From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V3 #170 Reply-To: mad-mission@smoe.org Sender: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * mad-mission-digest-request@smoe.org * with ONLY the word unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Patty's tour dates, go to: * http://www.spectra.net/~ducksoup/pattyg/patttyg.htm * OR * go to http://www.amrecords.com * then click "tour" and fill in the blanks :) * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: mad-mission-digest V3 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. mad-mission-digest Monday, June 7 1999 Volume 03 : Number 170 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: MM: Re: Dixie Chicks to cover Patty [JohnRN24@aol.com] Re: MM: covers [JohnRN24@aol.com] Re: MM: Dixie Chicks [Kare610@aol.com] MM: Covering Patty's songs. [Rongrittz@aol.com] MM: Re: Covering Patty's songs -- $.02 more ["Amy Silver" > And there's precedence here . . . while it didn't make her famous, the fact that relatively unknown folkie Cheryl Wheeler had her songs "Addicted" and "Aces" become #1 country hits for Dan Seals and Suzy Boguss, respectively, increased her awareness among OTHER singers, to the point where Kathy Mattea became interested enough to cover "Further and Further Away" and for Bette Midler to cover "I Know This Town." What's more, there IS public recognition for songwriters, and it's called the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, which is given to the writer, not the performer. Wouldn't THAT be a boost in Patty's career if the song became really big? And hey, the Dixie Chicks are not just some big-haired bimbo-machine. They ARE talented musicians, so, like lots of you have been saying, there's NO way this can be a bad thing. RG ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 12:01:17 -0000 From: "Amy Silver" Subject: MM: Re: Covering Patty's songs -- $.02 more ...I agree with everybody who pointed out the many ways it's a good thing for these mega-selling artists to cover a Patty song, and happy birthday Paul -- you're funny -- and just have one thought to add. I too am a songwriter (hi Mimi and all you other writers who I know are out there on this list), pitching songs through my Nashville publisher to country artists. (I turned the "song plugger," the guy who actually does the "pitching," on to Patty, by the way, and he loves her.) Like many other writers for whom artists like Patty (and Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle, to name a few that are currently enjoying some success) are sources of inspiration, I dream of writing a GREAT song that is also a commercial success. My added point is that this turn of events is also really good for country music and for Nashville. The market for country music is shrinking right now, not least because of the mindless, soulless drivel that's on the radio. It hasn't always been like that, and one response of the industry to the periodic downturns caused by too much money in too few people's hands has always been to go outside, stop being so insular, look what's out there in the big wide world that's exciting and creative and different, and that moves people. So I'm very happy for the Chicks and Martina that they found Patty -- who don't forget recorded FR in Nashville, with a bunch of Nashville "alternative country" insiders -- and are able to include some really great songs on their albums that also may have commercial potential. It's good for writers like me who are trying to write authentic, heartfelt, edgy stuff, and are constantly told "it's not radio-friendly," even though people love it and fewer and fewer people like what's on country radio. And it's GREAT for the people who LISTEN to the radio, and who might learn something about great songs, even if they don't learn about who Patty Griffin is per se. And that's something I'm sure Patty would be thrilled about even if it weren't for the money. I'm sure she would welcome success, and money, and recognition. But I'm also sure that, as Josh Shenk pointed out the other day, "If a song like "Tony" or "Moses" or any of her other gems opens our hearts to beauty, suffering, and love (in ourselves and/or in others), that's what she wants." (Beautifully said, Josh, I'm glad I took the opportunity to quote you.) That's her real commitment. It's about the songs and what they make people feel, no matter who sings them. In a weird way, those songs don't really "belong" to her either (except, of course, monetarily speaking). She was the conduit through which they were given to us. The songs will find their own way, and they will exist long after we, and Patty, are gone. And now I'm going all mushy and mystical, and I apologize, except I know you guys are all mushy and mystical about Patty, so let's just snap out of it, I'm going kayaking. Love Amy ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 21:44:52 -0700 From: "Victoria Chenevey" Subject: MM: Re: Covering Patty's songs. I'm not sure how I feel about other's covering Patty's songs, but I've got a couple questions (not being in *the biz*): 1) Can someone cover Patty's song without her permission? Are her songs owned by her record company and therefore they decide who can record them? Doesn't Patty *sell* her songs, and/or receive royalties when someone else records them? 2) Remember the song "Torn" that was played to death on the radio, on TV, on movie soundtracks? It was recorded by Natalie Imbruglio, but I remember hearing a version by an LA-area (I think) band that recorded it before her. I don't know who wrote it, but I liked the less-well-known version much better, and I think someone in that band was the songwriter. As popular as that song was, does the general listening public know who wrote it? I don't, and I'm not sure if someone else covering Patty's song will bring Patty fame either, maybe just money in her pocket. I can't believe, being the Patty-bigot that I am :), that I'll like the *other* versions better than hers, but if Patty permits someone to cover her songs, well, then, that's fine with me. Vickie ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V3 #170 *********************************