From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #215 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 Wednesday, August 3 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 215 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Nazareth at Barandgrill [Paul Castle ] Re: Cold Blue Steel [Catherine McKay ] Re: Cold Blue Steel [Catherine McKay ] Re: Cold Blue Steel [Catherine McKay ] CBSASW associations [betsyblue82@gmail.com] Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #213 [Stdoherty ] Re: Nazareth at Barandgrill [Dave Blackburn ] Re: It's About Time [Dave Blackburn ] Joni Berkeley 3/2/74 [Steve Dulson ] Re: CBSASW associations [Jamie Zubairi Home ] Re: Cold Blue Steel [Anita G ] Re: Cold Blue Steel [Catherine McKay ] Re: CBSASW associations [Catherine McKay ] Re: CBSASW associations [betsyblue82@gmail.com] Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire [Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com] RE: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire [Susan Tierney McNamara ] Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire [Michael Paz ] Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire [Catherine McKay ] Dowie Dens of Yarrow ... [Susan Tierney McNamara ] Re: Dowie Dens of Yarrow ... [Catherine McKay ] Re: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 ["johnnybgoode@lineone.net" ] Re: Cold Blue Steel, 100% JC ["Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Nazareth at Barandgrill Not sure how but stumbled across this in the London (Ontario) Free Press - http://bit.ly/qnVGAK > The loudest cover of any Joni Mitchell song ever > is likely to rock Hamilton Road next month. > Scottish metalheads Nazareth -- huge in Canada for > its mid-1970s' cover of Mitchell's This Flight Tonight -- > play the East Side Bar and Grill on Aug. 9. > Taken from Mitchell's 1970 Blue album, Nazareth's > version was produced by Deep Purple's Roger Glover. > Mitchell was reportedly stunned by and loved the metal > take on This Flight Tonight, even calling it a Nazareth > song from then on. >> Saw Nazareth back in the day before they recorded TFT - seem to remember walking out - in the words of Stan Freberg, "Too loud, man! Too loud!! best to all PaulC NW Stan Freberg - The Banana Boat Song http://youtu.be/8PBO7YE7vjE ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 04:29:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel I always thought the cold blue steel was the needle used to inject the heroin. I figured the song was about JT but now I've seen the scan that Terra posted (on FB), the person injecting (if that's what she's doing, because it's hard to know for sure) is a woman, and a black woman at that, and I wonder whether she was thinking of Billie Holiday. Was it heroin that she was addicted to? I've always thought too that the woman in the drawing looks like she's wearing a uniform of some kind though - either a nurse's uniform, or a hotel chamber maid's. That's just what it looks like to me. I can't figure out where I put my copy of the FTR songbook - had it out recently and put it away somewhere, but am not sure where! I'm pretty sure that, even when she bases a song on a real person, Joni often expands from there and the character in the song could be a composite character. And there are often multiple meanings to the lyrics in her songs. >________________________________ >From: gene >To: Mark ; Jimmy Stewart ; Bob Muller >Cc: T Peckham ; Lori Fye ; joni@smoe.org; Gerald Notaro >Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 10:19:38 PM >Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel > >As always, another great observation and interpretation of Joni's song. At the time the song was written, Cold blue steel" was slang for a gun. I always thought it was song about the downfalls of drug addiction and how far someone would go to support their habit. I've always have heroin used in the feminine gender---"sweet release." And "sweet fire" is the first initial feeling after injection. So the person is contemplating using a gun to obtain heroin to get "high." ---the road goes downhill from there. The song was written (I think) while she was in semi-seclusion in British Columbia, getting away from all that noise in the city and the business. Has Joni ever been addicted to any drugs other than her passions of music and art? > >peace~~~gene ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 05:10:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel The song is so full of imagery, so much of which can be interpreted in various ways. Joni uses "cold blue steel" and other cold/cool/dark images mixed with "sweet fire" to create an image of a sort of urban hell, where release can only be found by injecting the drug, and the drug is the only thing that can take you away from the pain and the grit of the inner city. The addict is prowling around playgrounds ("Underneath the jungle gym") looking for someone he can get the drug from. Gene, you could be right about the gun too, since it seems like the addict is stealing to get the money to buy it. She talks about a "Hollow grey fire escape thief, Looking for sweet fire," and then goes on to mention, "A wristwatch, a ring, a downstairs screamer," so it sounds like the addict has stolen some things, escaped by the fire escape the the "downstairs screamer" could be someone who has seen the thief, or it could be just more background noise from an overcrowded tenement slum. The addict could be "hollow" and "grey" because he's fading away waiting for his next fix. I guess that "hollow" and "grey" could also be an empty needle, which the addict desperately needs to fill so he can inject again. >________________________________ >From: Catherine McKay >To: gene ; Mark ; Jimmy Stewart ; Bob Muller >Cc: T Peckham ; Lori Fye ; "joni@smoe.org" ; Gerald Notaro >Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 7:29:26 AM >Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel > >I always thought the cold blue steel was the needle used to inject the heroin. > >[...] > >I'm pretty sure that, even when she bases a song on a >real person, Joni often expands from there and the character in the song could >be a composite character. And there are often multiple meanings to the lyrics >in her songs. > > > > >>________________________________ >>From: gene > >>To: Mark ; Jimmy Stewart >; Bob Muller >>Cc: T Peckham >; Lori Fye ; joni@smoe.org; >Gerald Notaro >>Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 10:19:38 PM >>Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel >> >>As always, another great observation and >interpretation of Joni's song. At the time the song was written, Cold blue >steel" was slang for a gun. I always thought it was song about the downfalls >of drug addiction and how far someone would go to support their habit. I ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 05:22:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel Lately, I think in sound-bites, and I reply to my own messages. One more thing (I hope), then I'll shut up about this & wait for someone else to speak! The addict has found his drug and injected himself, but the dose may not be enough. It's OK to deal with the initial craving, but he's probably going to need more soon: Blue steel still begging But it's indistinct Someone's hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll The "Hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll" could be the sound of the stereo coming from another apartment. It can also be the sound of his heartbeat and blood coursing through his veins. The hellish imagery of inner city life, where the addict is prisoner in his awful apartment comes up again: Concrete concentration camp Bashing in veins for peace I particularly like "bashing in veins for peace." The addict is destroying his body to get some peace with the drug, but "in veins" also suggests "in vain." In other words, the peace isn't going to last long and he'll soon need more of the drug. "Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire Fall into Lady Release." Right now, he's in the arms of Lady Release (or Morpheus). Note that he "falls into Lady Release," where fall (and the repetition of "Down, down, down," while it suggests temporary release from pain, also suggests a type of hell (the fall of Lucifer from heaven, the fall of man from grace, and so on.) >________________________________ >From: Catherine McKay >To: Catherine McKay ; gene ; Mark ; Jimmy Stewart ; Bob Muller >Cc: T Peckham ; Lori Fye ; "joni@smoe.org" ; Gerald Notaro >Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 8:10:47 AM >Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel > > >The song is so full of imagery, so much of which can be interpreted in various ways. Joni uses "cold blue steel" and other cold/cool/dark images mixed with "sweet fire" to create an image of a sort of urban hell, where release can only be found by injecting the drug, and the drug is the only thing that can take you away from the pain and the grit of the inner city. The addict is prowling around playgrounds ("Underneath the jungle gym") looking for someone he can get the drug from. Gene, you could be right about the gun too, since it seems like the addict is stealing to get the money to buy it. She talks about a "Hollow grey fire escape thief, Looking for sweet fire," and then goes on to mention, "A wristwatch, a ring, a downstairs screamer," so it sounds like the addict has stolen some things, escaped by the fire escape the the "downstairs screamer" could be someone who has seen the thief, or it could be just more background noise from an overcrowded tenement slum. The addict could be "hollow" and "grey" because he's fading away waiting for his next fix. I guess that "hollow" and "grey" could also be an empty needle, which the addict desperately needs to fill so he can inject again. > > > > > > > > >>________________________________ >>From: Catherine McKay >>To: gene ; Mark ; Jimmy Stewart ; Bob Muller >>Cc: T Peckham ; Lori Fye ; "joni@smoe.org" ; Gerald Notaro >>Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 7:29:26 AM >>Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel >> >>I always thought the cold blue steel was the needle used to inject the heroin. >> >>[...] >> >>I'm pretty sure that, even when she bases a song on a >>real person, Joni often expands from there and the character in the song could >>be a composite character. And there are often multiple meanings to the lyrics >>in her songs. >> >> >> >> >>>________________________________ >>>From: gene >> >>>To: Mark ; Jimmy Stewart >>; Bob Muller >>>Cc: T Peckham >>; Lori Fye ; joni@smoe.org; >>Gerald Notaro >>>Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 10:19:38 PM >>>Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel >>> >>>As always, another great observation and >>interpretation of Joni's song. At the time the song was written, Cold blue >>steel" was slang for a gun. I always thought it was song about the downfalls >>of drug addiction and how far someone would go to support their habit. I ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 13:12:19 +0000 From: betsyblue82@gmail.com Subject: CBSASW associations Cold blue steel and sweet fire always makes me crave smores. Think of how you roast a marshmallow to caramelize the sugar, and how addictive they are. I used to sing it to the kids I babysat. So inappropriate, but it got them to sleep. Lady Release is the high. It's gentle and seductive, but persistent. (Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Withdrawal?) These are feminine qualities, but I see no reason the user has to be a man, even if JT was the inspiration. "Hollow grey fire escape thief" I always found this phrase to have lots of literal and metaphorical meaning packed in, from the odd rhythm of the statement. Thoughts? - -Betsy Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 09:47:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Stdoherty Subject: Re: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #213 In fact, Joni even 'corrected' the front cover album art to the way she lways intended it to be. If you recall, the original artwork (on both LP and D) cut off the second 'L' of 'Mitchell' on the title. Joni later said it was ushed out for a holiday release (for Christmas of '74). So, she reworked he titles when they reissued it on HDCD so that her complete name now fits. Speaking of this album cover ... does anyone know the venue used for the cover photo? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 07:37:32 -0700 From: Dave Blackburn Subject: Re: Nazareth at Barandgrill I remember seeing Nazareth at Oxford New Theatre in about 1974, probably playing This Flight Tonight, but the only thing I really remember was the unbelievable volume they played at. For a 15 year old guy to find something too loud tells you how loud they were. I had my fingers stuffed hard into my ears and it still hurt. I think I walked out after a while. Way to go guys... Dave On Aug 2, 2011, at 1:19 AM, Paul Castle wrote: > Not sure how but stumbled across this in the > London (Ontario) Free Press - http://bit.ly/qnVGAK > >> The loudest cover of any Joni Mitchell song ever >> is likely to rock Hamilton Road next month. > >> Scottish metalheads Nazareth -- huge in Canada for >> its mid-1970s' cover of Mitchell's This Flight Tonight -- >> play the East Side Bar and Grill on Aug. 9. > >> Taken from Mitchell's 1970 Blue album, Nazareth's >> version was produced by Deep Purple's Roger Glover. > >> Mitchell was reportedly stunned by and loved the metal >> take on This Flight Tonight, even calling it a Nazareth >> song from then on. >> > > Saw Nazareth back in the day before they recorded TFT - > seem to remember walking out - in the words of Stan > Freberg, "Too loud, man! Too loud!! > > best to all > PaulC > > NW Stan Freberg - The Banana Boat Song > http://youtu.be/8PBO7YE7vjE ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 07:43:01 -0700 From: Dave Blackburn Subject: Re: It's About Time Blush... thank you Mark for the fantastic and unsolicited review. Anyone else interested in owning this can order a CD from http://www.robinadler.com/products.html or download it from http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robinadler . Listen to clips at http://www.robinadler.com/music.html . It will be up on Itunes also any day now. Looking froward to the L.A hang in a couple of short weeks... Dave On Aug 1, 2011, at 7:13 PM, Mark wrote: > Since this post is about a singer's work who is one of the best interpreters of Joni Mitchell's songs I personally have ever heard, I'm not going to mark it njc. > > You all know that Robin Adler's debut recording has been reissued and is available to all of us lucky listeners. Or if you don't know, you should. > > Robin is more than capable of taking on challenging material besides the songs of Joni Mitchell. 'It's About Time' has beautiful interpretations of songs by the likes of Paul Simon, Hoagy Carmichael & Johnny Mercer, the Gershwin brothers, Sting and, along with Dave Blackburn and guitarist Peter Sprague, some material that Robin herself had a hand in creating. There's a dash of vocalese, a very funky, wickedly humorous blues tune, beautiful interpretations of a couple of time honored standards and plenty of goose bump moments along the way. Peter Sprague's guitar accompanies Robin throughout the cd and he is an amazing player. All of the musicianship on 'It's About Time' is first rate. > > And the sound quality is stellar as well. But we would expect nothing less from our own Dave Blackburn. Kudos to Dave for the production, recording, and remixing. > > Thanks, Robin, for the opportunity to hear more of your soulful voice and wonderful singing. I really do hope to hear you singing in person some day. There have been many Jonifests I have wished I could attend but the one in Idyllwild is one I really do regret missing. > > The rest of you, go buy this recording in the format of your choice asap! > > Mark in Seattle > Robin Adler fan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 10:21:34 -0400 From: Steve Dulson Subject: Joni Berkeley 3/2/74 Randy wrote > Yes, seeing Joni at the Berkeley Community Theatre was truly > amazing. LA Express did a short opening set, then She came out > with them for a rockin' "This Flight Tonight". The audience vibe was > in a class by itself, too. There were stints at the piano and dulcimer, > dozens of bouquets of flowers brought to the stage, along with baked > bread, lace and fillagree. Ready to start a song, someone yells out >"White Rabbit!!". Without missing a beat Joni says "I'm not that >Slick". All this and a nipple slip. Yes, if I could travel in time..... I was there too, Randy! That was the night Crosby, Nash, David Blue and..and..joined her for the encore. I have photos - Les might have some of them on the website. Missed the nipple slip. :( *************************************************** Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 16:32:07 +0100 From: Jamie Zubairi Home Subject: Re: CBSASW associations Hahaha So wrong but so funny. I can imagine that, after you'd just got them to sleep you'd gently lean over them and whisper 'Remember kids, 'Just Say No'. Zooby On 2 August 2011 14:12, wrote: > Cold blue steel and sweet fire always makes me crave smores. Think of how > you roast a marshmallow to caramelize the sugar, and how addictive they are. > I used to sing it to the kids I babysat. So inappropriate, but it got them > to sleep. > > Lady Release is the high. It's gentle and seductive, but persistent. (Hell > hath no fury like a woman scorned. Withdrawal?) These are feminine > qualities, but I see no reason the user has to be a man, even if JT was the > inspiration. > > "Hollow grey fire escape thief" > I always found this phrase to have lots of literal and metaphorical meaning > packed in, from the odd rhythm of the statement. Thoughts? > > -Betsy > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > - -- Jamie Zubairi Actor, Voiceover, Painter, Photographer. Acting Agent: Pelham Associates 01273 323 010 Facebook VoiceOvers SpotLight Twitter Currently working on *'Skylarking*' a solo performance for various festivals in the UK. Appearances: Wolf: Let Us Prey 22-24 July 2011. Tickets: Here ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 16:55:01 +0100 From: Anita G Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel On 2 August 2011 13:22, Catherine McKay wrote: > > Someone's hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll The "Hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll" could be > the sound of the stereo coming from another apartment. It can also be the > sound of his heartbeat and blood coursing through his veins. > I always thought that Jelly Roll was to do with Jelly Roll Morton. I understand that Morton played piano in a brothel where he took the name 'Jelly Roll', which was slang amongst black people for women's genitals. So 'hi-fi drumming jelly roll' could also be a reference to someone going at it with considerable enthusiasm and gusto. Anita ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 09:41:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel Even more depth added. I did not know that. All of which reinforces for me that Joni is so much better than some of us thought she was - --- On Tue, 8/2/11, Anita G wrote: From: Anita G Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel To: "Catherine McKay" Cc: "gene" , "Mark" , "Jimmy Stewart" , "Bob Muller" , "T Peckham" , "Lori Fye" , "joni@smoe.org" , "Gerald Notaro" Received: Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 11:55 AM On 2 August 2011 13:22, Catherine McKay wrote: > > Someone's hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll The "Hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll" could be > the sound of the stereo coming from another apartment. It can also be the > sound of his heartbeat and blood coursing through his veins. > I always thought that Jelly Roll was to do with Jelly Roll Morton. I understand that Morton played piano in a brothel where he took the name 'Jelly Roll', which was slang amongst black people for women's genitals. So 'hi-fi drumming jelly roll' could also be a reference to someone going at it with considerable enthusiasm and gusto. Anita ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 09:47:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: CBSASW associations I dunno. Having read Betsy's post, my mouth started watering for s'mores. Mmmm, s'mores. As to the "hollow grey fire escape thief," I think there's a world o'meaning in that there phrase. Is it the thief (getting away on the grey fire escape after having stolen someone's wristwatch and ring that he's going to pawn) that is hollow (because he hasn't had his fix yet? because he has lost whatever moral sense he might have had due to addiction?) Is it the (sweet) fire that's grey and hollow (because it needs stoking to blaze up again?) And then again, the word "hollow" also makes me think of "Her heart is full and hollow like a cactus tree." - --- On Tue, 8/2/11, Jamie Zubairi Home wrote: From: Jamie Zubairi Home Subject: Re: CBSASW associations To: betsyblue82@gmail.com Cc: "List" Received: Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 11:32 AM Hahaha So wrong but so funny. I can imagine that, after you'd just got them to sleep you'd gently lean over them and whisper 'Remember kids, 'Just Say No'. Zooby On 2 August 2011 14:12, wrote: > Cold blue steel and sweet fire always makes me crave smores. Think of how > you roast a marshmallow to caramelize the sugar, and how addictive they are. > I used to sing it to the kids I babysat. So inappropriate, but it got them > to sleep. > > Lady Release is the high. It's gentle and seductive, but persistent. (Hell > hath no fury like a woman scorned. Withdrawal?) These are feminine > qualities, but I see no reason the user has to be a man, even if JT was the > inspiration. > > "Hollow grey fire escape thief" > I always found this phrase to have lots of literal and metaphorical meaning > packed in, from the odd rhythm of the statement. Thoughts? > > -Betsy > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > - -- Jamie Zubairi Actor, Voiceover, Painter, Photographer. Acting Agent: Pelham Associates 01273 323 010 Facebook VoiceOvers SpotLight Twitter Currently working on *'Skylarking*' a solo performance for various festivals in the UK. Appearances: Wolf: Let Us Prey 22-24 July 2011. Tickets: Here ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 17:08:51 +0000 From: betsyblue82@gmail.com Subject: Re: CBSASW associations >As to the "hollow grey fire escape thief," I think there's a world o'meaning in that there phrase. >Is it the (sweet) fire that's grey and hollow (because it needs stoking to blaze up again?) Thanks for lending a new (to me) interpretation, Catherine. I've always inferred two meanings. The needle is hollow and grey (or blue-grey). Add fire, and it allows escape at the same time stealing something. Ok, so you need heroin, too. I also visualized a soulless burglar in drab clothing darting into the windows of an apartment building to find pawnable items to support his habit. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 13:22:21 -0400 From: Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com Subject: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire But in the last verse on the studio version from FTR she sings 'cold blue steel and sweet fire fall in to lady release'. I've always seen that as the cold hard needle full of 'sweet fire' being injected into 'lady release'. That makes me think the user in the song is a woman. But that could be a red herring to lead listeners away from the conclusion that the song is about James. I'm interested to know what other people think 'lady release' represents in this song. Is she the subject? Is she the drug itself? Is she the high? Is she the addiction? Or something else entirely? Mark in Seattle =============================== Hi Mark - My take - is that the "Lady release" is the drug itself The "Black soot of Lady Release" - is the cooking the heroin in a spoon (the cold blue steel) over a flame until the the spoon gets sooty - and for me - "lady release" is the orgasmic pleasure of the drug taking effect. I think Joni refers to the drugs pleasure as clearly feminine in this song - hence - the "Come with me I know the way" SHE says -" It's down, down, down the dark ladder". I'd be interested in the understanding the difference between "The shadow of lady release" and "Falling into lady release". My original take was that the shadow was the early stage of the drug addition and falling was the hopelessness and despair when your in so deep you cant turn back. But I go back and forth on this one........ - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 14:33:32 -0400 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire In my opinion, Lady Release is when the addict feels the pain go away. I guess that could be called the "high" but I see it as more of the desperation and pain leaving the body when the drug hits the bloodstream ... This song is amazing on so many levels ... It was such a challenge to learn how to play it and sing it at the same time. I think that is where I really feel Joni's genius ... when I realize how the rhythm of the chord changes and the meter of the voicing is in juxtaposition to reach a certain effect ... which always seems to me to be, trying to replicate the full orchestra she is hearing in her head. I am always pretty happy with myself when I'm able to remember all the left hand movements and the lyrics and finish the song with a barely acceptable rendition. The opening to the second verse ... A ring, A wristwatch, a downstairs screamer ... is always a very difficult line to remember and to execute without flubbing!!! Thanks for the great conversations this week!!! So psyched to go to LA soon!! Sue - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 1:22 PM To: Mark " Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire Have yet to be able to do this song singing and playing at the same time and I have always loved it as I am such an FTR guy! Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com On Aug 2, 2011, at 2:33 PM, Susan Tierney McNamara wrote: In my opinion, Lady Release is when the addict feels the pain go away. I guess that could be called the "high" but I see it as more of the desperation and pain leaving the body when the drug hits the bloodstream ... This song is amazing on so many levels ... It was such a challenge to learn how to play it and sing it at the same time. I think that is where I really feel Joni's genius ... when I realize how the rhythm of the chord changes and the meter of the voicing is in juxtaposition to reach a certain effect ... which always seems to me to be, trying to replicate the full orchestra she is hearing in her head. I am always pretty happy with myself when I'm able to remember all the left hand movements and the lyrics and finish the song with a barely acceptable rendition. The opening to the second verse ... A ring, A wristwatch, a downstairs screamer ... is always a very difficult line to remember and to execute without flubbing!!! Thanks for the great conversations this week!!! So psyched to go to LA soon!! Sue - -----Original Message----- From: owner-joni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 1:22 PM To: Mark " Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire Yes and he did an unbelieveable version! But then he IS talented! Michael Paz michael@thepazgroup.com Tour Manager Preservation Hall Jazz Band http://www.preservationhall.com On Aug 2, 2011, at 3:23 PM, FMYFL@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 8/2/2011 3:09:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, michael@thepazgroup.com writes: > Have yet to be able to do this song singing and playing at the same time and I > have always loved it as I am such an FTR guy! > > Mikey, didn't Bryan Thomas perform this at Pazfest last year? Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 15:23:27 -0400 (EDT) From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire In a message dated 8/2/2011 3:09:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, michael@thepazgroup.com writes: > Have yet to be able to do this song singing and playing at the same time > and I > have always loved it as I am such an FTR guy! > > > Mikey, didn't Bryan Thomas perform this at Pazfest last year? Jimmy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 12:36:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire To me, Lady Release is the release the addict (male or female) gets into oblivion and freedom-from-pain or whatever it is that heroin provides. It reminds me of "in the arms of Morpheus," Morpheus being the god of dreams, so "in the arms of Morpheus" means to be asleep. As well, the name Morphine comes from Morpheus, so it's appropriate in this case too. However, Billie Holiday was also called "Lady Day," and she was addicted to heroin, so there could be a subtle reference to her as well. I suspect this song deals with more than one possible subject and is open to various interpretations, any of which could be right. - --- On Tue, 8/2/11, Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com wrote: From: Stewart.Simon@sunlife.com Subject: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire To: Mark Subject: Re: CBSASW associations This is pretty much the same image I get, although it changes from time to time, depending on what else I happen to hear at any given listen. I have to say, Joni's lyrics are so full of imagery that they're almost like mini-movies. I also agree with you on the hollow/grey thing being a needle. (Just thinking about needles gives me the creeps right now because I now have to inject one of my cats with subcutaneous fluids and I have great difficulty doing this. It's a good thing I didn't become a nurse or doctor. I'm in near-panic mode right now just thinking about doing this.) - --- On Tue, 8/2/11, betsyblue82@gmail.com wrote: From: betsyblue82@gmail.com Subject: Re: CBSASW associations To: "Catherine McKay" , "Jamie Zubairi Home" Cc: "List" Received: Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 1:08 PM >As to the "hollow grey fire escape thief," I think there's a world o'meaning in that there phrase. >Is it the (sweet) fire that's grey and hollow (because it needs stoking to blaze up again?) Thanks for lending a new (to me) interpretation, Catherine. I've always inferred two meanings. The needle is hollow and grey (or blue-grey). Add fire, and it allows escape at the same time stealing something. Ok, so you need heroin, too. I also visualized a soulless burglar in drab clothing darting into the windows of an apartment building to find pawnable items to support his habit. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 17:11:03 -0400 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: Dowie Dens of Yarrow ... Wow, Catherine, thanks so much for sharing this. Her voice was amazing. It sounded like she was turning pages ... it just astounds me that she sang this at this time in her career when she was moving in such a totally different direction. It must have been something about the night, the broken string, the venue (which from the articles connected to this concert, was a tin can hockey rink!!). I'm also very excited to finally hear a live version of DJRD! I have to wait till I get home to download Moni's generous full concert file, but the reviewer comments on how exciting it was to hear Joni reveal newly written songs, much like she did in the early days at the second fret. He says, ""Harry's House/Centerpiece" has become a not terribly successful solo acoustic number. "Shadow and Light," a vocal choir tour-de-force on the album, has mutated and expanded into an open-ended, meandering "Cold Blue Steel" affair." Meandering Cold Blue Steel? Oh well, we beg to differ !!!! :) Here's the link to the article. You will probably have to sign in to read it: http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=435 Sue ___________________ /___________________\ ||-------------------|| || Sue Tierney || || McNamara || || sem8@cornell.edu || ||___________________|| || O etch-a-sketch O || \___________________/ "It's all a dream she has awake." - Joni Mitchell ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 15:17:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Dowie Dens of Yarrow ... Yes, we do beg to differ! Do people go to concerts expecting to see someone lip-synching their way through the studio versions of their material? One of the things I love about Joni is that she will recreate her own songs, turning them into something quite different, and equally enjoyable. In fact, I do like her versions of "Harry's House/Centrepiece" and "Shadows and light" at this show. Oh, maybe he meant "open-ended, meandering" in a good way. P.S., you don't need to sign in to read the article, which is good, because I don't remember my password. Ever. >________________________________ > He says, >""Harry's House/Centerpiece" has become a not terribly successful solo >acoustic number. "Shadow and Light," a vocal choir tour-de-force on the album, >has mutated and expanded into an open-ended, meandering "Cold Blue Steel" >affair." > >Meandering Cold Blue Steel? Oh well, we beg to differ !!!! :) > >Here's the link to the article. You will probably have to sign in to read >it: > >http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=435 > >Sue > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 01:11:21 +0100 (BST) From: "johnnybgoode@lineone.net" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 >----Original Message---- >From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org >Date: 02/08/2011 07:00 >To: >Subj: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 > >JMDL Digest Tuesday, August 2 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 223 > Regarding Edith and the Kingpin. I am not sure as to whether it is Coke or Heroin, but would argue that the KP himself would not indulge in the drugs, as it would prevent him from continuing to be a KP. Clearly Edith and the passed over girls are kept in thrall by their addiction, in a similar way (but less tragically), that English Footballers' wives are prepared to accept any humiliation, rather than give up the money and champagne lifestyle associated with wealth. Maybe in an odd way she is making a broader point about dependence on men? I like the idea of James being the subject of Cold Blue Steel, but weren't there many other addicts she knew at the time? John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 21:00:39 -0400 From: Susan Tierney McNamara Subject: RE: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 I think another person may have been Jimi Hendrix, but there were so many people hooked at that time. I like your reference to the football wives. Edith is for sure a codependent when she says, his crime belongs ... very needy. Sue ________________________________________ From: owner-joni@smoe.org [owner-joni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of johnnybgoode@lineone.net [johnnybgoode@lineone.net] Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 8:11 PM To: joni@smoe.org Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 >----Original Message---- >From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org >Date: 02/08/2011 07:00 >To: >Subj: JMDL Digest V2011 #223 > >JMDL Digest Tuesday, August 2 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 223 > Regarding Edith and the Kingpin. I am not sure as to whether it is Coke or Heroin, but would argue that the KP himself would not indulge in the drugs, as it would prevent him from continuing to be a KP. Clearly Edith and the passed over girls are kept in thrall by their addiction, in a similar way (but less tragically), that English Footballers' wives are prepared to accept any humiliation, rather than give up the money and champagne lifestyle associated with wealth. Maybe in an odd way she is making a broader point about dependence on men? I like the idea of James being the subject of Cold Blue Steel, but weren't there many other addicts she knew at the time? John ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:42:28 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Re: Cold Blue Steel, 100% JC For me, the song's lady is heroin, the nemesis. She calls him down, down, down the dark black ladder. So, for me, "lady release" is the way he thinks about the stuff. "She" represents an escape, so "she" is 'lady release'. Jim L'Hommedieu Mark wrote, in part, >It's a powerful song, to be sure. The MOA version is my personal favorite. That ending when she keeps singing 'down, down, down, down, down...' and gradually fading down to silence is so effective. Like the only direction for this poor soul is down into oblivion. I would agree with Bob that JT may have been a model for the song. But she repeats the words 'lady release' at the end of every verse. Of course it could be the drug or the high she's referring to, beckoning almost like a lover. 'Come with me, I know the way, she said...' But in the last verse on the studio version from FTR she sings 'cold blue steel and sweet fire fall in to lady release'. I've always seen that as the cold hard needle full of 'sweet fire' being injected into 'lady release'. That makes me think the user in the song is a woman. But that could be a red herring to lead listeners away from the conclusion that the song is about James. I'm interested to know what other people think 'lady release' represents in this song. Is she the subject? Is she the drug itself? Is she the high? Is she the addiction?> ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #215 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe