Joni Mitchell: The Complete Poems and Lyrics

Amazon.com

The sweeping imagery and confessional tone of Joni Mitchell's lyrics have made her a pop icon for decades. Her writing, like that of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, helped legitimize song lyrics as poetry by adding sophisticated shadings and nuances that earlier rock and folk music often lacked. What's more, as a woman writing in a medium dominated by men, Mitchell became an important role model for young women trying to make sense of their lives during turbulent times. Given her importance as a pop poet and the care and craft with which she approached her craft, it is a treat now to have her work compiled in one volume. Mitchell's has been an aural art, but having the words to read on the page without benefit of melody heightens one's appreciation of the lyrics as poems.

Book Description

In the generation of singer-songwriters who came to fame in the '60s, none has had more impact--or created a more evocative, bittersweet, literate, and reflective body of work--than Joni Mitchell. Today's music owes much to her innovation and inspiration. This complete collection of her poetry and song lyrics reads like a poem cycle that finds unexpected meaning and beauty on the page.

After displaying a haunting and sophisticated quality in her first albums, Joni Mitchell (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and Blue (1972), Mitchell reached her poetic apotheosis in the surreal and mythical Hejira (1976) and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977). During the '80s, Mitchell used her words to explore and mirror the commercial energy of the decade. She became more reflective in the following years with Night Ride Home (1991) and Turbulent Indigo (1994). Mitchell continues to grow her already remarkable talent, as is evident with her latest work, Taming the Tiger (1998).

The importance of Mitchell's entire oeuvre is unequivocal when seen as a lifetime of accomplished writing. As epic poet and tragedian, the power and honesty of her voice has inspired generations past and those to come. Joni Mitchell: The Complete Poems and Lyrics gives us the first opportunity to reconsider Mitchell's written work and her exalted place among the great poets and lyricists of our time.

This paperback edition includes the lyrics to Joni Mitchell's new album, Taming the Tiger, as well as an index for easy access to all titles.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2004-08-03

Once again, someone just did not care enough to showcase Ms. Mitchell's work in the manner deserved. Aside from the gorgeous cover photo by Herb Ritts (a much larger version of which was originally published many years ago in "Rolling Stone" magazine), you might as well just pull out your old albums and read the lyrics printed on the covers (not to mention the accompanying beautiful photos and paintings included on all Ms. Mitchell's albums). Maybe someday someone will take the time, effort, and expense to "do the right thing" in terms of Ms. Mitchell's work. Unfortunately, they basically did the "wrong thing" this time around.

A Brilliant Career Captured in Lyrics and Poems.......2002-12-20

`The Complete Poems' covers the Canadian singer's work from her first self-titled album in 1968 through 1994's `Turbulent Indigo.' The book provides a very nice look at the talented songwriter's work without the voice that some find irritating. (I happen to find it beautiful.) Lovers of modern poetry and great lyric writing will enjoy the book immensely.

321 pages

I enjoyed this Book.......2002-03-17

I have liked Joni Mitchell for quite a number of years.Her "Blue" Album really moves me still to this day.this book works for me because I don't have all Her Albums nor all the lyrics so this is a cool book.I hope that a full overview of Her Career&things will be included in the future in a expanded edition of this book but for now this is really cool.

Joni defines feminine..........2001-12-02

It's difficult to write a review about an artist's lyrics to her recordings, since they are all subjective. While I may love Joni, the next person may prefer the fluff of Christina Aguilera. Not that there's anything wrong with Christina, but she'll never be as poetic as Joni, or mean as much to the world of art as Joni has.

Since I was born in 1969, I am a second generation Joni fan. My Mom and Dad have always been fans, but I didn't become a serious admirer until Prince mentioned in an interview that the only CD he'd loved listening all the way through during that time period was "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns." While that's a fantastic album, it just opens you up to her world. My favorite track of her's is "A Case Of You." And my favorite album is "Hejira." No... wait. It's "Mingus." No... wait. It's "Shadows & Light." No...

It's simply impossible to pick just one album. "Shadows & Light" for the unbelievable band she had at that time. Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius in his prime. Lyle Mays. Don Alias. Michael Brecker. Wow....

Anyway, like Leah wrote in a previous review, this is an inspiring book. Any aspiring writer, should have this book, if only for the reason to have an insight into how to write honestly. I highly recommend it as a gift to someone you love. I'll have to keep that in mind if the opportunity presents itself again...

If your daughter loves Britney, or Christina, and you're having a hard time reaching her, buy her this book and leave it on her dresser. She may not thank you now, but she may tomorrow...

What a lazy excuse for a book.......2000-11-16

Wow, how exciting that we were going to get a book of Joni's lyrics and poetry! What do we get? A book of Joni's lyrics and poetry. No artwork. No commentary. No photographs (except for the nice one on the cover)... even worse, every album of Joni's has the lyrics included with anyhow, so if you have all her Cd's, do not bother with this book. Save your money and look for her old songbooks (with wonderful artwork) online. How disappointing, and what a slap in the face to Joni's fans from whoever threw this together. (Which is most likely what they did)

Joni Mitchell: Hits (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Average customer rating:

Not a lot of songs, but..
Mostly hits the spot
Pay More, Get Less?

Joni Mitchell: Hits (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1576237532

Product Description

Titles are: Big Yellow Taxi * Both Sides Now * California * Carey * Chelsea Morning * Chinese Cafe * The Circle Game * Come In from the Cold * Help Me * Raised on Robbery * River * Urge for Going * Woodstock * You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio.

Customer Reviews:

Not a lot of songs, but.........2005-08-03

As a response to the reviewer who pointed out that this costs more money than "Anthology", but contains many fewer songs, you're correct.

However, "Hits" (as well as "Misses") transcribes each song using the tuning Joni used to play it. Joni is notorious for using alternative tunings on all her songs (except for the piano based ones of course). She's used about 50 different tunings (!), and never uses standard tuning on her songs.

And that's the key - "Joni Mitchell Anthology" assumes everything in standing tuning (EADGBE). This makes things complicated; for example, if you're playing "Chelsea Morning" in standard tuning versus the tuning Joni played it in (open E tuning I think), it's totally different. The voicings won't be the same, and it'll probably be difficult, because the chords are strange. However, the "Hits" book tells you the correct tuning. And turns out, it's a very easy song to play. And it sounds perfect. Joel Bernstein did a fantastic job. He also knows Joni, so he's not just guessing with these tunings - they're the real deal.

So yes, you're not getting as many songs with "Hits". But it's a small price to pay for true accuracy. So it comes down to this:

If you want to try and play Joni's songs just like she does, "Hits" (and "Misses") is the book for you.

If you don't want to fumble around with weird tunings, and want a large library of songs, stick with "Anthology".

Mostly hits the spot.......2003-03-22

I love Joni's music but the alternate tunings seemed to keep me away from playing it. So I finally decided to buy one of her songbooks. This book has most of her best songs and the guitar tab notations are quite good (with the exception of "Urge for Going"). It includes chord diagram boxes for guitar for most of the songs and tab notation for all of them. At the begining of each song it gives the guitar and dulcimer (for Carey and California) tunings. There are a few sparse notes throughout and all lyrics are listed under the song names at the begining of the book as well as under the music notation for each song.

Pay More, Get Less?.......2003-01-30

There is another publication entitled JONI MITCHELL ANTHOLOGY which contains many more of Mitchell's songs. Here's the best part: "Anthology" is cheaper!

The only conceivable benefit of this book might be that it may contain better arrangements. It should also weigh a lot less than "Anthology."

Product Description

Joni Mitchell: Anthology songbook. This book contains over 30 classic songs by Joni Mitchell. For voice, piano and guitar chords. Some titles include: Chelsea Morning, Both Sides Now, Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock, Free Man Man in Paris, Raised on Robbery, Chinese Cafe and more.

Customer Reviews:

Completely Inaccurate Transcriptions.......2006-09-17

Don't fall victim to the falsely positively rated reviews. Though somewhat comprehensive, the transcriptions featured in this anthology are blatantly inaccurate and do not directly reflect Ms.Mitchell's beautiful songwriting capabilities. River, my favorite, is horribly off, using a major C chord for the beginning piano solo. Do not bother purchasing, unless you want to rip your ears off each time you attempt playing these transcribed "versions".

for any musically active Joni fan a must buy.......2006-03-22

A good selection of Joni's mini masterpieces. The Circle Game and other titles from Blue work well as piano solo. The later songs, where Jaco was present on the recording dates and where the bass lines and fills (often brief overdubs of several basses filling) are (wonderfully) dominant, less so (for me at least). Nevertheless I am well pleased I bought the book!

Great for Singers.......2005-08-03

This book is clearly written by Joni; most of the songs follow parts heard on the CDs. Don't be dissapointed by the simplicity though. Simple arpeggios and the basics are provided, but any style has been left up to you. . .

Fairly disappointing.......2003-03-04

I bought this anthology based on the two positive reviews from other purchasers. Four stars seemed like a pretty good recommendation. However, I received the book yesterday and was fairly disappointed. Many of the songs are quite poorly done, and all of them are much too simple. Big Yellow Taxi, for instance, has several chords that are clearly not correct and sound nothing like the "real" version. I thought Circle Game was the best rendition overall, but other than that, I wouldn't bother purchasing this. I have not bought any other Joni Mitchell book, but if this is the best out there, then I think I've just discovered a niche in the market....I'll be off writing my own, and accurate, version of these songs!

Like adopting a child without legs..........2001-09-13

This is great. I've always wanted to know how to play Carey, (I'm) Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Big Yellow Taxi, River, and other great Joni Mitchell songs.

Customer Reviews:

A VERY-WELL-THOUGHT-OUT TRIBUTE.......2007-09-22

What a great idea Continuum Publishing has going with its 33 1/3 series: little books dealing with some of the greatest records of the past four decades, each one lovingly written by a different author, and each functioning, in essence, as a 120+-page collection of liner notes for those priceless albums. First on the list, for me, of the 50+ titles in the series so far, was No. 40: Sean Nelson's thoughts on Joni Mitchell's 1974 masterpiece "Court and Spark," surely one of the greatest pop records of its decade, as well as Joni's most commercially successful album to date. It is quite obvious that Mr. Nelson, a Seattle-based writer and musician, is enormously fond of this classic, although he makes it very clear that he is not a member of Joni's "cult of devotees" who follow "wherever Mitchell leads." Rather, his fondness for the Big Mitch's music seemingly extends only up to the mid-'70s. (And this might be as opportune a moment as any to mention that I AM one of those "devotees" that Nelson sniffs at, and believe that Mitchell is not only the greatest Canadian who has ever lived, but also one of the world's foremost living artists, the ultimate nature girl, and a true Renaissance woman, all wrapped up in one yummy package. Anyway, you know where I'M coming from!) But Nelson seems to have done an inordinate amount of thinking about "Court and Spark," and manages to analyze the record's lyrics so deeply as to come up with insights that I'd never even considered before (and I've owned the record since the day of its release in January '74). For instance, Nelson convinces us, in his arguments, that the female character in "Car on a Hill" is most likely different than the one in "People's Parties" and "The Same Situation." He calls attention to the slightest change of inflection in Mitchell's voice at the tail end of "Just Like This Train" and the heartbreak suggested therein; makes us see how "Down To You" (my favorite Mitchell song of all time...and that's saying something!) is the thematic linchpin of the record; and illustrates how the lyrics in "Help Me" build in emotional impact with each verse. These are all items that Ms. Mitchell's legion of fans may have recognized subconsciously, but Nelson, using a method of analysis that mainly deals with the album's words and their message--as opposed to the music itself--really lets those fans appreciate the album anew by bringing these matters to the fore. He writes extremely well--indeed, the style of this "mini monograph" almost suggests a doctoral thesis--and with some humor (I had to laugh out loud when he calls Joni's records after 1975 her "difficult period") and self-deprecation ("What the hell do I know?" he asks at the book's conclusion). He even forestalls the inevitable question of why an author would choose Mitchell's "Court and Spark" to write about, as opposed to, say, 1970's "Ladies of the Canyon," 1971's "Blue" or 1972's "For the Roses" (all of which I prefer, by the way, but that's just me), by convincing us that "Court and Spark" represents a culmination of Mitchell's "musical Freitag's Triangle." His statement that the best Mitchell record "is the one that's playing right now," however, is surely undercut by his later pooh-poohing of the artist's last three decades' worth of work. (And honestly, how many folks out there could pop 1988's "Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm" into their CD player and regard it as the best Joni music ever?!?)

Nelson makes other statements guaranteed to raise the hackles of many a Joni fan. He is largely dismissive of "Ladies of the Canyon," a record that winds up on my turntable more than any of her others ("a wistful piece of hippie utopianism," in Nelson's view), and doesn't even seem to have a high regard for the critical and fan favorite "Hejira" (1976). He calls "Court and Spark"'s "Raised on Robbery" "the least impressive song" on the album, and claims that Joni's band, the L.A. Express, seems to be "condescending to the music" and assuming "a swagger it doesn't earn." (Perhaps Nelson, who admits that he was a child when this album was released, would eat those last words if he could have seen Joni and the L.A. Express blast the roofs off of many venues with this encore finale during the album's tour in 1974!) Worse than the inflammatory comments (I'm kidding, Sean!) are the occasional errors of fact that the author is guilty of. He misquotes the lyrics of Joni's songs on at least three occasions (for "The Boho Dance," "My Old Man" and "Trouble Child"), misspells "Rene Auberjonois" (sorry, Odo), and falsely states that Mitchell's 1975 live album "Miles of Aisles" contains "radical jazz-rock rearrangements" of some tunes from "Court and Spark." (The only song from "Court and Spark" on "Miles of Aisles," in actuality, is "People's Parties," and is quite faithful to the original acoustic rendition.)

These slips undermine only slightly, however, what is in essence a very-well-thought-out examination of one of Mitchell's greatest accomplishments. If I seem to be raising frivolous objections here, I suppose it must be because I tend to get a tad defensive when it comes to my favorite recording artist. Though the book is riddled with typos (it is to be hoped that the other entries in the 33 1/3 series have been composed with more attention!), Nelson's lucid, loving and enthusiastic work ultimately proves to be a very nice tribute to this wonderful record and its genius of a creator. It makes me want to pick up several more volumes in the 33 1/3 series, such as the ones for "Electric Ladyland," "Exile on Main St." and "Forever Changes." I sure do hope that the authors of those volumes have put as much thought and passion into their essays as Sean Nelson apparently has with his. The bottom line is that all fans of Ms. Mitchell in general and "Court and Spark" in particular should enjoy his work. Just be prepared to take some exception with some of Nelson's "idiomatic logic"!

Worth the trip..........2007-02-09

I bought this hoping the author would delve into the details of the production of this album, which stands out in the pop world (in the same way `Revolver' stands out as being a near-perfect gem) - I'm very interested in how Ms Mitchell comes up with her extraordinary words and sounds. However, this book doesn't go there - the author chooses instead to provide an exegesis of the sounds and words, a narrative that takes the reader through the album as if a single story (or possibly more than one story) was being told by Ms Mitchell. It's quite an effective approach, and allows the reader to enjoy "hearing" the album as if for the first time. You might not agree with the author's various opinions or conclusions about each song (I didn't, for example, on "Raised on Robbery"), but the journey is very rewarding.

The bad news is (a) the book ends, and (b) it will firmly put C&S tracks in your head in heavy rotation for days; the good news is the tracks are so inventive that you won't be bored.

Average customer rating:

Christmas!!?? Oy vey!!
Jewish Christmas?
Ack. "The Worst Book" would be a better title!
Polar Express it isn't!
Whining New Yorkers haven't a clue!

The Worst Noel: Hellish Holiday Tales
Collected Authors Of The Worst Noel
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060838116
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Book Description

Great writers capture their holiday horror stories in this collection that will thrill and delight all.

It's that time of year again – the holiday season. Between checkout lines that stretch on forever, the

office party hangover, battles with traffic, and delayed flights, what better could you do than curl up with The Worst Noel and laugh your holiday aggravation away?

This collection features an eclectic mix of writers with playful, often dark, humour as the common thread. There's Marian Keyes on preparing dinner for her Irish family of 13, when she's never cooked a day in her life and only owns four chairs; and Mike Albo and his romantic Christmas–in–Paris dream, which turns into

a nightmare after an accident leaves him with a bloodied cross on his forehead. There's Neal Pollack,

a Jew who cooks a holiday ham for his devout Catholic mother–in–law, only to have a drunken brawl ensue; and the festive car ride that Cynthia Kaplan takes, which goes astray when she hits a deer and 'Donner is Dead' becomes her family's holiday story.

Customer Reviews:

Christmas!!?? Oy vey!!.......2006-12-16

Yes, as you might guess from the title, this book is mildly amusing in spots. But then a leopard is coal black in spots, too.

Most of the essays are written by Jewish females who tend to be too arch and clever by half for their own good, and who seem to think that cynicism and pseudo-sophistication are funny in and of themselves. Often, they're not.

Do the essays capture some of the frustrations and imperfections that accompan our biggest holiday? Yes, definitely. But do they, as a whole, also show the beauty and majesty of the Christmas season, of what The Day is really all about? I think not. All too often the writing sounds like the whining of spoiled suburban kids who have had far too much handed to them free gratis in their lives.

If many of the writers are from families who found themselves caught awkwardly between their Jewish heritage and the national peer pressure to participate in the Yuletide -- well, it's part of the fate of minorities to sometimes feel out of step. Get over it.

Jewish Christmas?.......2006-03-24

FIrst off, let me say that I am Jewish myself and grew up in a Catholic neighborhod, where my family was one of the only Jewish families around. So I know plenty about being the "odd girl out" during the holiday season, with many of my own humorous tales.

However, I think it is wildly misleading to label a story collection "The Worst Noel" and then have more than half the stories about Jews who either are celebrating a bogus Christmas they clearly don't believe in (for the parties and gifts) or angsting because they are stuck with the incredibly lame Festival of Hannukah, the poor stepchild of Christmas. There is certainly a place for the assimilated (or unassimilated) Jewish writers to pour forth their anguish or glee or awkwardness, but it is NOT in a book glaringly mislabeled "The Worst Noel". Maybe it's in a book that could be called "The Worst Hannukah" or "The Worst Chrismukkah".

Anyone even nominally Christian, or even non-sectarian, who picks up this book hoping to read actual funny stories about CHRISTIANS celebrating THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR is going to feel wildly cheated. After all, Jews make up roughly 1.5% of the US population (although disproportionately more of the book buying public). It would make more sense to write about a Muslim's outlook on Christmas or a Hindu's or even an atheist's.

Maybe the publisher thought a story collection called "Dysfunctional Jews At Christmastime" wouldn't sell. But this book is a cheat and misleading. While about 1/3 of the stories are genuinely funny (although collected here inappropriately), the rest are often whiny and betray an insulated sense of privilege, as they are entirely about wealthy, educated intellectuals whose idea of how to celebrate the holidays bumps up against Southerners, low-lifes, non-intellectuals and peope with -- GASP! -- bad taste.

I guess therefore that "bad taste" is the ultimate sin against Christmas. I don't read any ringing indictments of tasteful, Martha Stewart/Pottery Barn celebrations.

HINT: buying this for a Christian friend or family member as a holiday gift would be a huge mistake.

Ack. "The Worst Book" would be a better title!.......2006-03-20

I read a review of this book in a magazine, and thought it would be the perfect thing to help get me through hosting Christmas in my home for my dysfunctional family.
Because I don't normally purchase books except as gifts or reference items, or unless I KNOW I'll love it, I put a reserve on this book in late November at my local library.
Christmas came and went, and the book was still not available.
Wow! I thought. This book must be really great! I looked so forward to getting it and curling up with it on a cold day.
When I finally got notice from the library that the book was available, I rushed to get it, and started in on it during a long car trip. (You know a book is bad when it makes a long car trip seem longer.)
This book is full of such neurotic, pathetic whining and overblown, uninteresting angst, that I actually felt ripped off - and I got the book for FREE from the library.
If I had actually spent anything other than time and gas money to obtain this book, I would have done whatever necessary - including demanding my money back from whereever I had purchased it, AND asking for an apology from the editor who compiled this little compendium of holiday drivel - in order to feel remotely satisfied with the experience.
I have never done an online review of a book I have read. This book, however, is so horrifically-bad, that I feel compelled to save even ONE person from having to read this dreck.

Polar Express it isn't!.......2006-01-17

This is a book for the people who no longer hear the ring of the bell -- but if you're in that category (or are just generally fatigued by holiday cheer), then this is for you. The 18 short stories very in quality but, overall, they reflect bright writing about sometimes depressing holiday happenings. Leave it in your bathroom at your holiday party and group your guests by their reactions as they leave. Those with a sense of humor about the holidays will be amused. Those without (perhaps some of the reviewers here) could be upset.

Whining New Yorkers haven't a clue!.......2006-01-11

An abysmal collection of foul-mouthed Northeasterners who have no clue what Christmas is truly about think that it is hilarious to present absurd caricatures of families from the South as ignorant hicks who cling to stupid, outdated traditions which are skewered on each page. Does this sound really funny? Then this is the book for you.

There are some really funny elements of our modern-day Christmas celebrations which are ripe for humorous examination, but if your idea of cleverness and wit involves something more than cheap shots and four-letter obscenities you would do better to look elsewhere for a good read.

Average customer rating:

Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light
Karen O'Brien
Manufacturer: Virgin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0753507080

Book Description

Joni Mitchell is an icon of sixties rock n' roll and has long been regarded as the best female singer/songwriter of her generation. Beginning as a folk singer in her native Canada in the early 1960s, she was discovered by the Byrds David Crosby and threw herself into New Yorks bohemian scene. In the late 1960s and 1970s she enjoyed international hits including Chelsea Morningand Big Yellow Taxi, and has recorded several critically acclaimed albums including the landmark Blue and the jazz-influenced The Hissing of Summer Lawns. During the 1990s she has continued to create adventurous and highly-regarded music, while also turning her hand to the visual arts. Her idiosyncratic paintings and photography have been well received, and she regularly exhibits in the USA and Canada. Shadows and Light The Definitive Biography charts the life and loves of this fascinationg and complex woman, whose career has spanned over 30 years and defied fashion and genre. The story is told with an unrivalled degree of access, including first-person interviews with many of those closest to her, including her family, friends and musical collaborators.nbsp; The first in-depth biography of Joni Mitchell Reveals the remarkable story of the life and loves of this complex and fascinating artist.

Average customer rating:

Nice cover painting ... but ...

Joni Mitchell
Mark Bego
Manufacturer: Taylor Trade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hotel California: The True-Life Adventures of Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles, and Their Many Friends

ASIN: 1589791347

Book Description

Joni has sold over 15 million records in her lifetime, and her music continues to appeal to fans of folk, jazz, rock, and pop-despite relatively little airlplay. Her self-described last tour is scheduled to wind up in late 2004, and her recent album Travelogue has already gone gold (sales of 500,000 copies)

Customer Reviews:

Nice cover painting ... but ..........2007-05-14

No surprise the great dame decided against getting involved with this.

Despite his attractive, respectable painting on the cover, Bego is a standard celebrity bio pro (Cher, Vanilla Ice, Whitney Houston, plus 1,000,000,000 others) - and the text is well-researched but drearily penned prose. It's the "page-turning" style: predictable adjectives, workman-like chronology, lots of attention on Mitchell's "boyfriends" and little to no insight on WHY her music and lyrics are so profound.

Bego probably wrote the whole thing, after the research staff handed him the "data," in a week.

Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, and the Torch Song Tradition

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Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, and the Torch Song Tradition
Larry David Smith
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0275973921

Book Description

The torch song has long been a vehicle for expression--perhaps American song's most sheerly visceral one. Two artists in particular have built upon this tradition to express their own unique outlooks on their lives and the world around them. Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello, and the Torch Song Tradition combines biographical material, artist commentary, critical interpretation, and selected exemplars of the writers' work to reveal the power of authorship and the creative drive necessary to negotiate an artistic vision in the complicated mechanisms of the commercial music industry. Author Larry David Smith, as in his Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and American Song, considers the complicated intersection of biography, creative philosophy, artistic imperative, and stylistic tendencies in the work of both Joni Mitchell and Elvis Costello--two songwriters with seemingly nothing in common, one famously confessional and one famously confrontational. Yet, as Smith shows so incisively, they are two personalities that prove fascinatingly complementary. Mitchell and Costello both yielded bodies of work that are cohesive, coherent, and rich in meaning. Both have made historic contributions to the singer-songwriter model, two rebellious respones to the creative and commercial compromises associated with their chosen field, and two distinct thematic responses to the torch song tradition. Smith examines these responses, offering a unique and invaluable exploration of the craft of two of the last century's most towering musical figures.

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Misses (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1576237540

Book Description

This album-matching folio collects all of Joni's personal favorites, hand-picked by her. Titles are: The Arrangement * Beat of Black Wings * Car on a Hill * A Case of You * Dog Eat Dog * For the Roses * Harry's House * Hejira * Impossible Dreamer * Magdalene Laundries * Nothing Can Be Done * Passion Play (When All the Slaves Are Free) * The Reoccurring Dream * Sex Kills * The Windfall * The Wolf That Lives in Lindsay.

Rock Troubadours: Conversations on the Art and Craft of Songwriting with Jerry Garcia, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and More

Average customer rating:

Just what I needed to hear.
Fantastic!
From "Muses Muse" Reviews:

Rock Troubadours: Conversations on the Art and Craft of Songwriting with Jerry Garcia, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and More
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Manufacturer: String Letter Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1890490377

Book Description

Listen in as ten of today's great rock troubadours share the deeply personal process of nurturing a spark of inspiration into a fully realized piece of music. In these rare conversations with Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, Acoustic Guitar magazine's founding editor and an active singer-songwriter, they speak candidly about the highly personal art and craft of songwriting. Artists profiled include Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Ani DiFranco, James Taylor, Indigo Girls, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Ben Harper, Barenaked Ladies and Chris Whitley.

Customer Reviews:

Just what I needed to hear........2007-05-13

I love this book although I am sure many others will hate it. Itis a book for singer songwriters by singer songwriters. To me it had everything you would want in a book if you play guitar and write songs, simple ideas and insiteful comments make this book a must have.

Fantastic!.......2005-12-28

For a long-time fan of Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon, this book was a treasure chest of knowledge for me. I delighted in reading about how the artists I love create the music that touches me. A great investment for music lovers.

From "Muses Muse" Reviews:.......2001-03-01

ROCK TROUBADOURS: Conversations On The Art And Craft Of Songwriting by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers I love what I do. I get to review fantastic books like this one. :-) Here they are - some of the songwriters I have most admired throughout my lifetime, all talking about what makes them want to write, how they write, where their writing comes from... It's amazing stuff. Paul Simon, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, the Indigo Girls, Chris Whitley, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Ben Harper, the Barenaked Ladies and Ani DiFranco. Hell - the first three alone would be worth the price of the book.

Jeffrey's opening words to each interview are insightful commentaries on where the songwriter has been and where they may be heading. Though the interviews themselves may have happened several years earlier, those commentaries bring the reader to the present so that everything can be put into perspective. And his questions get right to the meat of the matter. These are personal interviews that dig into the why's and the wherefore's. What are the differences between then and now? How has their songwriting changed from the early years? How do they perceive the "industry" as a whole? How do they arrive at their inspiration? How do their

instruments of choice influence their songwriting? That's only a sample. These are the questions I would love to ask if I were in a room with any of these wonderful artists - only I would be too tongue tied. Thankfully, Jeffrey does the work for all of us.

In each interview, there is a section called "What They Play" where the instruments the songwriters use are explained in detail - their preferences, what they used in the past and what they use in the studio compared to what they use in live performance. There is also a selected discography for each songwriter.

I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. Not only did it answer a lot of my own questions concerning these songwriters, but it also inspired me. Deep down, these songwriters, legends though they may be to me (yes, even the Barenaked Ladies - whom I adore and who have a true knack for not taking themselves too seriously), are still human beings with the same problems of time, insecurities, and daily difficulties that I face myself. They have managed to overcome them and create some of the very best music of the 20th century and beyond. Reading about them gives me hope that I can do the same. I highly recommend you pick this one up...

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