The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
November 07, 2004
Icky Girl Music: Joni Mitchell's Birthday Mastermix Joni Mitchell was born 61 years ago today, on November 7, 1943 in Alberta, Canada. Much as any decent person might normally hate Canadians, what with their beady little eyes and their heads so full of lies, you've got to stop and give respect to this classic artist.
She's usually described primarily as a songwriter, and certainly not without reason. She's had a unique melodic style, and a lot of jazz gained skill in harmonics that has coalesced into a hella catalogue of songs.
However, the known recordings of almost all her songs (save a Nazareth cover of "This Flight Tonight") are her own. She's quite a unique vocal performer with a really good instrument.
On top of which, whoever she's got producing from record to record, she's gotten a lot of really interesting arrangements that add a lot to the already excellent basic songs. Indeed, Led Zeppelin and Prince and Elvis Costello have all cited her as a model, particularly for creating orhcestral colors. Dig particularly, for examples, on "The Jungle Line" or "Carey." She's got a very painterly consciousness of her tone palette.
Here's a little late arriving email quote from Sananda Matreiya aka Terence Trent D'Arby:
Were Joni Mitchell born instead John Mitchell, she'd easily and without typical chauvinist reluctance be ranked as one of the greatest artist of the second half of the century. Her genius is not only a novelists eye for vignettes and imagery but also in the complexity of her harmonic ear and brilliant melodies. More men owe a debt to her in my profession than have yet had the balls to own up to. For me she easily ranks with the big boys of my Valhalla, Wilson, Wonder, Dylan, Bacharach etc.
If you haven't got any Joni Mitchell, then your priorities in life are just messed up. The Blue album comes top recommended, along with Court and Spark. I've never seen a Joni Mitchell compilation I was real satisified with, though.
So, of course, I've made my own mix CD. It would be worth your time to hunt down mp3s P2P and whip up your own copy of:
ICKY GIRL MUSIC - THE JONI MITCHELL MASTERMIX
The Jungle Line Help Me Carey Big Yellow Taxi God Must Be a Boogie Man This Flight Tonight You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio Raised on Robbery Court and Spark Free Man in Paris In France They Kiss on Main Street My Old Man The Last Time I Saw Richard All I Want California River A Case of You People's Parties Blue Song to Aging Children Come Twisted Little Green Both Sides Now
