Okay, here's my take on favorite live recordings
#1 - For Free / Miles of Aisles. This version just cuts me to the bone. I
absolutely cannot listen to it without getting goose bumps. There's a depth
to this version that I think is lacking in the studio version (as nice as
that is). I've often joked with my wife that if I was ever in coma, and
plugged into life support, she should play this version of the song and if
there is no reaction, pull the plug, I'm gone!
#2 - Black Crow / Shadows and Light. A great song that holds a special place
in history for me, and a kick ass version. Well worth buying the vinyl of
Japanese version of the CD for.
#3 - Banquet / Refuge of the Roads. Anyone who thinks Joni can't rock should
listen to this version. It was the highlight of the show for me when I first
saw this tour. While Joni is known for reinventing songs when performing
them live, her twist on this song blew me away. For the longest time, this
concert film was only available on laser disk. I actually bought a laser
disk player just so I could hear this version again.
#4 - Furry Sings the Blues / Shadows and Light. Rougher and courser than the
studio version, it captures the feel of the song perfectly. I especially
like Joni's impersonation of Furry. Great dynamics, and Joni's voice was
arguably at it's peak - could still hit the high notes, but was developing
that deeper patina.
#5 - Miles of Aisles - The entire album. This album is the benchmark for
live albums for me. The song selection is damn near perfect, the band is
great, the arrangements are all top notch, often transcending the original
studio versions. For people in climates with major seasonal differences -
particularly cold winters - I highly recommend come spring time to make a
date with this album. On that first day of spring - not the first day of
spring according to the calendar, but that first absolutely perfect, "Oh my
God, is it beautiful out" kind of day - pop this baby in the car stereo and
head for the country. There is nothing like it. By the way, if anyone takes
me up on this recommendation, let me know how it was!
Honorable Mentions - Not done by Joni
#1 - A Case of You / Diana Krall - TNT Special. I have a lady friend who is
also a great Joni fan, and about once every other month or so we get together
for a Joni night. We take turns picking out songs to play, and are always
competing against each other trying to come up with the best set lists, etc.
Anyway, she came over the night of the TNT special and we were having a ball.
What a magic night that was. Cindi Lauper's Carey was inspired, as were
most of the other songs. But nothing prepared us for Diana's version of A
Case of You. When it was all over, the two of us just looked at each other
and said OH MY GOD! I was recording the show, and after it was all over, we
played it three or four times in row. And a great big thank you to Napster,
for giving me a way to download this and putting it to a CD. This maybe
heresy, but I can actually forget about Joni's versions when I hear this.
#2 - Dancing Barefoot / Patti Smith - On XRT Live Volume 5. If you're ever
throwing a party, and can't get people up to dance, put this on the stereo.
Anyone still sitting at the end of the song should be crossed off all future
guest lists!
#3 - Across the Border / Bruce Springsteen - Ghost of Tom Joad tour.
Beautiful song put way over the top by the otherworldly yodeling (yes,
yodeling) at the end of song. In person, it took my breath away - loses a
little on the recording, but still pretty magical.
#4 - Psycho Killer / Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (the first version).
SMS was recently re-released, and thankfully so - it contains several more
songs than the original, but they use a different version of Psycho Killer,
and I think the original was better - a little more kick ass. Either version
is great though, setting the tone for one of the best rock and roll movies
ever made. I played this song on DVD at my New Year's Eve party, with the
intention of only playing this song. We ended up watching the whole movie
and danced our fool heads off. Instant party - just a water (or other
favorite beverage of choice!).
#5 - Dancing in the Dark / Mary Chapin Carpenter. This is only available on
a CD single (or the afore mentioned napster). In my opinion, this was one of
Bruce Springsteen's worse songs, made all the more intolerable by the amount
of airplay it got, and the horrible accompanying video. What Mary does with
song is indescribable. She doesn't just reinvent it, she pulls it apart,
jumps up and down on it, shreds it to little pieces, throws it in a blender,
drinks it with a tequila chaser, and let's it ooze out of her pores! It's
almost unrecognizable (thank goodness), and stunningly beautiful.
While we are on the subject of Live music, one of the many amazing things I
think about Joni is her live product. In my opinion, most live albums are
novelties, or simply money making devices. While I have numerous live albums
in my collection, aside from Joni's and Talking Head's Stop Making Sense, I
would be hard pressed to name one, let alone think about the last time I
played one start to finish. The fact that these albums have stood the test
of time, and hold their own against her studio releases really says
something. These albums weren't filler thrown out after the tour in an
effort to pick our wallets a little cleaner. These are more like historical
recordings - beautifully capturing an artist in prime form - not just resting
on her laurels, or churning out the hits, but reinterpreting her catalog, and
presenting it a new. I think Joni sometimes shoots herself in the foot when
she performs live, mostly in her song selection (Three Great Stimulants at
Farm Aid comes immediately to mind), but I say Amen and Alleluia to her
courage and conviction to always be true to herself first, last and foremost.
Jack
np - The Weaver and the Factory Maid - Steeleye Span - with special thanks to
Ashara for reminding what a great group this is!
