Aloha,
Just returned on the red-eye from Honolulu after a wonderful but much too
short time. Thanks to Bob's research, I easily found Hawaiian artist Del
Beazley's album "World's Got To Choose" which includes his cover of "Big
Yellow Taxi." It is an absolute GEM! Perfect meld of Joni and Island
style. He changes a few lines here and there like "charge all the Bruddahs
six and a half just to see 'em" and "spots on my Papayas" and "the blue and
white took away my old man." Border's on Ala Moana had a big reference book
that lists every song ever recorded by Hawaiian artists and I checked it for
other Joni covers but only found one other - "Raised on Robbery" by Carole
Kai in 1978. Couldn't find it so there's another obscure one to track down.
I hadn't been back to Oahu for more than a day in 25 years and they have
indeed paved paradise. The one lane roads I remember are now 4 lane and the
2 lane roads are now 8! The traffic is worse than L.A. in parts but the vibe
is still magical and there is much beauty intact.
Other musical moments - Henry Kapono and band at Duke's on Waikiki beach and
getting lost and ending up next to Bette Midler's high school (Farrington).
Oh and I did stay in at the hotel to watch the Grammys (YAHOO!!) Loved
Joni's impish grin when the old timers Steely Dan won and could only wonder
what she was thinking. She and Carlos had the most stage presence and grace
of the night, too.
I think we should think about renting a Kailua beach house and having a
Hawaiian Jonifest one of these days. Easier to pull in Hell, John, Pat,
Joseph, Rainbow and the rest of the Oceania JMDL'ers, too ;-)
Kakki
NP: "Big Yellow Taxi" - Del Beazley
