> I quit on what was then Joni's 'newer' stuff in the late-70"s when I
couldn't
> "get into" Hejira (even after listening to it about 50 times). I
really
> wanted to like the album. I listened to it in the dark; I listened
to it
> while riding a stationary bike. Nothing worked. I had disliked
THOSL, and now
> this one seemed to leave me cold. So I quit - after Hejira, of all
albums.
> Ugh.
I think THOSL was a watershed for a lot of people. I remember it took
me a *long* time to finally 'get it'. It was so different, even from
Court & Spark and miles away from STAS. If the concept of Joni being
an 'artist' and the whole concept of 'artistic growth' hadn't just
been put into my head, I think I might have said 'What is this weird
shit? This isn't Joni!' and given up on her too. I actually knew
somebody who was a big fan of Joni's who I played THOSL for and she
said 'It's just not Joni!' But at that time I was learning that
musicians, artists, creative people need to stretch their boundaries
in order to remain vital & interesting. Joni wasn't about to stand
still to please an audience or sell record. Not with Blue. Not with
Court & Spark. Not even with Hejira. Not with Turbulent Indigo
either. If she continues to produce music, it will go on changing &
growing in new ways. Otherwise, she would stop. I don't think she's
finished yet. I hope not, anyway.
Blue was primarily an album of Heart and Soul (every song on the
> album is passionate and romantic, pure emotion), whereas Hejira was
primarily
> one of Mind and Soul
I love what you say here & agree 100% To me Blue is almost completely
visceral and Hejira is cerebral. Blue is pure emotion. Hejira has
the emotion plus almost relentless analysis of it. I must say that I
have come to a greater appreciation of the musicality of Hejira
because of all the 'fanatics' on this list. I still refuse to say
it's her best! I am still a Taurus, after all!
Even so, the proponents of one can (and more
> often than not do) acknowledge the greatness of the other.
>
> For they are both "masterpieces" by my definition and standards.
Both works
> of a type that had never really been done before.
Applause, applause! Great post!
Mark in Seattle taking a couple of badly needed vacation days
