There > > is always hope. If not, then what's the point of > even living. > > > > I am not from Iraq and have never been there so I > can not only observe > > from afar but if I was one of the people who's > families have been killed > > and tortured then I think I might feel a sense of > closure. > > > > Maybe there will be less resistance to the new > government. Who can say? > > > > In any case, I hope things do improve for the > people of Iraq. Whether or > > not this war should have ever begun is irrelevant > now. We can't go back > > in time and change things. We can only hope that > things get better in the > > present and future. > > > > Victor > > > > !DSPAM:144,459758cb239661768413727! Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 15:17:48 -0800 (PST) From: Em Subject: Re: Saddam Hussein Executed for War Crimes NJC hi Norma Jean, and all....if I may wish something for us all this year, or at least for all who want this: is that our brains not writhe and struggle and squirm like Jim Morrison's toad, over too much hideous political stuff. I feel brain damaged from last year. Glad you have your "refuge", Norma. May we all find one. peace to all, Em - --- Norma Jean Garza wrote: > Bad, ugly news with serious consequences. This is a > world where the leaders are acting and reacting like > absolute dopes and fiends. It's so sad and sickening. > I recently saw the documentary about Enron. Scam > artists of the first degree and so many billions of > dollars in ties with the Bush family! No thanks, I'll > make my own hike and hejira with Joni to a place > nobody knows...and that's my refuge! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 22:54:20 +0000 (UTC) From: "anne@sandstrom.com" Subject: re: Saddam Hussein's hanging (njc) Well, I have to say that I don't weep for Saddam. But I do weep for humanity. I wonder if history will see this as the dark time I think it is, what with beheadings previously, and now the hanging of a former head of state making the rounds on the internet. On one hand, I understand that the sharia code of justice pretty much required that Saddam Hussein be hanged. And, yet, this death was much creepier than when, say, Timothy McVeigh was put to death by lethal injection. Maybe that's the point? Hoping that we can all find just a little more love in our hearts to light these dark days of winter. lots of love ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:28:37 -0500 From: Doug Subject: RE: Perpetual Joni Covers Train: Volumes 71-83 of JM Covers Thanks to Rob Argento, I received this set of 15 discs. They're already on their way to Jill Haas jillah@msn.com in WA. Doug > > >> In order to enable latecomers to the list or new traders have a >> chance of listening to Bob Muller's incredible compilation of covers >> of Joni's songs here is the latest round of the Perpetual Joni Covers >> Train. Volumes 71 - 83 (taking you right up to this month's release). >> >> These are uncompressed WAV files for those who care about such things -- >> they are not the MP3 versions. >> >> For those not familiar with trading trains, here is how they work: >> When the disks come to you, you make copies of as much of the >> contents as you want, and then you post back to >> this list offering to pass the disks along to the next person. You do not >> keep the originals -- you keep the copies you made for yourself. On most >> trains, the convention is that you make the copies and send the masters >> along within two days. For these trains, you must agree to turn them >> around >> within two weeks. Sometimes the offer goes unclaimed. Bob and I expect >> that >> to happen from time to time. So, by participating, you agree to just hang >> on to the disks and then make another offer a month or so later (or to >> respond if somebody posts a grovel looking for them). In theory, if >> everybody takes good care of the disks, wrapping them well, not letting >> them >> get scratched, etc. and passes them along, these covers will run on the >> tracks for years. Nobody is going to monitor the progress of these trains >> so if you participate and then lose the disks or fail to reoffer them, you >> will have kept others from enjoying them. When you post an offer, please >> include these "rules". One final note, I know a few folks like to >> compress >> these >> into MP3s. If you want to, go ahead but please do not send MP3s to the >> next >> person - MP3s permanently delete some of the "data" and sound >> quality degrades so please pass the masters along. >> >> So, anybody who would like to receive volumes 71-83, please send me: >> 1. Your mailing address and >> 2. Your promise to reoffer, etc. >> >> Enjoy and happy holidays, Eric >> >> >> P.S. If you are sitting on any of the earlier rounds, please offer them >> up >> again as its been a while and new folks might be interested. Thanks ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 18:20:16 -0500 (EST) From: "Gerald A. Notaro" Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Gonna Take a Miracle is a MUST. One of the most underrated recordings of its time. Jerry Bob Muller wrote: > I was a minor Laura fan > when I joined the JMDL and with the help of all the Laura talk we've had > I've > become a major fan. A good starting point would be: > > 1. New York Tendaberry > 2. > Christmas & The Beads Of Sweat > > These are, imo, her true total masterpieces. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 18:03:17 -0800 (PST) From: Norma Jean Garza Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Gonna Take a Miracle is so very nice. Patti Labelle sings with her. It has a she-bop do-wop bop till you drop soulful sound. - --- "Gerald A. Notaro" wrote: > Gonna Take a Miracle is a MUST. One of the most > underrated recordings of > its time. > > Jerry > ~ Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 23:00:36 -0500 From: "Richard Flynn" Subject: RE: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC These are all great (and, yes, Miracle is a must). But I will listen to Eli and the Thirteenth Confession over and over and over any time. Buy her whole catalogue, I say. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Gerald A. Notaro Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 6:20 PM To: Bob Muller Cc: Em; joni@smoe.org Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Gonna Take a Miracle is a MUST. One of the most underrated recordings of its time. Jerry Bob Muller wrote: > I was a minor Laura fan > when I joined the JMDL and with the help of all the Laura talk we've had > I've > become a major fan. A good starting point would be: > > 1. New York Tendaberry > 2. > Christmas & The Beads Of Sweat > > These are, imo, her true total masterpieces. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 23:20:02 -0500 From: Gary Z Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Hi Em and all, It was very sweet of you to think of me. There was a program on televsion on synesthesia, that I mentioned to the list awhile back. The word always reminds me of Laura Nyro. I definitely believe that Laura had synesthesia. It was also talked about it a bit as well in the story done about her for Life Magazine (1970, I believe) where she was coined "The Funky Madonna of New York Soul." I remember reading way back then about her hearing in colors and textures, etc. I was attracted to her voice before I ever knew who she was. The first song I ever heard was on a local FM radio station here in Detroit and they played her version of "Sweet Blindness." I don't know that I had ever paid any attention to the Fifth Dimension's version, or even equated the two. When I heard those first piano chords I fell in love. Then the voice came..... You either can't handle it at all....or you love it. And either way is O.K. I don't think that Laura is meant for everyone's taste. I think we all understand that if we love Joni, right? "New York Tendaberry" will always be my favorite Laura Nyro recording. And the two Captain songs, "Captain for Dark Mornings" and "Captain St. Lucifer." are probably my favorite Nyro songs. It wasn't my jumping off point, though it could be yours. I can tell you that as you get into her music, you will probably recognize many songs you already know, but hadn't realized she had written. Her own recordings of these songs are gritty, sweet, soulful and a roller coaster ride for the senses (our little taste of synesthesia?). Some people will argue that "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" is her pinnacle album, and many of her well-known songs appear on that one - "Sweet Blindness," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Eli's Coming," and what some call one of the first (perhaps) lesbian-themed love songs, called "Emmie." I don't believe Laura Nyro ever did a concert where she didn't perform that song. "Tendaberry" gives us "Time and Love" and "Save the Country" but more of her "hits" were on her first studio album originally titled "More Than A New Discovery," then "Laura Nyro" (on Verve) and eventually bought by Columbia and released as "The First Songs." Here we find early gems like "Wedding Bell Blues," "Blowin' Away," "Flim Flam Man," "Stoney End," "I Never Meant to Hurt You," "He's A Runner," and "And When I Die." The only sad part is that Laura didn't have much chance to use her own production talents on that first recording. Many of us were lucky enough to hear her do some of those old songs live in concert early in her career, and they were sometimes much different live. But most will agree that "Eli," "Tendaberry" and "Beads of Sweat" is her trilogy. I would also hasten to add that her later albums could be equally as emotionally riveting, and tasty to the ears, but they became more "earth mother" and soft, as well as pointedly feministic, (in my own humble opinion) leaving her wild abandon to her early recordings. "Smile," "Nested," and "Mother's Spiritual" should be noted although regretfully, "Nested" and "Mother's Spiritual" were available only for a short time on a Japanese release CD. There are a few great live recordings around as well and a few more recordings I haven't mentioned. Nyrotics (Nyro fans) most likely have snagged these, but some are still patiently waiting for Sony/Columbia to finally give us the rest of Laura's music, as well as more yet unreleased material. There are early plans in the making for a Laura Nyro film/documentary to be made. Video footage of her is rather rare, so if anyone out there has something, I believe the producers might be interested. I think much of her material is available on Itunes, and there is also a great movie called "A Home At the End of the World" with Sissy Spacek. They use two of Laura's recordings from "Gonna Take A Miracle," with Labelle - namely "Desiree" and "Gonna Take A Miracle." It should be noted that Laura did not write any of the songs on "Gonna Take A Miracle." It was a tribute album to her "primal youth" and remniscent if I recall correctly of her early days of singing in the subway stations with her buddies. She loved the doo-wop and girl groups of the late fifties and early sixties. I met Laura briefly at the airport once. I was a crazy kid, and when she would come to town I would drive to the airport, and start running from plane to plane on the day of each time she played here in Detroit, hoping to catch all flights from New York, just in case. This time I got lucky. I had a rose in a box for her. She literally floated off the plane with an escort and I meekly approached with my rose. I'm sure I gushed, and she slowly extended her hand for me to grasp, which I did, and I handed her the rose box. As she was walking away, I saw the man say something to her, and she giggled, then she popped him on the head with the rose box. Later that night at the show, she was ill and did only a 45 minute set before leaving the stage. She returned a few months later (I missed the plane) to the same venue at her own expense and gave us all a show for free. And it was the best show I ever saw. It was the only time I ever heard her do a couple of those subway tunes that she hadn't written, like "Gypsy Woman," "You Beat Me to the Punch," and "He's Sure the Boy Boy I Love." Those never made it to the "Gonna Take a Miracle" album. Anyway, enjoy your trip - sorry for rambling. I only post every five years anyway, :-) so forgive me chatting about the "other woman." I'll never choose Joni or Laura over the other....they are the two who have enriched my love for life and music the most. And I wouldn't change it for the world. Happy New Year and much love to you all - Gary Z. Detroit Em wrote: >Hi, I'm just finishing up a biography of Laura Nyro. I'm fairly >smitten, and Im wanting to get into her music. or *try* to - not sure I >can penetrate. >(I have literally NO Laura Nyro music in my collection, so if someone >can recommend a jumping off point that would be cool) >I guess the difficulty working with a person who thinks of music in >terms of visual things is just part of the deal - goes with the >territory. >Would have been nice for her to find a semi-permanent band that >accepted her that way. >>From what I'm reading, having to put studio crews together to get a job >done was probably not the best thing. Lots of compromise. She resisted >the compromise quite a bit but still there was compromise. >I like when she told one guy she wanted his instrument (whatever it >was) to sound like an old cane chair. >hehehhhhhh...that tickled me. >>From what I'm reading I sure wish I could have known her. >I'm thinking the synesthesia was not a problem *to her* though, except >in communicating with others. Since she came from a family with >painters in it and was raised around alot of visual art. >I can imagine it would be exhilirating. >Sooooooo much turbulent indigo...so little time. >ooops, wrong songwriter. >lol >Em >PS Hi Gary, (if you are listening) have been thinking about you while >reading this.... > >--- birdie wrote: > > > >>Hi There, >> >>I heard a BBC Radio 2 tribute programme about Laura Nyro - produced >>by >>Vicki Wickham - and found it to be rather revealing that friends and >>producers ( It may be still in their archives) made rather >>disparaging >>remarks about Laura - as she used to hear colours and in the studio >>would say to producers things like "it needs to be more...." and she >>would say a colour. They all - judging from the interviews - thought >>she >>was nuts and/or really eccentric....and talked about it in this >>gossipy >>sort of way. What a poorly researched radio "tribute" - OBVIOUSLY - >>Laura was a synesthete. I contacted her son, Gil, about this cos it's >> >>very important information, can be hereditary, and Synesthetes >>really >>shouldn't do drugs - like LSD - cos it pushes it into overdrive. >>Laura >>was famous for not handling drugs well. Anyway.... Hopefully, if >>anyone >>else does a "tribute" to Laura - it really will be one - and - people >> >>who LOVED her can discuss the fact that she heard colours, and >>Synesthesia. Rather than, she heard colours and snickering over it. >> I >>so wish she was alive to share the information with her, as no doubt, >> >>she would have found it very valuable and interesting. Clearly, she >>went through life not knowing and/or at least her friends and >>co-workers >>sure didn't figure it out! Hello! Birdie >> >> >> >>>------------------------------ >>> >>>Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 02:37:14 +0000 >>>From: "Sherelle Smith" >>>Subject: Re: Synesthesia article >>> >>>Thank you for this article Rick. I brought up a childhood experience >>> >>> >>of mine >> >> >>>here a few years ago and one of my dear Joni amigos was pretty sure >>> >>> >>it was >> >> >>>synesthesia. It turns out that it was. I am a color-music what they >>> >>> >>call >> >> >>>"syn" and I have been networking with other synesthetes ever since. >>> >>> >>What was >> >> >>>explained to me by experts in the field that are part of this syn >>> >>> >>network is >> >> >>>that synesthesia is a joining of the senses. When we are all babies, >>> >>> >>the >> >> >>>nerve endings in our brain are conjoined so in a sense, we are all >>> >>> >>born >> >> >>>synesthetes. As the baby grows and matures the connections die and >>> >>> >>form the >> >> >>>five senses we know of. So it's very possible that Joni could have >>>synesthesia. I have to say I've never seen this article but I will >>> >>> >>pass it >> >> >>>on. I'm sure the professors that are a part of the synesthesia >>> >>> >>network may >> >> >>>be already aware of it. Thanks again Rick. >>> >>>Sherelle >>> >>>Rick wrote: >>> >>>Here9s an interesting article about synesthesia: >>> >>> >>http://www.tiny.cc/KvJhG >> >> >>>Joni may have it, but according to the article, we all do to some >>> >>> >>extent, >> >> >>>but just can9t access the sensations. >>> >>>Rick >>> >>> > >"http://www.cafepress.com/pitbull_shirts" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 23:39:10 -0500 From: Gary Z Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC After checking my Laura Nyro CDs, I should point out that "Nested" SRCS 6324 was a Sony Records Japanese release and "Mother's Spiritual" CLCD9.00924 O was a Coline/Line release from Western Germany. Best, Gary Z. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:40:24 -0800 From: birdie Subject: Re: Synesthesia & Laura Nyro NJC Gary Z wrote: > Hi Em and all, > > It was very sweet of you to think of me. There was a program on > televsion on synesthesia, that I mentioned to the list awhile back. > The word always reminds me of Laura Nyro. > > I definitely believe that Laura had synesthesia. There is a great NPR "Fresh Air" program about it - that is focused on a woman pianist/composer - it goes on to say how it tends to afflict, musical genuises. No surprise, there.....but someone should inform BBC Radio 2, before they produce any more docu's on artists who clearly were/are wired that way - so, they don't have clueless friends or co-workers on, of said musical genius, making fun of them, etc. If I come across the link, I'll post it. Last but not least, I gotta say, that this list, far exceeds in intelligence and sheer fabulousness, docus, etc found on what once were considered the top notch media outlets!!! I hope the upcoming docu film on Laura, explores this aspect in a more mature insightful way - than what we have seen and we hear more of Laura on the subject. Cheers Birdie ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2006 #498 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------