From: les@jmdl.com (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V1 #166 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk onlyJMDL Digest Thursday, August 26 1999 Volume 01 : Number 166 The Laborday JoniFest is happening this fall! For information: send a message to Join the mailing list at: ------- The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage is maintained by Wally Breese at http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, original interviews and essays, lyrics, and 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: -------- Fave Opening Tracks [Joseph Palis ] dolphins playing in a milk chocolate sea (SJC) [CarltonCT@aol.com] Re: M*A*S*H and Sex Kills? ["Helen M. Adcock" ] Re: for jmdl guitarists (HOSL) [Howard Wright ] Re: Opening tracks ["Jennifer L. Nodine" ] Re: [Fwd: Re: New Releases] [Jerry Notaro ] Re: Fave Opening Tracks [philipf@tinet.ie] RE: Opening tracks [Anne Rickaby ] Re: Joni in the studio was Re: for jmdl guitarists (HOSL) [Bob.Muller@flu] 8/25/69 [Steve Dulson ] Newport Folk festival? [Steve Dulson ] Re: Newport Folk festival? ["Gerald Notaro (LIB)" ] re: Opening tracks [Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com] Re: Opening tracks [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: 8/25/69 ["Kakki" ] Re: Opening tracks (again) [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: Opening tracks (again) [Don Rowe ] Back home at last, and JONIFEST PARTY-GOERS! [Ashara@aol.com] Plug Of The Week #33 ["Peter Holmstedt" ] RE: Opening Tracks ["John Low" ] Joni and Dave Matthews [Mark Domyancich ] Where I was when... [Valerie Richardson ] Re: Where I was when... [Scott Price ] Re: Opening tracks ["Mark or Travis" ] Re: Opening tracks [catman ] Re: JMDL Digest V4 #368 [Violet6964@aol.com] RE: Where I was when... ["Wally Kairuz" ] Your Next Joni-Purchase [RMuRocks@aol.com] Re: The bowels of majordomo [CaTGirl627@aol.com] Jazz Joni vs Classic Joni/Twisted--LONG ["Alan Larson" ] Fwd: Opening Tracks [CaTGirl627@aol.com] Re: Your Next Joni-Purchase [Dflahm@aol.com] Endless Joni Abbreviations ... ["Debby Magill" ] Re: Fwd: Opening Tracks [Bolvangar@aol.com] Re: ...Tracks [Bolvangar@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 15:38:19 +0800 (CST) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Fave Opening Tracks All of Joni's albums are cohesive that sometimes I'm a bit hesitant to give a selection of Joni songs to friends because some songs are so integrated towards the album it was included. Anyway, I just thought that opening songs in records usually set the tone of the whole album's concept. In my view, my favorite opening tracks are: Joni albums: (1) Coyote (2) In France They Kiss on Main Street non-Joni albums: (1) Talkin' `Bout a Revolution (Tracy Chapman's debut) (2) Have You Heard (Pat Metheny's "The Road To You") (3) Rollercoaster (Everything But The Girl's "Amplified Heart") Joseph np: June Tabor's "I Want to Vanish" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 03:42:18 EDT From: CarltonCT@aol.com Subject: dolphins playing in a milk chocolate sea (SJC) For all of those on their way to Joni-fest, you will discover that your hostess, Ashara, is as warm and sweet as Toll House cookies fresh from the oven. She's also got a creamy complexion, Bette Davis eyes, and like Kakki, my sister Jill, and many ladies of the JMDL, she has a great sense of style and is a wearer of interesting jewelry. Ashara has a gold dolphin wrapped around one finger, and dolphins made from milk chocolate in her purse. She also wears something like the Proctor and Gamble logo around her neck. We had a wonderful dinner with Steve D, Michelle, Ken C. and Kakki. We pondered, what does it say about a person if he eat's his chocolate dolphin's tail or head first? A good question for Dr. Mondegreen. Kakki, thanks for listening to my tape, and thank you for calling my songs excellent! Hoping to get to Joni-fest, Clark np: Pat Metheny, New Chautauqua ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:46:50 +1200 From: "Helen M. Adcock" Subject: Re: M*A*S*H and Sex Kills? Mark said: >Maybe our Joan saw this episode when writing Sex Kills??? Then Bob said: >And then she watched a rerun of same and wrote Fiction... >(Which way to go? Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief) I always thought this was a "bastardisation" (for want of a better word) of the old children's rhyme: Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief Helen NP - James Taylor - You Can Close Your Eyes ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 12:56:46 +0100 (BST) From: Howard Wright Subject: Re: for jmdl guitarists (HOSL) > Howard Wright wrote: > > > Also, I think the music for HOSL was written by John Guerin, and Joni just > > did the words and melody, so there may not have been a "Joni guitar part" > > in the usual sense. Phyliss wrote: > Sorry Howard but after hearing the HOSL demo tape I can safely say you are > wrong. This tape is almost exclusively only Joni and her guitar and/or > piano. She even sings some of the riffs that are played by other musicians on > the actual released recordings. That album is totally Joni. I suspect that > she sang or played to the other musicians on the guitar what she wanted them > to do with their instruments. I say this because she has mentioned in > interviews that she has done this before. Just to clear up any confusion - in the quote above I was talking about the track HOSL, not the album. Thanks to Kakki for checking up - the music for HOSL was written by John Guerin, and James Taylor is the guitarist on this one. The rest of the album is, of course, 99% Joni! Phyliss' comments sparked off a few very interesting quotes and references to Joni's studio recording style. It was great to read these, and I think we're very lucky to be able to hear stuff like the HOSL demo which gives us an insight into her recording style, and really underlines just what a creative and experimental woman Joni was ... and is! Howard ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 08:19:04 -0400 From: "Jennifer L. Nodine" Subject: Re: Opening tracks Takats, Angela wrote: > > Hey there Bob, thanks for your post... > > I never really liked TA that much, it didn't 'jump out' at me as a joni fav > ... but lately I've been looking closer at the poetry in Joni's work and I > really like some of the images that she paints so delicately for us in this > song... > > "varnished weeds in window jars > tarnished beads on tapestries > kept in satin boxes are > reflections of loves memories" (sorry if this isn't right word for word) > > I think this is pretty ... she sings it so sadly, she's lost so much..it's a > song of mourning to me. Isn't it great to "discover" one of her songs for the first time after hearing it over a hundred??? She does the same thing to me! - -Jenny CT ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 09:04:45 -0400 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: New Releases] Thunderthumbs wrote: > Subject: Re: New Releases > Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 22:15:07 -0400 > From: Thunderthumbs > To: Ginamu@aol.com > > Gina, > I haven't aquired a taste for Randy Newman's pop music, but he has > done two soundtracks (maybe more) that I really thing are on par with > any other "serious composer"'s soundtracks- "Awakenings" from 1991 with > Robert DeNiro, and Robin Williams- both who I think should have won > Oscars for their performances... and "Avalon" from 1990 which I haven't > seen, but have the soundtrack as well. Both are excellent. If you'd like > a copy, I'd be happy to share the music. It is worth sharing. > Ever lurking... > Brad > P.s If the pop music Randy Newman isn't the soundtrack composer Rany > Newman, the joke's on me... Anyone? Oh, yes. And with a pedigree. He is the nephew of Alfred and Lionel Newman the great movie composers and arrangers. And Randy did Toy Story. For a good sampling of Randy's talent check out his Faust. Has JT, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, and others on it. Excellent. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 14:05:28 +0100 From: philipf@tinet.ie Subject: Re: Fave Opening Tracks My fave opening song was This Flight Tonight which she used to start her shows with in the early '70's but then decided not to include it on MOA, much to my disappointment.. philip ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 10:00:36 -0400 From: Anne Rickaby Subject: RE: Opening tracks I always thought "Tin Angel" (the title anyway) was sort of a play on "Teen Angel" - in which Joni refers to her teenage years, but here she is in New York, yeah she's found someone to love, but she's all too familiar with "love's illusions" - hence the sorrowful tone of the song... anne in cambridge ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 09:49:08 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: Re: Joni in the studio was Re: for jmdl guitarists (HOSL) Don shared: <> Thanks for sharing Don, and please share more!! Henry's name pops up as Engineer on all those Joni records, but he rarely gets mentioned here...surely there's a wealth of untapped information there. Bob NP: The Chesterfield Kings, "You Better Look Now" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 08:11:25 -0700 From: Steve Dulson Subject: 8/25/69 Lindsay in San Diego wrote (Hi Lindsay!): >August 25, 1969: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young make their first Los >Angeles appearance at the Greek Theater. Opening act: Joni Mitchell. Yeah, I gave them a 5*, Joni a 4* (out of 5) that night. "Down By The River" knocked my socks off. (Forgive me. Having just received my first solicitation from AARP (a "senior citizens" organization for you non-USers) you have to allow me to gloat once in awhile...it's one of the few pleasures I have left!) ############################################################## Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA steve@psitech.com "The Tinker's Own" *NEW* website at: http://www.tinkersown.com "Southern California Dulcimer Heritage" http://members.aol.com/scdulcimer/ "The Living Tradition Concert Series" (Website soon!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 08:29:46 -0700 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Newport Folk festival? Marcel in SF wrote: >How did she get the gig at the Newport >Folk festival? I think that one was covered fairly recently...didn't Al Kooper introduce her to Judy Collins, who dragged her up to Newport *that day* and got her a performing slot? Judy was on the festival board, I think, and had some pull. ############################################################## Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA steve@psitech.com "The Tinker's Own" *NEW* website at: http://www.tinkersown.com "Southern California Dulcimer Heritage" http://members.aol.com/scdulcimer/ "The Living Tradition Concert Series" (Website soon!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 11:39:44 -0400 (EDT) From: "Gerald Notaro (LIB)" Subject: Re: Newport Folk festival? On Wed, 25 Aug 1999, Steve Dulson wrote: > >How did she get the gig at the Newport > >Folk festival? > > I think that one was covered fairly recently...didn't Al Kooper > introduce her to Judy Collins, who dragged her up to Newport *that > day* and got her a performing slot? Judy was on the festival board, > I think, and had some pull. Take that all you Judy bashers! Jerry :> ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 08:55:36 -0700 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Joni dulcimer? Pat Henry wrote: >I recall the first time I ever laid eyes on a dulcimer... rosewood, I >think it >was... sitting in Joni's lap. ...and man did it just sound as >sweet as honey >with my roadworn, battered old martin D28! Pat, can you take a guess as to when this was? Reason I ask, we have Joellen Lapidus's story of how she sold Joni her first dulcimer at the Big Sur Folk Festival in 1967. However...I heard a story some years ago of Joni demo-ing "Both Sides Now", on dulcimer, to some musicians in a club (who turned it down!) before Judy or Dave recorded it. So I'm wondering if she was fooling around with a dulcimer (maybe borrowed?) before she acquired an instrument from Joellen. Hmmm....then again, a woman I was at school with in 1969 bought a dulcimer from McCabes which was sold to her as "Joni Mitchell's old dulcimer", and I always figured Joni sold it when she got Joellen's beautiful creation. Anyway, I'd appreciate any input on Joni playing dulcimer before her move to the west coast. For the roses, ############################################################## Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA steve@psitech.com "The Tinker's Own" *NEW* website at: http://www.tinkersown.com "Southern California Dulcimer Heritage" http://members.aol.com/scdulcimer/ "The Living Tradition Concert Series" (Website soon!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 14:40:56 -0400 From: Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com Subject: re: Opening tracks Ange said: <> I double agree with Harlem being outstanding, my beef with it as an intro is that it seems to have so many interesting things going on it sets up a little disappointment when the rest of the tracks don't compare as favorably...To me it really showcases the variety of sounds she can get with the VG8 followed by a lot of sameness with the others. Kind of like seeing a book with a gorgeous cover, and it's a good book and all, but didn't seem to live up to the cover. And I'm not bashing TTT, far from it, it's a great record. But I think Crazy Cries or TTT works better as an opener, or even Lead Balloon for that matter. Kind of a tasty appetizer before the main course. And then of course she ends with the perfect dessert, My Best to You and Tiger Bones... <<..and while we are speaking of song order on albums.......I just love the way Blue ends on Richard, it's such a beautiful song and it really leaves sums up the "blueness" of the album, don't you think?>> Oh absolutely, but instead of being dessert, it leaves you hungry for more! :~) Namely the feast of FTR! Bob NP: Michael McDonald, "Losin' End" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 16:13:43 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Opening tracks Ange said: <> and Bob replied: <> and: <> IMO, TTT would be the best choice for the opener, but "Harlem in Havana" is still a great choice. I love the way the VG8 sounds at the very beginning, very mystical like. It makes you curious as to what lyrics will follow, and when she sings "Step right up, folks! The show is about to begin", it makes me feel like I'm being introduced to the album. Just my thoughts, Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 12:53:30 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: 8/25/69 Steve wrote: > Lindsay in San Diego wrote (Hi Lindsay!): > > >August 25, 1969: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young make their first Los > >Angeles appearance at the Greek Theater. Opening act: Joni Mitchell. > > Yeah, I gave them a 5*, Joni a 4* (out of 5) that night. "Down By The River" > knocked my socks off. Oh Steve, you had to rub it in, you lucky guy. I'm always reminded on this day of a painful memory. A teenage boyfriend and I adored the first CSN "Couch" album and played and sang along to it constantly that summer. This was CSN's first concert, I believe, after the release of that album, and was it was *the* hottest event in town. A few days after giving me a wonderful surprise birthday party, he informed me that he had been invited to the concert by some "older women" (translation - could drive and had their own car, unlike him or myself ). I remember becoming somewhat catatonic and distant to him after that announcement. It marked the end of our summer romance. What we do for love........of music, that is. Kakki, still hurting ;-) > (Forgive me. Having just received my first solicitation from AARP (a > "senior citizens" organization for you non-USers) you have to allow > me to gloat once in awhile...it's one of the few pleasures I have left!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 16:29:14 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Opening tracks (again) Sorry, don't know what happened to the rest of the text, I'll try again Ange said: I like the choice of Harlem to lead TTT......when I first heard the album it was this song that kept me interested and made me keep playing the whole album again and again (cos I loved that song so much) I find a lot of the other slower songs quite hard to "get into" and Bob replied: I double agree with Harlem being outstanding, my beef with it as an intro is that it seems to have so many interesting things going on it sets up a little disappointment when the rest of the tracks don't compare as favorably and: And I'm not bashing TTT, far from it, it's a great record. But I think Crazy Cries or TTT works better as an opener, or even Lead Balloon for that matter. .............................................................................. IMO, TTT would be the best choice for the opener, but "Harlem in Havana" is still a great choice. I love the way the VG8 sounds at the very beginning, very mystical like. It makes you curious as to what lyrics will follow, and when she sings "Step right up, folks! The show is about to begin", it makes me feel like I'm being introduced to the album. Just my thoughts, Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 14:04:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Don Rowe Subject: Re: Opening tracks (again) > And I'm not bashing TTT, far > from it, it's a great record. But I think Crazy > Cries or TTT works better > as an opener, or even Lead Balloon for that matter. Well, if Joni was out for scoring points in the "daring" department (not like she doesn't already have an insurmountable lead!), I'd agree with "Lead Balloon" as a lead-off hitter. But then again, are any of us really prepared, after a five-year wait, to have the first new words we hear from Joni be "Kiss my ass!"? In my best Seinfeld ... "I don't THINK so!" Don Rowe __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 17:39:25 EDT From: Ashara@aol.com Subject: Back home at last, and JONIFEST PARTY-GOERS! Hello everyone!! A VERY tired, but happy Ashara back on the list, and back home from a very full vacation! Meeting up with Kakki, Steve and his wife Michelle, Clark, and Ken in LA at the end of the trip was the icing on the cake. (Literally, since it was Kakki and my birthdays!) It is so incredible to meet listers in person, and I feel so fortunate to have met so many in one trip! Everyone was even more wonderful in person than I imagined, if that is even possible! Thank you to all of you that added that *sparkle* to my trip. Also, thank you to everyone who wished me birthday blessings. I was "peeking" in at the list, and saw them all! (Note to Mark: to answer your question of how can we be twins, but have different birthdays is this: As you know, we were separated at birth, and "your" adopted parents switched "your" birthday to make life more confusing for you. Our "real", authentic birthday is August 22.) :-) I am trying to catch up with fundraiser updates, Jonifest Info, etc. Please give me a day or two to get settled, and I will be back in shape soon! For those I owe responses to, please be patient. Now, on to more exciting things! The New England Labor Day Jonifest is only 10 DAYS AWAY!!!!! That's right!!!! Only 10 more days til we are all people at the party with a lot of style! The following people are signed up to attend. If your name does not appear here, and you are planning to come, PLEASE let me know within the next few days. If your name appears here, and you have no intention of coming....YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! (Ahem. Excuse me, it must be the jet lag.) Of course, I would be incensed, ahem, I mean happy, to take your name off the list. Ashara@aol.com (Ashara from MA- of course, it would be very interesting if she were not attending!) les@jmdl.com (Les, our mighty fearless JMDL leader from CO) m.russell@iaea.org (Marian from Austria) MGVal@aol.com (MG from CA) johnsonjs@earthlink.net (Jody from IL) wallykai@interserver.com.ar (Wally from Argentina) thefishpond@prodigy.net (Bev and her husband Rick from FL) trxschwa@bway.net (Patrick from NYC) michaelpaz@worldnet.att.net (Michael from LA) CaTGirl627@aol.com (Cat {Deb} and her husband Eric from PA) mark-n-travis@worldnet.att.net (Mark from Seattle) WirlyPearl@aol.com (Pearl and her husband Steve from FL) kakkib@att.net (Kakki from CA) Bern44105@aol.com (Bern from OH) rhollis@islandnet.com (Roberto from Victoria, BC, Canada) music@bryanthomas.com (Bryan and Cindy from NY) lrfye@aol.com (Lori from PA now?) chucke@tiac.net (Chuck from MA) davinagr@aol.com (Davina from CA) briangross@rocketmail.com (Brian from NJ) kg@ibm.net (Kenny from NY) kbarnicle@ensr.com (Katie and her husband John from the Cape {MA}) mm@celebrityseries.org (Maggie from MA) john.van.tiel@wxs.nl (John from Holland) rickielee1@aol.com (Ric from MA) mann@chicagonet.net (Laura from IL) luvart@snet.net (Heather from CT) terrym2442@aol.com (Terry from MI) Zapuppy@webtv.net (Penny from WA) Kay_Ashley@ars.aon.com (Kay from NY) jzw@visint.com (Julie from PA) Chilihead2 (Brian from CT) Ginamu (Gina from MA) Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com (Bob from SC) Future party details will be confined {hopefully} to the Labor Day list. (Sign up at: http://www.jmdl.com/lists/ ) Thanks to the list for being patient. I just wanted to catch the fence sitters on this one. Hugs, Ashara ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 00:08:06 +0200 From: "Peter Holmstedt" Subject: Plug Of The Week #33 Hi there, Have you heard about a songwriter named Buddy Mondlock? His songs have been covered by artists like Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, Cry Cry Cry, Nanci Griffith, Janis Ian, Tom Kimmel, David Wilcox and several others. He just recently released his third album on his own label : Buddy Mondlock - Poetic Justic ( Major Bob ) He grew up in South Suburban Chicago and in the early 80's he became a regular performer on the folk scene there. It was there that he worked to develop his songwriting talent. He released his first album in 1987 and his self-titled, second album was produced by Steve Addabo ( of Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin - fame ) and guests included Garth Brooks, Shawn Colvin, Janis Ian and Lucy Kaplansky. Mondlock's new album is called "Poetic Justice". "I'm very excited about this" he says. "It has much more of a live feel, and I also got to work with a string quartet which has always been one of my dreams". Guests on the brand new album include Tom Kimmel, Susan Ashton, Jonell Mosser, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Carol Elliott and Ellis Paul. If you can't find copies of this beautiful album in your record store, please try : Major Bob Productions 1111 17th Ave South Nashville TN 37212 U.S.A. Phone: (409) 321 - 4597 Email: s17th@aol.com Website: http://www.songs.com/buddy Great, great album! Take care, Peter ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 16:09:22 PDT From: "John Low" Subject: RE: Opening Tracks My fellow Sydney jmdler, Ange, wrote: >.......I just love >the way Blue ends on Richard, it's such a beautiful song and it >really >leaves sums up the "blueness" of the album, don't you think? Yes, I agree completely. And, the album ("Blue") begins perfectly too with 'All I Want'. The opening line: "I am on a lonely road and I am travelling ..." sets the tone for the whole album. In the songs that follow JM is "travelling" either literally (ie geographically) and/or in love (ie. in terms of her relationships). By the time we get to 'Richard' she is "hiding ... in dark cafes". But she sees this as only a phase in her journey - "all good dreamers pass this way some day". When she emerges from her "dark coccoon" she will get her "gorgeous wings and fly away". Her travelling will continue! A perfect start and a perfect ending - that is IMO "Blue"! John (in Sydney). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 18:43:26 -0500 From: Mark Domyancich Subject: Joni and Dave Matthews Saw this on a web board for DMB guitarists: Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention please? I am the mother of Dave Matthews. Thank you. Sincerely yours--- Joni Mitchell (She goes on to say...) PAVED PARADISE PUT UP A PARKING LOT! It gave me a big chuckle!!! NP-Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds-#41 ___________________________________ | Mark Domyancich | | Harpua@revealed.net | | http://home.revealed.net/Harpua | |_________________________________| ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 20:02:00 -0400 From: Valerie Richardson Subject: Where I was when... I haven't shared a lot since I joined this list a couple of months ago, but I love being around such like-minded people. And I've been listening to Joni's music a lot more recently and trying to build up my CD collection with some of the older albums that I used to have in vinyl. One of the things that has really struck me is the intense memories I have with some of the albums. Every time I hear them, I have almost flashback-like sensations of hearing the same music at another time in my life. I can remember where I was, what the weather was at the time, what my mood was like, who I was talking to. These memories aren't necessarily associated with the first time I heard the music, but most of them occurred 20-25 years ago. Some of my recent "flashbacks": LOTC: I remember listening to this album over and over again during a period when I was in high school and working on an art portfolio that I was going to submit to the annual state high school art competition. I particularly remember one evening when everything was going well with my work. I was drinking Red Zinger tea, and it was raining outside, and the smell of the rain and the cool breezes coming into my bedroom felt wonderful. HOSL: I was moving into my first apartment just before my Junior year in college. It was a hot summer afternoon (natch), and I felt that I was making a momentous move into adulthood and maturity. I was thinking about my future and wondering what life would hold for me as a woman. All of this while listening to songs that describe rather dark visions of womanhood like "Edna and the Kingpin," "Shades of Scarlett Conquering," and "Harry's House." C&S: This has some of the some of the strongest associations. The album had just come out and "Free Man in Paris" was on the radio constantly. I was in eighth grade, and I remember spending a lot of warm summer evenings that year hanging out with my girlfriends on our street corner. A car would go by with Joni Mitchell blasting out from the car's speakers, and everything seemed right with the world. (Wouldn't it be great to walk down the street in 1999 and hear Joni's music from the cars passing by?) It's interesting that I don't have any specific associations with my favorite album, Hejira. Yours in nostalgia, Valerie Richardson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 17:50:39 -0700 From: Scott Price Subject: Re: Where I was when... At 08:02 PM 8/25/99, Valerie Richardson wrote: >One of the things that has really struck me is the intense memories I >have with some of the albums. Every time I hear them, I have almost >flashback-like sensations of hearing the same music at another time in >my life. I can remember where I was, what the weather was at the time, >what my mood was like, who I was talking to. These memories aren't >necessarily associated with the first time I heard the music, but most >of them occurred 20-25 years ago. Hi Valerie, Your post stirred a few "flashbacks" of my own. Thanks for opening the memory floodgates. This is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Joni's artistry, IMO...and that is the *power* of her songs. Music has the ability to kindle waves of nostalgia. But not all music, in fact, very little music, is so masterful that it instantly transports me back in time. Even as I write this "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is playing in the background on the radio. Now there's a song I've heard hundreds of times, and if I try, I can recall being in certain places and hearing this song, like the time they performed it on "Don Kirshner" or whatever that TV show was, but I have to *try* to conjure up the memories...they don't just appear. It's different with Joni. The images are instantaneous, and so much more vivid. I remember driving across the coastal range listening to HOSL, going out to the beach listening to C&S, and sitting on the couch in an old rustic cabin listening to Blue. The weather, the people, the feelings...everything about those times all comes rushing back. Joni has spoken about painting pictures with words and songs and using "colors" from her "musical palette" and you know what--she does! Not only do we get images of what she is writing about, we also get pictures of ourselves. "Painting With Words and Music" indeed... I love all kinds of music and probably spend too much time absorbed in it, but there are very few individuals or groups who can reach so deeply into my soul. It's this power that makes them special. To me, Joni is in a class all her own. Scott NP: still the radio, now it's "A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker...another GREAT song, but not quite enough to make me sit back in wonderment. :-) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 18:10:50 -0700 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: Opening tracks > Takats, Angela wrote: > > > > Hey there Bob, thanks for your post... > > > > I never really liked TA that much, it didn't 'jump out' at me as a joni fav > > ... but lately I've been looking closer at the poetry in Joni's work and I > > really like some of the images that she paints so delicately for us in this > > song... > > > > "varnished weeds in window jars While we're on the subject, just what the heck are window jars anyway? Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 02:25:40 +0100 From: catman Subject: Re: Opening tracks Flowers, or in this case weeds, in empty jam jars etc that some people have on their window sills. I think. Mark or Travis wrote: > > Takats, Angela wrote: > > > > > > Hey there Bob, thanks for your post... > > > > > > I never really liked TA that much, it didn't 'jump out' at me as a > joni fav > > > ... but lately I've been looking closer at the poetry in Joni's > work and I > > > really like some of the images that she paints so delicately for > us in this > > > song... > > > > > > "varnished weeds in window jars > > While we're on the subject, just what the heck are window jars anyway? > > Mark in Seattle - -- CARLY SIMON DISCUSSION LIST http://www.ethericcats.demon.co.uk/ethericcats/index.html TANTRA’S/ETHERIC PERSIANS AND HIMALAYANS http://www.ethericcats.demon.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 21:27:15 EDT From: Violet6964@aol.com Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V4 #368 Regarding Carole King- First off I guess I should introduce my months-lurking self My name is Kim, I am 29 and Joni has been an inspiration to me since high school. She introduced such a world of beauty to me! One of the amazing things about Joni Mitchell to me is how her songs continually yield new layers of meaning as one ages and goes through different life experiences. (I tried talking to my husband about this and he rolled his eyes thinking "this is a chick thing") Believe it or not, I never realized what the song "Little Green" was about until media reports of Joni finding her daughter talked about that song. Maybe I am dense!!!! But now when I hear that song it is like hearing it fresh even though I've known it many years. I guess I thought it was about the color green or nature or something...I don't know...What a beautiful song. As a mother of 3 I can appreciate how painful it must have been to have given a child up. And what a happy ending.... Also maybe I'm pathetic but I've never progressed Joni-wise beyond her Blue-Court and Spark period. I know Joni has progressed and most of you seem to be experts on all of her music. I've been a scaredy cat . Her early music was so incredibly special to me and captured my young emotions and romantic yearnings so well I never felt the need to explore further. Also I heard how experimental and "different" her later albums were and I was always afraid I wouldn't like them and that would ruin the whole thing I had going with early Joni. Can anyone relate to this???? I guess I can trust this group. Can I get some suggestions as to what my 1st album (post Court and Spark, I guess-not exactly sure of the chronology) should be since I'm feeling ready to take the plunge. Also what album is Coyote on? I heard her sing this in The Last Waltz and it was awesome Oh yeah about Carole King. Roberta Flack (I love her) did a lovely version of "You've Got a Friend" Bye everyone!!! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:45:15 -0300 From: "Wally Kairuz" Subject: RE: Where I was when... down on nostalgia lane with you valerie. thank you for letting me savor my where-i-was-when memories of joni's albums again! WallyK >Yours in nostalgia, > >Valerie Richardson > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:33:57 EDT From: RMuRocks@aol.com Subject: Your Next Joni-Purchase Kim intros and says: << I guess I can trust this group. Can I get some suggestions as to what my 1st album (post Court and Spark, I guess-not exactly sure of the chronology) should be since I'm feeling ready to take the plunge. Also what album is Coyote on? I heard her sing this in The Last Waltz and it was awesome >> Well, Kim, no one is going to roll their eyes at you here...belated welcome! And as for your question - you answered it yourself..."Coyote" is on Hejira, which is the greatest record of all time by anyone ever and should be your next purchase! Bob, who'll turn 29 again in a month or so... NP: Sugarloaf, "I Don't Need You Baby" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:36:37 EDT From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Subject: Re: The bowels of majordomo In a message dated 8/24/1999 11:24:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Bob.Muller@fluordaniel.com writes: << And all the abbreviations, Jesus! If they'd just spell it out, Then we'd know, and no longer would "Siquomb" be such a mystery I want the grass they're puffing on, I want the brilliance of their speech, Guess I'll have to drive on down To Ashara's Jonifest Party! >> This is just hilarious! Well Bob we shall see who is puffing what at Asharas won't we now! Catgirl....feeling like a cheshire Cat! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:28:14 -0000 From: "Alan Larson" Subject: Jazz Joni vs Classic Joni/Twisted--LONG Classic Joni, to me, was the Joni who enthralled concert-goers with fresh imagery and poetic brilliance in songs like Morning Morgantown and Michael >From Mountains, Both Sides Now, and Circle Game. My personal favorite has to be Urge for Going, which I always thought so strange that I heard Mary Black's version before Joni released it on hits, or was it misses? Although I'd seen Tom Rush at MSU in 73, I never heard his version of it. The tape I'm listening to now in my car (and have been listening to it for months now) has the intro to Circle Game with her hilarious story about Nobody ever said to Van Gogh--you know like Paint a Starry Night Again, Man. And then it goes to Shades of Scarlett Conquering and Urge for Going, but that brings me to my point. I knew there had to be one somewhere, LOL. Hissing of Summer Lawns, with the song Shades of Scarlett Conquering, comes after Court and Spark, I'm pretty sure of it. Are you familiar with that one? A very unique sound to this album (CD?) with a kind of foreign feel to it. Out there in left field stylistically--perhaps comparable to Hejira in that effect. But it grows on ya. However, if you're like me, you will likely find very little in the new jazzier Joni to compare with your love of Circle Game or Playing Real Good for Free or Blue. But I have come to respect her decision to grow as a musician, even if I don't admire it. We are all aging hippies trying to hold on to memories, and music is often the link to those memories. James Taylor grins and chuckles a Well, I'll do it! when asked to play one of his standards. But he thinks of old songs like wine... sometimes it's best to put them on the shelf a while and let them mature. In comparison with that humble and forthright attitude, it's hard to not be disappointed by Joni's backing away from the music that made her so popular with many of her fans in the beginning. Think of what a masterpiece of a song Both Sides Now is. Or Urge for Going. Then try to put any of her later songs in that same category. In my mind, that's a hard thing to do. "My analyst told me, he said I was right out of my head He said I need treatment, but I wanted Joni instead They called it "chick music", so blaise But I want it more, more every day. Cuz instead of one head, we've got 242. I love this list. Never know what's gonna happen next. Delurking in Minneapolis, I was listening. Anyone come up with any more REALLY COOL kids' songs? Oh, and I discovered that David Wilcox has two more cd's out than I thought. Cool! David Wilcox Stuff, great web page. I was surprised to see that he had dropped out of high school and played lead for Ian and Sylvia without any previous experience I saw Joni Sat. nite on TV just the other night, I saw her threaten the crowd with a very indignant response, was it a Woodstock imitation? I don't know where it was. But the way she took it upon herself to tell the crowd they were being jerks, and how hard it was for a musician to bare their soul on stage, it is something that I connect with. She stands firm against the sea of encroaching incivility. Well, I've rambled long enough. A marathon delurking without TV tonight. Like Joan Didion, I gravitate toward the random, and swing with the non sequential, so I do beg everyone's pardon for such lousy rambling. But hopefully I will give some people reason to stop and think, about whatever. I was very happy with the spark of interest I aroused with the children's songs thread. It was a cool thing to see mushroom. I'm currently learning to design web pages, and if anybody would like some volunteer services in that direction, I'm itching for experience. Something beyond personal web pages, though. Maybe this list should have a contest for new web page ideas about Joni with money going to benefit concerts promotions for good causes. Who knows? I must say that I enjoy reading the posts about Kilauren, and have a picture of the three of them on my bulletin board, because it makes me so happy to actually KNOW of a happy ending, not one manufactured in Hollywood. "my brother DB says Hollywood will do that to you... make you into a prostitute..." holden caulfield Loved the news of Bonnie and Shawn, Bruce and Jackson together. What a great meeting of musical minds. Ciaou, alan@isunet.net . ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 23:38:52 EDT From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Subject: Fwd: Opening Tracks - --part1_557b811a.24f610cc_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit - --part1_557b811a.24f610cc_boundary Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Disposition: inline Return-path: CaTGirl627@aol.com From: CaTGirl627@aol.com Full-name: CaTGirl627 Message-ID: Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 23:38:29 EDT Subject: Re: Opening Tracks To: johnlow40@hotmail.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 10 In a message dated 8/25/1999 7:18:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time, johnlow40@hotmail.com writes: << My fellow Sydney jmdler, Ange, wrote: >.......I just love >the way Blue ends on Richard, it's such a beautiful song and it >really >leaves sums up the "blueness" of the album, don't you think? Yes, I agree completely. And, the album ("Blue") begins perfectly too with 'All I Want'. The opening line: "I am on a lonely road and I am travelling ..." sets the tone for the whole album. In the songs that follow JM is "travelling" either literally (ie geographically) and/or in love (ie. in terms of her relationships). By the time we get to 'Richard' she is "hiding ... in dark cafes". But she sees this as only a phase in her journey - "all good dreamers pass this way some day". When she emerges from her "dark coccoon" she will get her "gorgeous wings and fly away". Her travelling will continue! A perfect start and a perfect ending - that is IMO "Blue"! John (in Sydney). >> interestingly enough the original coupling of that album was to star with CAREY. All I want was not even suppose to be on it. She changed it at the last minute and I guess it was becuase she just finished All I want. Also, Lat time I saw Richard was not to be on but Urge for going was. I wonder why she got rid of Urge but put on Richard......? Catgirl..inquiering Cats wanna know..... - --part1_557b811a.24f610cc_boundary-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 00:23:27 EDT From: Dflahm@aol.com Subject: Re: Your Next Joni-Purchase "Coyote" is also on SHADOWS AND LIGHT; this is the far more exciting version, IMO. D LAHM ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 00:51:34 -0400 From: "Debby Magill" Subject: Endless Joni Abbreviations ... Hi all of you Joni-ites! I think I will finally be posted without bouncing this time (thanks to Les's patience and guidance!). Thank you again, Les! I'm enjoying reading all of your posts but get lost in the abbreviations. I've figured out most of them but wonder if there is a list somewhere that I can print out for reference. If someone would please let me know, I would appreciate it :~) I know all of Joni's material and lyrics but have never thought of them as abbreviations and it's kind of time consuming to stop and go through all of the titles in my mind to try and figure them out. It reminds me of some kind of detective game we used to play when I was growing up in North Dakota! It was a similar mind provoking game that kept us busy and we had to keep busy or we'd freeze :~) Well, I live in Florida now and there's no threat of that here. Anyway, I thought I'd drop by with my wish list ... let me know please. Thanks again you guys for making me feel so welcome! Debby in Mad Beach debbyis@prodigy.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 01:17:08 EDT From: Bolvangar@aol.com Subject: Re: Fwd: Opening Tracks Catgirl wrote (about _Blue_): <> Because "Richard" is a much better song. ;) (And I think it fits better stylistically and thematically with the other songs on the album.) - --David ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 02:39:41 EDT From: Bolvangar@aol.com Subject: Re: ...Tracks John Low wrote: <> This thread has me thinking of the related issue of the sequence of the songs on the albums, which of course Joni says she puts a lot of thought into. This element stands out particularly for me in terms of mood on two of her albums: Ladies of the Canyon and For the Roses, both of which I've only heard in their original form relatively recently though I've been familiar with many of their songs since childhood (my parents made Joni mix tapes). On LOTC, each song seems to take the mood of the previous one and twist it slightly, carrying you along on this ebb and flow (especially if you leave out BYT! That sharp transition from the humor of BYT to the stark electric piano of Woodstock has a sobering, chilling effect -- it brings you up short - -- I just think Woodstock's mood is a good match for Blue Boy's). On FTR, the progression from track to track has a really light, buoyant, effervescent feel throughout for me -- hard to explain -- even somehow in the melancholy parts (like Let the Wind Carry Me). BTW, can I say how much I love Blonde in the Bleachers? If you ask me, this (not Judgement of the Moon and Stars) is the real forerunner of Paprika Plains, the way that "rock 'n' roll band" comes in and carries the song to its end. - --David P.S. My parents stopped buying Joni's albums after _Hejira_ (and they skipped HOSL), but my dad has been borrowing my copy of NRH a lot lately. NP: FTR ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V1 #166 ****************************** The Song and Album Voting Booths are open! Cast your votes by clicking the links at http://www.jmdl.com/gallery username: jimdle password: siquomb ------- Don't forget about these ongoing projects: Glossary project: Send a blank message to for all the details. FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. Do you have mailing list-related questions? -send them to Trivia Project: Send your Joni trivia questions and/or answers to Today in History Project: Know of a date-specific Joni fact? - -send it to ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe onlyjoni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?