Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 14:43:25 -0800
From: "Kate Bennett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: suggestion njc
Franklin,
Kate wrote> how about if you write something about joni, your
favorite album or when you first heard her or something along those
lines
Franklin> Thoughtful recommendation from someone whose posts I
generally enjoy (I'll hereby attempt to reciprocate). I will agree,
that beginning with my hearty agreement regarding the three Joni CDs
being discussed that were benchmark and "filler-free", things seemed
to disintegrate there for a bit. (TIP: when contemplating along with
other "posters" other potential artists having created "three in a
row" ground-breaking, poetically profound, "filler-free" CDs in a
row; do not, I repeat, do not recommend L.A. Cowboy
http:www.mp3.lacowboy.com under any circumstances: or, word to the
wise, do so at your own risk - as it seems to noticably irritate a
certain "poster" here for inexplicable reasons, as said "poster" has
confessed a lack of exposure and/or interest in above-stated artist's
music anyway!????)
My first introduction to JM was when my rowdy brothers and I were
sequestered into a private boarding military high school (sort of as
an acquiescence to my wealthy professional father's second wife -
call it a "wedding gift"). He had custody of us at the time, as my
intelligent, life-loving mother was suffering from what would
inevitably become lifelong, chronic schyzophrenia. I was carted off,
along with my Moroccan, blonde, opiated hash chunks (apparently
compliments of returning Vietnam air force pilots who smuggled it
into their cockpits) and (kick-ass) deep southern Mexican (read:
connoisseur, exotic weed) stash. I also had my album collection: Led
Zepplin, Cream, Savoy Brown, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Wishbone Ash,
Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burden, Robin Trower, West Coast Pop Art
Experiment (anyone remember them?), The Youngbloods, Atomic Rooster -
you know doubt get the idea.
The school consisted of an interesting mixture of 4th, 5th generation
"blue-bloods, the national scion type, following family heritage, and
a consortium of upper-middle class boys from around the country sent
there for to gain/or for "discipline(ary) reasons, family problems,
disinterested, preoccupied parents, etc. The Vietnam War was raging,
and Military School was not a popular, cool hangout for a large,
contingency of those among us who identified with each other(s
plights?). The whole experience is a mixture of bad memories/good
memories - the story of life, I guess. I felt abandoned, angry,
trapped, embarrassed (cut hair and uniforms). Amidst the sneaky
drinking, stoning, typical identity-seeking little rebellions extant
at the time, I somehow found "Blue" (honorable mentions to "Tea for
the Tillerman" - another ground-breaking, "filler-free" TOTAL
classic). Between those two female/male troubadour's expressive
artistic bookends I found solace, comfort, understanding, and above
all, vehicles of inspired, poetic expression conveying MY thoughts,
fears, dreams, ideals...they were both so filled with spirit and
LOVE. Together, they gently escorted me through some of the most
turbulent years of my life.
There was something paradoxical represented in "Blue", in my young
mind. Something about the melancholy, sadness, resignation -
sprinkled with a little jest and joy, that ended up, in an odd way
(which no doubt many here will appreciate) engendering hope. Hope in
beauty, hope in intelligence, hope in the poetry - oh that beautiful,
conversational poetry, hope in creativity as an answer, a voice in a
perplexing world: creativity as - the spark of life. I wore that CD
(read:album) out! Knew every word by heart, still do. (as an aside, I
think the guitar tracks James Taylor contributed on several songs
remain his finest, most innovative he ever played - inspired by Joni
NO DOUBT!) Brought multiple copies (I had to, as I kept giving
previous copies away). I never, through those rocky adolescent
years, tired of playing it - all the way through no less than
hundreds of times (an unbelievable, rare commendation for any work of
art). And every listen somehow bolstered, strengthened, heartened,
gave solace to my soul.
Fell in love with/and too, C&S - while in an adolescent psych ward
for six months after ala James Taylor (they didn't diagnose
adolescent alcoholism/drug addiction in those days - too little money
for Psychiatrists in the "treatment" model I guess) but that's
another story/topic, and I'm attempting to avoid lengthening this
post any further than necessary. Let's just say that certain
"adults" deemed it necessary to have me "examined" for quitting a
prestigious school- in the middle of a term no less - in which I had
academically excelled (top of the class type shit). They wondered, I
guess, why I would throw away such a privileged opportunity - I
literally had my choice of "any college" opportunities due to my
academic status as well as that of the high school. I must confess,
in later years I have occasionally wondered as well. Ah, hindsight -
and its mischievous lack of "presence".
While I realize all of this is somewhat "broad brush", I hope it is
an adequate introduction for a new member. To break into every nuance
of each song, their special messages to me, etc. would surely be
construed as "lengthy" and I suggest is better suited for further
discussion, if interest exists, prevails. In fact, I would love to
hear about/from those of you who would consider responding to Kate's
same question.
Kate>i have scrolled past your postings in the past few days due to
the length &
bantering nature of them & i suspect you maybe turning off some folks
unintentionally...
Franklin> Well, at least some folks on this list display some common
sense occasionally! I scrolled by them too! LOL (BTY - at least you
recognized it was "unintentional". I got the feeling that a post or
two were attempting to turn me off "intentionally". Oh, well. Like a
light bulb - being perpetually turned-on carries with it the risk of
"burning out" quicker.) lol Everyone/thing has to be turned-off
occasionally, whether by sleep or other, less satisfying, gratifying,
regenerating methods.
Kate>you seem quite intelligent so how about a joni subject to bring
it all back
to why we are all here?
Franklin> Thank you for the compliment, I've noticed your apparent
brain cell abundance as well! So why ARE we all here? (great
question, rhetorical or not) I did note with mildly passing interest
that 15 (slightly over half) of the postings on #497 have absolutely
nothing to do with Joni. Several of the rest make merely passing
mention. That leads me to believe that part of the vibrancy of this
community has at least as much to do with the concept that JM is not
only an amazing artist/human being to ponder, pontificate about and
deconstruct, but also a "perfect" excuse for people with something in
common to (dare I say) digress into other topics ranging from
politics to rap, to tattoos, to hippie days, to opera, to
feelings/philosophies, to health, to "sluts"/not "sluts", to Woody or
not to Woody: that is the question - lol etc.
That's fine with me (as it makes total sense). Those who congregate
simply display (as most people in most situations do) their
multi-dimensional personas, interests, feelings, fears, joys,
concerns etc., and thus themselves to each other as the bonds of
interest and friendship grow and flourish in a multitude of
uncharted, unchartable directions - and I think that is cool. Thank
you Joni (where ever you are) for providing (inadvertently or
otherwise) this opportunity for complex people to communicate their
varied thoughts and feelings, all because of a mutual love for an
inspired, inspiring, complex artist!
And thanks to you Kate for gently expressing your concern,
compliments and care. (Do you really know Joni personally?? Wow! Must
be really, well, wonderful.) Just asking; some of your posts seem to
indicate that.
Franklin
NP L.A. Cowboy - "The Brilliant Failure" Postscript: This artist is
one of a few who have supplied in my adult life much of what "Blue"
and "Tea for the Tillerman" did in my youth: See above for
descriptive details of those life-enhancing, spirit-feeding,
soul-comforting contributions.
