I know we have this debate every so often. And, as always, count me in as a HUGE fan of DED. I can still listen to the album (CD) and enjoy it thoroughly. The music still sounds modern to me. (I know many don't like the arrangements.) The weakest song for me is Lucky Girl. I'm not overly fond of Impossible Dreamer, either. And I don't consider Smokin' Try Another to be a song. Still, I love the way the first four songs flow from one to the next. And I like DED a lot. It's become a favorite to sing lately. I think the juxtaposition and starkly different arrangements of Shiny Toys and Ethiopia is brilliant. We go from the hyped up world of California to the stark sands of Africa.
And, I'm planning to do acoustic versions of Dog Eat Dog and Fiction at JoniFest. (Or maybe I shouldn't say so. It might drive some folks away LOL!) BUT, here's a different take on DED. Or the song lineup I would like to hear. I guess this would be Joni's political album 1. Slouching Towards Bethlehem (the NRH version would do) 2. Fiction (an acoustic version in the vein of NRH) 3. The Three Great Stimulants (the acoustic version) 4. Tax Free (an acoustic version in the vein of NRH) 5. The Windfall (NRH version) 6. Dog Eat Dog 7. Shiny Toys 8. Ethiopia 9. Borderline 10. The Fiddle and the Drum (Clouds version) All songs seem appropriate these days. But maybe that's always true. Ah for the summer of 2001 when we were preoccupied with stories about shark attacks because it seemed like there was no 'real' news... lots of love Anne
