From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2010 #150 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, June 1 2010 Volume 2010 : Number 150 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Joni Covers, Volume 125 - June at the Window [Bob Muller ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 10:06:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Muller Subject: Joni Covers, Volume 125 - June at the Window Greetings once again from Joni covers central, where there's always plenty going on. Why, since Volume 124 came out, we've surpassed #700 in our list of BSN covers, a fact that is mentioned not once but twice in the latest book about Joni. Beaming with pride I was! But I can never take ALL the credit - I always get some help, and this month I thank Mark-Leon and Michael Nold for their assistance. And as is usually the case, you'll find a wide variety of selections and will surely find some that you'll want to add to your collection. You can download the bunch of them here: http://tinyurl.com/3af9hv3 And here's what's on it: 1. Steve Shapiro & Pat Bergeson - Free Man In Paris: Very close to Joni's own, but adds some nice soprano sax and some vibes, which I always love. Very playful and light, a fun way to get the party started. 2. The Michael Nold Band - Night Ride Home: Michael and band recorded this and sent it to me directly - sweet! They put a country and western twist on it and throw in some nice harmonics and pedal steel and take the pace as if they were trotting along on their ponies and not speeding along in a motor vehicle. 3. Tabitha Fair & The Little Monsters - Big Yellow Taxi: Pretty basic...Tabitha and a group of children (The Little Monsters in question) celebrate Earth Day 2009 with this version of Joni's #2 cover. What it lacks in creativity it makes up for in enthusiasm and sincerity, so I'm cool with that. 4. Suss von Ahn - Both Sides Now: Swedish singer-songwriter Suss von Ahn recorded her take on the franchise on her 2008 Japan-only release. Anytime I see a BSN in excess of 5 minutes I know it's going to be good and this one certainly is very pretty and features a lovely arrangement. 5. Cantarra - A Case Of You: 6. Cantarra - Woodstock: As their website states, Cantarra is a 4-woman vocal and percussion group. Based in Canada, they were nominated for Best Vocal Group of 2009 in that country's Folk Music Awards. These 2 selections come from their 2009 release and prove that their nomination was no fluke. Simultaneously sounding very tight but still very comfortable, their arrangements are solid and their voices have a nice blend. The soaring harmonies (specifically in ACOY) and light percussion additions are also nice. 7. Bremner Duthie - Court & Spark: OK, this sounds really, really weird at first, and it's not something I think many of you will flip over, but if you get into the preachy jazz thing he's going for you can find some fun in it. The arrangement is nice and the musicians are solid, and he certainly makes it his own. He grew up in Scotland, immersed in folk music, but trained in opera and avant-garde in New York, and the varied influences and interests certainly are evident in these selections. 8. Bremner Duthie - Court & Spark (slight return): Same artist, same song, totally different take. Just voice and guitar - proving again how versatile Joni's material is. Bremner describes himself as a singer/actor, so his acting skills aid him in finding 2 totally different interpretations. 9. Kelsey Lockhart - The Hissing Of Summer Lawns: Staying very true to Joni's recording, Kelsey introduces the song to a new generation with this 2009 recording. Ever so slightly just misses a note or two, but for the most part a solid shot at a song that doesn't get covered enough. 10. Cheryl Bentyne - Both Sides Now: From her 2008 release titled "Songs Of Our Time". Manhattan Transfer fans will recognize her name as she has been a member of that group as well as a Grammy winner in her own right as a composer. As would be expected, her vocal is wonderful and this recording also features some killer sax. Definitely one you'll want to hear again. 11. Lisa Chupity - Urge For Going: From her 2009 release - long-time readers will know that I LOVE this song, but boy, I have to say that this take is a bit of a stinker. Lisa messes up some of the words, loses her place on some rythmic parts, and is, as Randy Jackson would say, a bit pitchy throughout. Lisa is a Northern California resident and plays here and there in the area. Hopefully this is one of her weaker entries. I will say that the guitar is pretty much on the mark. 12. Penny Allison - River: Penny's got a big voice and puts a country-ballad kind of voicing on River. This track comes from a 2008 Christmas album issued as a fundraiser to fight cancer and is really solid, except that she asks for a River so wide instead of so long. Remember people, if you want to skate away, the LENGTH is more important than the width. 13. Michael Arden - A Case Of You: This unreleased live recording is really nice, Michael has a pure, beautiful voice which totally fits ACOY. The performance is from his 2008 appearance at Joe's Pub where he performed Blue in its entirety. 14. Nick Vernier Band - Woodstock: From The Netherlands, Nick and company put an interesting trip-hop thing on Woodstock and it also features Ian Matthews (from Matthews Southern Comfort who had a huge hit with it on that side of the pond). The instrmental solo pays tribute to that recording as well. A nice twist on the song imo. 15. The Dawntreader - Theresa Elsmore: 16. California - Theresa Elsmore: 17. Carey - Theresa Elsmore: All 3 of these tracks came from YouTube videos. Now, if you think Joni had a helium voice, get a load of Ms. Elsmore! Her Dad, a big Joni fan, plays guitar and Theresa sings - some of these were recorded when she was only 13, which makes the high notes a little easier I guess. Anyway, I like the heart and soul of these, the true amateur spirit, doing it for love and not money. They also get kudos for set list; The Dawntreader and California are not among the more common songs in Joni's canon and are two of my favorites of hers. 18. Nes 'n Jazz - River: More Joni from The Netherlands. This unreleased track comes from the band's website and takes Joni's Christmas classic at a slow meandering pace, featuring a solid female vocal and some nice electric guitar work. Has a live feel to it, raw but real. 19. Andy Hislop - Big Yellow Taxi: A solid vocal with some nice harmonies and some fun fiddle work too. 20. The Unknown Folksinger - Both Sides Now: COmes from a 1978 album titled "Song To Aging Children", that's about all I know - after all he is the unknown folksinger. Even more bizarre is that there's no singing - it's an instrumental track. Oh well, I've gotten used to lots of surprises here in Joni Coverville! And there you have it folks - Volume 125 in the can, presented for your listening pleasure. Thanks again for the interest, and if you have any thoughts to add, please feel free to do so. Bob NP: Nes 'n Jazz, "River" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 18:50:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Monika Bogdanowicz Subject: Joni lyrics mention in article "We are stardust, Billion year old carbon We are golden Caught in the devil's bargain, And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden." ^The above was in a Psychology Today article. You can read the entire article if you'd like at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/bear-in-mind/201005/back-the-garden (Nothing monumental but nice to run into some Joni without expecting it) - -Mon ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2010 #150 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe