Well, Trick *and* treat would be more like it...like its predecessors, Volume 23 is a mixed bag of songs, styles, genres, and artists. Besides me, here's who helped provide the material:
Ron Greer Gordon Mackie Monica Cardinale And now, on to the treats: 1. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 - Chelsea Morning (live): This one starts off the set and gets you up out of your seat! A very nice animated take and a pretty rare track too! It's from an official live LP, but I think it was only issued in Brazil. 2. Ian McCulloch - The Circle Game: Ian was the brains behind Echo & The Bunnymen, sort of a glam-80's band. They sorta droned on, and he sorta drones on here, but not really in a bad way. 3. Go Four 3 - This Flight Tonight: Here's a real obscure one, from a compilation of local Vancouver BC punk bands who all do cover songs. The tape is called "Van-Cover". Get it? Anyway, this rocks! 4. Marjan Cornille - A Case of You: Another nice Dutch vocalist takes on one of Joni's emotional anthems, with sweet results. 5. Al Hirt - Both Sides Now: Would have been better without the cheesy throw-in vocals. Al's definitely got the chops to carry this on his own, and he throws in a nice lick or two. 6. The Dog Run Boys - Urge For Going: A wonderful bluegrass recording from these guys based in Virginia. Great mandolin and banjo! 7. Daniel Bintii - River: Daniel sounds like more like Danielle, but this is very true to Joni's version and features some nice piano. 8. June Tabor - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: This one is a vocal BUT not with Joni's lyric, but rather a different one. June is of course one of the pivotal voices of British folk-rock, and this is a nice piece of jazz. 9. Lydia van Dam Group - The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines: What more can be said about the wonderful Lydia and her superb band? This is the final track from her "BSN" tribute CD, and is a nice minimal treatment with sweet soprano sax and shuffling drums. 10. John Hart Trio - Both Sides Now: NO cheese about it! This is a great 2001 release, proving that Joni's franchise song is still as ripe for interpretation as it was 30+ years ago! 11. Dread Zeppelin - Woodstock: From the sublime to the ridiculous! For those of you who DON'T know of Dread Zeppelin, they're sort of a 1-joke band, doing Led Zeppelin covers with an Elvis impersonator named Tortelvis. They crank this one up with the riff from "The Lemon Song", and then it's ganja reggae time, mon! Lots of fun, to be sure. 12. Marc Ducret Trio - God Must Be A Boogie Man: More great jazz guitar trio, only a much more obscure song to cover! This was a bonus track when this LP was made into a CD, and it's a gem to be sure. As you can probably guess, these guys, like The Coneheads, are from France. 13. Rumba Club - This Flight Tonight: Another 2001 release, and a BRAND NEW twist on this one! This one'll get even those of us with 2 left feet 'shakin' on the floor. One of my faves! 14. Marc Copland - Blue: More great jazz, muted Miles Davis-style trumpet & piano dominate this one and some nice subtle Brian Blad-ish drums and a great bass solo too! 15. Mainstreet - Chelsea Morning: This is from the CD put out by the ladies accapella group from Roanoke College in Roanoke, VA. Guaranteed to raise a smile! 16. Robert Allen - Both Sides Now: Robert is/was a blind pianist out of Columbus, OH. His BSN is pretty straitforward but rewards repeat listens; he does some interesting melodic passages. It sounds like George Winston in it's simplicity and beauty. 17. Nancy Lamott - I Don't Know Where I Stand: Nancy's story is a real heart-breaker. One of the stars of the NY cabaret scene, she died an untimely death in 1995. She was close friends with our own Stephen Elliott, and I'm sure David Lahm knows of her as well. Though she has some recordings, this version of "I Don't Know Where I Stand" is unreleased and from a radio show. So, there you have it...another month, another FULL CD's worth of Joni's songs as done by French jazz trios, European chanteuses, Canadian punkers, and all points in between. Further proof (not that any was needed) that Joni is one of the most influential writers ever! Bob NP: Nancy Lamott, "I Don't Know Where I Stand"
