I can’t stand her voice
A great album. Listened to it in full many times as a 16 year old. Made me feel very girly.
This song was written with David Geffen in mind.
I will suggest that “Blue” was her finest.
She is an artistic maestra and a certifiable flake. Maybe that goes hand in hand ?
“It’s loves illusions I recall.”
I guess it is considered a woman’s song but it has had great impact on my life.
Hubby and I did that not too long ago with Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”. Just sat and listened to the whole album, just like in the old days. It was an awful lot of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in0g-rpb9S4
THE LADY IN NEWPORT
By Lachlan MacLearn
In the summer of 1966 [sic, should be 1967] a relative unknown walked onto the stage at the Newport, Rhode Island Folk Festival, after being introduced by Judy Collins. It was a breezy summer’s evening and the crowd was restless. I remember thinking that this newcomer, whoever she was, was stepping into some serious company. I can’t recall the exact lineup. Probably Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Odetta, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, and the like. As I said, `serious company...’ She appeared to be carrying a tiny Martin Triple-0, but I couldn’t be sure. She wore a long dress. I was too far back to decipher the face.
There was a round of light applause when she was introduced. A tentative strum rolled from the huge PA, then another, and she was beginning her opening number.
The song was ‘Michael from Mountains’. And by the end of the first verse, the crowd had gone from bordering-rude to pin-drop silence. I was riveted.
When the song ended, the strangest thing occurred. For at least five seconds (look at your watch...try to imagine it) the place was dead-silent - ten or fifteen thousand people - dead silent - and then a huge release of cheers and applause.
The short set included `Chelsea Morning’, and I think she played `The Circle Game’ before leaving the stage to a tumultuous and prolonged standing ovation.
I remember feeling so grateful for this amazing new talent and feeling equally sorry for anyone unfortunate enough to be going onstage after her.
I like “Shadows and Light” because her band was Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays and Jaco.
Pretty amazing we have a Joanie thread going on FR!
One odd thing, our local NPR station loves her (WFUV from Fordham U.) we call it Joanie Radio, but in all the time we’ve listened to Sirius I think we’ve heard ONE song by her.
Hubby and I can’t figure it out, if it’s a “rights” thing or what. I’ve even thought of tuning in some of the Canadian oriented stations to see if I’d hear her there.
Love Joanie, not her biggest fan, but she is very great in her own way.
You are so right:)
I had this album and listened to to it for hours....I was 13 and sang along thinking I would be a singer one day!
Thank you for the wonderful memory.....
What beautiful long summer days, just me and my albums...
I’m glad folks are being polite...given her politics..I too like Court and Spark
..my 11th grade year...
chicks liked it too..like Fogleberg or Buckingham Nicks
her stuff later didn’t work as well for my taste...which is ironic given Tom Scott played on Court and Spark too
but Hissing...just didn’t do it for me
I was more old school ...For the Roses
anyhow..I admit...I liked her
I miss the whole “Girl Music” genre.
Or, maybe I just miss being 19 years old?
I think you have to include Judy Collins - “Send In The Clowns”
And Joan Baez - “Sad Eyed Lady”
Barbra Streisand had a couple truly beautiful songs.
But I have to agree with others on this thread.
The politics of these women, including fellow traveler Jane Fonda, were just insane, worse actually, they were insanely destructive.
Court and Spark was Joni Mitchell’s Sgt. Pepper.
Joni’s lyrics alone are beautiful poems, even without the music. Compare that to, say, Madonna - whose lyrics are nonsensical repetition.
It’s the only Joni Mitchell album I own (I still spin vinyl).