From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2013 #384 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Website:http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe:mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Monday, October 7 2013 Volume 2013 : Number 384 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 [Laurie Antonioli ] Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 ["Mark" ] Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 ["Randy Remote" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 08:10:48 -0700 From: Laurie Antonioli Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 On the topic of "Girls Like Us" - (I'm the one who started this thread, by the way, asking which books you all liked!) - I have it and skimmed only the Joni parts BUT, dig this: the guitarist in my band is currently doing a Broadway show, that's starting out here in San Francisco, about the music of Carole King. He said it's not a typical musical, mostly just her songs and that it's completely brilliant. This comes from a guy that played 600 shows of "Wicked" and is gearing up for "Book of Mormon" - he's loving this show and is encouraging me to go into Carole's book of music as she wrote SO many great songs - she was in the Brill building as a writer first, before she stepped out on stage herself. I'm going to go see the show and also, am going to now read the sections on Carole in the book. On Sun, Oct 6, 2013 at 12:00 AM, JMDL Digest wrote: > > JMDL Digest Sunday, October 6 2013 Volume 2013 : Number > 1346 > > > > ========== > > TOPICS and authors in this Digest: > -------- > Listen to Graham Nash Read Wild Tales [ > est86mlm@ameritech.net] > Linda Ronstadt book (vljc) [Lindsay Moon < > moonlj@san.rr.com>] > Re: Girls Like Us [Bob Muller < > scjoniguy@yahoo.com>] > Re: The Nash book ["Randy Remote" < > guitarzan05@gmail.com>] > The Nash book [Ken Bausert < > passscribe@aol.com>] > RE: A Little McGarrigle Gift NJC ["ron" < > rong@mweb.co.za>] > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 20:08:50 -0500 > From: est86mlm@ameritech.net > Subject: Listen to Graham Nash Read Wild Tales > > Thought this was interesting. You can hear a sample of the audio > edition of Nash's Wild Tales book. > > Click on LISTEN and hear Nash talk about Joni. > http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Tales-Graham-Nash/dp/B000737RA6 > > > Laura > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2013 17:07:17 -0700 > From: Lindsay Moon > Subject: Linda Ronstadt book (vljc) > > I am halfway through the Linda Ronstadt bio. Funny to think she was > entering the music scene with people like the Eagles, Jackson Browne, David > Geffen. What a time. Also just saw "Sound City," Dave Grohl's tribute to > the historic recording studio in Van Nuys. Highly recommend it. > > Also looked at recent photos of my high school graduating class and said, > "Wow! who are those ancient looking people!!??" And then realized, hey! > I'm the same age!! Sigh. > > Hope all the Paz Festers are having a blast! > > Lindsay > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 09:15:01 -0500 > From: Bob Muller > Subject: Re: Girls Like Us > > Another Passenger- also my favorite. Produced by Ted Templeman and used > the Doobie Brothers and Little Feat as the house bands - sweet. > > Back to Pazfest. > > Bob > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Oct 3, 2013, at 6:45 PM, Catherine McKay > wrote: > > > > I'm not a huge Carly fan, but have enjoyed some of her work. In fact, > "Another Passenger" is my favourite album of hers (and the only one I > bought). I can't remember why I bought it back when it came out. Maybe it > was "In times when my head" or "It keeps you running", but my particular > favourite is "He likes to roll" which isn't a deep song at all, but I like > the guitar playing on it (Laurindo Almeida) and the beat. I have to agree > with you about her later output though. Kinda blech to me. But hey! > everyone's different! > > > > I enjoyed "Girls like us" although I had some difficulty in the > beginning with the writer's style (but it grew on me.) Even though I was > primarily interested in the Joni stuff, I also found the Carly and Carole > stuff interesting. > > > > Right now I'm reading Graham Nash's book. Not impressed with that > writing style at all, but I'm up for a little gossip from time to time and > am more interested in the Joni parts, as I was never really a fan of the > Hollies or CSNY (which is probably sacrilege to 90% of the people on this > list, but there: I said it, so let the flames commence.) > > > > > >> ________________________________ > >> From: Rick Hobbs-Seeley > >> To: "Bob.Muller@Fluor.com" > >> Cc: Paul Ivice ; "joni@smoe.org" > >> Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 11:34:08 AM > >> Subject: Re: Girls Like Us > >> > >> > >> I've enjoyed this thread. The subjects of Girls Like Us mirrored three > of my go to artists back in the day. I've had the book since it came out, > but, it still sits on the shelf unread. > >> > >> I was a big Carly fan in her early period. Anticipation, No Secrets, > Hot Cakes and especially Another Passenger are among my large list of > favorite albums. It was probably Carly who moved me (officially) to Joni > and Joni to Carole. Before these women, I was strictly a Bowie-Stones-Who > genre devotee. > >> > >> To me, Carly offered whimsy (Fairweather Father, Older Sister) and > frequently more frilly production on the same LP with her more sedate, > serious works (Libby, At Times When My Head). The LP listening experience > was a good balance to my ears. I've always enjoyed a little indulgent > production and whimsy - that not being an adjective I'd use as frequently > when describing Joni's music to a friend. > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 13:03:14 -0700 > From: "Randy Remote" > Subject: Re: The Nash book > > I must say I'm about half way through and enjoying it immensely. > His was truly a rags to riches story. > He is appropriately in awe of Joni's genius. I'd always > thought Lady of The Island was about Joan > but it isn't, although he finished the song after picking up one > of Joni's open-tuned guitars. I like the little tidbits like when Jerry > Garcia played the pedal steel part for "Teach Your Children", and > after the first try wanted to do another take. Nash said "no way, we're > keeping that one". > That rock stars are just overgrown teenagers shouldn't come as > much of a surprise. I think the tone is conversational and easy to > read, and a rare perspective from one who knew all these Beatles and > Jimis and Stones, etc. Sometimes you do feel embarrassed for his > lack of self awareness, but it's honest anyway. > If you took out all variations of his favorite word (starts with F), the > book would be 20 pages shorter. FWIW. > RR > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 08:25:53 -0400 > From: Ken Bausert > Subject: The Nash book > > Wow, judging by the early reviews here, the Nash book is a bomb... sorry > to hear that 'cause I was looking forward to reading it. I probably still > will but I'm in no hurry to do so now. He ducking out a window to avoid his > fans? Crazy! > > Funny how reading musicians' bios (and autobios) can have such an effect > on our views of them as people. When I read the Warren Zevon bio (I'll > Sleep When I'm Dead), I was really bummed out to learn of his terrible > temper and his often beating his wife. > > Kenny B > > Sent from my iPad > > > Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 18:22:03 -0700 > > From: Shari Eaton > > Subject: Re: Girls Like Us > > > > Kind of got this sense from the published excerpts. How did this guy > come to win Joni's heart? I think I'll give it a miss if only to withhold > his parasitic earnings a tiny bit. I just recently attended his photography > opening and most of his sales were photos of Joni. He only spent time with > the ppl that purchased a piece and even ducked out the window at the end of > the night so he wouldn't have to greet anyone. Meh. > > > > > >> On Oct 3, 2013, at 5:15 PM, Richard Flynn > wrote: > >> > >> The Nash book is so immature it's embarrassing. I've taken to reading > portions aloud to Becky who groans when I do! Like you, I'll finish it for > the gossip, but the next time he makes a profound observation like, "Jimi > Hendrix, that fucker could play guitar" I think I may throw the book across > the room. > >> > >> Richard Flynn > >> Professor of Literature > >> Georgia Southern University > >> https://sites.google.com/a/georgiasouthern.edu/rflynn > >> http://georgiasouthern.academia.edu/RichardFlynn > >> > >>> On Oct 3, 2013, at 7:45 PM, Catherine McKay > wrote: > >>> > >>> Right now I'm reading Graham Nash's book. Not impressed with that > writing style at all, but I'm up for a little gossip from time to time and > am more interested in the Joni parts, as I was never really a fan of the > Hollies or CSNY (which is probably sacrilege to 90% of the people on this > list, but there: I said it, so let the flames commence.) > >>> > >>> > >>>> ________________________________ > >>>> From: Rick Hobbs-Seeley > >>>> To: "Bob.Muller@Fluor.com" > >>>> Cc: Paul Ivice ; "joni@smoe.org" > >>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 11:34:08 AM > >>>> Subject: Re: Girls Like Us > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> I've enjoyed this thread. The subjects of Girls Like Us mirrored > three of my go to artists back in the day. I've had the book since it came > out, but, it still sits on the shelf unread. > >>>> > >>>> I was a big Carly fan in her early period. Anticipation, No Secrets, > Hot Cakes and especially Another Passenger are among my large list of > favorite albums. It was probably Carly who moved me (officially) to Joni > and Joni to Carole. Before these women, I was strictly a Bowie-Stones-Who > genre devotee. > >>>> > >>>> To me, Carly offered whimsy (Fairweather Father, Older Sister) and > frequently more frilly production on the same LP with her more sedate, > serious works (Libby, At Times When My Head). The LP listening experience > was a good balance to my ears. I've always enjoyed a little indulgent > production and whimsy - that not being an adjective I'd use as frequently > when describing Joni's music to a friend. > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 20:19:06 -0700 (PDT) > > From: Catherine McKay > > Subject: Re: Girls Like Us > > > > Yes! It's that kind of statement that makes me want to toss the book at > something - or someone. That and talking about girls' tits and wanting to > f*ck this one or that one and on and on, like some 14-year-old. I try to > explain to myself that maybe if I hear this as someone talking to an > interviewer... but naaaahhh! and then I think maybe it's a case of arrested > development from someone who left school at a pretty young age and went > straight into being a musician, got rich and famous fairly quickly and was > a kid in a candy shop. But, no. There are plenty of others who did the same > and still managed to grow up. > > > > And yet, to my utter shame, I am going to finish reading the > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 22:31:30 +0200 > From: "ron" > Subject: RE: A Little McGarrigle Gift NJC > > I thought it was time for "A Little McGarrigle Gift" > > Whether you familiar with Kate & Anna McGarrigle or not, I'm quite sure > that > most who enjoy Joni Mitchell, > will find something to like and admire about the music of 'The Sisters' > as > some of us refer to Kate & Anna. > > > Thanks Simon - just getting to listen to this now. Love the sisters.... > > ------------------------------ > > End of JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 > ****************************** > > ------- > To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. > Unsubscribe by clicking here: > mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe > ------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 12:42:07 -0700 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 I admit I was skeptical about lumping Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon's lives into one book. It seemed ridiculous to event attempt it. I resisted reading 'Girls Like Us' for a long time, especially after reading excerpts that seemed to be comprised of sensationalized gossip. Seemed like another trashy celebrity biography to me. Well, a lot of it does read like a guilty pleasure or travesty, depending on your tastes. But I have to admit, there is more to the book than gossip. Sheila Weller chose these three women's stories to make a larger statement about the times that they were influenced by and in turn, because of their music, themselves helped influence. I recommend that if you're going to read 'Girls Like Us', you should read all of it. There is a strong bias against Carly Simon among some people. Weller discusses it in the book, attributing it to her background. Because she comes from a wealthy family, some people tend to not take her as seriously as an artist. I have said it before and I'll say it again. Carly Simon is no great innovator like Joni is and she didn't write great R&B songs that helped push that genre into the mainstream like Carole King did. But she did create some intelligent, adult, well-crafted pop music that was certainly a cut or two above a lot of what was being done at the time and certainly most of what you hear these days. Weller chose these three women to write about for a reason. They are three distinctly different personalities who come from different backgrounds and circumstances. But they all reached the peak of their popularity as singer/songwriters at about the same time, the early 1970s. This was a time when the rules that had governed gender roles and especially how women were expected to conform to those roles were being questioned and challenged. Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon each reacted to those times and chose their own very different paths. But ultimately they all three were part of the sea change that was happening at that time and they all had the ability to communicate their experiences to a large audience through their recordings. Whether you like the music of all three of them or not, they all had an impact, each in her own way, on all of the many people who did listen to and loved their songs. Sure, the writing style of the book is gossipy and I still question the motivations and veracity of some of the people that Weller interviewed, especially those who preferred to remain anonymous. I'm not saying it's a great book but I did learn some things I didn't know about all three women. If you skip over the sections about Carly or Carole, you're going to miss the point of the book. Joni came from a middle-class, Canadian prairie background and Carole grew up in Brooklyn, the daughter of teacher and a firefighter. Carly, the daughter of Richard Simon, co-founder of the Simon and Schuster publishing firm, balances out the triad and her story adds another, completely different perspective and experience. Her childhood in a wealthy family was not without its own special difficulties. It's a fascinating story and it is in the book for a reason. Mark in Seattle - -----Original Message----- From: Laurie Antonioli Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2013 8:10 AM To: joni@smoe.org Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 On the topic of "Girls Like Us" - (I'm the one who started this thread, by the way, asking which books you all liked!) - I have it and skimmed only the Joni parts BUT, dig this: the guitarist in my band is currently doing a Broadway show, that's starting out here in San Francisco, about the music of Carole King. He said it's not a typical musical, mostly just her songs and that it's completely brilliant. This comes from a guy that played 600 shows of "Wicked" and is gearing up for "Book of Mormon" - he's loving this show and is encouraging me to go into Carole's book of music as she wrote SO many great songs - she was in the Brill building as a writer first, before she stepped out on stage herself. I'm going to go see the show and also, am going to now read the sections on Carole in the book. On Sun, Oct 6, 2013 at 12:00 AM, JMDL Digest wrote: ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 16:31:50 -0700 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: JMDL Digest V2013 #1346 There was a feature about this show in the SF Chronicle a few weeks back. Seems Carole herself was opposed to it, but was persuaded by her new manager (who happens to be her daughter) that the project was something special. The show is a dramatic telling of her relationship with Jerry Goffin and the whirlwind atmosphere of Hitsville at that time. RR From: "Laurie Antonioli" >dig this: the guitarist in my band is currently doing > a Broadway show, that's starting out here in San Francisco, about the > music > of Carole King. He said it's not a typical musical, mostly just her songs > and that it's completely brilliant. This comes from a guy that played 600 > shows of "Wicked" and is gearing up for "Book of Mormon" - he's loving > this > show and is encouraging me to go into Carole's book of music as she wrote > SO many great songs - she was in the Brill building as a writer first, > before she stepped out on stage herself. I'm going to go see the show > and > also, am going to now read the sections on Carole in the book. ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2013 #384 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here:mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe