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Musings regarding Joni Mitchell


steve-bbb
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I think she's the greatest lyricist ever.

Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps
In the grey decay
They chew the last few dollars off
Old Beale Street's carcass
Carrion and mercy


White flags of winter chimneys
Waving truce against the moon
In the mirrors of a modern bank
From the window of a hotel room


Genius.

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  • 3 weeks later...

[url="http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/06/29/joni-mitchell-jaco-pastorius-shadows-light-rare-live-recording/"]http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/06/29/joni-mitchell-jaco-pastorius-shadows-light-rare-live-recording/[/url]

[url="http://youtu.be/okRnO4KLbQg"]http://youtu.be/okRnO4KLbQg[/url]

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Well in the end, the show was OK. Not much new in terms of musicians who played with her. Max Bennet being the only new commentary I've heard.

Not too much about her guitar playing either but none the less a good listen. Jaco gets a couple of mentions but only in passing.

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  • 2 months later...

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1411412411' post='2559323']
[b]From Brain Pickings ....

[url="http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/09/22/joni-mitchell-in-her-own-words-malka-marom/"]Joni Mitchell on Freedom, the Source of Creativity, and the Dark Side of Success[/url][/b]
[/quote]

And no mention of Laura Nyro. Ah well here you go...

[url="http://www.furious.com/perfect/lauranyro.html"]http://www.furious.c.../lauranyro.html[/url]

I'll never forget the first time I heard 'River' .....

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[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1396810749' post='2417603']
Just love Joni
I'm with Ambient on the Both sides now with Vince Mendoza arrangements, and I know a few guys on the album... recorded at my favourite studio AIR.
[/quote]

One of the great highlights of my life so far was recording in studio 1 on the day Joni was in lyndhurst hall. Our paths didn't cross, but my band and I were allowed to have a listen in the hall's control room to what had been recorded that day, as our drummer picked through the ash tray Joni had been using to give the butts as a present to his Mum.

Edited by scalpy
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  • 1 month later...

In yesterday's Observer.

"Joni Mitchell: the sophistication of her music sets her apart from her peers – even Dylan
As a book of interviews and box set of songs from Joni Mitchell’s career are released, long-time fan Sean O’Hagan argues that her run of five classic albums, from Blue in 1971 to Hejira in 1976, surpass the work of her more celebrated male contemporaries...."

[url="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/26/joni-mitchell-blue-hissing-summer-lawns-court-spark-hejira-dylan?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2"]http://www.theguardi...EMCNEWEML6619I2[/url]

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  • 3 months later...

I really like the "Jazz Era" Joni L.P's.. "Refuge of the Roads" from "Hejira" still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Joni's voice and acoustic guitar blend so well with JP's superbly phrased bass playing.

That L.P. has got some classic songs on it that still stand today, "Amelia" and "Furry Sings the Blues" being just two.

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[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1423521002' post='2685989']
I really like the "Jazz Era" Joni L.P's.. "Refuge of the Roads" from "Hejira" still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Joni's voice and acoustic guitar blend so well with JP's superbly phrased bass playing.

That L.P. has got some classic songs on it that still stand today, "Amelia" and "Furry Sings the Blues" being just two.
[/quote]

My favourite too

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By coincidence I have Shadows and Light on in the car right now and I was thinking exactly the same; genius and THAT* live band! She's one of those geniuses who makes everything look easy.
Prince says 'Hissing...' is one of the few albums he can listen to all the way through.
And +1 to all of Jaco's best work being done with Joni.
I wouldn't know where to start or stop with her brilliant lyrics but I love 'a helicopter lands on the PAN-AM roof like a dragonfly on a tomb'.
The live version of Hejira with that achingly beautiful play out - pity the band footage was replaced by the ice skaters.
*Joni wanted Wayne Shorter but he and Jaco's Weather Report contracts prevented any two members being involved in another project.

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[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1423547065' post='2686111']
By coincidence I have Shadows and Light on in the car right now and I was thinking exactly the same; genius and THAT* live band! She's one of those geniuses who makes everything look easy.
Prince says 'Hissing...' is one of the few albums he can listen to all the way through.
And +1 to all of Jaco's best work being done with Joni.
I wouldn't know where to start or stop with her brilliant lyrics but I love 'a helicopter lands on the PAN-AM roof like a dragonfly on a tomb'.
The live version of Hejira with that achingly beautiful play out - pity the band footage was replaced by the ice skaters.
*Joni wanted Wayne Shorter but he and Jaco's Weather Report contracts prevented any two members being involved in another project.
[/quote]
Agreed - the pan am roof line is one of the main stand out lines of the whole album
Shame about Wayne shorter though ... Bit of a bummer she had to put up with Michael Brecker! Lol

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I've been a Joni fan since my late teens in the late 70's and often put the iPod to 'play all' when MrsB is out. I couldn't begin to pick out my favourite bit of lyric 'cos there's is just so much that is brilliant. Both Sides Now has consistently been my favourite song from the day I first heard it.

I distinctly remember getting home in the early hours of the morning after seeing The Ramones in Birmingham, and putting For The Roses on the record player, and listening (very quietly) and feeling really quite at peace with the world.

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I'm a big Joni fan - mentioned on a different thread the superb bass line on Don't Interrupt the Sorrow by Wilton Felder - but the genius of Pastorius on Hejira can sometimes lead to other amazing moments being overlooked. Max Bennett's bass line on Song for Sharon is a masterclass of understated melodic brilliance.

The lyrics aren't bad either..

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[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1423575332' post='2686493']
Max Bennett's bass line on Song for Sharon is a masterclass of understated melodic brilliance.
[/quote]

I like his playing on 'Miles Of Aisles' and 'The Hissing...' as well. Love Jaco, but Max's playing suits some of Joni's material equally IMHO. What a choice!

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[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1423590701' post='2686760']
I like his playing on 'Miles Of Aisles' and 'The Hissing...' as well. Love Jaco, but Max's playing suits some of Joni's material equally IMHO. What a choice!
[/quote]
I agree. Two great players offering completely contrasting styles/approaches.

It's similar to Weather Report... there's a host of non-Jaco stuff that gets overlooked - Alphonso Johnson/Cucumber Slumber being right up there.

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I'm a massive Joni fan...Mingus is on of my all time favourite albums and Hejira is a close second. I'm not normally into folky-jazzy singer songwriters but Joni is so intelligent and articulate, she can't be ignored. The Joni/Jaco collaboration was as close to pure musical magic as I've ever heard.

She deserves more recognition than Bob Dylan.

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