Cindy,
All I can tell you about my reaction to HOSL is that I, too, once felt
exactly the same way. When I first started listening to HOSL, The Jungle
Line was the only song I could relate to. I went years letting this album
gather dust in my collection - and that has never happened with a Joni album,
before or since (well maybe WTRF). I just couldn't get into it. Then I got
a new room mate who happened to be a huge Joni fan (how's that for room mate
heaven), but guess what his favorite Joni album was - HOSL. Everytime he put
it on I would groan. "With so many great Joni albums, why must you play that
one?" I would ask. And he would just smile a devilish grin, and turn the
volume up.
Then one day while he was playing it, I caught myself signing along -
"Sometimes Chickie had the car, or Ron had the car, or Lead Foot Melvin, with
his hot-wire head", and instead of complaining about his choice, I turned up
the volume. Song after song poured out of the stereo, and it was like I
hearing them for the first time. It was like the clouds parted, and the
light shone through. I can't really explain it.
So Cindy, my recommendation would be to keep playing it. Hopefully, one day
the clouds will part for you as well, and you'll be able to share in the joy
of one of Joni's more mysterious masterpieces.
Jack
