I've heard "The Real End" before! Sassy horns.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 February 2012 03:10 (twelve years ago) link
deep space from that record is amazin
also, in the past six years I think I've listened to living it up more than just about any other song by any other person or people. "feeling a little sad, a little lonely, and a little mean..."
― dell (del), Friday, 25 October 2013 04:55 (ten years ago) link
and traces of the western slopes is so good. I love that she doesn't even sing on it at first. there's that ominous beginning, and when the vocals finally do begin, it's that dude, whatshisname, and then when she does finally come in she sounds all crazy, like someone you'd try to avoid sitting next to on the subway. it's so awesome that she did a song like that on her sophomore record, but then, something like company on the first record also seems really ambitious and is kind of mind-blowing in its own way.
― dell (del), Friday, 25 October 2013 05:20 (ten years ago) link
"Living It Up" is so important to me. The word that always occurs to me to describe it is "vertiginous" (lol a quick search reveals I used it upthread).
― Tim F, Friday, 25 October 2013 05:45 (ten years ago) link
She's doing a US tour right now, but I missed her local gig. Wonder how it was.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 25 October 2013 14:18 (ten years ago) link
This is great:
Rickie L jones said...HI
I have rarely read a review about myself that reminded me that journalists can teach us with just a word. A good writer and loving listener understands why even the weak part matters to the art. Thank you for this review of Flying Cowboys. but I am writing about your comment about The Magazine - it Was grandiose, this is just the word, and no one had said it quite so clearly. It weighs oddly out of time with all my work. Sobriety makes this work fragile and cavernous - I was feeling my way. . it is dark, artificial happiness, no guidance. But of course, it had to be large, I was propelling myself out of the dark. it was my ode to addiction, everything was larger than reality for me. I would not change The Magazine (well actually i might, but not the size of it) - but this review of my work, at this time, is much appreciated. - RL Jones
MARCH 17, 2011
― Tim F, Wednesday, 9 April 2014 13:05 (ten years ago) link
interesting, so where is that review, tim? i love magazine myself, haven't listened to it in a while though. it's one of the rather few albums my girl-friend introduced to me.
― it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Wednesday, 9 April 2014 15:22 (ten years ago) link
yeah I'm a huge fan of that magazine but wow what an insightful reflection from RLJ
― Now I Am Become Dracula (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 9 April 2014 15:58 (ten years ago) link
i just picked up a used copy of her debut album...wow i should have checked her out before...definitely fits in well w/my love of court & spark joni
― Raptain Chillips (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 9 April 2014 17:22 (ten years ago) link
the second one, pirates, is as good if not better
― Now I Am Become Dracula (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 9 April 2014 17:52 (ten years ago) link
She was reacting to the all music review of Flying Cowboys (http://www.allmusic.com/album/flying-cowboys-mw0000201326) which someone had copied and pasted (http://overdoseoffingalcocoa.blogspot.com/2010/06/rickie-lee-jones.html).
― Tim F, Wednesday, 9 April 2014 20:19 (ten years ago) link
Just picked this up at Barnes and Noble for less than $10 after tax.
― austinato (Austin), Saturday, 12 April 2014 19:50 (ten years ago) link
saw the Madonna one at Best Buy this morning for $15.
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 12 April 2014 19:52 (ten years ago) link
I know these sets have gotten kind of a bad rep for cheap packaging, but sheesh, at those prices, who could really be that upset?
(listening to that first album right now, by the way; it's good! Yep, it's my first time hearing)
― austinato (Austin), Saturday, 12 April 2014 20:04 (ten years ago) link
her first two albums are two of my favorite records I belatedly discovered last year
― a duiving caTCH, a stuolllen bayeeeess (jamescobo), Sunday, 13 April 2014 23:02 (ten years ago) link
i listened to pirates for the first time today and my life has changed
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Thursday, 31 August 2017 02:47 (six years ago) link
that's what happened to me when i first listened to girl at her volcano in 1985. that voice killed me.
― Ich bin kein Berliner (alex in mainhattan), Thursday, 31 August 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
even thinking of 'We Belong Together' makes me emotional.
― campreverb, Thursday, 31 August 2017 15:47 (six years ago) link
So this thread got me to pull out Pirates which I haven't heard in probably 25 years. I was blown away. It's such a miraculously lyrical mix of r&b, jazz, and traces of Springsteen/Van/Steely Dan/Joni. Love the intra-song dynamics. Pro tip, lyric sheet is essential.
― that's not my post, Saturday, 2 September 2017 19:57 (six years ago) link
I said fuck it and downloaded a copy of Pirates.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 2 September 2017 20:00 (six years ago) link
otm and similar revelations await on at least her next two albums imo
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 2 September 2017 22:52 (six years ago) link
also mega-OTM. if I go so far as to think "a promise that weeee belong to-gether" in my head I'm a wreck. what a tune
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 2 September 2017 22:54 (six years ago) link
That's the only track I owned for years and it killed me.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 2 September 2017 22:59 (six years ago) link
hearing her interview that led to the sample in Little Fluffy Clouds brings me joy
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Saturday, 2 September 2017 22:59 (six years ago) link
First 2 are total classic, probably some sexism at play in the inevitable comparisons to Waits.Magazine is a bit of a mess, but still has the gut-wrenching line on Gravity "I try to imagine another planet, another sun/Where I don't look like me/And everything I do matters".
I'm a huge fan of Flying Cowboys, and The Sermon on Exposition Blvd works much better than expected.
― campreverb, Saturday, 2 September 2017 23:33 (six years ago) link
Try to imagine another planet, another sunWhere I don't look like meAnd everything I do matters
"Gravity" kills me, and this will be on my tombstone.
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 3 September 2017 00:36 (six years ago) link
I keep coming back to start of Living It Up. It's a perfect brief characterization, wistful and kinda funny:
Eddie's got one crazy eyeThat turns him into a cartoonWhen a pretty girl comes byAnd there's nothin' here to do anymoreHe sits on the stoop all dayLike there's something he's waiting for
Of course the rest of the song is killer.
― that's not my post, Sunday, 3 September 2017 01:25 (six years ago) link
holy shit just heard we belong together for the first time...amazing
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Sunday, 3 September 2017 01:45 (six years ago) link
Alfred what did you think of the rest of the album?
Best album of all time is the correct answer FYI.
― Tim F, Sunday, 3 September 2017 02:11 (six years ago) link
Her tribute to Walter Becker
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/read-rickie-lee-jones-poignant-tribute-to-walter-becker-w501078
― that's not my post, Monday, 4 September 2017 20:34 (six years ago) link
love the way she writes
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Monday, 4 September 2017 20:46 (six years ago) link
Calling shenanigans on that Orb reference - it looks inserted rather than what she said/wrote..
― Mark G, Monday, 4 September 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link
pirates is absolutely the best album ever made. i think i’m gonna make a poll
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:25 (six years ago) link
the first time i heard “we belong together” a few months ago i thought “this is sounds exactly like how i feel inside all the time”
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:26 (six years ago) link
it is utterly stunning
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:36 (six years ago) link
but "we belong together" will run the table on that poll like Minnesota Fats
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:37 (six years ago) link
lol yeah that’s what i was figuring
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:37 (six years ago) link
nb Fats loses in the end so who knows, Living it Up & Woody n Dutch might have a chance. iirc when the album was new my local critic was all "if there was more Woody n Dutch on this record it would be a better followup to the resplendent debut." fuck that guy forever btw
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:39 (six years ago) link
pirates is absolutely the best album ever made
◎ yes
― mark s, Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:47 (six years ago) link
^^^all polls shd take this form (including the same exact working)
― mark s, Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:48 (six years ago) link
s/b wording
concur
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Saturday, 25 November 2017 22:49 (six years ago) link
massively underrated album.
― campreverb, Sunday, 26 November 2017 00:16 (six years ago) link
massively underrated albumartist.
― campreverb, Sunday, 26 November 2017 00:32 (six years ago) link
love this record
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 26 November 2017 04:00 (six years ago) link
autobiography out April 2019
http://groveatlantic.com/book/rickie-lee/
― beamish13, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 20:13 (five years ago) link
well holy shit this was amazing to stumble on on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_172cffdDJU
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Wednesday, 1 May 2019 13:45 (four years ago) link
!!!!!
― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 1 May 2019 14:15 (four years ago) link
!
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Wednesday, 1 May 2019 15:29 (four years ago) link
That's glorious.
I've totally missed (avoided?) Rickie for some reason and holy shit has the last few days been a revelation - to the point I've been afflicted with Nelson fever and will now declare Pirates the best album in the world.
― Good cop, Babcock (Chinaski), Wednesday, 1 May 2019 18:07 (four years ago) link