Joni Mitchell — Harry's House / Centerpiece
Album: The Hissing Of Summer LawnsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 249
Length: 6:43
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laozilover wrote:
More Joni, please! 
YES! I love this album! Thanx RP!
More Joni, please! YES! I love this album! Thanx RP!
More Joni, please! Unless she's announcing that there's a fire in the lobby of the theater I'm in... I don't ever want to hear Joni Mitchell
Great album. She has been wonderful in all of her varied manifestations and it's always a pleasure to hear Joni.
One of my favourites ... especially when I am getting ready to hit the road for a week of business.
keller1 wrote:
No need to make it about being a Canadian. If you don't like Joni's stuff yer entitled to your point of view.
I happen to love nearly everything she's done, and it has nothing to do with being Canadian. Besides, she lives in California.
BTW, if you're in Lakefield, Ontario, you can throw a stone to my place —- I'm in Port Perry, on the shore of beautiful Lake Scugog.
Everyone has their opinion—and welcome to it. As an American, I love our Canadian nabes—you've sent and are sending us some wonderful musicians—bring 'em on, as our "Junior" Bush would say!
I happen to find Joni seminal for me. And for anyone who would like to hear Joni as she sang 30 years ago, seek out John Kelly—no kidding! He does an homage to Joni, sings her songs, perfectly, with notes and decorations so correct as to chill the skin. And even if you have never seen her live, his show is Joni on stage performing, with all her quirks, affectations, loquacious ramblings and her general dislike of performing, which is so well portrayed and moving. He is in drag, but this is not drag, not any more than Cate Blanchett was drag doing Dylan—this is merely completing the act. And btw, Joni likes him so much that she gave him a dulcimer that he uses in his shows. Check him out—you will NOT be disappointed.
No need to make it about being a Canadian. If you don't like Joni's stuff yer entitled to your point of view.
I happen to love nearly everything she's done, and it has nothing to do with being Canadian. Besides, she lives in California.
BTW, if you're in Lakefield, Ontario, you can throw a stone to my place —- I'm in Port Perry, on the shore of beautiful Lake Scugog.
Everyone has their opinion—and welcome to it. As an American, I love our Canadian nabes—you've sent and are sending us some wonderful musicians—bring 'em on, as our "Junior" Bush would say!
I happen to find Joni seminal for me. And for anyone who would like to hear Joni as she sang 30 years ago, seek out John Kelly—no kidding! He does an homage to Joni, sings her songs, perfectly, with notes and decorations so correct as to chill the skin. And even if you have never seen her live, his show is Joni on stage performing, with all her quirks, affectations, loquacious ramblings and her general dislike of performing, which is so well portrayed and moving. He is in drag, but this is not drag, not any more than Cate Blanchett was drag doing Dylan—this is merely completing the act. And btw, Joni likes him so much that she gave him a dulcimer that he uses in his shows. Check him out—you will NOT be disappointed.
alanthecowboy wrote:
No need to make it about being a Canadian. If you don't like Joni's stuff yer entitled to your point of view.
I happen to love nearly everything she's done, and it has nothing to do with being Canadian. Besides, she lives in California.
BTW, if you're in Lakefield, Ontario, you can throw a stone to my place —- I'm in Port Perry, on the shore of beautiful Lake Scugog.
As a Canadian, I'm sort of ashamed to say I can't stand most of the Joni library, other than her collaborations with Pastorius. However, this is excellent.
No need to make it about being a Canadian. If you don't like Joni's stuff yer entitled to your point of view.
I happen to love nearly everything she's done, and it has nothing to do with being Canadian. Besides, she lives in California.
BTW, if you're in Lakefield, Ontario, you can throw a stone to my place —- I'm in Port Perry, on the shore of beautiful Lake Scugog.
I could have sworn she sang "You're my Centipede" Then I check the song title. I guess "centerpiece" makes more sense.
Bliss indeed. Jeff Skunk Baxter from the Dan is featured on this fab album.....
justin_thyme wrote:
Excellent track(s) off my fave Joni album.
Ahhhhhhh! Bliss!
One of the best tracks from one of the best albums by one of the very best artists of our age. RP at its finest! Thanks, Bill and Rebecca.
One of the best tracks from one of the best albums by one of the very best artists of our age. RP at its finest! Thanks, Bill and Rebecca.
Excellent track(s) off my fave Joni album.Thanks Bill! Only on RP can I hear something I enjoy like Joni. I so miss hearing her music that it's really refreshing to catch it every now and then here on RP. She's a lot of talent....
As a Canadian, I'm sort of ashamed to say I can't stand most of the Joni library, other than her collaborations with Pastorius. However, this is excellent.
Ahhh yes Joni, few people can go from treeloving folk to oozing downtempo and still keep it totally classy all the way.
There is some kind of majesty going on here, and I like it.
There is some kind of majesty going on here, and I like it.
Outclasses everything. Joni Mitchell is the beginning and the end.
If you grew up during a certain era, and you're female and Canadian, well, Joni is just right up there. 
jedley wrote:
And yes, I'm the notorious fellow listener that deigned to use Joni's and Sheryl's names in the same sentence.
Hearing this now, I'm even more indignant than before when a fellow listener compared Sheryl Crow to the supreme Ms. Mitchell.
I have no idea why that comment bothered people so much, considering how much actual vitriol is leveled at Joni Mitchell in these fora.And yes, I'm the notorious fellow listener that deigned to use Joni's and Sheryl's names in the same sentence.
MM13 wrote:
I like them both very much (Joni and PJ not dogfood and caviar) but what a funny comment.
Joni Mitchell after PJ Harvey..... that's like caviar after dogfood. OK, not everybody likes caviar. I don't, come to think of it.
But you get the point, probably.
But you get the point, probably.
I like them both very much (Joni and PJ not dogfood and caviar) but what a funny comment.
Joni Mitchell after PJ Harvey..... that's like caviar after dogfood. OK, not everybody likes caviar. I don't, come to think of it.
But you get the point, probably.
But you get the point, probably.
Really nice, coming after the last PJ Harvey...KEEP IT UP, Bill and Rebecca, please! Great stretch of inspirational tuneage!
This needs to be played more frequently than once a month.
Joni! I love you!
BooKitty wrote:
Dudes! (and Dudettes)! Most music players nowadays come with a nifty little option that allows to search for "RADIO". You just click in there, and up pop hundreds and hundreds of Internet Radio Stations, so you can listen to whatever the hell creams your personal little twinkie, without having to resort to any such extreme and messy behavior such as head banging.
Am thinking of banging my head against the wall, just to make this stop.
Dudes! (and Dudettes)! Most music players nowadays come with a nifty little option that allows to search for "RADIO". You just click in there, and up pop hundreds and hundreds of Internet Radio Stations, so you can listen to whatever the hell creams your personal little twinkie, without having to resort to any such extreme and messy behavior such as head banging. ruthless wrote:
May have something to do with the "relationship" with Tom Scott (LA Express)...?
Is Tom on this? I seem to remember he did play on some of her jazz pieces. Love me some Tomcat.
May have something to do with the "relationship" with Tom Scott (LA Express)...?
Is Tom on this? I seem to remember he did play on some of her jazz pieces. Love me some Tomcat.
Bravo on that comment! 
I totally agree. Sheryl Crow lyrics and style-no comparison! 
jedley wrote:
I totally agree. Sheryl Crow lyrics and style-no comparison! jedley wrote:
Hearing this now, I'm even more indignant than before when a fellow listener compared Sheryl Crow to the supreme Ms. Mitchell.
That's like comparing Coldplay to Radiohead, another favorite juxtaposition of people who were apparently born with neither ears nor sense.
When are folks gonna learn the difference between what they LIKE and what's actually GOOD?
That's like comparing Coldplay to Radiohead, another favorite juxtaposition of people who were apparently born with neither ears nor sense.
When are folks gonna learn the difference between what they LIKE and what's actually GOOD?
Oh, I know it well!
Pure Class!
Excellence
Ahhhhhhh! Bliss!
One of the best tracks from one of the best albums by one of the very best artists of our age. RP at its finest! Thanks, Bill and Rebeccca.
BooKitty wrote:
Jazz is good.
Am thinking of banging my head against the wall, just to make this stop.
Please do so!
Jazz is good.
Inamorato wrote:
Ah, the poetry of Joni Mitchell...
A helicopter lands on the Pan Am roof
Like a dragonfly on a tomb
It's been a long time since Pan Am has been around.
Righ on brother, but you remember like I do too.
I've already tried it. It doesn't work...it only makes it worse.
BooKitty wrote:
Am thinking of banging my head against the wall, just to make this stop.
Am thinking of banging my head against the wall, just to make this stop.
I can appreciate and understand WHY Joni Mitchell is so revered, but I still can't remotely get into anything she has sung/produced. Just not for me. (especially Big Yellow Taxi: love the message, but really can't stand the song).
MtnSinger wrote:
I may be showing my age, but I never tire of Ms. Joni! What a lyricist, writer and performer. Ay carumba!
Good taste is ageless, my friend.
I may be showing my age, but I never tire of Ms. Joni! What a lyricist, writer and performer. Ay carumba!
Ah, the poetry of Joni Mitchell...
A helicopter lands on the Pan Am roof
Like a dragonfly on a tomb
It's been a long time since Pan Am has been around.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The great Joni Mitchell.
Hey, why not play Edith and the Kingpin or one of the other excellent tunes from this album?
Welcome to eclectic! Inclusion and creativity reign.
I heard those opening notes, like a jet coming in for a landing, and leaned back, stretching, reaching to turn up the volume on the big round knob of the main amp. Yeah.......
philbertr wrote:
Whatever.... I'm just glad to be hearing more Joni Mitchell on RP. How about a little Laura Nero, too?
Some Laura Nyro would be amazing!
Whatever.... I'm just glad to be hearing more Joni Mitchell on RP. How about a little Laura Nero, too?
Dragonfly_Launch wrote:
Coldplay over Radiohead just doesn't work in any discussion.
That's the point. 99 per cent of Radiohead's stuff is the equivalent of nails on a blackboard to a lot of people, myself included. You will never convince me that Thom Yorke's whining is "good". Clocks, on the other hand, is the kind of classic pop tune that happens, what, once a year? And that, my friend, is "good".
keller1 wrote:
That whole thing is subjective.
My four year old niece thinks Barney is "good". Who am I to argue?
I happen to agree with you that there's really no comparison between Joni and Sheryl Crow. Just don't expect the Sheryl Crow fans in the crowd to buy it.
And I'll take Coldplay over Radiohead any day.
Individual pieces of art are for subjective opinions. Entire creative output and level of intelligence is objective. Which is why Joni is far above Miss Crow. Miss Mitchell once said the only musician in her lifetime that really moved her was Miles Davis. And Coldplay over Radiohead just doesn't work in any discussion.
Sooooo smooove. Feels like New York. Feels good. Mell - lowwwwwwwww.
Lot of comments on this one today - and it hasn't been played in the last few years on RP either. I really like this one and for me it represents a specific time in Joni Mitchell's career that seemed all too brief.
jedley wrote:
When are folks gonna learn the difference between what they LIKE and what's actually GOOD?
That whole thing is subjective.
My four year old niece thinks Barney is "good". Who am I to argue?
I happen to agree with you that there's really no comparison between Joni and Sheryl Crow. Just don't expect the Sheryl Crow fans in the crowd to buy it.
And I'll take Coldplay over Radiohead any day.
Hearing this now, I'm even more indignant than before when a fellow listener compared Sheryl Crow to the supreme Ms. Mitchell.
That's like comparing Coldplay to Radiohead, another favorite juxtaposition of people who were apparently born with neither ears nor sense.
When are folks gonna learn the difference between what they LIKE and what's actually GOOD?
Hairfarmer wrote:
This was the album that preceeded Hejira. It's like she dipped her toe into the "Jazz" pool with Court and Spark then dove in the deep end with this ablum before heading back a little bit shallower for Hejira.
May have something to do with the "relationship" with Tom Scott (LA Express)...?
One of the first albums I bought with my own hard-earned money. Worth every penny.
If this were a little smoother, a little more electronic, the lyrics more mundane, and joni sang a little more angelic it would be ..... Zero 7. Still good, like the jazz bustin out at the end.
Now THAT is nice 
I really like the lyrical quality of this ditty.
This feels less like a song to me than jazz-rock beat poetry. Weird wild stuff.
Krispian wrote:
Great album from a genius songwriter. I'd love to hear MORE from Hissing... particularly the title track and "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow."
Please? Pretty please?
Me too, fellow Vancouverite! Great song(s). This is my fave Joni album for sure. I'd love to hear "Edith & the Kingpin" added to the playlist.
dave_porter wrote: Yellow schools of taxi-fishes...
"Hello schools of taxi-fishes, Jonah in a ticking whale" and "Beauty parlor blondes with credit card eyes, looking for the chic and the fancy to buy". Can't you just see them? Word-pictures from a master of the art... Gorgeous horns on this track, too.
Edith and the Kingpin has to be my favourite track from this album, but this is awfully nice... Pat Metheny then Joni, nice combo Bill - how about something from Shadows & Light sometime - Amelia, maybe?
Yellow schools of taxi-fishes...
Great album from a genius songwriter. I'd love to hear MORE from Hissing... particularly the title track and "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow."
Please? Pretty please?
dave_porter wrote:
"Hello schools of taxi-fishes, Jonah in a ticking whale" and "Beauty parlor blondes with credit card eyes, looking for the chic and the fancy to buy". Can't you just see them? Word-pictures from a master of the art... Gorgeous horns on this track, too.
Wow, I was thinking of the same thing.... and we're eight time zones apart!
:dreamland:
"Hello schools of taxi-fishes, Jonah in a ticking whale" and "Beauty parlor blondes with credit card eyes, looking for the chic and the fancy to buy". Can't you just see them? Word-pictures from a master of the art... Gorgeous horns on this track, too.
Edith and the Kingpin has to be my favourite track from this album, but this is awfully nice... Pat Metheny then Joni, nice combo Bill - how about something from Shadows & Light sometime - Amelia, maybe?
MsJudi wrote:
Just goes to show you that even a master of music (would that be "mistress" instead? *g*) can produce a bomb. This song grated on my nerves something fierce and I LOVE Ms. Mitchell
Sounds like a political problem... of yours.
Just goes to show you that even a master of music (would that be "mistress" instead? *g*) can produce a bomb. This song grated on my nerves something fierce and I LOVE Ms. Mitchell
one of my favorite albums!
I enjoy this for awhile, but eventually it wears me down into hitting mute for a few.
Leslie wrote:
Great song. Reminds me of her "Hejira" years circa 1976 I think, only with the more jazzy sound she brought to her later albums.
This was the album that preceeded Hejira. It's like she dipped her toe into the "Jazz" pool with Court and Spark then dove in the deep end with this ablum before heading back a little bit shallower for Hejira.
stop it stop it stop it!!!!
dot closes his eyes. sees the 70's.
dot.
I don't understand this album - I don't like it - I want to like it - I just don't get it... :-s
Great album!
Apparently this album is/was one of Prince\'s (TAFKAP/symbol/whatever) all-time favourites.
( 
Go figure)
Apparently this album is/was one of Prince\'s (TAFKAP/symbol/whatever) all-time favourites.
( Go figure)Great song. Reminds me of her "Hejira" years circa 1976 I think, only with the more jazzy sound she brought to her later albums.
gag!
Beautiful vibe ... beautful sound ... Beautiful Joni !*!*!*
Wonderful irony in the lyrics. And SOUL in the music.
Unless she's announcing that there's a fire in the lobby of the theater I'm in... I don't ever want to hear Joni Mitchell
Unless YOU are announcing a fire, shut up & hit the "skip button"! ...problem solved! ...Then you can spare us from your drivel! A LOT of RP listeners think that this is a GREAT TUNE!!