Well, the temps are in the 90's here, and folks all around are cruising in their convertibles. Don't you know they're wishing they had some Joni covers to play in those cd players? If they had Volume 30, here's what they'd be jammin' to:
1. Sue & Sunny - Michael From Mountains: A pleasant female duet with some nice harmonies. This record is a strings & horns arrangement from the latter 60's, a bit dated but still pretty cool. 2. Carla Sciaky - Urge For Going: Pretty soprano playing in the classic folk style with acoustic guitar. I just LOVE this song. 3. The Wind Children - The Fiddle & The Drum: A little on the bizarre side, this was from "Flower & Flag" an early seventies project from a hip youth choir using hip music to make some hip statements. All in all, pretty darn hip! 4. Zimmer's Hole - This Flight Tonight: The heaviest TFT yet! Ya' gotta love the way the track starts out with "You wanna give me a Spit Cup?" and instead of " i Look at you baby, I get so weak" it's "Look at you baby, wanna snap your neck!" Rocks. 5. Mantovani - Both Sides Now: Strategically placed to calm you down after Track 4. Medication time... 6. Chan Mei Ling - The Circle Game: Inspired by Agnes Chan, she's probably busy even as we speak making clothes for Cathy Lee, who coincidentally recorded this song! 7. Toxic Audio - Big Yellow Taxi: A fun be-bopping acapella take, nice vocal ranges and arrangement. Not Toxic at all. (Well, I did get a little rash, but it went right away) 8. Carl Verheyen - Cactus Tree: Carl's an ace session guitarist and also a luthier in his own right. This is a gorgeous electric-guitar instrumental and one of my favorite tracks on this volume. Great player, great song - what more do you need? 9. Paul Winter - Both Sides Now: A pleasant enough version from new age king Paul Winter, nice to hear the flute taking the lead at times and some other pretty woodwinds contributing as well. 10. Carl Verheyen - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: Interestingly enough, you'd think he'd play electric on this one & acoustic on Cactus Tree...but as you know Joni covers are always FULL of surprises! One listen to this track and you'll see why Carl's an in-demand session axeman. 11. James Last - This Flight Tonight: Carries the "Uncle John" stamp of approval! C'mon everyone, let's get up and dance like robotic dimbulbs! Guaranteed to raise a smile... 12. BB Gabor - Big Yellow Taxi: I REALLY dig this one, Canadian new wave from the 80's. Gabor starts in one groove, and then changes in the middle and rocks out with it. VERY unique! 13. Bill Comeau - Both Sides Now: Simply dreadful. Makes you want to grab the guitar and smash it into splinters ala Animal House. This guy has the wimpiest voice in history, I'll bet even tiny Nikki could take him in a fair fight. 14. Monica Akihary - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: Monica reminds me a lot of Cassandra. This version features her husky, whispery jazz vocal, acoustic guitar, and percussion. Sweet! 15. The Shivers - Big Yellow Taxi: From the land down under, these cats aren't afraid to rock out. Peppy ala "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves, plus a nice harmonica solo which I'm a huge sucker for. 16. Sight & Sound - Woodstock: Somebody got a new wah-wah pedal for his birthday! All this one needs is a pulsating lava lamp. Groovy, baby... 17. Anthony Arizaga - Help Me: Bordering on muzak, but the acoustic guitar is inventive enough to make it very enjoyable. So close to Joni's arrangement you could use it for Karaoke. 18. David Syme - Both Sides Now: Solo piano, could be your kid playing at a recital, although if it was you'd probably pay closer attention then you will to this. 19. Bobby Fuller - You're So Square, Baby I Don't Care: Rockin' rockabilly from the same dude who fought the law, and as we all know, the law won. 20. Lucy Leyton - Woodstock: Starts out with a great electric bass solo, adds some nice guitar textures and percussion touches. The vocal is right on as well. This track is featured on the "Came Upon A Child of God" tribute, although this one came from another Dressed to Kill compilation called "Hippy Chick". 21. Jennifer Hollywood - River: Another Dressed to Kill track, so you don't really know if "Jennifer Hollywood" is a real name or not, but it's hard to mess up 'River', and this one sticks pretty close to the original recipe. So there you have it, another collection of Joni's songs done, undone, and re-done by folks around the globe! The hits just keep on coming...so until the next one, "You wanna give me a spit cup!?" ;~) Bob NP: Sue & Sunny, "Michael From Mountains"
