From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #359 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 Thursday, December 8 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 359 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- ancient Joni memories [andrew light ] Re: ancient Joni memories [Bob.Muller@Fluor.com] Did Joni ever see Breakfast at Tiffany's? ["Betsy Blue" Subject: ancient Joni memories Hi Everyone ! I must admit (having lurked since sometime last century) this is, perhaps (?), my 1st post, ever, to JMDL (...gee!) ...hope this post isn't too long or boring... 1) wanted to say a special thanx to Bob Muller for the renewed 'Covers' offerings & a welcome back to U.S. of A. (limping as it is)... ...and for always making every one's voice welcome and appreciated on this list !!! 2) On to "stories of Joni" subject (every one's got a couple, right?)... Here in Dec. 2011, I just woke up from a dream hearkening back of a real life memory. In 1972 I was 16, growing up in rural(ish) northern California, sequestering myself in my room trying to learn guitar and "singing to the sound hole and my knee" when a friend wanted to inspire me & loaned me her vinyl copy of "Song to a Seagull" but the jacket was miss matched, (was the cover of 'Blue'), (Thanx Carole, then age 23 for changing my life forever !!!). So I must have put new scratches and grooves into that record studying every melody line, weaving every story with her haunting transcendent voice echoing into the open grand piano (thank you David Crosby!). Alternately I was studying the 'copy' & "dream like visual" of the jacket of the 'Blue' album (which i had yet to hear). ...I suppose I had been hearing Judy Collins' beautiful covers of Joni from her 'Wildflowers' album that my parents and their friends were listening to, and had been quite moved by the song 'Michael from Mountains', but I hadn't connected the dots to the songwriter, yet. Well, my friend never found her copy of the 'Blue' record... So I became a lifelong fan, and bought 1st the then current 'For the Roses' album and worked my way back... It was like discovering and maturing into an emotional depth & spiritual nirvana and freedom for me... (ah, such innocent and transitional times compared to now)... I went on to see Joni whenever she came to the Bay area, starting with the 'Court & Spark' tour, but I always wished I had been a little more aware and / or older to have caught Joni (in person) for some of her earlier eras performing live.... anyways, that was my wake up memory this morning... ...On to the other memory of Joni... It was 1978, and I had contacted 'Bread & Roses' to become a volunteer usher for their annual Festival @ the Greek amphitheater in Berkeley. I was beside myself hearing that Joni Mitchell was going to be there ! ...She was promoting the upcoming 'Mingus' album & ended up performing either 2 or 3 times over the 3 day fest. It was so haunting how she got everyone "howling" @ the top of their lungs for 'The Wolf that Lives in Lindsay'. I will never forget that !!! So, anyway. There was a party on Saturday night for the performers and us non-celeb volunteers @ the Claremont hotel... Joni came and spent awhile on the dance floor (several songs from the house band), moving her hips in her signature way that we have noticed when she is rocking onstage). I also was dancing, and in very close proximity with Ms. Mitchell. But in reality, I felt like I was dancing with her cigarette... While I was completely starstruck, and very impressed that she would hang out with us "ordinary mortals"... I will never forget how that lit cigarette was like her "security guard" pointing outward @ elbow's length @ anyone who got too close, and how 'cool' and 'hardened' she appeared to be (of facial expression) during that moment with her cigarette, in her Khakis U.S.O.ish pants and hat (that was her uniform for the wkd)... I truly have felt that the gift of Joni's genius and insight and honesty about herself and how she sees the world, throughout her career, has embellished my own life immensly, and has helped me to perceive the world (and myself) and others and to grow into being a better person for it... If Joni never releases any more music, I will still be rolling in the wealth of her body of work, and I will forever be in gratitude for her contributions to us all while living her journey... ...(gush, gush, gush)... ...So much for my abundantly verbose memory recall sharing ... Now I may swim back into obscurity (or not!)... Happy Holandaise !! (wishing I had a River, to... !) All the Best, Andrew Light ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 13:50:56 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Re: ancient Joni memories Hi Andrew, thanks for an OUTSTANDING intro! And also for the shoutout...it's great to be back and to be tossing the covers out again, I do have to say. As for America's woes, I remain optimistic; like Winston Churchill said, Americans do the right thing after they've exhausted all other options... Loved your stories, both of Joni discovery (which we can ALL relate to) and Joni encounter (which some of us can relate to). I can just see her with that cigarette poised to keep intruders at bay. Keep the thoughts coming. Bob NP: Elliott Smith, "I Didn't Understand" - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 19:39:27 +0000 From: "Betsy Blue" Subject: Did Joni ever see Breakfast at Tiffany's? Like Michael Bolton, Joni is a major cinephile. La Dolce Vita, Star Wars, Sunset Blvd, Charlie Chapman and Bergman, Sophia Loren, etc. I think she references films almost as much as she references painters. And she's written songs for films. And, to come full circle, she's been referenced in many films. Love Actually is a new holiday classic, so every year more people get to hear BSN 2000 for the first time. It's also the time of year when Its a Wonderful Life is on TV all the time. I wonder if that's where she got the Love Or Money line about pulling down the moon. Betsy NP Jack Sparrow, The Lonely Island ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2011 11:47:05 -0500 From: Rozanne Gates Subject: Standing ovation for Joni and Suzanne Standing ovation and all, it was a Joni love fest last night at the Huntington Street Cafi in Shelton, CT where Suzanne Sheridan & Co sang 2 hours of Joni. Ending with "Circle Game" there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Rozanne Gates I'll post a video link soon ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2011 #359 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe