righteous bass line on this one.
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 14:33 (eleven years ago) link
I won't spoil anything, promise :)
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 14:35 (eleven years ago) link
hate Counting Crows forever for covering this song
The Pinhead Gunpowder version wasn't so bad.
― pplains, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 14:36 (eleven years ago) link
29. Court and Spark (Court and Spark): 161 points, 8 votes
He was playing on the sidewalk For passing change When something strange happened Glory train passed through him So he buried the coins he made In People's Park And went looking for a woman To court and spark
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 14:42 (eleven years ago) link
28. Black Crow (Hejira): 167 points, 6 votes, 1 1st place vote
My whole life has beenIlluminationCorruptionAnd diving diving diving diving
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:36 (eleven years ago) link
I may be an unusual JM fan in that I listen to her almost entirely for the sound of her music.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:38 (eleven years ago) link
It's funny: "Black Crow" is a huge favourite of mine but seeing those lyrics, I had to think for a moment - "Oh yeah, those words are in that song!"
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:39 (eleven years ago) link
27. Barangrill (For the Roses): 168 points, 8 votes
The guy at the gaspumps He's got a lot of soul He sings Merry Christmas for you Just like Nat King Cole
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:39 (eleven years ago) link
Her mind's on her boyfriend and eggs over easy... Love the flutes. Great storytelling, all those little unimportant things that add up to a memorable road trip or important experience.
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:46 (eleven years ago) link
Does she have any tracks that are more sinister than Black Crow?
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
26. Blue (Blue): 178 points, 9 votes
Blue songs are like tattoosYou know I've been to sea beforeCrown and anchor meOr let me sail away
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:52 (eleven years ago) link
That seems low.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:54 (eleven years ago) link
up against River and A Case of You maybe it got pushed down people's lists.
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 16:58 (eleven years ago) link
I can start tearing up just thinking about "Blue," it's such a beautiful song and lends the title to one of my fave ILX threads (okay, more appropriately I appropriated the lyrics for the thread):
Songs Are Like Tattoos: Female Singer-Songwriter Rolling Thread
Also, these lyrics always reminded me of Dorothy Parker's poem "Resume:"
Acid, booze and assNeedles, guns and grass
Resume goes:
Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp; Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live.
It's not the only Joni song that reminds me of DP -- also "People's Parties." I've always wanted to unpack the connection between the two further, but I'm not sure there is one besides these light evocations that might only resonate for me (not exactly a strong critical relationship) -- and maybe only bc they were the two poets that most deeply impacted me in high school.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:01 (eleven years ago) link
Acid, booze and ass Needles, guns and grass
One of her most memorable lines - and then the way she says "Lots of laughs". Devastating.
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:02 (eleven years ago) link
25. Raised on Robbery (Court and Spark): 182 points, 8 votes
First he bought a '57 BiscayneHe put it in the ditchHe drunk up all the restThat son of a bitch His blood's bad whiskey I was raised on robbery
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:07 (eleven years ago) link
I wonder where Tim is today. I'm gonna keep posting -- but ppl should feel free to comment on stuff from earlier whenever they get an opportunity.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:23 (eleven years ago) link
This next song is one of my all time faves and I'm really happy it placed so high.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:25 (eleven years ago) link
24. Morning Morgantown (Ladies of the Canyon): 184 points, 10 votes
Morning MorgantownBuy your dreams a dollar downMorning any town you nameMorning's just the same
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:26 (eleven years ago) link
I agree with the 33 1/3 book on C&S: "Raised on Robbery" is fun but stiff.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:35 (eleven years ago) link
23. In France They Kiss on Main Street (The Hissing of Summer Lawns): 197 points, 11 votes
We'd all go looking for a partyLooking to raise Jesus up from the deadAnd I'd be kissing in the back seatThrilling to the Brando-like things that he saidAnd we'd be rolling rolling rock 'n' rolling
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 17:51 (eleven years ago) link
Glad IFTKOMS made it...great album opener.
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:10 (eleven years ago) link
would've put the other tracks listed so far ("Shades..." and "...Sorrow") way over it though
― Paul, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:13 (eleven years ago) link
22. Woodstock (Ladies of the Canyon): 201 points, 10 votes
And I dreamed I saw the bombersRiding shotgun in the skyAnd they were turning into butterfliesAbove our nation
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
xp"...Sorrow" should be higher definitely - was in my top #3.
― Jeff W, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:29 (eleven years ago) link
Very pleased to see "...Morgantown" so high though
― Jeff W, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:30 (eleven years ago) link
"In France They Kiss..." is a terrific single; it shouldn't have bombed.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:31 (eleven years ago) link
Black Crow is extremely strong
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
Three of my votes in a row. Morgantown is the most precious little song. And "ROLLIN, ROLLIN" put Main Street over the top of some of the other ones for me.
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:40 (eleven years ago) link
Ladies in their rainbow fashionsColored stop and go lights flashingWe'll wink at total strangers passingIn morning Morgantown
is my favorite set from MM...
― skip, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:41 (eleven years ago) link
Ok, last one for today:
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:50 (eleven years ago) link
21. Hejira (Hejira): 204 points, 9 votes
n the church they light the candlesAnd the wax rolls down like tearsThere's the hope and the hopelessnessI've witnessed thirty years
― Mordy, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 18:51 (eleven years ago) link
― Mordy, Wednesday, October 3, 2012 5:23 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Asleep! It's now 6.40am over here.
"Hejira" was my favourite song in the world at 14, I printed out all the lyrics and stuck them on my bedroom wall.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 20:42 (eleven years ago) link
First he bought a '57 BiscayneHe put it in the ditch
incidentally, Chevrolet didn't start making Biscaynes until 1958. I hope it's a '57 in the song not because she was oblivious to this factoid, but rather just her taking poetic licence because '57 Chevys are so much cooler than the '58s
― Lee626, Thursday, 4 October 2012 12:11 (eleven years ago) link
what time does the rest of this thing roll out?
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 4 October 2012 15:48 (eleven years ago) link
20. Refuge of the Roads (Hejira: 217 points, 10 votes, 1 1st place vote
I pulled off into a forestCrickets clicking in the fernsLike a wheel of fortuneI heard my fate turn turn turn
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:01 (eleven years ago) link
10 today i think and then final 10 tomorrow
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:02 (eleven years ago) link
love that bass riff on the chorus
― Euler, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link
19. The Jungle Line (The Hissing of Summer Lawns): 230 points, 10 votes
In a low-cut blouse she brings the beerRousseau paints a jungle flower behind her earThose cannibals of shuck and jiveThey'll eat a working girl like her alive
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:15 (eleven years ago) link
18. The Hissing of Summer Lawns (The Hissing of Summer Lawns): 231 points, 9 votes, 1 1st place vote
He put up a barbed wire fenceTo keep out the unknownAnd on every metal thornJust a little blood of his own
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:34 (eleven years ago) link
17. River (Blue): 238 points, 12 votes
I'm so hard to handle I'm selfish and I'm sad Now I've gone and lost the best baby That I ever had I wish I had a river I could skate away on
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
"Jungle Line" and "River" are both stunning.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 4 October 2012 16:54 (eleven years ago) link
16. Come in from the Cold (Night Ride Home): 244 points, 11 votes, 1 1st place vote
I am not some stone commissionLike a statue in a parkI am flesh and blood and visionI am howling in the darkLong blue shadows of the jackalsAre falling on a pay phone by the roadOh, all they ever wantedWas to come in from the cold
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:01 (eleven years ago) link
Hm, I should listen to more of her later stuff. I didn't vote for anything post-Mingus because I don't know it well.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:02 (eleven years ago) link
I'm the #1 vote for "The Hissing...". Structurally, I think it's Joni's most interesting song. Too damn short (barely 3 minutes!) but that's also part of the appeal. Talk about "you don't know what you've got til it's gone" - this song is the epitome of that phrase.
― Jeff W, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:16 (eleven years ago) link
shocked at "River"s low placement!
hoping you got my ballot Mordy! never got a reply from you
― Euler, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:17 (eleven years ago) link
I did get it and it was included in the results :)
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:34 (eleven years ago) link
14--TIE. Chelsea Morning (Clouds): 250 points, 11 votes
Woke up, it was a Chelsea morningAnd the first thing that I knewThere was milk and toast and honeyAnd a bowl of oranges, tooAnd the sun poured in like butterscotchAnd stuck to all my senses...
Oh, won't you stay We'll put on the day And we'll talk in present tenses
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:36 (eleven years ago) link
<3 the high placement of "Come in from the cold", that song and album rules
― flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:43 (eleven years ago) link
14--TIE. Song for Sharon (Hejira): 250 points, 11 votes
Sharon you've got a husbandAnd a family and a farmI've got the apple of temptationAnd a diamond snake around my arm
― Mordy, Thursday, 4 October 2012 17:51 (eleven years ago) link