Probably my favorite album of hers. I was at a very difficult time in my life when it came out. In the Fall of 1972 I was 17, living in a psychiatric halfway house in DC, and my first love broke up with me right after we listened to it. And yet, in the depths of depression, it somehow uplifted me.
I cannot imagine a more context for that album. I went to a psych ward with a bipolar episode, and Joni was part of it in a big way. We’ve both gone down, down the ladder.
Woman of Heart and Mind has always been, for me, the most emotionally honest song I've ever heard. The kicker is "All this talk about holiness now, must be the start of the latest style ..." what a great bullshit radar she has. :-)
Still have my vinyl copy of this one from when it was first released. One of my favorites. It NEVER made me feel depressed.....contemplative, pensive, but never depressed. Too wonderful, which is always affirmative. Her voice definitely changed "after James." I'm not just going by recordings. I heard her in concert numerous times (and also have a bootleg vinyl or two). Her voice (still wonderful.... darker, more husky) on COURT AND SPARK sounds very different.
The comment about cigarettes and her voice is ridiculous. A few years? Seriously? Has the author of this piece never heard her next several albums, including Mingus and Wild Things Run Fast?
I have to agree with JG. The article states: "Within a few years, her ability to sing long lines already became impaired by cigarettes and vocal nodes." 'Within a few years' would mean 1975, which would mean "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." And yet, four years AFTER 1975 - in 1979 - Joni was singing in a strong soprano on several difficult, complicated songs (with long lines and demanding melodies), such as "The Dry Cleaner In Des Moines" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" - and not just in the studio, but live as well.
Probably my favorite album of hers. I was at a very difficult time in my life when it came out. In the Fall of 1972 I was 17, living in a psychiatric halfway house in DC, and my first love broke up with me right after we listened to it. And yet, in the depths of depression, it somehow uplifted me.
I cannot imagine a more context for that album. I went to a psych ward with a bipolar episode, and Joni was part of it in a big way. We’ve both gone down, down the ladder.
Thank you for the beautiful memories - both yours, Joni's, and mine.
See Yaffe, David. Reckless Daughter. My study of the most subtle changes in Joni’s voice is microtonal.
Woman of Heart and Mind has always been, for me, the most emotionally honest song I've ever heard. The kicker is "All this talk about holiness now, must be the start of the latest style ..." what a great bullshit radar she has. :-)
That bullshit radar was so great it became too great. It kind of took over. And what a great song, with an F bomb!
I also really love this song.
Still have my vinyl copy of this one from when it was first released. One of my favorites. It NEVER made me feel depressed.....contemplative, pensive, but never depressed. Too wonderful, which is always affirmative. Her voice definitely changed "after James." I'm not just going by recordings. I heard her in concert numerous times (and also have a bootleg vinyl or two). Her voice (still wonderful.... darker, more husky) on COURT AND SPARK sounds very different.
The comment about cigarettes and her voice is ridiculous. A few years? Seriously? Has the author of this piece never heard her next several albums, including Mingus and Wild Things Run Fast?
For Reckless Daughter, I talked in depth with Larry Klein about where the voice was on Wild Things Run Fast, what led up to it and what followed.
I have to agree with JG. The article states: "Within a few years, her ability to sing long lines already became impaired by cigarettes and vocal nodes." 'Within a few years' would mean 1975, which would mean "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." And yet, four years AFTER 1975 - in 1979 - Joni was singing in a strong soprano on several difficult, complicated songs (with long lines and demanding melodies), such as "The Dry Cleaner In Des Moines" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" - and not just in the studio, but live as well.
You need to listen note deeply to hear the subtle changes, all of them beautiful. Read Reckless Daughter.
Read it and remember finding manhy errors.
I just found one in the comment above!
You're comparing a minor typo to a major factual error in a published book (which the author seems to believe is faultless and authoritative)?