From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #257 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 Monday, December 8 2008 Volume 2008 : Number 257 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- "The Story of Three Loves" ["Lindsay Moon" ] Top ten singers ["Marion Leffler" ] Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #256 [StDoherty@aol.com] Re: Your top 10 singers SJC ["Blair Fraipont" ] Magic Night (long) [Michael Paz ] "Mingus"-Sessions with John McLaughlin [Carsten Richter ] Re: Your top 10 singers ["Randy Remote" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 23:38:31 -0800 From: "Lindsay Moon" Subject: "The Story of Three Loves" Turner Classic Movies is showing The Story of Three Loves on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m (1:30 p.m. Eastern). Joni often refers to this movie that she saw when she was young and how Rachmaninoff's music in it swept her away. I have it set to record on my DVR. Lindsay from TCM.com: 1:30 PM Story Of Three Loves, The (1953) Passengers on an ocean liner recall their greatest loves. Cast: Ethel Barrymore, James Mason, Kirk Douglas. Dir: Gottfried Reinhardt, Vincente Minnelli. C-122 mins, TV-G, CC ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 17:32:35 +0100 From: "Marion Leffler" Subject: Top ten singers Gosh, that's a difficult one, Monika, at least for numbers 3-10. My first two are and have always been Joni and Leonard Cohen. I think Joni's vocal abilities are perfectly displayed on Miles of Aisles, and the songs of Leonard Cohen I would pick would be So long, Marianne, Hey that's not way to say goodbye, Hallelujah and There ain't no cure for love. Like with Joni, his phrasing always fits the songs perfectly and his voice, like Joni's, expresses all emotions. Joni of course used to have a much wider vocal range and flexibility than Leonard. Blue and A case of you come to mind as outstanding but then there are so many songs from that period and into the nineties, it's too difficult to chose any particular ones. I do love BSN 2000 version. I think she really manages to convey her life's experience and wisdom with her voice in that version. Okay, numbers 3-10, not in any special order: Elkie Brooks with songs like Only women bleed, Don't cry out loud, No more the fool. She has a rich, warm voice. Danish singer Hanne Boel. She has a soulful voice. I recommend her cover of How do you stop. Joan Baez, with songs: Farewell Angelina, Diamonds and Rust, Honest Lullaby. Like Joni, she is a very skilled singer with a wide vocal range. She is second to Joni to my mind because she does not have Joni's ability to put her unique personality into her singing. (Well, to me, nobody can touch Joni so that doesn't say very much:-)) This is displayed quite clearly in the song Dida, where Joni does the background vocals. Tracy Chapman, all her songs, really. She has a way to capture emotions and tell stories in a seemingly simple way that is unique. Art Garfunkel, all his songs. Yes, I do like a nice choir boy:-) Bruce Springsteen. Love his rock'n roll voice and honesty in Down to the river, for example. Rod Stewart. Sexy in Tonight's the night and bittersweet in The first cut is the deepest, plain and simple good old rock'n roll. And Barbra Streisand. Who can resist The way we were? She is a professional singer with great personality, I think. Marion ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 13:10:19 EST From: StDoherty@aol.com Subject: Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #256 In a message dated 12/7/2008 3:06:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org writes: Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:46:25 -0500 From: Deb Messling Subject: Re: Shemekia Copeland - Black Crow Wow! I really, really like this cover. I've never heard of this singer (I've never heard of anybody anymore). Is all of her stuff this good? I saw Shemekia at a Blues Festival in Albany (NY) years ago. She was quite young and sang the blues just fine. I think her father is a session player. Anyway - her singing seems different in this cut -- good but not what I remember of her singing (nor is it consistent with the one recording I have by her). She reminds me of Norah Jones in the Black Crow recording. **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 17:32:17 -0500 From: "Blair Fraipont" Subject: Re: Your top 10 singers SJC In no particular hierarchy: 1. Tabu Ley Rochereau - Christine 2. Esma Redzepova - Nakelavishe 3. Saban Bajramovic - Sandala 4. Aretha Franklin - Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool for your love) 5. Keith Richards - Little T&A 6. David Bowie - Teenage Wildlife, Ashes to Ashes 7. Joni Mitchell - the frailty of *Blue*; the reassured *Court & Spark*; the husky and stinging *Turbulent Indigo *(though "how do you stop the ripening corn" always makes me laugh); the *Mingus* era - it was the balance between the higher register and the encroaching lower 'smokiness' singing jazz that turned me on so much. 8. Little Richard - Slippin' and Slidin' 9. Frank Zappa - the *Sheik Yerbouti *era where he recorded his vocals so seemingly close to the microphone. 10. Nina Simone - Anything. (Except when she sang in French.) 11. Bryan Ferry - *Avalon, Taxi, As Time Goes By *12. Lotte Lenya - September Song 13. Laura Nyro - *New York Tendaberry *- She sounds like a wailing cat! 14. Curtis Mayfield - Only You Babe, I'm So Proud 15. Caetano Veloso - *Bicho* - especially O Lecozinho. Araga Azul 16. Captain Beefheart - Anything & Everything. 17. Bob Dylan - 1st: *Nashville Skyline. *2nd: *Slow Train Coming *to *Down in the Groove era. 3. *The Man in Me. 18. Wilson Pickett - I Found a True Love. 19. Stephin Merritt - California Girls, Love is like a bottle of Gin 20. Al Green - *Call Me* Blair On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 2:32 AM, wrote: > Oh Monika, i love you. > > My list. (not in order) > > 1. Joni Mitchell : Help Me, A Case of You, and Both Sides Now 2000 > > 2. Thom Yorke of Radiohead : How To Disappear Completely from Kid A. His > voice really fits the song, which is, in my opinion, suicidal. > > 3. Bjork : Pagan Poetry from Vespertine. Basically, i agree with what Chris > Martin said about her on Rolling Stone magazine. She's so unique. Original. > There's no 2nd Bjork in this universe. > > 4. Chris Martin of Coldplay : Clocks, from A Rush of Blood To The Head. > > 5. Stevie Nicks : Landslide and from Fleetwood Mac and Gold Dust Woman from > Rumour. Her deep dusty textured voice is just great. > > 6. Bono : Beautiful Day from All That You Can't Leave Behind. > > 7. Lauryn Hill : Ex Factor from The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. > > 8. Carole King : Been To Canaan, So Far Away, Tapestry. Because beauty > isn't pronounced bee-yoo-tee. > > 9. Aretha Franklin : Think and You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman. > > 10. Michael Jackson : Thriller and Billie Jean. > > I think I'm gonna add 10 more > > 11. Elton John : Rocket Man from Honky ChC"teau. This is my most favorite > Elton number, but damn, the most difficult one to sing too. > > 12. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin : Stairway To Heaven / Rock and Roll from > Led Zeppelin IV. > > 13. Whitney : Saving All My Love For You and I Will Always Have You and I > Have Nothing. > > 14. Christina Aguilera : Beautiful, Fighter, The Voice Within from > Stripped. > > 15. Sarah Vaughan : Misty, When Your Lover Has Gone > > 16. Freddie Mercury of Queen : Bohemian Rhapsody > > 17. Sheryl Crow : Riverwide from The Globe Sessions and Steve McQueen from > C'mon C'mon. She's a future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. > > 18. Billie Holiday : Good Morning Heartache and Strange Fruit. > > 19. Stevie Wonder : Overjoyed > > 20. Luciano Pavarotti : Nessun Dorma. > > > Rian ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 18:36:31 -0600 From: Michael Paz Subject: Magic Night (long) Hi Gang I am still recovering from last night. What a magical night! Freda and I went to HOB with a couple of friends and enjoyed the evening of singer songwriters for the first annual N.O. Songwriters Festival. Zachary Richard, Cassandra Wilson and Allen Toussiant sent the better part of 2 hours taking turns singing songs. Zack and Allen drew from only their own catalogs, but in a very interesting twist, Cassandra sang some covers as well. She had quite a bit of trouble with her guitar ( no audio ) but the crew finally got it together for her about half way thru. She said she had not been playing guitar for about 25 years. She had also chosen to being to players with her, a guitarist and a violin player. She did an amazing cover of Van's Tupelo Honey and then her last song of the evening was Gregg Allmans Midnight Rider. The rest of the songs were hers. Zack treated us to a couple of my faves from Cap Enrage as well as his lengthy catalog including a song from the upcoming release called The Levee Broke. He closed his part with a gem he wrote with PazFest veteran Brian Stoltz called Sunset on Lousianne ( a real tear jerker). Allen of course was all over the place with his selections including Java which alot of people did not he wrote as well as a 20 min closing number of Southern Nights. He told a lengthy story that I have heard umpteen times while touring with him. The crowd really loved it. Also in attendance were other vets from the PazFest, Leslie Smith (who recently lost her dad, renowned N.O. photographer Michael P. Smith) and Susan Cowsill.They both looked great and it was so good to see them. Lots of my friends and the local singer songwriter community was out in force. DUH! When Allen finished Southern Nights he introduced Jimmy Webb and stayed on stage and a short chat with him about their legacy in the biz. Allen told him it was the first time he had had the chance to thank him for all the checks that had come to him for recording his songs and one thing I did not know. Jimmy said that Glenn Campbell had come by his house to hear from songs for a project he was working on. When he got there, Jimmy happened to be listening to and Allen Toussaint record and Southern Nights was playing. Glenn loved the song and asked if he would play it again. He joked that he tried to steer him towards some of his own tunes but you could tell that he was so genuine in sharing this music with him. He said Glenn borrowed the record and never brought it back. A few weeks later Jimmy heard the cover of Glenn doing Southern Nights on the radio. While Jimmy was on I went backstage to say hi to Zack who was in great spirits and we had a wonderful visit. He gave some of his unreleased stuff that he is working on and asked me to send him some comments. He also sat me down right next to Cassandra who was SO nice. I did not know she had lived in N.O. and was from Jackson, Ms. We of course talked about Joni and I commented that I was surprised she did some covers and proclaimed that it would have been fun to hear her do some Joni. She told me that she is going to start playing guitar again. I told her about the jmdl site and the tunings and tab archive. She introduced me to the two ladies that accompanied her on stage, Mr. Dorise Blackmon on Guitar and Tanya Huang on Violin. Both of them eagerly commented on the Joni thing. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/mothertongues Anyway Cassandra told me that a friend had recommended the ladies to help her out. They are street musicians that I had seen before in the French Quarter on the corner of St. Peter and Royal streets a half a block from where I work at the Hall. These ladies rocked the house and complemented Cassandra in a very cool way. We had such a good time chatting that I totally missed half of Jimmy's set. He was in great voice and we could hear him below us from the green room. Susan told me later that she talked to him about working on a record in the near future. I got some shots of them hanging out on stage after the crowd (the unwashed) had departed. Will try and post some fotos this week on Facebook which is not working for me at the moment. Wish you ALL could have been there. Love Paz BTW check out the video for one of my fave Zack songs written about an area in New Brunswick I visited last year for the first time. http://www.zacharyrichard.com/videos/CapEnrage_vid.mov Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 01:46:25 +0100 (CET) From: Carsten Richter Subject: "Mingus"-Sessions with John McLaughlin Hello to JMDL, I'm a member of the "One Word Mailing List" (OW), which is dedicated to life and work of John McLaughlin. I'm also a huge fan of Joni and some other OW'ers are too. I'm working on some researching concerning Johnny Mc's participation on the "Mingus" sessions. There are many reports about these sessions, but some details are still unclear, so I wanna ask, if you can help us out here? First, there's an interview with John, where he pointed out, that his and drummer Tony Williams' tracks had been eliminated from the final mix of "Mingus". Most other articles speak of 3 "rehearsal bands", the "traditional band", the "fusion band" (with JMc) and the "Weather Report band", which all did "Mingus" versions before Joni went to record the album with her final choice of personal. But deleting tracks only make sense for the final album recordings, when material is going to be released. So the questions are, if John was part of the "fusion band" rehearsals, did they make demo recordings of this, and did John make it to the final album production with Shorter and Hancock too? And has anyone ever seen out-takes of these recordings? Then, the personal of the "fusion band" also is unclear. Both John and Joni mentioned a quartet wth Don Alias, Tony Williams and Jaco. But many other articles additionaly listed Jan Hammer and Stanley Clarke for that band. Does anyone here have any sources, which can bring some light into this? Last question. Back then in 1979, I read a little review in the news section of Down Beat magazine, which mentioned a club or a private live performance of "Mingus", with John McLaughlin, Hancock, Shorter and others. This article also announced the upcoming album release. The problem is, that I couldn't find this article at the Down Beat homepage, 'cause they didn't archive the news sections. Now I wonder, if my memory is correct here. Have you ever heard of such a live performance of "Mingus" wth John McLaughlin? And if so, are there any recordings or do you have the date and location? I hope you don't mind these questions here and I really would appreciate your answers. All the best from JM's to JM's, One Worder Carsten Visit ABSTRACT LOGIX The Center Of The New Musical Universe http://www.abstractlogix.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 18:01:53 -0800 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: "Mingus"-Sessions with John McLaughlin Hi Carsten- Hopefully others will have more details. The way I understood it, the Mingus album's songs were done with a band including McLaughlin, but those sessions were scrapped, and a subsequent band did the album versions. You're suggesting that some of the tracks from the McLaughlin sessions were used for the album. I don't know, that's the first I've heard of that. None of the recordings with McLaughlin, studio or live have ever been heard or circulated to my knowledge. It's high on the wish-list of Joni fans to hear those versions. RR ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 21:41:21 EST From: PassScribe@aol.com Subject: Re: Shemekia Copeland - Black Crow > From: Dave Blackburn > Subject: Re: Shemekia Copeland - Black Crow & JoniFest plug > > I like where this track seemed to be going more than where it went, > if you see what I mean. The reharmonization is cool, the bass and > organ are cool, but the singer never gets out of first gear, and this > is a tune where you can really let your "ragged soul take flight". > This version really didn't do anything for me as well, and I wasn't going to mention it since I figured it's only my/one person's opinion, but Dave seems to have summed up my feelings precisely so I will simply agree with him. Kenny B ************** Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp& icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 21:35:24 -0600 From: "mack watson-bush" Subject: Re: Your top 10 singers Thank you Monika, these are fun. Someone stretched to 20 and I will have to follow suit but it was very difficult to get down to that. Cannot believe making this list and Janis didn't make it. How times and we change. Bottom ten in no particular order: Aretha Franklin- Until You Come Back To Me Fell in love with this one when a teenager and not once in my lifetime has it failed to deliver when I hear it. The perfect tune. The sentiments are true. Melodic to perfection. And unlike many tunes this one doesn't faze out too quickly but she takes it all the way up to the sky one more time at the end. Remember spinning those 45's on the turntable over and over again until you filled that spot? And that voice. Candi Staton- Living for You Finally found a collection of some of her older tunes from the 60's and many just don't add up to want she did, briefly, in the 70's; the material wasn't as good and she had not matured into what she became. But when she got there, she arrived. Earthy, raw, real; 'stop and think just how good I've been to ya baby." Ooooooh!!!!!!!!!! Karen Carpenter- (the carpenters although we know about Richard, don't we?)- Superstar As smooth as melted butter each and every time and just as savory. Crying, calling, hoping, wishing. Come back. Ya said you would. I miss her. And I miss him (and Richard not of whom I write about) when she reminds me to. Cher- I Saw A Man and He Danced With His Wife Either like her or you don't. I happen to be a do. I prefer her older stuff more than anything since. 'Dixie Girl" will remind any small town girl that wasn't, isn't that popular or successful just how they felt, feel; cuz who had time to bother with that when waiting for him was always the most important darn thing. Dreams sometime do come true and this time, that night, that year, he did dance with me. " I saw a man but now he's dancing with me!" Daryl Hall- Holding Out for Love Fell in love with Daryl in college and the love affair continues. In concert he is everything I thought he would be. Not one ounce of disappointment. He has taken me up, down, sideways, netherways. This tune not heard by many but can bring the tear each and every time as the wistful turn of the head leads the stare out the window to the passing. Gladys Knight- I Said You Lied Shoot, there are so many it's hard to pick one. She can turn a phrase musically as good as any. "and there's much more than friendship when you're kissing like that." Judy Collins- Home Before Dark This tune breaks my heart in so many ways. He's gone, I left, little ones gone away. Inevitable loss and change. Delicious voice. Luther Vandross- Promise Me From cranking it up to crooning it out, I love my Luther. Silk. Nanci Griffith- Gulf Coast Highway Despite the social backwardness of Texas and those that stay stupid just for the sake of it, the perpetual demise of the environment, spewing out of the loathesome one, ignorance pervasive; I love the place. It's home, it's mine Nanci sings of our sweet state like no other. 'this is the only place on earth bluebonnets grow.' Rick Astley- Don't Ask Last time I wrote of him someone mocked the guy. Obviously the mocker had heard nothing but the pop stuff from way back and a pity for him. Rick's marvelous. Deeply he sings the ballads. Could wrap myself in him and never leave. Tender angst. Top ten in order: 10. Barry Manilow- You Oughta Be Home With Me I like him and make no excuses or bones bout it. The man knows how to do it. And darnit, don't ya know, 'you can love the one you're with but you can love the one you oughta be with." 'you oughta be home with me.' 9. Stephen Bishop- Looking For the Right One He's made me cry, perhaps more than any other. His grief transcends right into my soul and joins with my own when he sings. 8. Phoebe Snow- It Must Be Sunday She makes me think, just like Joni, Gino, Melissa and Carole. When lanquid, he sits upon the stoop and thinks of what wasn't when, what won't be then, and can do nothing to change any of it. So he simply cries. 7. Carole King- Oh No Not My Baby This particular one makes me feel like a teenage girl, which in some ways I was and will ever be, as I hold on forever to the forlorn hope that he loves me best and would never break my heart, which of course he did. Tapestry, Fantasy; a magician with melody. 6. Judy Garland- What'll I Do The majesty of the instrument is enough but added with the love I must feel for Judy makes her forever my friend. The most beautiful voice I could ever imagine for if I did do so, it would be this one. 5. Rickie Lee Jones- Living It Up We are, we were. Were we, did we? Could we again? She can turn a phrase as good as any and does. The shrieks, the moans, the yearning, the hurt, the abject joy. All in one singer. She and I could be great friends doing nothing. I miss my pothead days. 4. Joni- Let the Wind Carry Me or so many others. The deepest introspection she brings and as she so insightfully tells we lose good sleep when we dig down deep. Older now am I and the wheels get slow and caught in the mud. I for not much longer have the will or interest to pull myself from it. It did pass like the summer. 3. Barbra Streisand- My Man She makes one think more than given credit for does she. I've endlessly listened to her and never tire of it. That magical the Barbra. For one that had heart broken and endlessly with pine and cry for him to return, knowing he will never, her words and music are salve, and knife. Somehow it helps. 2. GinoVannelli- Wheels Of Life Getting inside of one's self not easy. At least with blinders off and guards left at the door. Masterfully searing and soothing in tune and word and thought. 'et if I should have only one tomorrow, it's a lifetime if I know I could spend that day with you. " 1. Melissa Manchester- Ruby and the Dancer She's been with me since the beginning it seems. She sings for me whenever I ask. She helps me whenever I cry for her. The ultimate satisfaction for Mack is the words, music, and essence of Melissa Manchester. 'so will you take me with you now, or have they taken you?" Those that love her know exactly what of she sings. I really do try folks to get more contemporary but all efforts fall flat. My kisses for you all, mack ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 17:09:39 -0800 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: Your top 10 singers Hard to limit it to 10. No order since they're all great. Billie Holiday-Billie's Blues Joni Mitchell-California Fiona Apple-On The Bound John Lennon-Yer Blues, Girl, Remember, Woman Stevie Wonder-For Once In My Life Mary Hopkin-Ocean Song Paul McCartney-Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Bob Dylan-Days of 49 Greg Lake-Living Sin Memphis Slim-Youth Wants To Know Also Frank Sinatra/Aretha/Ray Charles/Maryanne Price/Maria Muldaur/Roger Daltry/Robert Plant/Mick Jagger/CSN&Y/ Anne Wilson/Crissy Hynde/Stevie Nicks/Xtina Aguilera/Steve Winwood!/Roy Orbison/Jimi Hendrix/Curtis Mayfield/Shelby Lynne/The Bangles/Bill Champlin/Lydia Pense/Cab Calloway/ Joe Cocker/Simon & Garfarkle/Johnny Cash/Dave Gilmour/ Eagles/Emmylou Harris/Carrie Underwood/Dolly Parton/ kd Lang/Sheryl Crow/George Harrison/Astrud or Bebel Gilberto/ Alicia Keys/Jack White/Whitney Houston/Norah Jones/Sarah McLaughlin/Judy Collins/Peter Rowan/Elephits Gerald/ The Roches/Sheila Chandra/Janis Joplin!/Jon Anderson/Rickie Lee Jones/Norton Buffalo/Boz Scaggs/Patsy Cline/Pointer Sisters... What they all have in common is the ability to really sell a song. And hopefully impart some kind of humanity you can relate to. Asked the Mrs "who are the greatest singers in the world?" & she said "Joni Mitchell" and couldn't think of anyone else! RR > singers. I won't say make it the top 10 greatest (in ability) > -Monika ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2008 #257 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe