From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #175 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, June 25 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 175 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Mr Smooth's Lead Balloon, and f**king ageism [Michael Paz Subject: Re: Mr Smooth's Lead Balloon, and f**king ageism Hi Walt I love Michael Franks. I worked with him for one day at House of Blues back in the day. I also went to see him the night that Jack Neilson died. It was so hard to sit thru that show even tho I love him so much. He has a place on Sanibel Island down in Jimmy land. Best Paz (on my way to Oakland to sit in with My Morning Jacket tonight at the Fox Theater and then on to Kate Wolf Fest tomorow and hopefully see Randy Remote) Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com On Jun 24, 2011, at 2:39 AM, Walt Breen wrote: Hi all, Don't know how many Michael Franks fans there are amongst the jmdlers, but I'm one. On his 1999 release Barefoot on the Beach, Michael has a song called Mr. Smooth. Here are the lyrics: In every city whether it be large or smallHis tired playlist dronesBut some of us remember how much choice there wasBefore he took the throne He's Mr. Smooth, his Hipness, the GreatFor Mr. Smooth's verdict we must waitSo Mr. Smooth when our turn comes roundDear Mr. Smooth,We only hope it wont be thumbs down. His power and reputation he earned cleverly:Play fifteen second tracksAnd tape the electrodes to the average JoeAnd see how he reacts The rest of us mere mortals on the treadmill traceOur work-a-day gulagAnd strive for tone until the day he falls from graceAnd rivals fold the flag of Mr. Smooth We bow to Mr. SmoothKowtow to Mr. SmoothWe're stuck with Mr. SmoothDon't f**k with Mr. Smooth! The song reminds me both of Lead Balloon and Taming the Tiger, which came out around the same time. I can't help but wonder if they're talking about the same person, or just a generic type. Is there any consensus as to whose face Joni threw the drink into? On another note, I'm sick of all those one-and-two-star ratings given in the public review sections on Amazon (I read them out of a sort of dread fascination) where inevitably someone says Gee, I used to love all of [pick a name of an artist over 60]'s albums, but s/he sounds so old/tired/out of peak condition/pick anything ageist to say. ARRGGHH. What do they expect? Have they looked  or sung into a mirror  lately? One guy who didn't like Frank's Barefoot album referred to a very recent picture on Amazon's Michael Franks page and said Well, no wonder [he sounds so bad]!! The guy's pushing 70, moron, what do you expect him to look like? (Imho, he's still very handsome, and I swear his voice, never a belting mechanism, hasn't changed to my ear in his 35+ years of recording.) But even if it had as has Joni's and Dionne's, where's the big surprise? Sorry, just getting that off my chest. Walt "Little" Breen Well, I'm learning it's peaceful With a good dog and some trees Out of touch with the breakdown Of this century We're not gonna fix that up Too easy (Joni Mitchell, "Electricity", 1972) Let the walls come tumbling down Let them fall right on the ground Let all the dogs go running free The wild and the gentle dogs Kenneled in me (Joni Mitchell, Jericho, 1974) Visit my website: www.learninginsights.info ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #175 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe