From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2010 #36 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 Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, February 3 2010 Volume 2010 : Number 036 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- njc Re: Grammys [Michael O ] Re: Most played (njc) ["Cassy" ] Joni Covers, Volume 121 - 4 more weeks of Joni Covers! [Bob Muller Subject: njc Re: Grammys I think it's important to bear in mind that the Grammys are a institution that often recognize sales and mainstream poularity above and beyond talent and originality. I'm disappointed at how cheesy the tributes to Leonard Cohen and Neil Young were at this year's Grammys. The shortest little blips. Furthermore, Neil Young has never been honored with a Grammy. What's wrong with this picture ? Michael in Quebec _________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 11:14:01 -0800 From: "Cassy" Subject: Re: Most played (njc) New India Arie - Testimony, Vol. 2: Love & Politics Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King Leonard Cohen - Live In London Porcupine Tree - The Incident Mellencamp - Life, Death, Live And Freedom Jay Brannan - In Living Cover Imogen Heap - Ellipse Eminem - Relapse Old Alice Peacock - Alice Peacock Beck - Guero Martin Sexton - Seeds Willy Porter - Falling Forward Ian Moore - Modernday Folklore Joni - All of it ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:07:10 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Joni Covers, Volume 121 - 4 more weeks of Joni Covers! Well, the Coyote has seen his shadow, so that means we have 4 more weeks of new Joni covers - and here they are! It's Volume #121, another creation in the never-ending quest to seek, find and share the works of folks from all over the world and across the decades, all embellishing, emulating, massaging, and sometimes even abusing Joni's songs. Thanks to Paul and Mark for their help - much appreciated guys as always. Here's a link to download the set: http://tinyurl.com/yemy4qd And now, let's get to the tunes: 1. Shemekia Copeland - Black Crow: As is my fashion, I like to start out with a recording that I think really rocks. This time it's Shemekia's soulful, bluesy, jazzy take on Joni's Hejira classic. Shemekia's musical creds are legit - born in Harlem and singing in church, her father was none other than blues guitar legend Johnny Copeland. Her albums have won Handy Awards and benn nominated for Grammys, and on this her latest release she's infusing more of a nuanced jazz sound as opposed to her bluesy-gospel style. Dig it. 2. Michael Bilotta - The Tea-Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms): Michael originally recorded this as a video but then sent me the audio separately. This is a nice cover of a rarely-covered song, and it's through this cover and the Cris Williamson cover, as well as Joni's re-imagining of it on Herbie's album that I have come to better appreciate the song. Michael prides himself on selecting deep tracks and we will be hearing more from him. 3. Mary Talbot Fee - River: Mary grew up in New England and currently lives in San Diego. She's a jazz singer who can sing fluently in four languages, but she sticks with English for her Joni cover which comes from her 2009 release. A nice band backs her up, including a lovely violin. 4. Chris While - Both Sides Now: Chris hails from the UK, and was previously part of Blue Tapestry, a group that toured the area and put a live CD out of their Joni and Carole King covers. Very nice disc and hard to find now. She also plays with the Albion band who have recorded Joni covers in their own right and have ties to Fairport Convention who helped start this whole Joni cover craze. This soft Celtic-sounding version comes from Chris' 2007 solo album and is very pretty and at over 5 minutes she takes her time with it instead of rushing to the end. 5. Kathy Moser - Big Yellow Taxi: An incredible twist on BYT here, given a Jewish folky klezmer interpretation, complete with clarinet and di-di-di's, changing the melody but totally making it work. Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. 6. Milagro - Roses Blue: This 1989 is unbelievably rare. It was released on cassette only, in a very limited quantity, and Roses Blue was the only cover song on the album but was the main reason the album was recorded in the first place. It's definitely a different interpretation of the song, then again most of the RB covers wind up taking it to a different place, probably due to the mystical words and haunting melody. 7. Sarah Morrau - Woodstock: This is Sarah's 2nd time around to the wonderful world of Joni covers. She tackled the franchise on her first album in '99 and added this cover of Woodstock (a mini-franchise with over 200 covers and counting) on her latest release in 2008. It's a sparse, mostly voice and guitar with some lovely backing vocals in the mix as well. 8. Stewart and Bradley James - From Both Sides Now: This is a guitar duo instrumental from 2005. Can't tell you much about them, apparantly they do a lot of movie soundtrack work. They sound quite nice, I CAN tell you that much, trading off strums and finger-picking with one another. 9. Randy Lees - River: Randy passed away not too long after he recorded this CD in 1996. It became very hard-to-find but I eventually tracked it down. His guitar and vocal take is very plaintive and lovely. 10. Sally Barker - Real Good For Free: 11. Sally Barker - Big Yellow Taxi 12. Sally Barker - Carey 13. Sally Barker - Raised On Robbery: Sally is known as a member of The Poozies, an English all-female traditional folk band which also claims Kate Rusby as a member. 2009 saw Sally branch out to form and tour with The Joni Mitchell Project. Her goal is to pay homage to Joni's arrangements while still breathing new life into the songs. You can't quibble with her voice which is very lovely. Hopefully some of you in the UK were able to catch this show. 14. Byron Nease - Both Sides Now: A Broadway performer who made his debut as Patrick in Mame, opposite Angela Lansbury, and also starred in The Phantom as well as many other shows. He definitely sings the franchise in a theatrical stage voice and makes it another one his fine performances. 15. Tom Wopat - Two Grey Rooms: Most of us know Wopat as "Luke Duke" from "The Dukes Of Hazzard", but he was always much more of a song-and-dance man, and his theater and cabaret credits far outweigh his TV career. He's released several albums, this exquisite cover of one of Joni's most emotional and poignant songs comes from his 2009 release. He straightens it out by changing the "shirt's undone" for hair, but it's a minor hitch in an otherwise fabulous track. 16. Count Dee's Hit Explosion - Woodstock: This is from a 2008 album, Count Dee's is some combination of studio performers and musicians I'm sure who pump out soundalike musical tracks grouped together in some kind of theme. This Matthews Southern Comfort copycat track is from "One-Hit Wonders Of The 70's". As is expected, they don't bring much originality to the party. 17. Samantha Lam - The Circle Game: Samantha is Chinese, and besides contributing this track to a 2009 compilation she is an equestrian, competing for Hong Kong in the Olympics of 2008. So, besides our own Anita Gabrielle, we have at least one more individual who sings Joni songs and participates in Olympic events. Samantha's cover of TCG is pretty and features some nice musical colorations (sounds like too. 18. Lozzieplop - River: A nice gentle version of River, taken from a video that she put on YouTube. Some nice musical and vocal backing as well. 19. North Bay Boys Choir - Both Sides Now: This 1975 recording comes from a concert album from West Ferris Secondary School, North Bay, Ontario. The fellows certainly offer up a spirited version, albeit with a little cheese on top. And that brings us to the end of another run of Joni songs - hope you like them, hope you like some of them, and if you feel so moved to offer up your own opinions and thoughts on any them I'd be proud to hear them. I'll be back in a couple of weeks with another oldie-but-goodie retro volume. Bob ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2010 #36 **************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------