Hard to believe that another month is already upon us...why,it won't be long before boys and girls are asleep in their beds, whilst visions of Volume #25 dance in their heads!
But for here and now, it's Volume 22 that's in the spotlight, and what a collection it is...one of the best in the series, in my own incredibly biased opinion. First, a salute to those who helped me bring it to you: Stephen E. in NYC Monica in Holland Beth Yeshaya (artist's contribution!) Sgt. Rock aka Bill Pearson in the UK Let's take a closer look, shall we? Joni is represented in a grand style with the following selections: 1. Yale Whiffenpoofs of 1972 - I Don't Know Where I Stand: OK, I admit I was expecting this to be cheesy as hell but it's very pretty. From a private LP produced by the college singing group. 2. Aerial Landscapes - Both Sides Now: This one has sentimental value for me as it was the first one I ever entered in the covers database. It is record #1, and now we're almost up to 800 covers! :~P 3. Sylvia McNeill - Chelsea Morning: I'm a sucker for Chelsea Morning always, and this is a nice pseudo-soul version, it sounds like it could've come from the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. 4. Michael Stanbury & The Jubilee Singers - The Circle Game: From a CBC collection of Canadian TV stars who made a record. Dated but fun. 5. Jane Monheit - A Case of You: Herein starts a run of REALLY nice femvox covers! This one from Jane's 2001 release, a fresh sounding version of a classic that I never get tired of hearing. 6. Christine Sullivan - I Think I Understand: The ONLY version of this beautiful song I've been able to find! Hard to believe that nobody else has been drawn to record this gem, and I had to send off to the land down under to get THIS one! 7. Christine Sullivan - from the same CD (which Ms. Sullivan autographed for me!), and also very nice. And yes I know that Joni didn't write it, so shoot me. 8. Johanne Blouin - The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines: Another nice jazz vocal from Mingus, nice to know that this record has influenced so many jazz singers! 9. Johanne Blouin - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: see above! 10. Lydia van Dam - Both Sides Now: Probably the true measure of her talent is that she makes this one her own. Breathtakingly beautiful...even Les had to ask "Who is THIS?" when we played it at the church getting it ready for performers. 11. Beth Yeshaya - A Case of You: Another 2001 recording from another talented young new voice. Beth recorded this CD "live in the studio"...she used a live band and had an audience so the songs would have the energy of a live take, and it doesn't disappoint. 12. James Vincent - I Don't Know Where I Stand: Don't know much about this one, except the record is pretty rare. It has a Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine" feel to it. 13. The Woodstock Singers - The Circle Game: You'd think that with that name, they'd have done Woodstock! The Woodstock Singers were a group of singing Jesuits, that's about all I know about them. 14. Anni Clark - Conversation: Can't say enough about this great cover! Better than Joni's version in that it really builds up the song, starting with the guitar and adding a soft bass and congas, and Anni's vocal makes it, well, conversational. 15. Percy Faith - Both Sides Now: About what you'd expect from the king of 60's "lite pop", with some backing vocals. He also does BYT which will be upcoming in 2002. 16. Marti Pellow - River: VERY lucky to have snagged this one...Marti is the lead singer for Wet Wet Wet, and was doing a radio show, when he chose River as a warm-up/soundcheck song. Sweet!! Big thanks to "Sarge" for this one! 17. Frank Stallone - A Case of You: What to make of this one? Features Van Dyke Parks and produced by Harry Nilsson. You can definitely hear Harry's touch, nice pop sensibility which rescues Rocky's bro from cheese country, no to be confused with Wisconsin. 18/19; The Travelers - Cactus Tree/Both Sides Now: We close Volume 22 the same way we opened it, with a college vocal group doing Joni songs on a very obscure and hard to find record. This time 'round it's The Travelers from Mt. Vernon Junior College, who do some folk songs, including a rare version of Cactus Tree! I also wonder why this one has been so ignored in Joni's song base...maybe the lyrics make it more personal to Joni, I dunno. So there it is, submitted for your approval. I'll be back to tell you how you can get a free copy!! Bob NP: XTC, "Chalkhills & Children"
