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Subject: shindell-list-digest V2 #240
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shindell-list-digest    Tuesday, September 5 2000    Volume 02 : Number 240



                               Today's Subjects:
                               -----------------
  [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V2 #239                      [Tom926@aol.com]
  [RS] Re: Maura/Country                                  [Rongrittz@aol.com]
  [RS] twang                        ["Clary, John (CLRY)" <CLRY@chevron.com>]
  [RS] MCC                                 ["Dave McKay" <dgmckay@cwcom.net>]
  RE: [RS] Richard and country          [Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl)]
  RE: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm    [Jeff Gilson <jgilson@javanet.com>]
  RE: [RS] MCC                      ["Clary, John (CLRY)" <CLRY@chevron.com>]
  [RS] SOTW                             [Elwestrand  <elwestrand@ureach.com>]
  [RS] You stay here while I go wait for the storm  ["Norman A. Johnson" <nj]

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Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 10:54:17 EDT
From: Tom926@aol.com
Subject: [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V2 #239

For RG:
There is an absolutely wonderful cover of Shawn Colvin's "Shotgun Down the 
Avelanche" sung by one of my favorite singers in the entire world, Maura 
O'Connell. The song is on a wonderful album called "Stories," which also has 
one of the most beautiful ballads I have ever heard called "Half-Moon Bay." 
Not enough people know about this woman so thank you for giving me a chance 
to plug her. 

Regarding the "twanginess" of "Waiting for the Storm," I wonder if this is an 
attempt to break Richard into the country market. In that sense, the hidden 
Merle Haggard track on his last album would fit into the same groove. Could 
Richard be the male equivalent of Mary Chapin Carpenter? Wouldn't that be a 
wonderful thing? Compared to the breakfast cereal jingles in a Stetson now 
passing for "country" music, Richard would be a wonderful change.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 11:13:36 EDT
From: Rongrittz@aol.com
Subject: [RS] Re: Maura/Country

>> There is an absolutely wonderful cover of Shawn Colvin's "Shotgun Down the Avelanche" sung by one of my favorite singers in the entire world, Maura O'Connell. <<

Maura's one of the absolute finest cover singers I've ever heard.  There's often a stigma attached to folksingers who don't write their own stuff (see: early Lucy), but Maura can take a beautiful song and make it even more beautiful.  I'm particularly partial to her CD "Helpless Heart."

>> Regarding the "twanginess" of "Waiting for the Storm," I wonder if this is an attempt to break Richard into the country market. In that sense, the hidden 
Merle Haggard track on his last album would fit into the same groove. Could Richard be the male equivalent of Mary Chapin Carpenter? Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? <<

While I'd be thrilled for Richard to get the larger audience that Nashville could offer, I'd hate for him to have to have a country "label" slapped on him.  Each CD, though, has had its "nod" to country (Kenworth, TV Light, Sing Me Back Home, Shades of Gray and now Waiting for the Storm), so I know Richard's got a place for the music in his heart somewhere. 

My guess, though, is that he's way too literate for country, and he probably doesn't look good in a hat.

RG

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 08:28:07 -0700
From: "Clary, John (CLRY)" <CLRY@chevron.com>
Subject: [RS] twang

>> Regarding the "twanginess" of "Waiting for the Storm," I wonder if this
is an attempt to break Richard into the country market?<<

You think WFTS is country?  I may be nit-picking here, but it sounds like
bluegrass to me.  I do agree that what passes for American country these
days is pure BS* pop.  Gimme Appalachian, Old-timey, Celtic and 'Grass any
day!  And if Richard is singing it, even better.

j a c


* was referring to ms. Spears, but whatever else works for those letters...

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 20:13:55 +0100
From: "Dave McKay" <dgmckay@cwcom.net>
Subject: [RS] MCC

> Regarding the "twanginess" of "Waiting for the Storm," I wonder if
> this is an attempt to break Richard into the country market. In that
> sense, the hidden Merle Haggard track on his last album would fit
> into the same groove. Could Richard be the male equivalent of Mary
> Chapin Carpenter? Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

I think it's more likely that MCC is turning into the female
equivalent of Richard! Her music has progressed away from the
countrified (though she was never twangy) offerings of the mid-80s to
a comfortable blend of rock and folk, liberally sprinkled with choice
lyrical phrases and compelling personae.

As a character study, John Doe No 24 has much in common with Richard's
offerings.

Dave.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 21:27:19 +0200
From: Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl)
Subject: RE: [RS] Richard and country

> Regarding the "twanginess" of "Waiting for the Storm," I wonder
> if this is an
> attempt to break Richard into the country market. In that sense,
> the hidden
> Merle Haggard track on his last album would fit into the same
> groove. Could
> Richard be the male equivalent of Mary Chapin Carpenter?

Just a while ago I wouldn't have been crazy about that idea, but
country grew on me (when it comes in small doses :-) ) and I started
to listen to a country show on radio here semi-regularly -
American Forces Network radio is the only
US station I can get here and they have a show every morning
called "your kind of country" (not sure if that's one they
actually produce over here or "import" from some US station). You
get the usual country mainstream and are even treated to an
occasional MCC but I always kinda sit there hoping "Next Best
Western" would come on, or some Lucy or Mark Erelli because it
would work well in that show's format. So far that has never happened
of course... too bad that's not a call and request show...

Katrin


I couldn't resist: :-)
RonG said:
> There's often a stigma attached to folksingers who don't write their own
stuff (see: early    > Lucy),
see Joan Baez (during the last few years) :-)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 15:33:25 -0400
From: Jeff Gilson <jgilson@javanet.com>
Subject: RE: [RS] SOTW: Waiting for the Storm

Katrin wrote:
>The song that came to my mind right away when listening to WFTS
>the first time is Bill Morrissey's Waiting for the Rain. The latter's
>story has more of an edge to it I think, is even a bit darker, but
>both songs have the same general atmosphere (for lack of better
>word, it's too early to be creative :-) ). Anybody know it?


That's a great song.  It's off his "You'll Never Get to Heaven" album, and 
is without a doubt the best on on there.  It's a bit more menacing, I 
think, since it allows the situation to build more than Waiting for the 
Storm does.

'later,
jeff.


- --
I can find a small apartment where a struggling artist died
And pretend because I pay the rent I know that pain inside
                 --Dar Williams

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 14:35:21 -0500
From: "Clary, John (CLRY)" <CLRY@chevron.com>
Subject: RE: [RS] MCC

Dave McKay offered:
>> As a character study, John Doe No 24 has much in common with Richard's
offerings.<<

Oh hell yes. MCC does indeed have Richardesque moments.  My brain is on hold
today due to the long holiday weekend full of music festival, but the song
that starts, "I am a town in Carolina..."  what is it called?  I Am a Town,
perhaps?  Come on coffee, kick in (Oh yeah, I don't use caffeine anymore).
She's a great song writer and I even like her more pop-ish tunes, mostly.  I
didn't realize that she was "country" until I got married and my wife
listened to that format on the radadio.  She frequently holds the top honor
in the "Best Singer-Songwriter" category according to me.

j a c

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 19:26:03 -0400
From: Elwestrand  <elwestrand@ureach.com>
Subject: [RS] SOTW

I think there is another element to this song. There is 
something very deep and elemental about serious weather and 
major acts of nature. It really strips one down to one's core. 

I think the protagonist of the song is seeking this experience. 
To be nothing but a man versus the elements which to me also 
translates to a man versus his god. I feel as if he is 
spiritually saying: ok God, you keep screwing with me anyway so 
lets see what you got. I am sick of fighting with you (and 
everything) so why don't you give me you best shot and we'll see 
who's still standing. I am not so sure he is suicidal, I 
actually think he is confrontational. He is waiting for the 
storm to once and for all know what it's all about. If he dies 
so be it.

Now personally, after my house tried to kill me in the 
Northridge earthquake, I don't recommend this particular 
approach. Cause that moment when you are pretty sure you're 
going to die, is not a pretty moment. And the earth is powerful 
beyond our capacity to possibly understand. And I was sound 
asleep, not the least bit interested in challenging the 
elements. And bleeding legs and glass in my feet and missing 
pets, and other people's now loose (block walls fell over) 
freaked out dogs trying to kill us and burning debris falling 
from the sky and the smell of natural gas and........ well, 
maybe you get the picture -and maybe I need more therapy.

?

E

 


As a survivor of one of these cataclysms I can tell you that 
there is a moment where you pretty much feel it is just you and 
god and everything else is gone. You say to yourself, well it 
looks like I'm a goner. Well its been interesting being here.

________________________________________________
Get your own "800" number - Free
Free voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more
http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 19:40:34 -0400
From: "Norman A. Johnson" <njohnson@ent.umass.edu>
Subject: [RS] You stay here while I go wait for the storm

 Elwestrand wrote about "Waiting for the Storm":


>>I think the protagonist of the song is seeking this experience. 
To be nothing but a man versus the elements which to me also 
translates to a man versus his god. I feel as if he is 
spiritually saying: ok God, you keep screwing with me anyway so 
lets see what you got. I am sick of fighting with you (and 
everything) so why don't you give me you best shot and we'll see 
who's still standing. I am not so sure he is suicidal, I 
actually think he is confrontational. >>

Elwestrand's post got me thinking about these lines from YSH.

"You stay here and I'll go look for God
Not so hard 'cause I know where he's not
I will bring him back with me
Make him listen, make him see"

I was thinking of how much anger is in those lines. He's saying "Come on
God, you want to take me on, then do so already and get it over with"

Wow. Two Job songs on one album

Norman

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End of shindell-list-digest V2 #240
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