Hey folks,
i enjoyed the talk about WTRF in the last post...........and I agree with the
whole "it was all downhill after Mingus theory" but, I would put in attendum,
"but it was uphill from Night Ride Home".
I think Joni's obvious love for Larry Klein overwhelmed her drive for quality
and art, and it blindsighted her songwriting as a result. It just surprises
me that an artist of such consistency could be so easily swayed from her
convictions.
AND........I don't believe Joni was strung out on cocaine during the making
of WTRF (contrary to those awful promotional pics taken at the time), I think
she was strung out on something more dangerous.....to quote a line of
Joni's......"We got high on travel/And we got drunk on alcohol/and on
love/the strongest poison and medicine of all...." Clearly Larry was her
drug of choice throughout the 80's.........and we've seen some of the bad
effects.
Joni's commentary on her own cocaine use referred to the 75-76 period of her
life......
THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS
"some entire albums wouldn't exist without that drug" --she quotes.....
and her thanks to "helpful henry, the housewife's delight" in the album
credits
HEJIRA
"This prisoner of the fine white lines of the freeway" -- from "Coyote"
"I did some good writing on cocaine, "Song For Sharon", but it kills your
heart..." - from the Q, May 1988 issue
