Bob Wrote: I'm always running behind the times when it comes to Joni's work. I hopped off the train at "Hejira" and didn't get back on until "Chalk Mark." But I really have grown to love "Hejira" lately. (I guess that's probably why I am reserving judgment on "Travelogue" for a few decades! )
I hopped off about the same time you did, Bob. I only liked about half of HOSL, so after 7 great albums with not a bad song on any I started to lose interest. I saw Joni with the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975 at the Montreal Forum, She played Coyote which I didn't like at all and I never bought another album until Travelogue. I do seem to remember hearing her on the radio with songs I sort-of liked ( probably NRH ) but not enough to buy the album. I recently bought the Mendel Art Gallery book and when I saw the lyrics to Song For Sharon printed there it just looked like a personal letter to a close friend, I couldn't believe it was actually a song, having never heard it. And a good song it is. Travelogue has introduced me to some of that music I missed in the 80s and 90s. I now have a copy of Hejira, though unlike many on this list I wouldn't call it her best, maybe its the electric guitar that turns me off. One of the things I love about this list is the diversity of opinion helped by the range of ages. It seems strange and wonderful to hear of someone first "getting" Joni with Hejira or NRH long after I had given up. Looking forward to the CBC show, I nearly cried watching that first video clip. Is anyone sure whether the PBS show is the same thing? Doug
