From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #327 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 15 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 327 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Recent NPR mentions [gerard mclaughlin ] All I Want [Steve Dulson ] Recent NPR mentions ["Betsy Blue" ] Re: Meeting Joni [T Peckham ] John Crowley's inheritance tracks [Gertus@aol.com] Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" [Lieve Reckers ] Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" [Mags Subject: Re: Recent NPR mentions I was prepared to wait until the end of the month for Fifty Words for Snow but here we are... sitting in the kitchen this grey grey morning with it playing in my ears.Thankyou, Betsy. . Oh the magic ! I used to wait every year for Joni's new album. Some years it came other years it didn't. Winter was never the same somehow when Joni didn't come. A bit like snow. This album is as puzzling as Hejira was to me. Stirring up my soul from the dust of its sleep. Waking the witch. Like Joni with Hejira, Kate has moved on from the girl she once was. A womans work. Ah well there's something lost and something's gained in living every day....Back to Kate. Back to see if I can get a hand on this particular snowflake... Thankyou, Betsy. Wild Man blows me away in a drift that's for sure.If I was a girl I'd whip on a ballroom dress and dance accross the roof swirling the stuff up like boults of lace....waving truce against the moon....Kate'll have to do this year.I'm sure Joni won't mind. On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 11:49 PM, Betsy Blue wrote: > I hope someone out there appreciates these, but there's no need to respond. > > A Laura Marling-loving intern listens to Blue all the way through and > gives some thoughts. > You've Never Heard Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'?! > tinyurl.com/c6j6kxy > > Kate's new disc is called a "Joni Mitchell answer record". The full album > is available to stream now, but not for long. (It's not as accessible as > DJRD, but Elton John sounds great on one track.) > First Listen: Kate Bush, '50 Words For Snow' > tinyurl.com/caykzle > > Clips and mention of arranging Joni. > Vince Mendoza: A Song Doctor Gets Back To His Own Work > tinyurl.com/cqc2yay > > Writer and actress (Kelly) from The Office, Mindy Kaling mentions > Nietzsche and Blue.b, > b*Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)b, > b*tinyurl.com/788535sb, > > -Betsy > b* ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:15:32 -0500 From: Steve Dulson Subject: All I Want Clare Flynn wrote: >Immediately, from the very first percussive acoustic-guitar strums of "All I >Want," I could tell I was going to like this album, a lot. Of course, she MEANT dulcimer strum. :) *************************************************** Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:49:15 +0000 From: "Betsy Blue" Subject: Recent NPR mentions I hope someone out there appreciates these, but there's no need to respond. A Laura Marling-loving intern listens to Blue all the way through and gives some thoughts. You've Never Heard Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'?! tinyurl.com/c6j6kxy Kate's new disc is called a "Joni Mitchell answer record". The full album is available to stream now, but not for long. (It's not as accessible as DJRD, but Elton John sounds great on one track.) First Listen: Kate Bush, '50 Words For Snow' tinyurl.com/caykzle Clips and mention of arranging Joni. Vince Mendoza: A Song Doctor Gets Back To His Own Work tinyurl.com/cqc2yay Writer and actress (Kelly) from The Office, Mindy Kaling mentions Nietzsche and Blue.b, b*Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)b, b*tinyurl.com/788535sb, - -Betsy b* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:07:02 -0600 From: T Peckham Subject: Re: Meeting Joni Thanks for this fun story, Steve! Made me look at the cover again. I did a lot of embroidering on jeans and blue work shirts back then like so many of us, but that idea never occurred to me. Very cool that you had a chance to show 'em off to Joni and that she responded enthusiastically. And of course, I can't fit into any of my clothes from back then either, but I still have some of the special ones. ;-) Terra On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM, Steve Dulson wrote: > From: T Peckham > > > I really appreciate hearing all the stories from everyone who has met Ms. > > Mitchell in person. > > Well, I've told this story before - probably too many times - but > since you asked.... > > The first time I met Joni was June 7 1978. I was at the Universal > Amphitheatre in LA with my friend Lori Hitchen to see Bob Dylan. > We had fairly good seats as I usually bought 6- or 7-show packages > in those days. Just before the house lights went down I saw Joni > walk in with Don Alias and sit down a few rows in front and to > one side of us. Bob was good, but I was kinda distracted during > the first set! > > Some months before I had been visiting my friends Rin and Prema in > Santa Cruz, and they showed me a pair of Rin's pants. Around the > hem of one leg, Prema had embroidered the geese heads off LOTC. Of > course **I** had to have a pair of pants like that, so she embroidered > one for me. I was wearing them to the concert that night. > > After the first set, we went over to where Joni and Don were sitting. > I am (or was then) very shy, and very reluctant to force my company on > anyone, but I plucked up the courage to say "Hi Joni, I thought you > might like to see these" and showed her my pant leg. "Ooo!" she said > and bent down to take a closer look, "Very nice!". I told her how > much I enjoyed her music and beat a hasty retreat - other people had > noticed her and a crowd was gathering. So, a brief meeting, but she > showed no sign of annoyance at being approached. > > I still have the pants...wish I could fit in them! :) > > *************************************************** > Steve Dulson Costa Mesa CA > FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West) > tinkersown@ca.rr.com www.far-west.org > - -- "An artist can show things that other people are terrified of expressing." - ---Louise Bourgeois ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 09:32:18 -0500 (EST) From: Gertus@aol.com Subject: John Crowley's inheritance tracks The Irish director, John Crowley chose his inheritance tracks on BBC radio 4's Saturday Live this morning and they were such great choices. The one he inherited from his older brother was "River" by Joni and the one he would pass on to his young son is "May You Never" by John Martyn. Michael Ball was in the studio and enthusiastically endorsed the choices. It's after about 45 mins if you want to listen on the i-player. Jacky ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:43:05 +0000 (GMT) From: Lieve Reckers Subject: Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" This is a subject that always makes me want to jump in, because like a proper mother hen I get very upset when I see someone who feels ignored or left out, especially as I am so sure that this feeling of being ignored is usually wrong... And how do I know that? Well simply because I myself read so many posts which I like and appreciate, without responding to them, and I am sure I am not unique, so it follows that many posts may stay without reaction, even though they have really touched a lot of readers. My reason for not responding is usually lack of time. I save a lot of posts with the intention of sending a reply (the last one was by John -Johnnybgoode- and is a few weeks old) and then at some point I realise it's gone on for too long and I have to let it go. So I hope everybody will keep posting, knowing they are reaching many more people than they may every know! Lieve in London PS I will probably post very little in the coming months, as I am just busy packing my bags for a winter escape. For security reasons I will not go into details, but I really hope you will not see a repeat of the "lost without wallet in Spain" scam! >________________________________ >From: Catherine McKay >To: Mags ; gerard mclaughlin ; T Peckham >Cc: kbhla ; "joni@smoe.org" >Sent: Saturday, 12 November 2011, 15:56 >Subject: Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" > >I can pretty much echo that. Sometimes I feel like I respond to every post on >the list and then realize I should just shut up for a while. Generally >speaking, I do read just about every post (unless I'm super-busy for some >reason) but don't always respond. In this case, having a "like" button, as in >Facebook, would work well in this case, but I don't want to have to post a "Me >too" message - although, that seems to be what I've just done. Sigh. > >I've >never met Joni and I'm OK with that. I can live vicariously! >>________________________________ >>From: Mags >>To: >gerard mclaughlin ; T Peckham > >>Cc: kbhla ; "joni@smoe.org" > >>Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 10:28:29 AM >>Subject: Re: >Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" >> >>Gerard, a number of us have >expressed a similar concern about little to no >>response when "we" post. and >as you mentioned, surely to goodness, >>controversial opinions have raised many >a dander at times. It's a sticky >>wicket; in that it is hard to determine >the writer's tone/voice/ etc as the >>reader relies on the written word and >does not get to hear nuances, and >>sometimes intentions behind those words. >Perception is a strange beast. >> >>In >>any case, . I have been told in >response to my own concerns regarding this >>issue that many people are reading >every post (or as often as they can) and >>yet they don't always have time or >energy to respond to each and everyone. >>Therein, it's a mixed thing.. I have >taken more than a few breaks from the >>list of late. At one time, i was on >this thing like a daily journal entry. Not >>sure where I'm going with this or >if there are any solutions, just wanted to >>let you know that I'm reading, >loud and clear. >> >>btw, that's a great story >>about your sister meeting and >having dinner with Joni. A lovely image. >>Mags >> >>gerard's words: >>. I've >been on >>the list here a number of years now. >>not many but a few and have >often >>found my comments ignored. i have as a >>result tried to disengage from >the >>joni community because of this democratic >>(for want of better words) >lack >>but whenever i have tried to it hasn't worked >>! reading these comments >has >>stirred this complaint in me. surely like joni, >>whom we all love, each >of >>us on her list is of value and our opinions, like >>hers, are of value. >They >>are only opinions after all and are simply >>contributions to a >discussion >>list. Sad if a joni discussion list is a closed >>book to a few >adoring >>people who rub each others backs constantly and dislike >>the >slightest >>whiff.... or touch of a stranger ! even if it sets up a >>trembling >in your >>bones.... >> >>My sisters met Joni in person in Stokholm when >>she was >touring europe. She >>talked with my older sister about her life...my >>sister's >life that is and >>invited her to get in the limo and go for dinner ! >>For >every awful story we >>hear about her there are ten to obliterate the nasty >>ones. In my book joni >>mitchell has a heart of pure gold. she is everything >she >>sings about. She >>has been a friend and a witness throughout our lives >and has >>served the >>planet well. Whatever anybody says we could all of us >take a leaf >>out of >>her book. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:31:51 -0800 (PST) From: Bob Muller Subject: Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" Gerard - trust me, no one's comments are ever ignored. Quite the opposite, in fact, as several hundred people read them. People may not RESPOND but that's a whole different thing. It happens to us all. As for the "awful stories" about Joni, I don't recall any from JMDLer's on the list. When I met her in 1998 she could not have been more gracious and kind, and even responded to my request with a dance with a "maybe later" instead of a flat refusal. Bob ________________________________ From: gerard mclaughlin To: T Peckham Cc: kbhla ; joni@smoe.org Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 9:14 PM Subject: Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" One of the things I find hard/difficult to appreciate isn't Joni or anything she says it is how the fans react to what others say about her. We are probably none of us as articulate as Joni is and even with her power of language she is often misunderstood so it goes without saying really that mortals lesser than she in the words department don't get it right and can equally be misunderstood. I count myself among that number. I've been on the list here a number of years now. not many but a few and have often found my comments ignored. i have as a result tried to disengage from the joni community because of this democratic (for want of better words) lack but whenever i have tried to it hasn't worked ! reading these comments has stirred this complaint in me. surely like joni, whom we all love, each of us on her list is of value and our opinions, like hers, are of value. They are only opinions after all and are simply contributions to a discussion list. Sad if a joni discussion list is a closed book to a few adoring people who rub each others backs constantly and dislike the slightest whiff.... or touch of a stranger ! even if it sets up a trembling in your bones.... My sisters met Joni in person in Stokholm when she was touring europe. She talked with my older sister about her life...my sister's life that is and invited her to get in the limo and go for dinner ! For every awful story we hear about her there are ten to obliterate the nasty ones. In my book joni mitchell has a heart of pure gold. she is everything she sings about. She has been a friend and a witness throughout our lives and has served the planet well. Whatever anybody says we could all of us take a leaf out of her book. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:55:04 -0500 From: Brian Gross Subject: Today's young adults ... http://m.npr.org/story/141232995?url=/blogs/allsongs/2011/10/11/141232995/you ve-never-heard-joni-mitchells-blue&ft=1&f=10001 You've Never Heard Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'?! Courtesy of the artist Published: November 14, 2011 by Clare Flynn Note: This is a recurring series in which we ask our unimaginably young interns to review classic albums they've never heard before. Clare Flynn is the latest intern for All Songs Considered. About a month ago, I was sitting at the dining-room table at my house in California, listening to Laura Marling's latest album, while my mom sat on the couch nearby. "Is that Joni Mitchell?" my mom asked, looking up from a magazine. "No," I replied, incredulously. "It's the new Laura Marling album!" As if it could be anyone else. "Hmm. It sounds just like her," my mom said. The embarrassing thing is, I really wouldn't know. Aside from a few of Joni Mitchell's most famous tunes b "California" is required listening for anyone from my home state b I have never listened to an entire album by the influential folksinger. Admittedly, I feel guilty and a little bit ashamed; for starters, I'm an avid folk fan. But I'm also the latest intern for All Songs Considered and assume I'm expected to have an encyclopedic knowledge of all music ever made. How could I not know Joni Mitchell's music? So, when asked to pick a classic album to review for this series, I chose the legendary singer-songwriter's classic 1971 album Blue. Immediately, from the very first percussive acoustic-guitar strums of "All I Want," I could tell I was going to like this album, a lot. Before this, I'd only heard the song in a scene from the 2010 film The Kids Are All Right. Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo sing it across a dinner table (pardon the Italian dubbing at the end of this clip). Their a cappella rendition was enough to reveal the earnest poetry and rhythm of Mitchell's lyrics: "Do you see / Do you see / Do you see how you hurt me, baby? / So I hurt you, too / Then we both get so blue." But, of course, it was nothing like hearing the real thing. Like any memorable album, there was plenty to keep me coming back to Blue beyond my first listen. Mitchell's lyrics aren't just poetic; they're full of tiny details that seem mundane at first but carry a lot of emotional weight. "But when he's gone / Me and them lonesome blues collide / The bed's too big / The frying pan's too wide," she sings in "My Old Man," revealing the kind of small details noticed only when someone is finally gone. Then there's that voice b a ringing, emotive and unequaled sound that evokes the complicated emotions behind the lyrics, with the slightest quiver or subtle change in inflection. These songs are universal. Acoustic guitar, piano and a great voice never go out of style, and aside from referring to the Mermaid CafC) and calling her boyfriend a "mean old daddy," Mitchell sings about love in a way that would be relevant in any time period. Perhaps that's why "California" is still one of the most personally resonant songs I've ever heard. Maybe it's because I really did go to a party down a red dirt road while studying abroad in Spain, but more likely it's because, like many people my age, I've been living away from home on and off for several years now. When Mitchell sings about the news back home being full of war and unrest, it's not hard to connect the bleakness of that time period to today. A generation of young people is still dealing with war and political discontent, feeling restless and struggling to find work. In our uncertainty, many of us find ourselves far from home, moving to different cities to find work or traveling overseas to teach English. Those feelings of loneliness and longing to be home resonate as much now as they did for Joni Mitchell 40 years ago. No matter how talented a musician is, we always seem to connect more with the artists of our generation than with those of another. At the end of it all, I'm still biased: I still prefer the more modern folk sound of Laura Marling's music over that of Joni Mitchell. Maybe it's because I've listened to Marling's music for a few years now and have seen her perform live on a couple of occasions (an experience that almost always increases my appreciation for a musician). Or maybe it's because, at 21, Marling is one year younger than me and making some of the most gorgeous music I've ever heard. I admire Marling more for doing things I could never hope to do, despite being approximately the same age. Who knows? If I'd grown up alongside Mitchell, maybe I'd have the same appreciation for her and her music. Perhaps that's why my mother connects more to Mitchell's music, while I connect more to Marling's. At least for now, I'm contented knowing how deeply indebted musicians like Marling are to Joni Mitchell b for that, I have to thank her. [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio] Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 07:28:29 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: Re: Judy Collins on Joni: "She's a difficult woman" Gerard, a number of us have expressed a similar concern about little to no response when "we" post. and as you mentioned, surely to goodness, controversial opinions have raised many a dander at times. It's a sticky wicket; in that it is hard to determine the writer's tone/voice/ etc as the reader relies on the written word and does not get to hear nuances, and sometimes intentions behind those words. Perception is a strange beast. In any case, . I have been told in response to my own concerns regarding this issue that many people are reading every post (or as often as they can) and yet they don't always have time or energy to respond to each and everyone. Therein, it's a mixed thing.. I have taken more than a few breaks from the list of late. At one time, i was on this thing like a daily journal entry. Not sure where I'm going with this or if there are any solutions, just wanted to let you know that I'm reading, loud and clear. btw, that's a great story about your sister meeting and having dinner with Joni. A lovely image. Mags gerard's words: . I've been on the list here a number of years now. not many but a few and have often found my comments ignored. i have as a result tried to disengage from the joni community because of this democratic (for want of better words) lack but whenever i have tried to it hasn't worked ! reading these comments has stirred this complaint in me. surely like joni, whom we all love, each of us on her list is of value and our opinions, like hers, are of value. They are only opinions after all and are simply contributions to a discussion list. Sad if a joni discussion list is a closed book to a few adoring people who rub each others backs constantly and dislike the slightest whiff.... or touch of a stranger ! even if it sets up a trembling in your bones.... My sisters met Joni in person in Stokholm when she was touring europe. She talked with my older sister about her life...my sister's life that is and invited her to get in the limo and go for dinner ! For every awful story we hear about her there are ten to obliterate the nasty ones. In my book joni mitchell has a heart of pure gold. she is everything she sings about. She has been a friend and a witness throughout our lives and has served the planet well. Whatever anybody says we could all of us take a leaf out of her book. ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #327 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe