64 Comments

Thank you, Mark, for reminding us that there can be beauty in the world. Those were golden years in my own personal history, and I was moved to tears listening to these. Please know that I'm grateful for your vivid sense of both art and justice. Thank you for all that you do.

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Despite the greatness of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting duo, it was George Harrison who arguable wrote the best and most beautiful of The Beatles songs.

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That world is definitely gone, but the few of us keep it alive in our hearts. I like what Kurt Vonnegut said in A Man Without A Country "No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious and charitable institutions become, the music will still be wonderful."

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Yesterday I was listening to Castles in the Air by Don McLean, recorded in 1981, and heard the words of someone wanting to escape the madness, even back then. It brought a tear or two...

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I see that folks here view Joni Mitchell as some sort of leftist liberal and negate her abilities and talents as an artist.[It's important to separate the politics of an artist in deference to their talent and legacy] I'd like to add that Joni collaborated with jazz artists before Sting ever had a record deal. Her partnership with Jaco Pastorious and John Guerin and Tom Scott resulted in some pretty damned great instrumental tracks! Her albums "Hejira" and "Mingus" feature Jaco's stellar bass playing--and he takes the music to a whole different level. And what about the amazing "Jungle LIne" on the Hissing of Summer Lawns?... that was produced long before Peter Gabriel was experimenting with the earthy world beat artists he incorporated within a pop framework. I may presume that those who criticize Joni based on her early work are clueless about the amount of talent and effort required to maintain a 40 year career!

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Jul 31, 2022Liked by Mark Crispin Miller

I was wondering what had become of Van. Has he been “neutered”? Has he been “dealt with”? Well his new album is called “What’s It Gonna Take?” And the track listing is as follows:

1. Dangerous

2. What’s It Gonna Take?

3. Fighting Back Is The New Normal

4. Fodder For The Masses

5. Can’t Go On This Way

6. Sometimes It’s Just Blah Blah Blah

7. Money From America

8. Not Seeking Approval

9. Damage And Recovery

10. Nervous Breakdown

11. Absolutely Positively The Most

12. I Ain’t No Celebrity

13. Stage Name

14. Fear And Self-Loathing In Las Vegas

15. Pretending

And look at that cover:

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/vanmorrisoncom/images/news/Whats-It-Gonna-Take.png?mtime=20220407163149

Rave on, Van, rave on!

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Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" is fricking unreal.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgrl83

What an extraordinary woman.

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Thanks, Mark. I share your appreciation of these great artists. They have all inspired me as a musician for many decades. I also share your anger and pain witnessing the sell-outs the last couple years. Keep up the great reporting.

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Thank you, Mark. Listening to these two beautiful versions of JT's "Close Your Eyes" I thought to myself: In the midst of the contemporary chaos & horror, as you so aptly put it, there is a balm in Gilead.

Here is the most recent version I've seen: lump in the throat time -- James sings it with his son Henry in 2021. This is particularly poignant after reading comments from so many men who said they sang this as a lullaby to their children decades ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymd2QqQiyqk

And I had not realized JT had written this gorgeous song for Joni Mitchell, who was his girlfriend at the time.

Stumbled upon this wonderful video of Joni at the Newport Folk Festival just last week. She's 78, walks unsteadily with a cane, sings in a much lower register, and must perform sitting down after many years of poor health. But ever the great artist, Joni is grooving as she sings harmony to her old tune "Carey", and she is clearly embraced in the love & honour of everyone at Newport: singers, musicians and audience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiloeONLq6k&list=PL0BeklUKtNetLNqVKUlkYlG4dj0iOfOcj&index=2

Thank you so much for setting our feet on so many journeys down memory lane with these beautiful artists & works of art.

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These songs are who we are. Use them going forward. Our songs tell us about ourselves and who we really are. No fear. Embrace the real, the grounded, the authentic.

https://youtu.be/hIoi8EXJaBI

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I love all of these songs and the performances. I do go back and listen to the songs from the 60s and 70s, and all kinds of music from the past. It does help me remember happier times. Protest songs were extremely important to us too.

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Thanks Mark, some of my favorites. They can’t take our feelings and memories. God Bless

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Fun fact: "Something" was the only Beatles song Sinatra sang... and he declared it Lennon and McCartney's finest! What an arsehole!

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Yeah. No.

These songs were from a fake time, when people thought they were free and thinking and loving freely.

Eh eh.

Rock and roll was bullish*t.

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Wow these brought me back. I miss those times.

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Mark Crispin Miller, what do we know about the reasons for so many artists' silence regarding the facts and data surrounding vaxx "adverse reactions?" Are they cowering due to a fear of losing fans? Or is it the money? Or is it the threat of the music industry who might stop distributing their wares? Eric Clapton has been damaged and speaks openly about this. Joe Strummer wouldn't be silent if he was still alive!

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