I'm reading the speculation about WTRF and the presence of Cocaine as the drug of choice at the time of its making. This is probably one of my least listened-to collections of Joni songs. With the notable exception of 'Love' the rest just don't connect at all. Some good things there but I really didn't enjoy the 'band' thing nor the production. Anyway on the cocaine thing I wanted to offer the following. I'm sure I read somewhere that Joni wrote lyrics to some of Hejira's songs while 'investigating' the effects of cocaine. I'm sure too that she related she was appreciative of its qualities in a limited sense but recognised the longer term bankruptcy of prolonged use. Here, while I was writing this I found the reference from Q magazine in the brilliant jmdl joni-article search engine.... But you eventually tried them? Oh yeah, I tried everything. Well, I never tried heroin because I thought, "What's the point? The worst that could happen would be you'd like it. But altered consciousness is completely tempting to a writer. I did some good writing, I think, on cocaine - Song For Sharon (Hejira) - but it kills your heart, takes all your energy, puts it up in your brain and gives you the arrogance that, you know, ruined Jaco Pastorius. (After destitute years of drink and drug problems the former Weather Report and Mitchell band bassist died last September after being beaten up outside a Florida club.) I watched it ruin a lot of people. see also : http://www.jmdl.com/articles/docs/8805q.cfm bests Les (London)
