Category: Who knows

Recently, I’ve been on the road quite a bit. That has its disadvantages.

However, road travel also has its benefits. It allows you time to think – and to get reacquainted with music you love. And there’s simply something quite enjoyable about heading down the highway, dawn in the rear-view mirror, with music you love and haven’t heard in years playing in the background.

And yeah – that means you’re about to get another musical “walkabout” from me. You’ve been warned. (smile)

. . .

Before this trip, I took another look through the music library – after all, you can only listen to the same set of tunes so long before you begin to get tired of them. And I found something there that I’d put aside and forgotten over the years.

In previous articles here at TAH, I indicated there were two ladies I’d pay serious money to hear play in a small venue. I was wrong; add a third to that list. That third lady is Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter – AKA Ms. Roberta Joan “Joni” Mitchell.

Here are eight tunes by the lady, along with some brief comments. They showcase a truly wonderful voice and songwriting talent. All are her compositions; the first three were made famous by other performers.

The last tune is a particular favorite of mine. FWIW: I think that anyone who’s ever taken on significant responsibilities – be they of national import, at work, for one’s family, or of any other type – can identify with the tune’s sentiment.

Both Sides Now (Judy Collins recorded this in 1967.)

Big Yellow Taxi (Mitchell recorded and released it in 1970, but it didn’t do as well as the version recorded and released that same year by “The Neighborhood”. Mitchell later had a bigger hit with a live version of the song released in 1974.)

Woodstock (Crosby Stills Nash and Young recorded the definitive version of this tune, but Mitchell wrote it.)

Help Me (Mitchell’s biggest and only top 10 hit. Nice tune.)

Raised on Robbery (Minor hit and fun tune.)

Court and Spark (Gorgeous title tune from the album marking her commercial high-water mark.)

Twisted (This tune is simply hilarious – and yes, that IS Cheech and Chong you hear doing spoken background vocals somewhat over midway through the tune. [smile])

Free Man in Paris (Written by Mitchell about her observations of music industry figure David Geffin during a trip they took to Paris with Robbie Robertson and his wife, Dominique. As noted above, anyone who’s ever taken on significant responsibilities IMO can identify with this one.)

. . .

Joni Mitchell suffered a brain aneurysm in March 2015. She survived and has made a reasonable recovery, but apparently has significant residual health issues. Sadly, I’d guess her career as a performer has ended.

But her existing recorded work still showcases her immense skill as a composer and singer. And the above only covers a smallish part of her career.

What new product am I talking about? Well, here ya go – it’s called “Unicorn Fruit Loops”:

 

 

No, I’m not joking – I’m serious.

It’s already available in the UK. Supposedly it will be available in the US in March.

I’d guess it will be quite popular with college students and recent grads – at least, until reality smacks them “upside the head” – as well as among       Leftists       Socialists        Progressives in general. I’d also guess it will be especially popular in Greenwich Village and the Castro District.

No word on whether it comes with “mini-Skittles” mixed in the cereal, though. (smile)

Nothing again from DPAA again this week – I guess the “holiday break” affected their workflow substantially. So once again, some Sunday morning music instead.

. . . 

A few days ago, I wrote that there were two ladies I’d pay serious money to see perform in a small venue.

That previous article identified the first: the exquisite Annie Lennox. Here are seven from the second – the exceptional Tina Turner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, my personal two favorites.  (Note:  if you’ve recently lost someone close or are having serious relationship issues with someone you care about, you might want to give the first of these a pass.)

 

 

 

Damn, that woman can sing.

. . .

FWIW: the “backstory” of the last tune – Private Dancer – is quite an interesting one. If it sounds quite different from most of the lady’s other tunes . . . well, it should. It was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, and was originally recorded by Dire Straits during the sessions for their 1982 album “Love Over Gold”.

After recording the instrumentals for the song (some accounts say Knopfler recorded the vocals as well), Knopfler thought the song was really one a woman should sing. So the tune was dropped from “Love Over Gold”; Knopfler later offered the tune to Tina Turner.

When I say “offered the tune”, I mean exactly that. Knopfler originally wanted to give Turner the complete recorded instrumental tracks  from the Dire Straits recording sessions and let her provide a vocal track to complete the song. Unfortunately, his record company apparently balked at that. So members of the band (less Knopfler, presumably for the same reason) performed as Turner’s session musicians when she recorded it in 1984. Jeff Beck sat in for Knopfler on lead guitar, and IMO did a fine job.

To my knowledge, the original Dire Straits version was never released (as noted above, accounts vary regarding whether Knopfler ever recorded a vocal track for the song). That’s a pity – I’d love to hear Knopfler’s guitar work and his take on the vocals for the tune.