<<Which of those 3 80s albums do YOU think
is the best? >>
Wild Things Run Fast
<<The worst? >>
Chalkmark In A Rainstorm
<<Why?>>
This one's a bit of a longer answer! ;~)
Like you said, Don, it's important to put them in context. Prior to WTRF, her previous
STUDIO record was Mingus, which alienated almost all of her audience, lost her radio
airplay, sales, etc. She wanted to bridge the gap and try and re-establish herself, so
she put out an extremely accessible collection of great songs, and just to make sure
people would like it, she kicked it off with one of her finest compositions (Chinese
Cafe/Unchained Melody). In my mind this record has a couple BOFFO songs (Chinese Cafe,
Love, Be Cool, Moon At The Window), and the rest are solid. The "Weakest Link": Ladies
Man, and even this one's pretty nice!
Dog Eat Dog was welcomed at first because it seemed like forever since she'd released
a record. I remember hearing clips from it on NPR and going to get it that same day. I
enjoyed it a lot, but some of the "sounds" didn't seem to suit Joni, like she was
trying to wear somebody else's clothes. She co-wrote a couple songs with Klein, and
they're both rotten (musically). Some great songs here, but they're overproduced and
synthsized such that the soul is gone from them. Now it mostly sounds like a relic,
and certainly doesn't offer any of the depth of Joni's 60's, 70's & 90's work.
The boffo's: Three Great Stimulants, Ethiopia, Impossible Dreamer
The weakest links: everything else
CMIARS: Well, what can you say...the 80's were not kind to lots of good artists, and
Joni didn't dodge the bullet. CMIARS is mostly dreadful, in my mind easily the worst
record she's ever done by a million miles. SO desperate to try and curry favor with
the record-buying public, she brings in Don Henley, Peter Gabriel (their duet works
rather nicely, actually, but the song itself is unmemorable), Willie Nelson, Tom
Petty, and Billy Idol in the embarrasingly bad Dancin' Clown. If latin music had been
in, she (or Klein) would have drug in Ricky Martin or some such to duet with her as
well.
CMAIRS' saving grace: Beat of Black Wings
The rest of this one is REALLY forgettable...
Of course, we all know the happy ending to the unholy 80's trio; the next trio!
Bob
NP: Talking Heads, "Happy Day"
