April 26, 2005

Posted April 26, 2005

Songs of a Prairie Girl is the title of Joni's latest retrospective CD, due in stores today. The CD is Joni's contribution to centennial celebrations in her childhood home of Saskatchewan. Last week, the Canadian Press reported that she'll be headed for Saskatoon in May to take part in the Centennial Gala, but apparently she wanted to do something more than just make an appearance.

In an interview with CTV's "Canada AM," Joni elaborated on some of her motivations for the CD release: "Saskatchewan is having its centennial celebration, and... I'm retired basically, so they had wanted me to perform, and I thought, well, I don't do that anymore, I'm a painter now, so what I'll do is I'll see if Rhino Records will put out a compilation of material that is either inspired or is directly addressing my childhood, you know, songs about the prairie in one way or another..."

"You carry your childhood with you regardless of who you are," she said. "Saskatchewan is in my veins." The music on Songs of a Prairie Girl certainly bear out those statements. She's chosen songs ranging from her earliest compositions ("Urge For Going," the song she's called her "only protest song... a protest against winter") to her latest ("Harlem In Havana"). The CD illustrates how the Canadian prairie has been close to Joni's heart throughout her life.

Warner Strategic Marketing's press release tells us that she's been "very hands-on in terms of track selection, sequencing, mastering and artwork," (as was the case with last year's Dreamland); the result is a lot more personal than your average "greatest hits" package. Long-time fans are sure to be interested in the 2004 update of "Paprika Plains," originally on Joni's groundbreaking Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. Many Joniphiles will recognize Joel Bernstein's cover photo as part of the series from which the cover art of Joni's classic Hejira is taken.

Joni's been a little more visible lately in the days leading up to the CD release. In addition to the CTV interview, she appeared at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club to give an Earth Day speech on the 22nd, telling the audience that to be a nature lover right now is to be in "terrible pain." Probably the most surprising recent Joni comment, though, comes to us courtesy of writer Nancy Alspaugh, who, in her new photo-essay book "Fearless Women" tells us Joni said that as far as lovers go, James Taylor "was the best. Just the best." I haven't seen the book, but the photos of Joni and others holding Camelot-style swords should be interesting as well.