From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #244 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 Tuesday, November 25 2008 Volume 2008 : Number 244 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- SV: Rank. Singer songwriter plus genre ["Marion Leffler" ] Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s [Lieve Reckers ] Re: Little David [Catherine McKay ] Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s [Laura Stanley ] Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s ["Corey Blake" ] Re: Little David [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: Play, Little David, Play [Bob Muller ] Re: Little David ["Corey Blake" ] Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s [Bob Muller ] Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s ["Jim L'Hommedieu" ] SV: joan baez, singer/songwriter of the early 1970s - SJC ["Marion Leffle] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:43:06 +0100 From: "Marion Leffler" Subject: SV: Rank. Singer songwriter plus genre Oops - you're right,Rian, Joan Baez is a singer, not a songwriter, I forgot. Marion - -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Fren: owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org] Fvr do9eatdo9@yahoo.com Skickat: den 23 november 2008 22:42 Till: joni@smoe.org Dmne: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter plus genre Em wrote : I would add "Honky Chateau" in there. Also, "There Goes Rhymin' Simon". Michael then added: I didn't pick Lennon because I never really thought of him as a "singer songwriter", but as Monika picked George Marion also added: Joan Baez >>> But i thought Elton John is not a real singer songwriter. His songs are written by Bernie Taupin. Elton then adds the music. Correct me if i'm wrong. Same with Joan Baez, she didn't wrote the song, did she? As of Lennon, yes, just like Michael, I never consider Lennon as a "singer songwriter". I don't know why even though Lennon really wrote the music and lyric and sang it himself. Plastic Ono Band (1970) is a powerful album. Very raw. Very honest. And sometimes it scares me. But what make a singer songwriter a "singer songwriter" anyway? 1. The singer sings his/her own composition 2. The lyrics must have "confession" value 3. The music is simple, i mean, a guitar and a piano with a little drum is enough. 4. Not experimental. 5. Released in late 60s to late 70s 6. The roots : pop/folk/rock. Pure Jazz and R&B and pure country aren't included. Well, correct me please. What appear in my mind when it comes singer songwriter are artists like Joni, James, Carole, Dylan. Rian ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:21:18 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s 1. Joni Mitchell - Blue 2. Carole King - Tapestry 3. Carly Simon - No Secrets 4. James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and Blue Horizon 5. Neil Young - Harvest 6. Van Morisson - Moondance 7. Your pick Actually, just the way you had them, Rian. Too many to choose from for number 7. Possibly Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John or The Kick Inside by Kate Bush, Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd (is it supposed to be a single sing/songwriter?) or Aja by Steely Dan or Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel or Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens. Mark in Sydney NP The Arrangement - Jenny Goodspeed ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:29:29 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Little David Wow, Corey, you are a wealth of knowledge. I thought Mia's post was a revelation but this is even closer. Mark in Sydney ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:18:39 +0000 (GMT) From: Lieve Reckers Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s What a fun question, Rian! But I don't think I'll bother to rank them, because I almost like all of them just as much. Bob Muller, I can't believe you never did anything more than LOOK at Carly Simon's No Secrets!B I thought it was actually a very good album, never equalled by anything else she ever did afterwards.B Songs like "The Carter Family" and "Waited So Long" resonated very deeply with me, even more at that time than Joni's songs, probably because they were much easier to understand.B (So no, I don't think they were better, but they were veryB incredibly direct and honest,B and musically pretty good.) I also love Harry Nilsson, but am not sure he fits in with Rian's description of being "confessional".B But I guess that's a dangerous line to draw.B For instance, what about Randy Newman?B I'd happily add the following to the list (some already listed by others): Roberta Flack: First Take Janis Ian: Between The Lines Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks Paul Simon: There Goes Rhymin' Simon Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water Leonard Cohen: Songs of Leonard Cohen Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left/Bryter Layter/Pink Moon Cat Stevens and Donovan belong there too, but maybe on a slightly lower rank. Anyway, I'm sure I'll remember more that I shouldn't have forgotten, as soon as I press "send"! Lieve in London PS My youngest son Laurence (21), who's very much intoB all sorts ofB music including rap and trance/house, recently discovered James Taylor somewhere on the internet, and absolutely LOVES him!B So I introduced him to Carole King's Tapestry and he was hooked too!B He's now asked to borrow some Joni Mitchell CDs, I'm waiting with great interest whether he's going to get it, and I think he will!B His older brother Thomas (23) has already started enjoying Joni's music several years ago. PPS Sorry for all the "B"s that will most likely turn up in this message again.B I guess it must be the fault of Yahoo, but it's really annoying and only seems to happen on this list.B If anyone knows how I can avoid it, do let me know! Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:54:21 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s Here's my ranking, Rian: 1. My pick - Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson from 1971 2. Neil Young - Harvest 3. Joni Mitchell - Blue 4. James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and Blue Horizon 5. Carole King - Tapestry 6. Van Morisson - Moondance 7. Carly Simon - No Secrets (have never heard it, though I did look at the cover a lot) Bob ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:40:14 -0500 (EST) From: "Jerry Notaro" Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s Lieve Reckers wrote: what about Randy Newman? Yeah. A Randy Newman mention on the list! I highly recommend Harps and Angels for all. and Donovan belong there too I saw Donovan and Cheap Trick do a Sgt. Pepper's and other Beatles' songs concert on Friday. It was wild, fun, and for some reason I thought of you all, especially Pazman, enjoying it with me. Jerry NP: Shawn Colvin - In the Bleak Mid-Winter ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:05:21 +0000 (GMT) From: Anne Sandstrom Subject: another smurf gem Wow! thanks for the video clip and the recording of Bob/Ethel. See, you just have to laugh "cause it's all so crazy." And as funny as Ethel is, how about Bob's Jackie Mason does Joni. I swear I just about peed my pants the first time I heard Bob do Jackie as Joni at Chuck E.'s house. Genius! Pure genius! lots of love, Anne p.s. where's Wally K? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:11:04 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Little David Here's a version by Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman from "Spirituals in concert" (combined with "Over my head." https://rcpt.yousendit.com/628014253/ed63d8ba00dd215c1f939250871b585f - --- On Sun, 11/23/08, mia _ wrote: > From: mia _ > Subject: Little David > To: joni@smoe.org > Received: Sunday, November 23, 2008, 10:48 PM > Here is a cute video of "Little David, Play on Your > Harp" performed by some > really cute kids. > > The song definitely has a similar feel to Joni's Little > David song: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhQKipn89dE > > Mia > > (wow, my links are actually working again in my email > account - 'tis the > season of miracles!) > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to > suspicious email. > http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_safety_1 > 12008 __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:33:14 -0800 (PST) From: Laura Stanley Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s Rian asked: How would you rank these great singersongwriter albums from early 70's (from the very best to the least best) (least best? ah, you know what i mean) 1. Joni Mitchell - Blue 2. Carole King - Tapestry 3. Carly Simon - No Secrets 4. James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and Blue Horizon 5. Neil Young - Harvest 6. Van Morisson - Moondance 7. Your pick Hi Rian, In the early 70's, I wasn't listening to any of these albums... just the radio here in the South. I didn't own any albums of my own. In the later 70's, the albums I had and was listening to were: 1. Bob Dylan, Greatest Hits Vol. Number 2 2. Bob Dylan, Desire 3. Joni Mitchell, Clouds 4. Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark 5. Joni Mitchell, Ladies of the Canyon 6. Fleetwood Mac, Rumors 7. Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven 8. ELO, ELO 9. Aerosmith, Aerosmith 10. Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic I don't care for the music of James Taylor and Carly Simon. They are like cheap wine to me. I prefer the bourbon of Carole King, Neil Young, and Van Morisson but didn't get into them until later. Love, Laura ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:42:52 -0500 From: Russell Bowden Subject: early 70's top 5? Do you mean at that time or in retrospect? at the time... Cat Stevens..Teaser and the Firecat Gordon Lightfoot..Don Quixote Simon and Garfunkel..Bridge Over Troubled Water Carole King..Tapestry..oh, yeah Jethro Tull..Aqualong in retrospect Joni Mitchell..Court and Spark Bob Dyaln..Blood on the Tracks Jethro Tull..Living in the Past Yes..Close to the Edge Cat Stevens..Tea for the Tillerman Love, Russ Happy Thanksgiving to All. Mischief Managed _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_faster_1 12008 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:40:04 -0800 From: "Corey Blake" Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s Of these? 1. Carole King - Tapestry 2. Joni Mitchell - Blue 3. James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon (Interesting you should pick this one. It's probably my favorite album of his despite the overdone "You've Got A Friend". But I always thought Sweet Baby James was sort of his acknowledged milestone album.) 4. Neil Young - Harvest 5. Carly Simon - No Secrets 6. Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky 7. Van Morrison - Moondance (The only reason it's last is because I don't have it yet. I'm sure it would place higher.) Of course I feel like Jackson's album should be higher. And certainly other worthy additions others have made like Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and George Harrison are excellent choices and feel criminal to leave off. I love lists but I have a hard time making them myself. Corey On Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 1:37 AM, wrote: > How would you rank these great singersongwriter albums from early 70's > (from the very best to the least best) (least best? ah, you know what i > mean) > > 1. Joni Mitchell - Blue > 2. Carole King - Tapestry > 3. Carly Simon - No Secrets > 4. James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and Blue Horizon > 5. Neil Young - Harvest > 6. Van Morisson - Moondance > 7. Your pick > > Rian > NP. Neil Young - After The Gold Rush > - -- http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:49:50 -0800 From: "Corey Blake" Subject: Re: Little David Thank you Mark! Although I noticed the lyrics I copies and pasted from one of those generic lyric sites has minor errors here and there, but it's right for the most part. I never knew about the old "Little David, Play on Your Harp" song, so that's quite a revelation for me, too. James must've heard Joni play her "Little David" song or heard the old traditional. Interesting stuff. Corey On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:29 AM, Mark-Leon Thorne wrote: > Wow, Corey, you are a wealth of knowledge. I thought Mia's post was a > revelation but this is even closer. > > Mark in Sydney > - -- http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:18:24 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Little David There was another discussion going before regarding a James/Joni cross over. The Gift of The Magi. Mark. On 25/11/2008, at 8:49 AM, Corey Blake wrote: > Thank you Mark! > > Although I noticed the lyrics I copies and pasted from one of those > generic lyric sites has minor errors here and there, but it's right > for the most part. I never knew about the old "Little David, Play > on Your Harp" song, so that's quite a revelation for me, too. James > must've heard Joni play her "Little David" song or heard the old > traditional. Interesting stuff. > > Corey > > On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:29 AM, Mark-Leon Thorne leon@iinet.net.au> wrote: > Wow, Corey, you are a wealth of knowledge. I thought Mia's post was > a revelation but this is even closer. > > Mark in Sydney > > > > -- > http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me > > Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:20:25 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Play, Little David, Play I've got a handful of bootlegs with her singing it, Mia - and I don't recall her ever mentioning that connection - and as you know, I am pretty obsessed with those early songs too. I remember getting the Second Fret tapes and looking at the tracklists and thinking to myself "Oh my god, you mean there's MORE?" Bob NP: The Rolling Stones, "Love In Vain" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:25:36 -0800 From: "Corey Blake" Subject: Re: Little David Oh really? Drat, I completely missed that. Are there accessible archives of this list kept anywhere? Corey On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 2:18 PM, Mark-Leon Thorne wrote: > There was another discussion going before regarding a James/Joni cross > over. The Gift of The Magi. > Mark. > > On 25/11/2008, at 8:49 AM, Corey Blake wrote: > > Thank you Mark! > > Although I noticed the lyrics I copies and pasted from one of those generic > lyric sites has minor errors here and there, but it's right for the most > part. I never knew about the old "Little David, Play on Your Harp" song, so > that's quite a revelation for me, too. James must've heard Joni play her > "Little David" song or heard the old traditional. Interesting stuff. > > Corey > > On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:29 AM, Mark-Leon Thorne wrote: > >> Wow, Corey, you are a wealth of knowledge. I thought Mia's post was a >> revelation but this is even closer. >> >> Mark in Sydney >> > > > > -- > http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me > > Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU > > > > - -- http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:32:38 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s Well, believe it. Her voice never really appealed to me, and the two hits on the album (and "You're So Vain" specifically) were SO OVERPLAYED on the radio there was no way I was going to get it. I was intrigued when she came out with "Another Passenger" because it featured The Doobie Brothers and Little Feat (two of my favorite bands at the time) and was produced by Ted Templeman, their producer at the time. It was a solid record - I even upgraded to CD when it came out. I also bought Playing Possum and Come Upstairs, which I thought sucked, and I have "My Romance" as it was gifted to me but I don't care for that one either. Well, I replied to his original post before he added that caveat, which I (and Joni) thought was silly anyway - she bristles at being called a confessional songwriter. I thought my choice of Nilsson's LP (which I had to replace because I wore out the grooves) was nothing short of brilliant. At least I knew not to refer to Jethro Tull, Steely Dan, and Pink Floyd as singer songwriters - ha! Bob NP: Amy Correia, "Life Is Beautiful" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:35:17 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Little David Yes, Corey. You can search the archives on http://wwwjmdl.com Mark. On 25/11/2008, at 10:25 AM, Corey Blake wrote: > Oh really? Drat, I completely missed that. Are there accessible > archives of this list kept anywhere? > > Corey > > On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 2:18 PM, Mark-Leon Thorne leon@iinet.net.au> wrote: > There was another discussion going before regarding a James/Joni > cross over. The Gift of The Magi. > > Mark. > > On 25/11/2008, at 8:49 AM, Corey Blake wrote: > >> Thank you Mark! >> >> Although I noticed the lyrics I copies and pasted from one of >> those generic lyric sites has minor errors here and there, but >> it's right for the most part. I never knew about the old "Little >> David, Play on Your Harp" song, so that's quite a revelation for >> me, too. James must've heard Joni play her "Little David" song or >> heard the old traditional. Interesting stuff. >> >> Corey >> >> On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:29 AM, Mark-Leon Thorne > leon@iinet.net.au> wrote: >> Wow, Corey, you are a wealth of knowledge. I thought Mia's post >> was a revelation but this is even closer. >> >> Mark in Sydney >> >> >> >> -- >> http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me >> >> Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU >> >> > > > > > -- > http://www.CoreyBlake.com - a whole lot of me > > Newest video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlQ9gU-9HU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:55:16 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s 1. Joni 2. Paul McCartney's stuff from the 70s, without apology 3. Stevie Wonder 4. Bob Dylan I have every non-compilation by James Taylor but he's not in my top 4. Jim L'Hommedieu How would you rank these great singersongwriter albums from early 70's (from the very best to the least best) (least best? ah, you know what i mean) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:00:15 -0500 From: David Eoll Subject: Re: joan baez, singer/songwriter of the early 1970s - SJC > From: "Marion Leffler" > Subject: SV: Rank. Singer songwriter plus genre > > Oops - you're right,Rian, Joan Baez is a singer, not a songwriter, I forgot. > Marion Depends what era you're talking about. Like her folk compatriot, Judy Collins, Joan was almost exclusively an interpreter of others' work in the 60s. But by the late sixties both women were beginning to write their own songs. And by the 70s they were both (especially Joan) firmly in the singer/songwriter category. I think Joan's first published tunes were on the Joan album (1967) which was the middle one of the hauntingly beautiful trio of albums that she did with neo-classical composer Peter Schickele (aka P.D.Q. Bach). There were two songs on there that she wrote the music for, North and Saigon Bride, that someone else wrote the words for. Her first fully authored songs were published in 1970 on the One Day At A Time album (my sometimes favorite): Sweet Sir Galahad and A Song For David (I always want to call that one Stony Gate, I just caught myself again). The last record she did for Vanguard was Blessed Are... it was a double album and about half the songs were hers including the heart-wrenching title track. That was 1971, which certainly qualifies as the early 1970s, and even though the album is only half her own material, I'm going to give it to her. In my book, she is officially a singer/songwriter of the early 1970s. Marion, I think you mentioned Diamonds And Rust. She wrote that song and several others on that album. The song Diamonds And Rust is, of course, about Bob Dylan, a fact that she denied to him. She told him it was about her ex-husband. And Bob was like, "Yeah, whatever." I agree. I mean, c'mon Joan, only a fool could listen to that song and think it was about anyone else but Bob. I think she later fessed up in an interview and admitted it was about him. As some of you may know (I'm thinking you in particular, Bob) Joni accompanies Joan on scat vocals on the song Dida on that album. I lose track of her after that album, but I believe some of her later albums are 100% her. Although I think she's every bit the musician Joni is, she's hardly in the same category of songwriting. I understand that Joni considers her songwriting peers to be Dylan and Nyro. Hmmm... yup, I'm good with that, Joni. Cheers, David ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:55:27 +0000 From: Patti Parlette Subject: Wally Lamb, Joni, and Smurf: The rainbow connection Dear Joniamigos: Now I can tell you the *rest* of the story. "Love is a story told...." Now don't say I didn't warn ya: this will probably be one the longest JMDL posts ever, so sit back (we have a rocking chair), grab a cup of kindness or, if there's no good reception, then tune me out. When I wrote about seeing Wally Lamb on November 11th, standing two whole hours in line to get him to sign *my* copy of The Hour I First Believed? I had to leave out the best part, because it was a secret. (Listen. Do wah do. Do you know to know a secret? I've known the secret for a week or two, nobody knows, just we few.) My only channeled aspiration was getting the book autographed for Smurf (not me), and to ask the question he told me to ask the LAST time I saw Rich, errrr, Wally. That was another book-signing, for his second piece of non-fiction, I'll Fly Away (TIC! gorgeous wings and fly away...), which is a collection of stories written by women in York Correctional Institution. Wally helped to set their souls free. Well, I went to that reading and signing, but the line was so long that I left, and never got to pose Smurf's question: "Do you know that Joni Mitchell was NOT at Woodstock?" (See "She's Come Undone" under "Joni in Fiction", Smurf's baby.) I figured I'd see Wally again sometime, scrambling down in the streets of Mansfield Morgantown, and I'd ask him then. But that never happened. So on this November night in 2008, I am NOT to be denied. No wind, no rain. No winter's cold can stop me. I'm on a Mitchellian Murphy Mission. You bet your sweet Bobby's bippy! After Wally's wonderful reading and talk (what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man) and the two-hour wait in line, I finally reached the table. I won't repeat the whole conversation because I already reported on that. In a Joni-nutshell/nutcase of you: "Congratulations Wally, I'm from JoniMitchell.com, yada SHINE yada I quote Joni all the time, etc. He has good reception for me and does not tune me out. Then I ask the question, and we chat up Joni some more. Finally, I got to the heart of the matter and told him about our dear Bob Murphy who is Le Maitre Extraordinaire of our Joni in Fiction section, and that he now has pancreatic cancer. Wally gave a start, and winced with empathetic pain. He gave me back my sad and sympathetic smile, and kept my book to sign. (Merde! Camera to sell. Camera phone. Why didn't I take a picture? Regrets, coyotes!) It was such a real human -- heart and mind -- connection. I handed him a piece of paper, on which I had written: "To Bob Murphy, Joni did NOT attend Woodstock...I know THIS much is true" and asked if he would please write this for Smurf in his book. (All the while I am embarrassed at holding up the line. I figured the 50 or so people behind me were saying: "Who the hell does this chick think she IS? Kitty Welles?") I stood there as Wally was just chicken-scratching for Joni's immortality. As he handed me back the book, he smiled again and told me that he quoted Joni when he gave the commencement address when his son graduated from CT College, and I sparked: "REALLY? What WAS it?" Wally scratched his beard and said: "Gee, I don't..." and then I said: "Oh, my goodness. I'm sorry. There are so many people. Maybe some other time..." (I'd sure like to see him, sometime.) "Thank you, Wally." High as a kite, dizzy-dancing way you feel when every Wally tale comes real, all for the love of Smurf, I walked away and opened the book to the title page. And what to my wondering eyes should appear but a line I did not expect. Wally added his OWN line, spontaneous and original. He makes up his own tune, right on the spot. Just for our Smurf! "To Bob Murphy -- Joni did NOT attend Woodstock -- I know THIS much is true -- but maybe she was there in spirit? Wally Lamb" written in his finest hand, with big swoopy letters. Darn right, Wally! Of *course* she was there in spirit. We are all there in spirit. Stardust. Golden. "The ending of the tale is the singing of the song." Woodstock. But, ha. This is not the ending of THIS tale. Now, the next part. How to get the book to Smurf? Jody was having him over for the Thanksgiving Banquet come-to-the-dinner-gong, so I'll mail it to Jody Girl. Then she can see the look on his face. No trouble in their faces, not one anxious voice. None of the crazy you get from too much choice. Perfect! Especially because Jody and I have been singing this song to Bobby for over a year now, ever since we heard the news (oh, boy): (Youre not a kid anymore, Youre not a kid anymore.) When people ask of me, What would you like to be now that youre not a kid anymore? (Youre not a kid anymore.) I know just what to say, I answer right away. Theres just one thing Ive been wishing for. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Thats the most important thing to me. And if I was Bobbys girl, If I was Bobbys girl. What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. Each night I sit at home, Hoping that he will phone. But I know Bobby has someone else. (Youre not a kid anymore.) Still in my heart I pray, There soon will come the day, When I will have him all to myself. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Thats the most important thing to me. And if I was Bobbys girl, If I was Bobbys girl, What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Yep. She is BG1, and I am BG2. Smurf writes to us: "Dear Bee Gees:" Silly Bob! Anyway, we suddenly realize that the seasons are going round and round pretty fast, and we want to get this book delivered, dee sooner dee better. I contacted Kay, to see if I could meet her on the fine white lines of the free freeway, but she was taking a bus. And the bus had no driver on the top who could find me on the freeway. So Friday morning I stopped a postman passing by, and overnight-expressed it (expressway! to your heart!) to Parsonage Lane (which I hear is very similar to Sisotowbell Lane). I got the very nice postman (he has stamps of many countries) who remembered my headful of quandry many dim years ago when I could not decide between an Amelia stamp and a map of Canada stamp! Okay, so now the book is signed and sealed (w/ best wishes from the postman to Bob) and almost delivered I'm yours, with a ticket for its destination. Homeward bound. The planets were aligned. It arrived *just* as Ashara was leaving for Mass. General Hospital on Saturday, and she and Kay delivered it. Thank you, thank you! It's a group effort. It takes a Joni village. Yesterday morning, I had textual intercourse with Smurf. I'm sure he doesn't mind me sharing it with you. It's just so "smurf" that I have to. I thought there was a typo when I first read it (maybe he was typing in the dark? sweetness in the dark...), but of course Smurf don't make typos or junk. No siree, Bob. Voila: From Smurf: "PP, you truly outdid yerelf with my wonderful gift. Thanks! I love you." Sun, Nov. 23, 5:23 a.m. He likes it! Smurfy likes it! I love yu too, Shirl. Love you forever, and forever, love you with all my heart. We all do. With affection and respect, a little passion and lots of love for Smurf and everyJonibody who stayed with this story told, PP/BG2, and what a faithful, thankful girl I be. All of us be! P.S. If anyone would like a scan of Wally's inscription to Smurf, email me off-list and I will be delighted to share it. It may not be right away because I'm leaving on this flight tonight (tomorrow, actually) and will be gone for 8 days (a week), but it will come. _________________________________________________________________ Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to suspicious email. http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_safety_1 12008 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:55:27 +0000 From: Patti Parlette Subject: Wally Lamb, Joni, and Smurf: The rainbow connection Dear Joniamigos: Now I can tell you the *rest* of the story. "Love is a story told...." Now don't say I didn't warn ya: this will probably be one the longest JMDL posts ever, so sit back (we have a rocking chair), grab a cup of kindness or, if there's no good reception, then tune me out. When I wrote about seeing Wally Lamb on November 11th, standing two whole hours in line to get him to sign *my* copy of The Hour I First Believed? I had to leave out the best part, because it was a secret. (Listen. Do wah do. Do you know to know a secret? I've known the secret for a week or two, nobody knows, just we few.) My only channeled aspiration was getting the book autographed for Smurf (not me), and to ask the question he told me to ask the LAST time I saw Rich, errrr, Wally. That was another book-signing, for his second piece of non-fiction, I'll Fly Away (TIC! gorgeous wings and fly away...), which is a collection of stories written by women in York Correctional Institution. Wally helped to set their souls free. Well, I went to that reading and signing, but the line was so long that I left, and never got to pose Smurf's question: "Do you know that Joni Mitchell was NOT at Woodstock?" (See "She's Come Undone" under "Joni in Fiction", Smurf's baby.) I figured I'd see Wally again sometime, scrambling down in the streets of Mansfield Morgantown, and I'd ask him then. But that never happened. So on this November night in 2008, I am NOT to be denied. No wind, no rain. No winter's cold can stop me. I'm on a Mitchellian Murphy Mission. You bet your sweet Bobby's bippy! After Wally's wonderful reading and talk (what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man) and the two-hour wait in line, I finally reached the table. I won't repeat the whole conversation because I already reported on that. In a Joni-nutshell/nutcase of you: "Congratulations Wally, I'm from JoniMitchell.com, yada SHINE yada I quote Joni all the time, etc. He has good reception for me and does not tune me out. Then I ask the question, and we chat up Joni some more. Finally, I got to the heart of the matter and told him about our dear Bob Murphy who is Le Maitre Extraordinaire of our Joni in Fiction section, and that he now has pancreatic cancer. Wally gave a start, and winced with empathetic pain. He gave me back my sad and sympathetic smile, and kept my book to sign. (Merde! Camera to sell. Camera phone. Why didn't I take a picture? Regrets, coyotes!) It was such a real human -- heart and mind -- connection. I handed him a piece of paper, on which I had written: "To Bob Murphy, Joni did NOT attend Woodstock...I know THIS much is true" and asked if he would please write this for Smurf in his book. (All the while I am embarrassed at holding up the line. I figured the 50 or so people behind me were saying: "Who the hell does this chick think she IS? Kitty Welles?") I stood there as Wally was just chicken-scratching for Joni's immortality. As he handed me back the book, he smiled again and told me that he quoted Joni when he gave the commencement address when his son graduated from CT College, and I sparked: "REALLY? What WAS it?" Wally scratched his beard and said: "Gee, I don't..." and then I said: "Oh, my goodness. I'm sorry. There are so many people. Maybe some other time..." (I'd sure like to see him, sometime.) "Thank you, Wally." High as a kite, dizzy-dancing way you feel when every Wally tale comes real, all for the love of Smurf, I walked away and opened the book to the title page. And what to my wondering eyes should appear but a line I did not expect. Wally added his OWN line, spontaneous and original. He makes up his own tune, right on the spot. Just for our Smurf! "To Bob Murphy -- Joni did NOT attend Woodstock -- I know THIS much is true -- but maybe she was there in spirit? Wally Lamb" written in his finest hand, with big swoopy letters. Darn right, Wally! Of *course* she was there in spirit. We are all there in spirit. Stardust. Golden. "The ending of the tale is the singing of the song." Woodstock. But, ha. This is not the ending of THIS tale. Now, the next part. How to get the book to Smurf? Jody was having him over for the Thanksgiving Banquet come-to-the-dinner-gong, so I'll mail it to Jody Girl. Then she can see the look on his face. No trouble in their faces, not one anxious voice. None of the crazy you get from too much choice. Perfect! Especially because Jody and I have been singing this song to Bobby for over a year now, ever since we heard the news (oh, boy): (Youre not a kid anymore, Youre not a kid anymore.) When people ask of me, What would you like to be now that youre not a kid anymore? (Youre not a kid anymore.) I know just what to say, I answer right away. Theres just one thing Ive been wishing for. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Thats the most important thing to me. And if I was Bobbys girl, If I was Bobbys girl. What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. Each night I sit at home, Hoping that he will phone. But I know Bobby has someone else. (Youre not a kid anymore.) Still in my heart I pray, There soon will come the day, When I will have him all to myself. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Thats the most important thing to me. And if I was Bobbys girl, If I was Bobbys girl, What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. What a faithful, thankful girl Id be. I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl, I wanna be Bobbys girl. Yep. She is BG1, and I am BG2. Smurf writes to us: "Dear Bee Gees:" Silly Bob! Anyway, we suddenly realize that the seasons are going round and round pretty fast, and we want to get this book delivered, dee sooner dee better. I contacted Kay, to see if I could meet her on the fine white lines of the free freeway, but she was taking a bus. And the bus had no driver on the top who could find me on the freeway. So Friday morning I stopped a postman passing by, and overnight-expressed it (expressway! to your heart!) to Parsonage Lane (which I hear is very similar to Sisotowbell Lane). I got the very nice postman (he has stamps of many countries) who remembered my headful of quandry many dim years ago when I could not decide between an Amelia stamp and a map of Canada stamp! Okay, so now the book is signed and sealed (w/ best wishes from the postman to Bob) and almost delivered I'm yours, with a ticket for its destination. Homeward bound. The planets were aligned. It arrived *just* as Ashara was leaving for Mass. General Hospital on Saturday, and she and Kay delivered it. Thank you, thank you! It's a group effort. It takes a Joni village. Yesterday morning, I had textual intercourse with Smurf. I'm sure he doesn't mind me sharing it with you. It's just so "smurf" that I have to. I thought there was a typo when I first read it (maybe he was typing in the dark? sweetness in the dark...), but of course Smurf don't make typos or junk. No siree, Bob. Voila: From Smurf: "PP, you truly outdid yerelf with my wonderful gift. Thanks! I love you." Sun, Nov. 23, 5:23 a.m. He likes it! Smurfy likes it! I love yu too, Shirl. Love you forever, and forever, love you with all my heart. We all do. With affection and respect, a little passion and lots of love for Smurf and everyJonibody who stayed with this story told, PP/BG2, and what a faithful, thankful girl I be. All of us be! P.S. If anyone would like a scan of Wally's inscription to Smurf, email me off-list and I will be delighted to share it. It may not be right away because I'm leaving on this flight tonight (tomorrow, actually) and will be gone for 8 days (a week), but it will come. _________________________________________________________________ Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_access_1 12008 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:02:12 -0800 From: "Mark Scott" Subject: Re: Rank. Singer songwriter albums from early 70s - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Muller" > did anything more than LOOK at Carly Simon's No Secrets!> > > Well, believe it. Her voice never really appealed to me, and the two > hits on the album (and "You're So Vain" specifically) were SO > OVERPLAYED on the radio there was no way I was going to get it. It may have been overplayed but I still love 'You're So Vain'. One of the cleverest pop songs ever written with one of the greatest hooks, imo. > > I was intrigued when she came out with "Another Passenger" because > it featured The Doobie Brothers and Little Feat (two of my favorite > bands at the time) and was produced by Ted Templeman, their producer > at the time. It was a solid record - I even upgraded to CD when it came out. I have always thought that 'Another Passenger' has some of Carly's best writing on it. And she does a decent cover of 'It Keeps You Runnin' (backed by the Doobies, of course). I would also recommend 'Boys in the Trees', 'Hello Big Man' and 'The Bedroom Tapes' for those of the non-Carly bent who seem to think she's second rate in some way. Again, as I have said time and again, she's no Joni. But she is a highly competent and talented writer/performer of pop music. I was listening to 'Spy' today. It has some really good songs on it but it is so over-produced! But that was the standard at the end of the 70s before punk and new wave came along. >I also bought Playing Possum and Come Upstairs, which I thought >sucked, and I have "My >Romance" as it was gifted to me but I don't >care for that one either. I used to think 'Playing Possum' was an inferior entry but have since revised my opinion. Some solid writing on that one. Never could take to 'Come Upstairs' and 'My Romance' is not nearly as good as 'Torch' when it comes to the standards category. 'Torch', on the other hand is stellar. Unique approaches to the songs and she carries it off beautifully. > > Rian's description of being "confessional".> > > Well, I replied to his original post before he added that caveat, > which I (and Joni) thought was silly anyway - she bristles at being > called a confessional songwriter. I thought my choice of Nilsson's > LP (which I had to replace because I wore out the grooves) was > nothing short of brilliant. At least I knew not to refer to Jethro > Tull, Steely Dan, and Pink Floyd as singer songwriters - ha! Actually if you mentioned Ian Anderson instead of Jethro Tull, you have a very fine singer-songwriter. He wrote most, if not all, of Tull's material, I believe. Mark in Seattle Carly fan since the 70s ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:26:31 -0800 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: smurfadelia Cat wrote >my birthday. I will CHERISH it always.< 2 more smurfadelia memorabilia witticisms with the above ,kate ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:47:06 +0100 From: "Marion Leffler" Subject: SV: joan baez, singer/songwriter of the early 1970s - SJC Thank you, David, for the update on Joan B. I had the feeling she had written most of the songs on Diamonds and Rust herself but wasn't sure and do not own the album anymore so I couldn't check. (I am desperately trying to find the cd in some shop but haven't succeeded yet. It's one of my all-time favourites). Marion - -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Fren: owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org] Fvr David Eoll Skickat: den 25 november 2008 04:00 Till: joni@smoe.org Dmne: Re: joan baez, singer/songwriter of the early 1970s - SJC > From: "Marion Leffler" > Subject: SV: Rank. Singer songwriter plus genre > > Oops - you're right,Rian, Joan Baez is a singer, not a songwriter, I forgot. > Marion Depends what era you're talking about. Like her folk compatriot, Judy Collins, Joan was almost exclusively an interpreter of others' work in the 60s. But by the late sixties both women were beginning to write their own songs. And by the 70s they were both (especially Joan) firmly in the singer/songwriter category. I think Joan's first published tunes were on the Joan album (1967) which was the middle one of the hauntingly beautiful trio of albums that she did with neo-classical composer Peter Schickele (aka P.D.Q. Bach). There were two songs on there that she wrote the music for, North and Saigon Bride, that someone else wrote the words for. Her first fully authored songs were published in 1970 on the One Day At A Time album (my sometimes favorite): Sweet Sir Galahad and A Song For David (I always want to call that one Stony Gate, I just caught myself again). The last record she did for Vanguard was Blessed Are... it was a double album and about half the songs were hers including the heart-wrenching title track. That was 1971, which certainly qualifies as the early 1970s, and even though the album is only half her own material, I'm going to give it to her. In my book, she is officially a singer/songwriter of the early 1970s. Marion, I think you mentioned Diamonds And Rust. She wrote that song and several others on that album. The song Diamonds And Rust is, of course, about Bob Dylan, a fact that she denied to him. She told him it was about her ex-husband. And Bob was like, "Yeah, whatever." I agree. I mean, c'mon Joan, only a fool could listen to that song and think it was about anyone else but Bob. I think she later fessed up in an interview and admitted it was about him. As some of you may know (I'm thinking you in particular, Bob) Joni accompanies Joan on scat vocals on the song Dida on that album. I lose track of her after that album, but I believe some of her later albums are 100% her. Although I think she's every bit the musician Joni is, she's hardly in the same category of songwriting. I understand that Joni considers her songwriting peers to be Dylan and Nyro. Hmmm... yup, I'm good with that, Joni. Cheers, David ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #244 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe