From: les@jmdl.com (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2000 #167 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk onlyJMDL Digest Sunday, April 30 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 167 The 'Official' Joni Mitchell Homepage, created by Wally Breese, can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com. It contains the latest news, a detailed bio, Original Interviews, essays, lyrics and much much more. --- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. --- Ashara has set up a "Wally Breese Memorial Fund" with all donations going directly towards the upkeep of the website. Wally kept the website going with his own funds. it is now up to US to help Jim continue. If you would like to donate to this fund, please make all checks payable to: Jim Johanson and send them to: Ashara Stansfield P.O. Box 215 Topsfield, MA. 01983 USA ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Alan's Creative Writing Project (SJC) ["Alan Lorimer" ] Sometimes I'm happy.... ["geronimo" ] Interview Interview [Deb Messling ] Re: Another Cover [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] Re: Interview Interview [AngelinoCoyote@aol.com] need tix for May 25 Post Pavillion concert [david ] May 25th Gathering? [Julian51469@aol.com] Geeze ma, not at 5AM AGAIN! (aka Tribute Thoughts) [MGVal@aol.com] Re: entertainment weekly [JP ] Rancom Thoughts/CyberHell/Joni! Joni! Joni! (longish)1. [jw1327@rcn.com] Brenda/Sales Figures/Soundscan [jw1327@rcn.com] Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) [MDESTE1@aol.com] Re: entertainment weekly [IVPAUL42@aol.com] Re: entertainment weekly [Jerry Notaro ] Re: entertainment weekly [IVPAUL42@aol.com] Re: entertainment weekly [MDESTE1@aol.com] list down? [Siresorrow@aol.com] Re: Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) [SCJoniGuy@aol.com] River / Travis [Siresorrow@aol.com] Re: Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) [Randy Remote ] Re: May 25th Show ["Brian Workman" ] Re: bad music. [Guitarpoint@aol.com] Re: bad music. ["Brenda J. Walker" ] Re: bad music. [Relayer211@aol.com] Re: bad music. [Guitarpoint@aol.com] Joni Mitchell - Diary of a Decade, Paintings 1980-1990 Part 1 [SCJoniGuy@] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 17:42:36 +1000 From: "Alan Lorimer" Subject: Alan's Creative Writing Project (SJC) Just a quick reminder that this project is still progressing. I should have my (HTML based) software package up and running before the end of next week. I'll be looking for some people to actually test the package (hopefully looking at Joni's lyrics for ten minutes or so won't be too much of a chore!) In the mean time I still need some contributions. I have included contributions from Catherine McKay, Don Rowe and Sue Nielson and will try to incorporate the feedback I have received from other list members, but it still looks pretty empty. The address of the web site is: http://www.users.bigpond.com/AlanLorimer/welcome.htm Alan Lorimer Hawley Beach Tasmania ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 01:10:06 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: Rosie, Joni, Jay and Dave Catgirl wrote: >When I first heard that I thought, What the hell are you >saying but I truely think she is a great admirer of Joni's. How >many other shows has Joni really been on that have her sit >down and talk and then do another song? I think it's very apparent that Rosie is a major Joni fan. So much so, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't lurk on the list here. My take on what may have happened was that Rosie was nervous about getting everything just right and sometimes when you do that you can get jumbled and a bit babbling and the words come out the wrong way. Although it momentarily threw me, I thought about how I also put the album on right before sleepytime for many nights when I first got it! > I don't think Leno was very nice to her when I saw him. >Here she gives him an ear from TI and he acted like he could >care less. I bought THREE of those CD's when they first >came out for one of those ears and not one was found. >It took me forever to finally get my ear. Leno probably lost >his or just threw it in a drawer somewhere. I think Letterman >really likes her alot too!! I wish I had taped her on his show. >He had her twice in one year. Talk about liking someone... I agree completely. I used to like Leno years ago, but it seems like ever since he took over the Tonight show, he comes across as ingratiatingly insincere. He appears not to really connect with his guests - they may as well be just another prop for him. Letterman, on the other hand, can be rude to his guests (although he's gotten better in recent years) but at least he reacts to them in a more real way. As much as Letterman has irritated me at times, I'll watch him any day over Leno. Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 14:29:24 +1000 From: "geronimo" Subject: Sometimes I'm happy.... Can anyone name all the songs "sampled" by Herbie Hancock in the piano break (forgive my lack of correct terminology here) on Sometimes I'm Happy on BSN? I was fascinated to read in the Downbeat article that Joni didn't have her parts written down when she recorded the vocals for BSN. There is such a wonderful sense of orchestration and arrangement in the way that she sings and phrases that I assumed she was sticking to a pre arranged plan. Wow, I'm even more convinced now that she truly is a great singer! Nicholas (in Sydney on two hours sleep and about to listen to Jericho) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 06:54:06 -0400 From: Deb Messling Subject: Interview Interview The issue of Interview magazine with Joni and her cats is now on the stand. Joni plugs the new album, of course, and then tells how she adopted each cat. It includes photos of El Cafe and Mojo - Joni describes Mojo as a "butterball," but he looks okay to me. Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ ~there are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 08:19:25 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Another Cover In a message dated 4/30/00 12:14:09 AM US Central Standard Time, KakkiB@worldnet.att.net writes: << I just sent you off another load (including yet more Judy Collins' renditions of BSN!) but there may be some dupes of what you've already received.>> Maybe so, but I'm sure there will be tons of "newbies"...thanks once again, Kakki! <> LOL! I can relate, I was at my favorite record store yesterday too scouring for covers (and probably looking like a shoplifter), wandering from section to section. Ended up with the Nazareth version of "This Flight Tonight" to add to the pile... And, I also picked up the new Brian Blade record with Joni's vocal on "Steadfast", and when I pulled the disc out of its holder, the thing cracked in two! 2,000 CD's and that's the first time that's ever happened to me...so now I've gotta take it back, I'm sure it was the only copy they had so I gotta wait for them to get a new one! :~( << I really hope the Cover CDs can get to Joni. I think she would really love them. >> What's the best way to make this happen? I'll be glad to send a set to Chili if that's the game plan...and I'll include an invitation to Boston for Labor Day too! ;~) Bob NP: Eels, "Daisies of the Galaxy" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 10:03:15 EDT From: AngelinoCoyote@aol.com Subject: Re: Interview Interview In a message dated 4/30/00 3:55:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, messling@enter.net writes: << The issue of Interview magazine with Joni and her cats is now on the stand. Joni plugs the new album, of course, and then tells how she adopted each cat. It includes photos of El Cafe and Mojo - Joni describes Mojo as a "butterball," but he looks okay to me. >> Coyote Adds: If you would like to see some of the shots first, here's a URL: http://www.pets.com/interview/interview.html No regrets, Coyote Casa Alegre Hollywood, California I'll be dancin' on a pony keg. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 09:15:40 -0500 From: david Subject: need tix for May 25 Post Pavillion concert I need 4-6 tix for the May 25th concert in Columbia, MD. Anybody got extras? Thanks. David ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 10:58:33 EDT From: Julian51469@aol.com Subject: May 25th Gathering? In a message dated 4/28/00 3:03:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Marian writes: << Subject: Maryland preconcert gathering I think Loren Carter is organizing a pre-concert gathering on May 25th. I can't find his email address, so am writing a general message to the list. I will be going to the concert with my sister, Jennifer. CaTGirl627@aol.com will be attending with someone named Walter. I know Lori Fye is going with her partner. And Loren is going. Are there any other listers attending the Maryland concert? Are there any fixed plans yet, Loren? Marian >> Please count me in on the festivities. I'm going to this show as well. I live here in DC and look foreward to maybe meeting with some JMDLers. I'm still trying to figure out where the "Meriweather" is...as soon as I do I'll propose some possible meeting places...if one hasn't already been chosen. (I hope I'm not crashing anyones party here...please let me know if I am) Take care, Julian ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 11:37:45 EDT From: MGVal@aol.com Subject: Geeze ma, not at 5AM AGAIN! (aka Tribute Thoughts) Pre-dawn is about the only time I have to do anything for myself, so stuff it kids and be thankful I was not playing the TNT Tribute To Johnnie Rotten. I re-watched my tape, (thank you my dear Brian), for the 5th time, No TV Week be damned. I loved Marcel's observations and paid attention to the show with his comments in mind. What I came up with was a line from a James Taylor song: "painters use their eyes to tell us what they see, but when that canvas dries, we all see things differently." When James Taylor came out for his participation in "Big Yellow Taxi," I thought that he had great fun with it. Enjoyed his part and goofed off on it. As Marcel and others pointed out, he really did make "River" his own and I thought that Joni was deeply moved by both of his performances. Indeed, his comment, "Joni up there on the throne," gave me a feeling of on-going intimacy between the two of them. I can't clearly articulate why - something to do with a bond that has existed over the years and a frank admiration for her talent that has often been shoved aside. Now I realize that I can only guess at what Joni might be thinking based on the reaction shots, I got the distinct feeling that she was uncomfortable with Richard Thompson's rendition of "Black Crow." I didn't see her move, didn't see her smile, didn't see her close her eyes in mediation. My interpretation of her look was one of someone trying to remain neutral in that "if you don't have anything nice to say..." mode. But that's just my take. The more I listen to "A Case of You" re-worked as a "standard," the more I almost like it. I am still finding it hard to shake my allegiance to the version on the Joni/James BBC tape. As Marcel pointed out, Larry Klein really is something! Remember that saying: "behind every great man there is a woman?" I think you can rework that sexist ditty to describe Klein. He is really a backbone and supports it all. An able glue. The Hillary segment. The only thing that I did not like about it was her delivery. Sounded a bit like my kindergarten teacher doing a "dramatic" reading. But I really did think that it was sincere, it's not as though they changed their daughter's name to "Chelsea" just for the show, (in the way that they will re-name streets for a special day; aka "Joni Mitchell Boulevard"). Whatever personal problems may exist between Bill and Hillary are problems where we've only been exposed to media sensationalism. You can't call Hillary a role model of anything other than a human being trying to find their way through life. When I think about all of the things I looked the other way with my ex-husband, (including an affair with his lab assistant whom he allowed into our family life as a family friend), I can't condemn her. They both have lessons to learn. Let them do it. Never heard Wynonna before and I think that she has a bold and gutsy sound. Enjoyed her a lot. Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin-Carpenter really captured the personal feeling of "Amelia," something that I think must be hard to do with such intensely personal songs. Almost lastly, while watching this spin around on the VCR, I had a sub-thought running through my mind about whether or not it was hard for Joni to watch some, all or any of these performances. The people were, after all, tampering with her works of art. Can you imagine a tribute where they "redone" her paintings? I know, I know, songs are different, but that was the sub-thought that I had. Lastly, my daughter pointed this out and I saw it for the first time this morning: the shot of Joni holding an ashtray in the theater smoking. My kids found this curious and rude. I was surprised to see it, too. MG - now back to staring at the 2,000 fall registration soccer envelopes in my living room. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 05:11:53 +0300 From: JP Subject: Re: entertainment weekly > << i don't remember if it has been mentioned > here. they had the hillary clip (i guess that's newsworthy for > et). it was as fake as i expected. >> > > What was fake about it? Like k.d. lang's attire, I do not understand why > anyone is making an issue of this. The woman is the First Lady and named her > only child after a song by Joni. It seems to me that anything LESS than what > was done would have been a grievous oversight. > > Paul I my first sentence actually refers to the et feature, not the hillary clip. wasn't it so that the clintons thought for a long time that they named chelsea after a judy collins song? - --jussi ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:01:01 -0400 From: jw1327@rcn.com Subject: Rancom Thoughts/CyberHell/Joni! Joni! Joni! (longish)1. Hi (again), guys- I just returned to NYC (boo!) from a wonderful week in LA (yea!) si I'm still suffering the combined effects of jat lag PLUS valium (I HATE to fly)- Whilst in LA I responded to a couple of items on the list, but never saw my posts appear, so I'm assuming it was because I was using a remote computer rather than my own dear, precious Mac here in Manhattan- ANYWAY... here goes again: I had posted a few thoughts abouit the TNT concert- they were: 1. JAMES TAYLOR! Now I know he;s gotten some flak here, but I gotta say that the interasction between him and Joni literally brought tears to my eyes- such a long and strong and enduring friendship! Such history! It was magical to witness. I pray to God that I have friends in my life so enduring and so loyal- And ok, ok- so his version of "River" had a lot more to do with his own song "Like Everyone She Knows" than it did with Joan's song, but so what? Must every cover of a Joni song be a slavish re-creation of the original? I think Joni herself (forgive me for thinking and speaking for her- duh!) finds the more original twists on her work interesting... 'least she seemed to at Joni's Jazz last summer (TOSHI REAGON!!! Where the hell was she??!!!) Speaking of James Taylor, a JMDLer wrote: >Otherwise the next shot of Joni was this quasi awkward look, back to JT begining his into to a very unique version of River then back to joni who is waving her hand with what could conceivable be a sour look which I interpreted to mean something along the lines of "I never did like your version of my song". This is a little nuance type thing but my impression was he had just used one of those phrases that only they knew what it meant but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out.< I couldn't possibly disagree more. Joni's little reaction came during the line "...gonna make a lot of money and quit this crazy scene" from River. MY take on it was Joan was saying "Nah! Don't do that! Why would you want to quit?" It was an affirming gesture, one steeped in love (and, if I may say, it was a message of one survivor to another!) 2. RICHARD THOMPSON: Eric Clapton isn't God- Richard Thompson is. I have always said that the three greatest songwriters alive today are Joni Mitchell, Richard Thompson, and John Hiatt (in pretty much that order)- and I thought Richard tore the place up! Magnificent playing and (gasp!) singing! Who better to sing Woodstock than he? Raw, poignant, yet strong. And my sense was that Joni was deeply engaged! One penultimate musician paying tricure to another- fantastic! Brought goosebumps! And his "Black Crow" brought down the house. Gosd it was fantastic- I only wish I was there in person! 3. I have never cared much for Cindi Lauper- until now. Her version of Carey was a revelation! Hot! Sexy! And really in tune with the original's underlying sensuality! Fabulous! 4. Wynonna! Yaa baby! Another super performance- AND she pinched Bryan Adam's butt! Takes a Southerner to inject some fun into a party i guess! I trhought she was great. 5. Another teary moment was Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter's rendition of Amelia- delicate yet strong- beautifull pl;ayed and sung- haunting. MAgnificent! Even Joni seemed moved by it. It was a transcendent moment for me! 6. Didn't care for Sweet Honey in the Rock one whit- sorry- there it is. 7. I agree with the person who suggested "Two Grey Rooms" as a choice for Sir Elton- tho I enjoyed his "Free Man...", a song about a brother (Geffen) sung by a brother (John)- "TGR) would work on that level too, as it was inspired by a gay love story... 8. The biggest disa[ppointment of the evening: k.d. lang, and not because of what she wore- she seemed like she was struggling- often off-key (a stunner for the pitch-perfect k.d.)- listless, low energy, kind of lounge-act-like. Too bad- I really love k.d. lang. 9. Cassandra Wilson, in my book, can do NO wrong. Strong, sexy, sultry, smokey- a beautiful rendition- true JAZZ. The genuine article. Always a priviledge to hear the redoubtable MS. WIlson. 10. Diana Krall was another highlight- words fail me! She sang that song as if it "...were written in her own blood" (wonder where I got that?) Ok- enough rambling. Think it's safe to say I liked it? James- wishing Wally could have seen it ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:05:45 -0400 From: jw1327@rcn.com Subject: Brenda/Sales Figures/Soundscan Hello Again! I would definitely be interested in seeing the report on Joni's sales figures- and am most interested to know how these figures wee attained! I have long wondered about her actual numbers! Are these SAoundscan figures? And if so, how does one have access to them?? JAmes ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:19:46 EDT From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) I have been privately emailed by several asking my why I didnt include Black Crow and Diana Krall in my lengthy critique. It was because I wrote the review over a weeks time and I inadvertently sent the one that didnt include them. They were among the last review segments that I had written. So Ive cut and pasted and included them here. I hasten to add that while I surely expected flames from those Hillary Clinton fans (touchy sensetive souls (just like the First lady) that they are) I ve been amazed at all the really funny and positive comments from around the listers. So here are my comments on Black Crow and Diana Krall. Krall lovers might want to skip this review for the sake of their well being.:: The two left out: Elton John final comment: There is a point just before the last verse of his song where he is actually looking to Larry Klein for the timing of the movement. It is very clear from this moment that Larry is in fact the band leader. Richard Thompson-Black Crow: There are two segments to this review, one of the song itself the other of the players. As for the song itself over time I have never really liked it that much. When I saw Joni do the song at the San Jose concert it sounded like a pastel melange of twists and turns without a discernable melodic hook. This performance changed my thinking and my appreciation. Musically it is a very unusual song. the chord changes and the keys modulate at seemingly odd places without preparing you for the change as most songs do. This song however demonstrates the genius of Joni more so than most. My hats off for her even writing it. The same mind that cranked out all those beautiful melodic tunes like Ladies of the Canyon, Night Ride Home all the way to Tiger Bones wrote this (comparatively speaking) Frankenstein Monster of a song. This song is "modern art". This song is the one Gaudi (look him up under City of Barcelona architecture) inspired her to write. The chord change that carries what is the songs hook takes a totally dissonant line and resolves it into a beautiful and very melodic place. For the first time I could see why Joni always does this song. Richard Thompson did a real good take on it in general. Perhaps because he cant do it as well as Joni he left out just enough nuances (the ones Joni does with the VG-8) to allow the core of the song to be heard for the first time. Multiple listenings do this. As for the second segment (the players) here again was what the band was assembled to do. They do the jazz oriented stuff better than the straight stuff. Richard Thompson IMHO while being a great acoustic player is an average electric player on the level he is on. people like Pat metheny, or people like Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, or even my favorite in this style Jeff Beck would have done a better take. Richards solo was shall we say not up to what the song required and the pedal steel guy was in over his head. Ultimately it worked. The song beat the pants off the players. Diana Krall: Before she played I was wondering how it was that I had never heard of her. After she played I understood. Shes from the Michael Bolton school of overrought singing attitude and the Ricky lee Jones school of lyric slurring. Of course following a master of the piano like Elton John I felt for her but there's an old rule in show business. If fate demands that you follow a master onto the stage you have two choices. (1) you can make your performance short and sweet, big smile, lots of personal charm, laud the subject of the event, thank the people and get the hell off the stage OR (2) {big mistake) attempt to show you are just as good as the master. Unfortunately Diana chose the latter. Her playing was so slow as to border on the turgid. She did the same thing to the audience that those gospel renditions of the national anthem that go on for 15 minutes do. The song doesnt have to sound like the casette is running low on batteries but she did a pretty good imitation of that. She slurred her lyrics so badly that if I didnt know them I would not have known what she had just said. She took lines that begged for comprehension and turned them into an impression of an intoxicated person. She gave accents to words that were bewildering. I realize we live in a world in which the opinions of many involve pretending that Yoko Onos art is really high grade and that yoko ono politicians are really great statespersons BUT I want you to look closely at the very close up of Diana Kralls fingers as she ends the song. Those fingers are literally shaking like a leaf. You wont see Elton Johns fingers shaking like that. Diana knew she was in way over her head but she didnt know the old rules of show business. Fortunately my nausea was to be instantaneously cured by the next section. Tony Bennet: Whew for a second there I thought he was going to do a song. Whoa Nellie. Cant you just hear the horn section (finger snapping) "Once in a while in a big full moon there comes a night like this....." Instead we hear the inimitable notes in counterpoint of Turbulent Indigo and Tony does his narration of the video highlighting Jonis art. Magnificent. GREAT pictures of such a beautiful woman. She looks adorable. The art is so interesting I wish we could have an exhibit here. Followed quickly by the appearance of Joni herself. Poor Diana she had to be sandwhiched by two giants. {{{ Thats it for now tune in next week when we have our Tribute to KD's wardrobe, brought to you by Pennzoil.......}}}} Hugs to all, marcel. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:57:05 EDT From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: entertainment weekly In a message dated 4/30/00 11:47:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time, j.pukkila@pp.inet.fi writes: << > What was fake about it? Like k.d. lang's attire, I do not understand why > anyone is making an issue of this. The woman is the First Lady and named her > only child after a song by Joni. It seems to me that anything LESS than what > was done would have been a grievous oversight. > > Paul I my first sentence actually refers to the et feature, not the hillary clip. wasn't it so that the clintons thought for a long time that they named chelsea after a judy collins song? --jussi >> No, never heard that. Seriously doubt there's any truth to it. Sounds more like something the ex-cocaine snorter and ditz George The Shrub would think. Paul I ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 13:11:35 -0500 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: entertainment weekly IVPAUL42@aol.com wrote: > wasn't it so that the clintons thought for a long time that they named > chelsea > after a judy collins song? > > --jussi >> > > No, never heard that. Seriously doubt there's any truth to it. Sounds more > like something the ex-cocaine snorter and ditz George The Shrub would think. > Actually, it's true. It wasn't until the Clintons met Judy at the White House that they discovered that Joni, and not Judy, had written the song. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:16:00 EDT From: IVPAUL42@aol.com Subject: Re: entertainment weekly In a message dated 4/30/00 1:03:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time, notaro@bayflash.stpt.usf.edu writes: << Actually, it's true. It wasn't until the Clintons met Judy at the White House that they discovered that Joni, and not Judy, had written the song. Jerry >> Maybe. Or maybe they knew it at the time and then forgot or got confused. It's not like they spend all their time writing back and forth on computer e-mail about Joni or Judy. Paul I ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:32:37 EDT From: MDESTE1@aol.com Subject: Re: entertainment weekly In a message dated 00-04-30 13:05:41 EDT, notaro@bayflash.stpt.usf.edu writes: << Actually, it's true. It wasn't until the Clintons met Judy at the White House that they discovered that Joni, and not Judy, had written the song. Jerry >> HILLARIOUS....the Clintons invited JUDY COLLINS but not Joni. Absolutely clueless. I am rolling on the floor at this point. The whole matter is getting deeper. This entire Hillary appearance is now resembling a Dan Quayle bonk-up. LOLOLOL. marcel. np. It Takes A Village (limited Edition- the one with the 7x10 foot poster for your study) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:38:10 EDT From: Siresorrow@aol.com Subject: list down? either the list is down, everyone got a better life, i moved into an alternate reality, or i was thrown off the list. pat ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:45:57 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) In a message dated 4/30/00 10:24:15 AM US Central Standard Time, MDESTE1@aol.com writes: << Richards solo was shall we say not up to what the song required and the pedal steel guy was in over his head. Ultimately it worked. The song beat the pants off the players. >> Marcel, While I agree with you that Thompson's "Black Crow" was a barnstorming rocker and worked in every way, in *NO*way was Greg Liesz, aka 'the pedal steel guy' "over his head" - quite the contrary. On the '98 concert tapes, the shining solo for me is always Greg's pedal steel work on this song. It simply adds so much new color and qualities. And it ain't just *my *opinion...Greg is THE session man for the pedal steel these days. Take a break from your burgeoning fashion-modeling career (:-D) and read the liner notes - Greg is everywhere, from Dylan to Lucinda Williams to a zillion others I don't even know about. He wasn't at the Tribute just because he had the night open...he is simple the most respected player around. And he's a heckuva nice guy to boot. While searching for Joni in Atlanta, we had the pleasure of riding the elevator with him and talking to him about his performance. He's very humble and genuine, a great combination to have along with his immense talent. btw, I thought Krall a little on the pretentious side as well... Bob NP: Elliott Smith, "son of sam" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:46:21 EDT From: Siresorrow@aol.com Subject: River / Travis just saw this on the rt list and thought it fit here. i've never heard of travis aside from mark n travis. pat ==== Anyhow, I'd heard the second Travis album at his place last year, more or less in the background, and didn't find it objectionable. I'd actually found "Why does it always rain on me" to be a classic sort of pop single - something that The Turtles might have done in the Sixties, maybe - without realising who the band was. And then came the slight revelation. I was in the record store in January, and they were playing a really creditable version of Joni Mitchell's "River" - done quite straight. I discovered this was an extra track on a Travis single, which I bought on spec - then went back next day to get the second album. I've played both discs quite a lot since, and while I don't think they're in the same league as some of my alltimefaves, I still haven't tired of them. I've heard other stuff too, by Travis, which makes me think I'd enjoy them live. In particular I like the fact that they do (with apparent enjoyment/respect) older material by other artistes (like Joni, the Beatles and even Britney Spears!) Shows they are not so wound up in their infallible belief that they need to write all their own material - which is where many another contemporary band comes unstuck. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:35:28 -0700 From: Randy Remote Subject: Re: Tribute Tape Review (the two left out) MDESTE1@aol.com wrote: > > Richard Thompson IMHO while being a great acoustic player is an average > electric player on the level he is on. people like Pat metheny, or people > like Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, or even my favorite in this style Jeff Beck > would have done a better take. With the exeption of Beck, these guys are more technicians than artists. IMO. Diana Krall: Before she played I was wondering how it was that I had neverheard of her. After she played I understood. > > Diana knew she was in way over her head Sure Reg is a great piano player, however, I think if he tried to play real jazz alongside Ms Krall, he would be the one in over his head. RR ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 15:49:25 EDT From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: list down? Pat writes: << either the list is down, everyone got a better life, i moved into an alternate reality, or i was thrown off the list. >> None of the above. I think everyone has posted so much after Joni's tv appearances (especially the TNT Tribute), it's particularly slow this weekend. However tonight Joni appears on VH1's "1970- Behind the Music" at 9:00 ET......and then only 12 MORE DAYS til the tour begins. This is the calm before the storm. BTW Pat, before you get thrown off the list, Les will first make you stand in the corner for punishment :-{) Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 15:51:52 EDT From: CarltonCT@aol.com Subject: Flo and Eddy, Hillary, who chose? Technically, it wouldn't really be a cover, but it might have been included in the recent covers collection: a parody of Joni Mitchell done by Flo and Eddy (sp?). Does anyone remember these guys? They were kind of the Weird Al Yankovich (sp?) of the early Seventies and did parodies of other bands and singers. I heard their Joni parody once back in 1973 and it made me laugh -- though even then I felt a little like Joni was too sacred to parodize. It sounded a little bit like Radio and one of the lines was "I'm gonna tell everyone your jockey shorts are red" and ended with one of them warbling "I love you, I love you, I love you" in the Joni yodel of her LOTC days. I'd love to hear it again. As for Hillary, she has a duty not to separate from her husband while he is President of the United States. I am sure the U.S. could weather a presidential divorce, but overall, it wouldn't be a good thing for the country. In any case, I think it's a mistake to assume anything about the Clinton's relationship. Who knows what kind of arrangement they have? I am all for monogamous relationships, but I know plenty of people, gay and straight, who don't believe in monogamy and have made arrangements to allow for other sex partners. Bill and Hillary may be as much in love as they ever were, or their relationship may be a cooled friendship and/or political partnership -- who knows? Hillary may indeed be unhappy about Bill's womanizing or she may have accepted that he is a typical male who can't keep his snake in his trousers. In any case, Hillary's overly polished speech at the Joni tribute had the same glossy veneer as the delivery of a professional politician, but the story was genuine. I don't think there was much political advantage for Hillary in coming on the show as she was preaching to the choir anyway -- I am 100 per cent sure there are very few Republicans who listen to Joni Mitchell since Republicans are almost all a dispassionate group of people who by and large live in the suburbs in Harry's House. I am sure there are a few Republicans here (and they may come out of the closet on this list) and I know we have a few Libertarians, but Joni's own politics are closest to those of liberal Democrats. I remember the first time I saw one of her actual paintings was when she donated a few to a fundraiser for George McGovern in 1972. And Joni herself was someone who always enjoyed the freedoms of the Sexual Revolution -- a self-described serial monogamist who only married two of her many partners. I am sure she has a live and let live response to Bill and Hillary and that she had something to say about Hillary's appearance since Joni is also a resident of New York. Marriage is such a different situation for everyone who enters into it -- all of us make up our own rules as to what is or isn't acceptable within our own marriages. That's why I personally don't care whether Vermont chooses to legitimize "marriage" between same sex people or a "civil union". In the end, you don't need a "piece of paper from the City Hall to keep you tied and true." If you do, you're looking to some authority outside of yourselves to legitimate your union -- you want the church or the government to tell you that you're married as opposed to deciding it for yourselves. Maybe other listers from outside the U.S. would like to comment, but there isn't much in the way of sexual/political scandals in Europe. As long as European leaders are discreet, the press doesn't exploit the fact that a European leader may have a mistress as well as a wife. Interestingly, the press is making much of the fact that Austria's controversial new leader has Nazi tendencies, but they are not discussing his homosexuality. It's well known that the Queen of England sleeps in her own room and that Prince Philip has always had other women in his life. The whole Charles/Diana thing exploded because she was the first royal who decided her husband did not have the right to exercise traditional kingly privileges and bed Camilla. Anyway, what happens or doesn't happen in the Clinton's bedroom (or elsewhere in the White House) is strictly between them. Hillary is certainly bright enough to deal with the situation in the way that's best for her. I may have missed this part of the discussion anyway, but how did the artists at the tribute get selected? Cyndi Lauper was my favorite of the evening, but she has been missing from the music scene for years. Where were Joni-worshippers Prince, Madonna, Phoebe Snow, Indigo Girls, Jimmy Page, Sonic Youth, Seal, etc.? And does anyone know the song from Sonic Youth about Joni? Maybe that's a disc for the next tree: songs about Joni. NP: Donald Fagen, The Nightfly -- such a brilliant album ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 16:42:07 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Re: Flo and Eddy, Hillary, who chose? In a message dated 4/30/00 1:54:23 PM US Central Standard Time, CarltonCT@aol.com writes: << And does anyone know the song from Sonic Youth about Joni? Maybe that's a disc for the next tree: songs about Joni. >> Hi Clark, Even though the song (from their Daydream Nation) is called "Hey Joni", and I've listened to it a ton, I never made that connection. Here are the lyrics: Hey Joni put it all behind you hey Joni now I've put it all behind me too these times can't add up yr life is such a mess forget the past, and just say yes tell me Joni, am I the one to see you through? In this broken town can you still jack in and know what to do? I remember our youth, our high ideals I remember you were so uptight that time in the trees, we broke that vice we took some steps and now we can't think twice tell me Joni, am I right by you? Tell me how yr gonna lose this hard luck? Hey Joni, when will all these dreams come true? You'd better find a way to climb down off that truck shots ring out from the center of an empty field Joni's in the tall grass she's a beautiful mental jukebox a sailboat explosion a snap of electric whipcrack she's not thinking about the future She's not spinning her wheels she doesn't think at all about the past she thinking long and hard about that high wild sound and wondering will it last? Kick it Hey Joni, put it all behind you There's something turning, Joni, turning right to you my head burns, but I know you'll speak the truth, hey! hey Joni, put it all behind you hey Joni, now I've put it all behind me too forget the future these times are such a mess tune out the past, and just say yes it's 1963 it's 1964 it's 1957 it's 1962 put it all behind you now it's all behind you Have you read that this is indeed about OUR Joni? Bob NP: Sonic Youth, "Hey Joni" :~) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 16:52:04 EDT From: Julian51469@aol.com Subject: May 25th Show Hello all, To anyone who is going to the Joni show at the Merrieweather Post Pavillion...I would love to get in touch with you. I have since found out that the show is really our of town (I live in DC) <> I was hoping to rendezvous with folks here in town but it now seems that it would be better to maybe meet somewhere closer to the venue. Again, maybe someone has already figured this out and has a good idea of what to do. Please let me know... Take care, Julian ------------------------------ Date: Sun Apr 30 19:24:57 2000 From: Treehuggergirl25@aol.com Subject: bad music. does anyone besides me cringe whenever they think of all the new groups coming out these days.....N Sync, backstreet boys, etc? There are so many of them. And those girls like Brittney Spears and Christina A. are multiplying out of control. Every time i look, some other 16 year old girl singer with raccoon eyes is singing some awful pop song. Yeah, I go way overboard getting irritated sometimes....all i have to do is not listen, right? But still............maybe it's just a matter of preference. It is definitely not my style of music by a long shot. haha. rant and rave. - -angela ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 16:27:39 -0700 (PDT) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: Re: list down? Jimmy replying to pat: <> BTW, Joni's portion is on almost exactly half way through the program.....between the 30-35 minute mark.....might be able to catch it at a commercial break of the mini-series if you're crunched for time. ;-) And Jimbo, don't miss the other Joni appearance between now and the start of her tour.....Monday, May 8th on Leno. While we're on the subject of Leno, Catgirl wrote: <> Not to defend Leno, his trying to be cutesy flip doesn't go over well with me either, but he also had Joni on twice that same year. The second time it was just Joni and Brian Blade performing together. The best Joni performance of the four between Leno and Letterman that year imho. Penny :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us versus them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 19:37:19 EDT From: Ginamu@aol.com Subject: Hillary Clinton, Tribute and Rosie thoughts (SJC) In a message dated 04/29/2000 10:00:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, IVPAUL42@aol.com writes: << What was fake about it? Like k.d. lang's attire, I do not understand why anyone is making an issue of this. The woman is the First Lady and named her only child after a song by Joni. It seems to me that anything LESS than what was done would have been a grievous oversight. >> Yeah. The fact that the first couple named their daughter after Joni's song can only be indicative of the social significance of her work. If I named my daughter Chelsea, they wouldn't ask *me* to be in on the tribute. The fact that it was the First Lady's daughter is what makes it take on some meaning to the culture. Politicians are always sort of fake to me but that isn't to say that Hillary's introduction didn't have a place within the tribute. It completely made sense to me that it was included. In regard to k.d. lang's choice of attire and a whole host of other comments that have recently been made on the list: well, I was going to refrain from commenting but frankly I was slightly taken aback by some of the comments that have recently been made toward Rosie O'Donnel and some of the tribute guests. Someone commented on their suspicion that k.d. wore baggy clothes to cover up how much weight she'd put on. Someone else said something about their repulsion toward Rosie O'Donnel because without make-up she looked like a "mongoloid" and yet another lister said that JT should have been doing Rogaine instead of heroine years ago. James Taylor and k.d. lang are talented people. I for one couldn't care less how much weight has been put on or how much hair has been lost. As for Rosie O'Donnel, I don't know much about her but if she, an obviously "regular" looking woman, looks to someone like a "mongoloid" without her make-up on, I worry about the treatment of people who are truly odd looking, which is something beyond one's control. Don't get me wrong. This is not a PC rant, nor am I upset. I just wanted to get it off my chest. And by the way...despite the hair loss, I think JT is damn good-looking still! Reminds me of the Christine Lavin song: I Love Bald Headed Men! It's hilarious! Take care and smiles to all, Gina NP: 'Till You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Aretha Franklin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 19:52:44 -0400 From: "Ken (slarty)" Subject: Re: bad music. Joni Said it best- Junk food for Juveniles Treehuggergirl25@aol.com wrote: > does anyone besides me cringe whenever they think of all the new groups coming out these days.....N Sync, backstreet boys, etc? There are so many of them. And those girls like Brittney Spears and Christina A. are multiplying out of control. Every time i look, some other 16 year old girl singer with raccoon eyes is singing some awful pop song. > Yeah, I go way overboard getting irritated sometimes....all i have to do is not listen, right? But still............maybe it's just a matter of preference. It is definitely not my style of music by a long shot. > haha. rant and rave. > -angela ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:20:36 -0400 From: "Brian Workman" Subject: Re: May 25th Show I'm going...and live in Columbia. Meet afterwards in Columbia or what? Let me know and I can advise. I, unfortunately, have to work the next day... Brian - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2000 4:52 PM Subject: May 25th Show > Hello all, > To anyone who is going to the Joni show at the Merrieweather Post > Pavillion...I would love to get in touch with you. I have since found out > that the show is really our of town (I live in DC) > > <> > > I was hoping to rendezvous with folks here in town but it now seems that it > would be better to maybe meet somewhere closer to the venue. Again, maybe > someone has already figured this out and has a good idea of what to do. > Please let me know... > Take care, > Julian > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 21:59:39 EDT From: Guitarpoint@aol.com Subject: Re: bad music. << Does anyone cringe whenever they think of all the new groups coming out these days ... N Sync, backstreet boys, ect?>> I'm sick of all the 9-16 year old prodigies in pop music (publicity term) but I am happy when my son brings home Brittany Spears melodies and not bustin a rhyme. ( me at 39 tryin to sound like one hip and groovy father) Dave c ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 19:03:32 -0700 From: "Brenda J. Walker" Subject: Re: bad music. Why would you be unhappy about your son "bustin a rhyme"? At least there is some rap that is more ingenius and musicly interesting than Britney Spears....besides, she's just a wanna be hip hop girl anyway... Guitarpoint@aol.com wrote: > << Does anyone cringe whenever they think of all the new groups coming out > these days ... N Sync, backstreet boys, ect?>> > > I'm sick of all the 9-16 year old prodigies in pop music > (publicity term) but I am happy when my son brings home Brittany Spears > melodies and not bustin a rhyme. ( me at 39 tryin to sound like one hip and > groovy father) Dave c > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:18:27 EDT From: Relayer211@aol.com Subject: Re: bad music. In a message dated 4/30/00 7:27:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Treehuggergirl25@aol.com writes: << does anyone besides me cringe whenever they think of all the new groups coming out these days.....N Sync, backstreet boys, etc? There are so many of them. And those girls like Brittney Spears and Christina A. are multiplying out of control. Every time i look, some other 16 year old girl singer with raccoon eyes is singing some awful pop song. ............maybe it's just a matter of preference. >> No,it's not just a matter of preferance.The music sucks.It's trash,"musical junk food for juveniles" as Joni put it.There are millions of people who share your views. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:27:29 EDT From: Guitarpoint@aol.com Subject: Re: bad music. << Why would I be unhappy about your son bustin a rhyme"? >> because if he didn't buy Brittany spears, i would have to. : ) Dave c ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:32:04 EDT From: SCJoniGuy@aol.com Subject: Joni Mitchell - Diary of a Decade, Paintings 1980-1990 Part 1 Since several have complained that the list is a little slow, I'll take the opportunity to fill in the gap with some text taken from the program of Joni's show in London at the Rotunda Gallery, Broadgate Circle, 11 September - - 7 October, 1990 (I'm guessing it was 1990 anyway based on the text). Now, I may not be the biggest fan of Joni's paintings, but I *am* a gig fan of Joni's art fans! :~) So here goes...btw, Les is going to be copying this onto his site so it will end up there. Obviously, it would help to have the paintings to look at too, but this will have to do for now. Part 1 Joni Mitchell is a juggler, she has that rare ability to keep numerous balls in the air; her music and her art revolve at the same speed and in the same celestial orbit. She can juggle many ideas and modes of expression, none more so than in her work as a painter. Over the past ten years she has experimented with figuration, abstract expressionism and subsequently a fusing of these two seemingly disparate forms of picture-making. At the beginning of the decade Joni Mitchell was engaged in a series of paintings with a strong autobiographical theme expressed through a form of lyrical figuration. When she first embarked on her career as an artist, in the early 1960's, it was her intention to become a photo-realist painter. This was very much in vogue at that time in Canada as exemplified in the work of Christopher and Mary Pratt. She survived one year at the Alberta College of Art, only to reject a formal art training, preferring to learn for herself the alphabet of drawing and painting through direct contact with artists working in the much wider cultural milieus of Toronto and New York. In this manner she acquired her skills and knowledge and a strong self-discipline which has remained with her throughout her creative life. Joni Mitchell is an admirer of Paul Gaugin who represented in his work an arcadian state geographically isolated from the her and now but ultimately expressive of its exigencies and emotions. In a similar way in such paintings of the early 1980's as "Up on the Roof" 1981 and "Charlie The Bull Dying in Mexico", 1980 she uses an iconographical framework which allows a symbolic representation of remembrance. This is particularly true of her paintings entitled "The Mud Club", 1983 which records her encounter with Georgia O'Keeffe and the subsequent relationship which developed between the two women. The unusual title for this work is taken from the fact that O'Keeffe and her companion Juan had been making clay vessels and they called themselves the "Mud Club". Looking at the picture one is reminded of Marcel Proust's observation that 'What we call reality is a certain relationship between sensations and memories which surround us at the same time'. End of Part One ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2000 #167 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe onlyjoni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?