hi i just started reading this over the weekend, the only good thing about being sick is getting around to all those books stacked up next to the bed. so far it's really interesting despite the human interest feature writing style. probably more to say later.
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This book is on my reading list, along with Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood (Joni Mitchell lived in Laurel Canyon, which was L.A.'s Haight-Ashbury).
I'm only now appreciating Joni Mitchell. I never really liked her music that much growing up, other than a few of her hits like "Both Sides Now" (one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar), "Big Yellow Taxi" & "Help Me".
I loved Carole King's "Feel the Earth Move" and Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" because they rocked. And I thought it was cool Carole King had written so many great early rock n roll songs. But I didn't care much for their other music.
For the most part, I rebelled against these women because they symbolized the whole '70s soft-rock female singer/songwriter tradition which I thought was a female ghetto. It's the type of music my parents wanted me to play and it's the type of music that was socially acceptable for girls to play.
Now, I can respect what they were doing and so I'm interested to read about them. Joni Mitchell was/is an incredible musician and vocalist.
I also have the Laurel Canyon book on the reading list, but I didn't know about this one.
Looks interesting, specially having Joni Mitchell and Carole King together. I don't know much about Carly Simon story, but I read Joni Mitchell considered Carole King a copycat (who sold more records than she ever did, which I'm sure didn't help)
Probably Carole King didn't have much "rock cred" or something like that among other musicians, but anyway, I really like all her music. There's a good documentary about her (and Jerry Goffin and all the Brill Building crew) which is very good, "Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music". It's like a tv documentary, but worth a chance.
It's funny to see how (as always happens in documentaries about that era) as soon as Bob Dylan appears, the party is over. All the composers starts to feel guilty about writing pop songs..ha.
Keep us updated on the book (if it's a good read).
There's also that great Alison Anders film Grace of My Heart, which is a pseudo-biography about Carole King.
Oh yes, that movie is great.
Not that good, but also worth to check is Laurel Canyon, a movie by Lisa Chodolenko with Frances McDormand as the main character. A carachter that I think I have read it was loosely based on Joni Mitchell.
Hi Sharon. I liked Joni Mitchell as a child, but when I started to play guitar as a teenager and wanted to start a band, I had to reject that idea of female singer/songwriter...now she's one of my favorites again. I've always loved Carole King and never cared a bit for Carly Simon...but it's interesting to see all three as leading parallel lives as far as being women living and making music during such a historical, transformative time for women.
Hi Mabel!
I also like Grace of My Heart, though there are some cheezy parts. But the bulk of the film is great and I like the soundtrack as well.
xoxo
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