From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2007 #128 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/onlyjoni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Saturday, April 28 2007 Volume 2007 : Number 128 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Miles Beyond [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: Wild Things Run Fast [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: DJRD soon to come/Blue Motel Room/Fiddle..etc.. ["mike pritchard" ] For The Roses brings birthday happiness [RoseMJoy@aol.com] Re: Wild Things Run Fast, now TTT [Bob Muller ] In defense of Blue Motel Room [Dave Blackburn ] Miles Beyond.... [Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com] Re: Miles Beyond.... [Bob Muller ] Re: Wild Things Run Fast, now TTT [jeannie ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:10:58 +1000 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Miles Beyond Billy, you got down my feelings about MOA precisely. I love S&L very much. Joni's enthusiasm and a killer line up of musicians that inspired me to delve more deeply into jazz is a landmark album but, MOA should go to the top of the list of underrated Joni albums. I don't believe Tom Scott's music is in the least dated. For me, it stands up well today and is the kind of well crafted music I look for in bands now. Scott was innovative and was the perfect backing for Joni. The interplay there was special. It was Joni's early foray into jazz and it gave her an opportunity to be a bit experimental. The LA Express shifted easily between jazz, rock and blues. Listen to the flip side - Tom Scott's, "Love Poem" with Joni doing some very subtle vocals. The mid 70s was my favourite Joni period. I feel that she was at her height as far as her enthusiasm for music and her musical curiosity. She was at the cross roads of her taste for jazz yet, still revered a good rock song. Her lyrics were even varied enough to touch the many with personal experience of her battles in love and her urge to warn the world of impending social disasters. Joni will always make me sit up and take notice but, it was this period that took hold of me first and stick around for the long haul. Her voice was strong enough then to take on her most challenging vocal arrangements. I strongly recommend listening to Dave Blackburn's remaster or the HDCD version of MOA to really experience the clarity of Joni's voice. My 2". NP Blue (MOA) - Joni ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:26:43 +1000 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Wild Things Run Fast Hi Jeannie. Joni has talked extensively about where her head was at during the writing and recording of WTRF and the joy of new love with Larry was definitely the over ruling factor in most of the songs. She has talked a lot about the reviews criticising how many times she mentions the word, "love" on the album and how many people were cynical about romantic love in the '80s. Mark in Sydney NP The Magdalene Laundries - Joni with The Chieftains ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:09:47 +0200 From: "mike pritchard" Subject: Re: DJRD soon to come/Blue Motel Room/Fiddle..etc.. Monika said >>As far as the Fiddle And The Drum goes, well I always skip it (except a live version I have). I like the concept behind the song but I can't help but wish there was musical accompaniment to it. Is there a version that Joni ever did with guitar or piano on that song? << I am surprised that Bob Muller didn't mention the excellent version of Fiddle/Drum by Danilo Perez on piano and Lizz Wright on vocals (speaking from memory, but I think there's more than just a piano intro to this; I'll check later). I'm not sure if latino jazz is Monika's thing, but if she wanted to give it a shot, there it is. I'd be happy to send it as an mp3 if she wanted it. mike in barcelona np Mythical Kings and Iguanas - Dory Previn npimh Overjoyed - Danilo Perez ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:15:26 +0100 From: missblux@googlemail.com Subject: Blue Motel Room Is it Kevin who has Blue Motel Room on his list of things he wished Joni never wrote? I think this is my favourite song on my favourite album. Do we all have a list of songs that we will sing if we are stuck somewhere with no music and noone to talk to? I must have sung Blue Motel Room in every part of the world I have ever visited, doing every menial job I ever had to do, any time I had to drive a long distance, whenever I was left alone on a train etc... I always found it cool and elegant and intimate and flirtatious, and clever.... When I first heard Hejira I thought Joni was the height of sophistication and cool, especially on that song. Comparing her love life to the Cold War, and meeting up in neutral cafes - I just thought it was so cool. And still do! What don't people like about it...? Kevin...? Bene ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:34:01 -0400 From: Victor Johnson Subject: Re: Blue Motel Room On Apr 27, 2007, at 7:15 AM, missblux@googlemail.com wrote: > Is it Kevin who has Blue Motel Room on his list of things he wished > Joni never wrote? I think this is my favourite song on my favourite > album. > I like this song as well...it's the perfect counterpart to other more busy songs like Black Crow, Song for Sharon, Coyote . It balances well with Hejira and Amelia, both of which are so intense. A nice respite... Victor ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:25:08 EDT From: RoseMJoy@aol.com Subject: For The Roses brings birthday happiness Last night I went to the Celtic Cottage to see Bob Burger with frequent special guest Jim Leahey (son of the late great Jazz guitarist Harry Leahey)...anyway it was Lisa's birthday and some friends came with birthday gifts. Someone had given her Joni's FTR cd...in the middle of the Bob & Jim's 2nd set, you hear screaming....You found it! she screams with joy! This went on for a good 3 minutes...lol It seems the poor girl had a hard time finding that CD in the local music stores... rosie just sharing that story in NJ ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:39:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Wild Things Run Fast, now TTT Well, it's certainly not ALL content. Lead Balloon, No Apologies, TTT, Man From Mars - are not really songs of content. There was some contentment, to be sure - Crazy Cries, Love Puts On A New Face, Stay In Touch, My Best To You, but Crazy Cries does mix the frustration of not being able to freely express love without exposing yourself with the random joy of it all, and Face Lift mixes the joy of love with the frustration of being held in contempt by your Mother over it. My guess is that what was fueling her contentment was her newly-found relationship with her daughter, her cats, and other personal relationships, Donald Freed being one of them. Hey, I'm happy to do it - I'm enjoying all the new voices and delurking going on these days, your voice being one of them. Bob NP: Joni, "Big Yellow Taxi" - --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:50:53 -0700 From: Dave Blackburn Subject: In defense of Blue Motel Room Much has been said (and no doubt remains to be said) about the philosophical depth of certain songs on Hejira (Hejira, Refuge of the Roads, Amelia) as well as others which offer rich Shakespearean character portraits (Old Furry, Coyote, A Strange Boy, possibly even the absent Sharon by inference). Blue Motel Room appears, on the surface, to contain neither; It has an easy swing groove from another era (the romantic Bing Crosby era that Joni grew up in and loved--as she describes in the WOHAM DVD). Some feel that its torch ballad vibe is out of place stylistically on the album, and that the sentiments are relative fluff compared to the penetrating insights and poetic craft so evident on the Hejira album as a whole. I offer these thoughts: Blue Motel Room reveals a side of Joni seldom shown before or after: namely, sweetness. Vulnerability is all over Blue of course, and self reflection is everywhere in her career, but there's a particular sweetness in her plain language here: "will you still love me when I get back to L.A town" or "I hope you'll be thinking of me, because I'll be thinking of you, when I'm traveling home alone." Perhaps "See you Sometime" shows a similar side of Joni but I can't think of many other examples from her work of such unguarded softness and femininity. As such, I think the song offers an almost unique angle of this most complex woman. Here she is the opposite of the tough worldly rock star, the later political ranter or the sardonic commentator on humanity's baseness. Joni the girl is still visible here. Dare I say it, but it's sexy... Then thematically, on a road album, what could be more apt than home sickness in a drab motel room in the pouring rain in the opposite corner of the continent from where you live? Road adventures when alone usually contain more of that feeling than exciting liaisons or spiritual awakenings, even though she manages all three on this legendary trip (that we all wish we were a fly on the wall for). As Joni often does, she word associates heavily in this song: on the word "Blue", not for the first or last time. Blue bedspread, blue motel room, the blues inside and outside my head (no doubt suggesting the relaxed blues feel of the music to her). For a painter, what could come more naturally than seeing the connections between and connotations of colors. The poet is still crafting language threads even with her "high falutin'" switch turned off. I also love the cold war metaphor, anachronistic as it became. She probably saw some TV news in her blue motel room with some Soviet/US developments about peace talks and instantly wove that beautifully into the song. BMR, as acronymic BM calls it, is a lovely piece of colored cloth that fits into Hejira's rag rug in a gentle and most sensuous way. I love it... Dave ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:54:06 -0400 From: Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com Subject: Miles Beyond.... Another vote of support for Miles of Aisles here as well. I feel similar to the way Billy does about MOA. For me, You Turn Me on I'm a Radio is an example of a song from MOA that surpasses the studio version and the version of Blue is pretty fantastic as well. Bob - I was curious what you meant when you said that the band had not held up very well over time? In addition to MOA, the LA Express were featured on C&S and I recall Tom Scott was also on FTR. Would you agree that those albums all hold up pretty well? Happy Friday !! Stewart ================================================================================= NO way, Bob--I completely disagree. 'Miles of Aisles' is, well, MILES beyond what you've stated (see below). Her swooping, soaring vocals were never more gorgeous than they are here. And--most noteworthy--the majority of classics from 'Blue' ("A Case of You," "The Last Time I Saw Richard," "All I Want" and "Blue") completely transcend their original versions (the sole exception being "Carey"). And unlike the completely unsuitable, often bombastic accompaniment on 'Shadows and Light' (courtesy of Pat and Jaco's over-the-top guitar and bass virtuosity, which--on S&L--were nearly the instrumental equivalent of hearing Whitney's and/or Mariah's often histrionic approach to singing), on 'Miles of Aisles' the focus is squarely on Joni and her uniquely profound "earlier" compositions (and the songs she'll always be best remembered--and most acclaimed--for), as opposed to the post-'74 stuff. In short, MOA is mostly "unfettered and alive" so-to-speak, compared to the flashier, more desperate sounding S&L. So, no question about it--'Miles of Aisles' showcases Joni's artistic (not to mention, performing) brilliance at it's absolute--and most appropriate--zenith. Promptly thereafter, she was sadly replaced with a "pod person" (LOL) ...straight outta 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers.' XXXOOO, Billy ... on a roll today ;-) ====================================== The Mullerman (scjoniguy@yahoo.com) wrote: >>>It's ('Miles of Aisles') very dated. The sound of the band has not held up very well over time. And almost every one of the songs are better in their studio incarnations, "Rainy Night House" being the one big exception. And in that case, the studio version is pretty damn excellent as well. Bob<<< - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail message (including attachments, if any) is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary , confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and erase this e-mail message immediately. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:43:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Miles Beyond.... Not the band, but the *sound* of the band on MOA. The musicians were and are superb, and they along with all the other additional musicians (essentially the Crusaders) shine on C&S. I just think the arrangements of most of the songs (when the band plays) sound dated. Now, that can be a great thing if you like it and I can certainly see how lots of people do and even prefer it to the more challenging avant-fusion sounds on S&L. It ain't no big deal really, it's not like I don't like the album - I do. But not nearly as much as I do S&L. Bob NP: The Shins, "Red Rabbits" - --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:24:28 -0700 (PDT) From: jeannie Subject: Re: Wild Things Run Fast, now TTT Hi Bob and All, Well, these are the Joni topics that get my blood running. I want so much to discuss TTT now. Yet, I can't until late tonight. Thanks Again, Bob. I guess you're one of the Joni Intelligentsia Group..I hope I am too! There are so many noble and fantastic and rowdy Yates type of folk here. This place is the best I've ever seen, heard or felt. Sincerely, Jeannie NP: Ry Cooder... 'I Think It's Gonna Be Alright' from the record Bop Till You Drop ~Buddy~ comes tonight :) - --- Bob Muller wrote: > boyfriend then, too? > > > Well, it's certainly not ALL content. Lead > Balloon, No Apologies, TTT, Man From Mars - are not > really songs of content. There was some contentment, > to be sure - Crazy Cries, Love Puts On A New Face, > Stay In Touch, My Best To You, but Crazy Cries does > mix the frustration of not being able to freely > express love without exposing yourself with the > random joy of it all, and Face Lift mixes the joy of > love with the frustration of being held in contempt > by your Mother over it. > > My guess is that what was fueling her contentment > was her newly-found relationship with her daughter, > her cats, and other personal relationships, Donald > Freed being one of them. > > mean > that with all of my heart. I'm serious, too!> > > Hey, I'm happy to do it - I'm enjoying all the new > voices and delurking going on these days, your voice > being one of them. > > Bob > > NP: Joni, "Big Yellow Taxi" > > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2007 #128 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she? (http://www.siquomb.com/siquomb.cfm)