Current events got you down? Your portfolio withered away to naught? Pacing the floor waiting for Joni to write a new song?
Don't worry about any of that crap! Make your resolution to be more like ME, an oblivious idiot who entertains himself by compiling Joni covers. And what better way to start than with this month's compilation, the first of this new year, Volume 36 in the ongoing series. A virtual world tour of artists and pseudo-artists who, like us, love Joni and feel thereby compelled to sprint to a recording studio and document their talents or lack thereof for all mankind to behold. Herein is the table of contents for Volume 36...but first I fall prostrate and declare myself not worthy to the following contributors: Leslie Mixon Steve Klink Live Maria Roggen Monica Cardinale Deb Messling 1. The Albion Band - Big Yellow Taxi: Like Fairport Convention, The Albion Band was formed by Ashley Hutchings, I have to admit that I have a hard time keeping track of all the permutations and combinations of these Fairport people. But this cover is a nice live peppy version, even includes a spoken intro declaring the song's universal relevance. 2. Gloria Loring - Chelsea Morning: A 45-only release from the late 60's, way before Gloria became a "Days Of Our Lives" star or a spokesperson for juvenile diabetes. Speaking of TV, Gloria also wrote the theme songs for "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life"! 3. Howard Keel - Both Sides Now: Speaking of TV stars, up steps one of the stars of Dallas to croon the franchise. Of course Howard was a star of Broadway way before...my first introduction to him was as the star of Show Boat. 4. The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain - A Case of You: Probably appropriate, since one of Joni's first instruments was the uke. If you like an arrogant female Rex Harrison speak-singing over a sea of strummed & plucked ukeleles, then this one's for you! These guys play all the time in the UK, so if you're so inclined go catch a gig. 5. Mia & The Steve Klink Trio - Little Green: Steve of course released a full-length Joni tribute CD this year, but this lovely lovely track was from wife Mia Znidaric's solo cd released earlier. Did I say that this is really lovely? And a special nod to Steve for sending the CD to me gratis! (Of course I DID buy 20 of his cd's...) 6. Marlon Cherry - Dreamland: Fellow Carolinian (Marlon's from Charlotte, NC) Marlon Cherry turns in an outstanding take on Dreamland, going extra-heavy on the percussion & bass, thus restoring the rhythm that Roger McGuinn sucked out with his cover oh so many volumes ago. 7. Glenn Miller Band - Both Sides Now: Glenn loved this song so much he arose from the dead to play once more with his big band. No, not really...I made that part up. Benny Goodman's version blows this one out of the water, this one sounds too much like a marching band. 8. Julien Fleisher - The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines: Wow...if you think Dry Cleaner is a tough song to tackle anyway, try doing it at the breakneck pace that Julien does it, he knocks the thing out in a minute and a half! And this band is tight! 9. Tommy Banks Big Band - Big Yellow Taxi: Canadian Tommy Banks (who had previously recorded some other covers as half of the duo Tom & Judy) here leads a great-sounding big band through a rollicking taxi take, lots of nice solos and they really swing it. Even if you're tired of the song, you'll love this cut. 10. Live Maria Roggen & Lars Andreas Haug - Woodstock: So who woulda thunk that a jazz vocal & TUBA would sound so cool? But it does, this one is unique and awesome. Even more so because the Norwegian songstress donated her CD to the cause. 11. The Red Birds - Both Sides Now: The world tour continues as we journey onwards to the land of sushi & karaoke...The Red Birds were a Japanese pop group, unfortunately their take on the franchise is no great shakes. 12. Margo Hennebach - Song To A Seagull: Tucked away as a hidden track and referred to as "Fly Silly Seabird", Margo's crystal-clear voice rings through a fine acapella solo version of STAS. 13. Phil Allen - Woodstock: Phil's lovely organ is on display here for all to enjoy. Oh wait, that doesn't sound quite right...anyway, Phil plays a funky organ instrumental version of the Mathews Southern Comfort arrangement of Woodstock, with some dandy pedal steel thrown in for good measure. Everyone sing along! 14. Rodney Scott - (You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care: An Elvis wannabe (and really, aren't we all?), Rodney cranks this one out in fine rockabilly fashion, makes me want to put a nickel in the jukebox and spin some chick in a cashmere sweater & a poodle skirt! 15. Allan Capson - Both Sides Now: Sort of a cross between Oliver & Elmer Fudd. Allan, a Canadian balladeer that hopefully found another line of work, proves that BSN is not a totally easy song to sing if one has only a one octave range. 16. Sylvia - Marcie: Not to be confused with Marcie's version of "Sylvia"...Sylvia's a country singer from America's heartland (Kokomo, Indiana) who's been on the scene since 1984. A very pretty take on a VERY beautiful song. You can even hear a sample at: <A HREF="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sylvia2";>http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sylvia2</A> 17. Mary Ellen Wessels - I Don't Know Where I Stand: I love the start of this one...the piano arrangement reminds me of something Professor Roy Bittan would do. Unfortunately Mary Ellen's wavering vocal, along with her determination to o-ver-e-nun-ci-ate, makes this one less than it could be. Plus her last name looks too much like "weasel", but she can't really help that. 18. Steve Fisk - Woodstock: OHMIGOD! This is the kind of Joni cover that I live for! Throw Devo, Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, and some Trippy Eurotechno spices into the pot and stir it up! Hard to describe. Features a sampling of Max Yasgur Chanting "I'm A Farmer" as well as a techno-take fadeout ending of Sly Stone's "Want To Take You Higher". Those of you in the great Pacific Northwest may know Steve as a producer of some of that scene's biggest acts, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, ans Screaming Trees. 19. Morty Lewis - Both Sides Now: Or I should say "Morty Lewis & his Galaxy Sax"...still doesn't ring a bell? Well, that just means you haven't been frequenting the Holiday Inn lounges enough! This one's actually cheesy enough to be fun and make you want to do the watusi or the swim or something. And ironically, by the time Morty finally cuts loose with his moose-calling, the record fades away, as I'm sure Morty has since done as well. 20. Ulf Lundell - Vin Till Frukost: A nice Sting-like version of "Chelsea Morning"...I'm not sure what the translation means, but I'm thinking it's something like "Drink wine until you taste fructose" and I have no idea how that connects with Chelsea Morning, so I'm just going to go back to watusi-ing. So there you go, 20 tracks, 20 more should-have-been hits. Blame it on those restrictive radio playlists. Some fine day I'm gonna win that damn powerball, buy a radio station, and play nothin' but Joni covers all day! But until that day, the only way you can hear this compilation is to send me a blank & postage, or at least a couple bucks to cover the costs of media, mailing, and the nice full-cover label which this month features Joan as the object of affection in a heart. Euro-jmdler's who want a copy can contact my partner in cover-crime John van Tiel and he can hook you up. Bob NP: Gloria Loring, "Chelsea Morning"
