From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #384 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 Friday, March 9 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 384 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- RE: Springsteen [Em ] RE: BYT and Bruce ["Robert Sartorius" ] RE: Message from JM Contact Us page [Susan Tierney McNamara ] Re: Springsteen, njc [Catherine McKay ] RE: Message from JM Contact Us page [Bob.Muller@Fluor.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 08:44:35 -0800 (PST) From: Em Subject: RE: Springsteen If Roy Orbison had a baby with Woody Guthrie you might get Bruce Springsteen. (cute bro for Arlo, right?) Em - --- On Thu, 3/8/12, Susan Tierney McNamara wrote: From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: Springsteen To: "Corey Blake" , "Bob.Muller@Fluor.com" Cc: "gerard mclaughlin" , "joni@smoe.org" , "Sharon Watkins" Date: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 11:34 AM I think the Boss' most obvious influence is Roy Orbison. He gets Roy's emotion, for sure. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 09:11:49 -0500 From: "Robert Sartorius" Subject: RE: BYT and Bruce Bob M suggested: "Wikipedia also has some good info regarding the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Yellow_Taxi#Mitchell.27s_composition_and_re cording" Not as much as Sue's, IMO, but I think the entry suggesting the police cars in Toronto is out of the blue, IMO. In NYC (and some other cities, I dare say), the cabs are all yellow. At the time the song was written (late 60's, I believe, but I guess 1970 is possible), the "big" yellow taxis were made by Checker (that's the image I have in my head). And, were called "Checker Cabs" (and, had checkered patterns on their sides). DDT is banned as an agricultural pesticide (except in North Korea and India), and has been for many years. However, it continues to be used to control diseases spread by mosquitos and certain other insects, since it is the most effective agent by far and is critical in limiting the incidence of malaria and various other diseases in those countries most affected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT I have never "connected" with Bruce's music, but I agree that you have to admire his hard (and quality) work over a long period of time. Bob M's description of his concert performances is, if anything, understated. And, he is famous for his "drop-in" appearances at local venues in Asbury Park and other NJ shore points, whence he hails. I have always admired that (even if I don't agree with his politics and his related public posturing). He strikes me as a "mensch". Bobsart ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 16:00:45 +0000 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: Message from JM Contact Us page Hi Grant, As a researcher, the best way for me to get Joni questions answered is to search the JM.com archives. Beyond that a couple of things come to mind for me about this song: 1. Joni wrote this song when she visited Hawaii and looked out her hotel window expecting a view of paradise and ended up finding an ugly parking lot. I'm sure the line "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" was the first line that popped into her head and started the song ... 2. If you listen to Joni's early performances pre-1968, she talks about her song writing process a lot. When she wanted to write something fun or silly she would always use what she called her basic rock and roll rhythm (she says you can get away with a lot with a rock and roll rhythm!). It sounds to me like she got that first line and then proceeded to write the music ... rolling bass line, barre chord drums ... 3. My favorite JMDL line in recent posts was when Betsy said "What is DDT?" Of course, people my age not only know exactly what DDT was (a poisonous insecticide used profusely pre-1970, even by your mom in the garden), they also remember those PSA commercials with the crying Native American saying "Don't Litter." Joni was a big part of the new movement to be responsible for our environment ... another great source is her involvement in the Greenpeace Amchitka concert ... check that out if you haven't already. 4. Joni also loved the fact that Dylan not only covered BYT on his album Dylan in 1973, but also added his own verse! ... A Big Yellow Tractor come and pushed around my house, pushed around my land ... She often sings this lyric in her own later versions of BYT (usually with a dead-on impression of Dylan!). That's all I can think of right now. Good luck with your essay. Sue - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Les Irvin Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 11:29 PM To: Joni List Subject: Fwd: Message from JM Contact Us page Help an Aussie out, gang? Be sure and copy him on any responses... - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Message from JM Contact Us page Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:19:10 -0700 (MST) From: grant.dodge1@interwebwifi.com.au To: Hi, Ibm currently doing an essay on the Joni Mitchell original song bBig Yellow Taxib compared to the 2002 version by Counting Crows. I have find small amounts of information, but was wondering where the best place to find some original meaning to the song. Name: Grant Dodge email: grant.dodge1@interwebwifi.com.au ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 17:58:48 +0000 From: Garret Subject: Re: Springsteen, njc I'm another in the pro-Springsteen camp. I agree with a lot of what Bob and Catherine said. Just wanted to add my little "me too". I respect the way Corey put it: >I respect him but most of what I've heard from him is good but doesn't connect with me. I guess that's what this all comes down to. I find that he connects with me more and more these days. I don't think i know what boring chord progressions are to be honest. I am listening to Radio Nowhere now and just listened to You'll Be Coming Down and this music makes me feel good; are these examples of boring chord progressions? I adore Leonard Cohen and, especially, Patti Smith and to be honest I would think that they have pretty boring chord progression too (do they?). that's clearly not what i am looking for in music. I feel like I am being pretty simple here, but i think Springsteen's music sounds great. Catchy tunes that can stick in my mind for days (Glory Days, Thunder Road, I'm On Fire, Philadelphia, The River etc), great big band sound, quiet and thoughtful - music that can get me feeling something. GARRET NP - Bruce, Radio Nowhere On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 3:29 PM, Catherine McKay wrote: > Just want to step forward as one who does admire Mr Springsteen's work quite a > bit. I agree with those who've said he's able to capture the spirit of the > times and speak as a working man, or offer some hope to anyone going through > hard times. I think he's very much in tune with regular people and that he's > genuine. > > > The irony is that those artists that we're likely to hear are those > who've made it, as Joni has and has Springsteen has. Once they've made it, we > can presume they're rich. I'm sure Bruce Springsteen is very, very rich. But > it doesn't mean he has lost touch with his roots and that he doesn't notice > what's going on in the US, as it is throughout the world. I think his voice is > still very authentic. I've bought his new one and am enjoying it. > > Despite > talk of repetition in his chords and/or songs, I think he has been able to > present different voices and styles throughout his career, as the big > differences between rocker albums like "Born to Run" and bleak, sparse > narratives like "Nebraska" will attest. Both Springsteen, but both very > different points of view. > > > I wouldn't try to talk anyone into liking him if > he's not their cup of tea. I know there are artists that others here enjoy > that I just don't get. Maybe it comes down to what Joni calls the "awk." You > hear the voice and either like it or not and there's probably no logical > explanation for these whatsoever. And that's cool. > > He has had some > not-so-good albums, but I think even his worst is better than most. But I > don't expect everyone to agree. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 07:29:51 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Springsteen, njc Just want to step forward as one who does admire Mr Springsteen's work quite a bit. I agree with those who've said he's able to capture the spirit of the times and speak as a working man, or offer some hope to anyone going through hard times. I think he's very much in tune with regular people and that he's genuine. The irony is that those artists that we're likely to hear are those who've made it, as Joni has and has Springsteen has. Once they've made it, we can presume they're rich. I'm sure Bruce Springsteen is very, very rich. But it doesn't mean he has lost touch with his roots and that he doesn't notice what's going on in the US, as it is throughout the world. I think his voice is still very authentic. I've bought his new one and am enjoying it. Despite talk of repetition in his chords and/or songs, I think he has been able to present different voices and styles throughout his career, as the big differences between rocker albums like "Born to Run" and bleak, sparse narratives like "Nebraska" will attest. Both Springsteen, but both very different points of view. I wouldn't try to talk anyone into liking him if he's not their cup of tea. I know there are artists that others here enjoy that I just don't get. Maybe it comes down to what Joni calls the "awk." You hear the voice and either like it or not and there's probably no logical explanation for these whatsoever. And that's cool. He has had some not-so-good albums, but I think even his worst is better than most. But I don't expect everyone to agree. >________________________________ > From: Jim L'Hommedieu >To: Bob Muller ; JMDL >Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 10:43:13 PM >Subject: Springsteen, njc > >Bob Muller said in part, >>Like Joni, he had his moments when what he did coincided with the zeitgeist and he had amazing success (Born To Run, Born In The USA> > >And don't forget the improbable success of "Hungry Heart". I'm surprised that more JMDLers don't appreciate Springsteen. He's in the top tier (for me). > >I don't think it's fair to ridicule him because he's successful yet he sings about working class people. It's populist politics. Most songwriters can't step out of their own shoes yet he's done it ever since, gees, I guess it was the "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album. I think that being able to write and sing in someone else'es voice is a gift, not a liability. (Joni can do it. Dylan can do it. Steely Dan can do it. Jenny Goodspeed can do it. Who else? I think not many. That puts Jenny in good company!) > >As good as the Springsteen albums are, the live shows take it to another level. The live anthology 1975-1985 captures *dozens of the great moments. It is packed with alt arrangements too. > >I'm going to see the current tour next month in Cleveland; I can't wait. > >Jim L'Hommedieu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 12:55:54 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: RE: Message from JM Contact Us page Wikipedia also has some good info regarding the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Yellow_Taxi#Mitchell.27s_composition_and_recording Bob NP: Fleetwood Mac, "Destiny Rules" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. 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