From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V2 #345 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Tuesday, November 28 2000 Volume 02 : Number 345 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] More covers [Loracevoll@aol.com] [RS] More Covers [Loracevoll@aol.com] Re: [RS] More Covers [Rongrittz@aol.com] [RS] Worldwide Webb ["Gene Frey" ] [RS] Jimmy Webb search [Lee Wessman ] [RS] Re: Suzanne Vega (and a little on Joan Baez) [Tom926@aol.com] RE: [RS] The Queen and the Soldier [Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl)] [RS] Thank You [RuthGersonBand@aol.com] [RS] PS -- Gifts... [RuthGersonBand@aol.com] [RS] Re: ... (and a little on Joan Baez) [Rongrittz@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 09:51:27 EST From: Loracevoll@aol.com Subject: [RS] More covers In a message dated 11/28/2000 2:04:33 AM Pacific Standard Time, gene says: > Moon River (Henry Mancini) > > Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb) > Gene, Those covers would never have come to mind for me -- but the more I think about it, the more I think Richard could really give me goosebumps with them.... ....Carol ( a closet Andy Williams & Glen Campbell fan...) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 09:53:42 EST From: Loracevoll@aol.com Subject: [RS] More Covers In a message dated 11/28/2000 2:04:33 AM Pacific Standard Time, Norman says: > Gene suggested Richard cover "Wichita Lineman" by Jimmy Webb but made > famous by Glenn Campbell. I have another Jimmy Webb song (also made famous > by Glenn Campbell) that I think would be even better for Richard: > Galveston. It even sounds like something Richard would write (the story of > a solider waiting to return to the one he loves). Wow, all this Jimmy Webb! I hope we're all in agreement that Richard Harris rendered the definitive version of "MacArthur Park".... ;-) ....Carol ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 10:59:05 EST From: Rongrittz@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] More Covers >> I hope we're all in agreement that Richard Harris rendered the definitive version of "MacArthur Park".... << Well, he's no Donna Summer. RG ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 11:31:54 -0500 From: "Gene Frey" Subject: [RS] Worldwide Webb Hey you guys, Carol and Ron thrusted and parried: >>I hope we're all in agreement that Richard Harris rendered the definitive >>version of "MacArthur Park".... << >>Well, he's no Donna Summer. << Yes, but have you ever heard his dramatic rendering of 'Love to Love You Baby? Gene F. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 09:08:39 -0800 From: Lee Wessman Subject: [RS] Jimmy Webb search OK, since somebody brought up Jimmy Webb songs, there's a song that has haunted me since I heard it once or twice on some weird radio station in the early 80s and never heard it again. The main line in the chorus had a great double entendre, worthy of Richard Shindell. It went: "If you see me getting smaller, I'm leaving." It sounded very much like a song by either Jimmy Webb or John Hartford. Anybody ever heard this one? - -lee ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 16:25:41 EST From: Tom926@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: Suzanne Vega (and a little on Joan Baez) In a message dated 11/28/00 5:04:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org writes: << I lost interest in Suzanne when she released Days Of Open Hand, but those first two records were amazing to me. I think Kate Rusby was on NPR the weekend before last, but I missed most of the interview. I must go buy her stuff now. j a c >> I am so sorry you feel that way. I must admit that DoOH is pretty much of a disaster (wonderful wonderful art direction though--for which it won a grammy), but 99.9F and Nine Objects of Desire are both innovative, wonderful albums. Mixing elements of industrial, folk, funk... I know alot of people felt about these albums the way that people felt about Dylan at Newport, but I love to see artists taking risks and trying new things. There is definitely one song from the cds I am sure you would love called "In Liverpool." What I like about the albums is that she continues to open up her sound. And there is a wonderfully weird album of people who covered "Tom's Diner" that is a nifty thang. I especially love the version which mixes the Da da dada Da dada of TD with the melody of the "I Dream of Jeannie" theme song. Ah sheer unadulterated pleasure, right up there with the best bubblegum pop. And as I live on the upper west side and have eaten many times at Tom's Diner (also known to people as the "Seinfield" diner), the song has some personal resonance for me as well. It's actually called "Tom's Restaurant" by the way, but I guess that didn't scan as well. LOL. And yes Katrin, there are other Joan Baez fans out here. I worked as a waiter to put myself through college and used to make mix tapes for my fellow tray slingers. Got them to listen to things they never thought they would like--like 10,000 Maniacs and REM and The Smiths and Maura O'Connell and Delores Keane and on and on and on. One of the people I worked with lent me The Book of the Month Club box version of Joan Baez--probably one of the first true box sets ever produced in a folk context. And I fell head over heels in love with her Childe Ballads and takes on Dylan. What a pure, cystalline voice. I think though what turns people off to her is that she is a *formal* singer. She sings from the head, so to speak, and not from the gut. Linda Ronstadt gets accused of that too. You can hear this in her version of Richard's "Fishing." I LOVED it when I first it, but now I find it too fussy. Not enough blood and guts to it. Then again, I don't think Richard's is the definitive version either. I would love to hear someone like Maura O'Connell cover it--someone who injects sheer gutsy passion into the song. RS can be a bit of a "cool" singer--the emotions are intellectualized to me rather than visceral. But then again Joan's version of "Reunion Hill" is quite simply beautiful. Anyway, my friend, in a gesture I found to be quite touching, told me, "Well you keep the Joan box set since you love it much more than I do. Just make me 10 mix tapes to replace it." Which I did. Too bad Ruby and I lost touch. She would LOVE RS. Oh and J a c, Kate Rusby is wonderful also. DEFINITELY worth your time and money. And for those of you who are not aware of it, A & M just released a 2 cd version of Sandy Denny's greatest hits. Sandy is without question the best Brit female folk singer of all time to me. Good remastering job and the liner notes are interesting. Not to mention Beth Orton's two cds and Sinead Lohan (I was the person who screamed "Oh my God! Sinead Lohan!" when Joan played "No Mermaids" at the Beacon here a few years back. Even Joan laughed). ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 23:19:32 +0100 From: Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de (Katrin Uhl) Subject: RE: [RS] The Queen and the Soldier > >okay, it's a deal then, let's talk him into singing it! > > Actually, Katrin, I'd rather we talk you into singing it! > > Howie > oh, know what, Howie - next time you're in Germany drop by and I will get my guitar out and play that very song just for you - how about that? :) Katrin - -------------------------------------------------------- - If I didn't dream I'd be dead - Peter Mulvey (all in good fun) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 17:10:38 EST From: RuthGersonBand@aol.com Subject: [RS] Thank You Glad to be home. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Thank You for being a part of an amazing tour. It went beyond all my hopes. I deeply appreciate all the encouragement and support -- and am so glad to have met so many new friends around the country. If you have friends in NYC, I'm playing a free show the day after tomorrow, Thursday, 11/30 @ 8:45pm at the SIDEWALK CAFE (94 Ave A & 6th St). If they need some info or to hear music first, there's www.RUTHGERSON.com . Every person who brings five friends will get a free CD!!!! I hope to stay in contact with everyone (and if you got on the email list, but missed the show -- I'll be sure to give you plenty of lead time in the Spring when I come back). Thank You TONS and TONS! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 17:20:15 EST From: RuthGersonBand@aol.com Subject: [RS] PS -- Gifts... PS -- Oh, How could I forget!! It's Holiday Home Shoppin' Time. I finally can take CREDIT CARDS over the net (they take 15%, but it is convenient!). So I've got the wrapping paper and Holiday cards ready. Who's on your list? You can give the great gift of music and support independent music. 15% of profits will get toys for "Toys for Tots." Your CDs will be mailed out within 24hrs of your order, whether you use check or credit card (just email me, if you're sending a check and make sure I know what you want and where you want it to go). And they will be giftwrapped with a nice card saying whatever you tell me to say. To peruse the four available releases, visit www.RUTHGERSON.com -- all ordering info is there as well. Again, I just want to thank everyone for their encouragement & for spreading the word. The tour was such a great experience and it was successful beyond my imagination. It never would of happened without everyone's support. I'm very grateful. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TONS & TONS, Ruth ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 21:36:00 EST From: Rongrittz@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: ... (and a little on Joan Baez) >> I think though what turns people off to her is that she is a *formal* singer. She sings from the head, so to speak, and not from the gut. << See, the problem I have with Joan is that she doesn't sing from the head either. It's my opinion that she sings songs the way George Dubya Bush reads speeches from a teleprompter: like she's seeing the words for the first time and hasn't a clue what she's singing. For God's sake, if you're gonna sing words that someone else has written, take the time to at least *pretend* to grasp the writer's intentions. Good singers sing emotions, mediocre singers merely sing words, and that's all Joan does. It's also a good idea to try and get the words right. Her mangling of the classic "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" always sticks with me: "so much" cavalry? "the" Robert E. Lee? >> You can hear this in her version of Richard's "Fishing." I LOVED it when I first it, but now I find it too fussy. Not enough blood and guts to it. Then again, I don't think Richard's is the definitive version either. I would love to hear someone like Maura O'Connell cover it--someone who injects sheer gutsy passion into the song. RS can be a bit of a "cool" singer--the emotions are intellectualized to me rather than visceral. << Occasionally, but I think that's more a function of the (IMHO) slick production on "Blue Divide" than lack of his emotional involvement in the song. In concert, Richard becomes *both* the INS agent and the fisherman, particularly when he softens the emotions in the last verse. He clearly understands the difference between the two characters, something which does not come across to me in Joan's version. And as much as I like Maura O'Connell's voice, I find a numbing feeling of sameness to much of what she sings. It's the same "formality" that Tom finds in Joan's voice. Again, it's the ability to understand the depth of what the writer is trying to convey. Compare Nanci Griffith's weary take on her classic "Trouble in the Fields" with Maura's antiseptic version, for example. I'll take the original writer's blood and guts over preachy covers anytime. RG ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V2 #345 ***********************************