Happy Birthday, dear Joni!

Happy Birthday to a child who’s moved 74 times ’round the seasons, skated o’er plenty clear frozen streams – and, as she’s circled, given us music of profound truth and beauty. Joni Mitchell, the great artist born on this date in Fort Macleod, Alberta – salut!

From Joni’s “Blue” album – in tribute, compatriot Allison Crowe with “River”:

"Famous Blue Raincoat" mash-up

Concluding “Heavy Graces”, the audio album, and the music-movie mash-up series that accompanies Allison Crowe’s newest release – is this second version of “Famous Blue Raincoat”.

The song’s composer, Leonard Cohen, says, it reflects on the "tyranny" of possession -- of the kind that enslaves us as women and men.

Impressionistic visuals come from director Josef von Sternberg’s 1930/31 film "The Blue Angel" ("Der blaue Engel"). Experience this classic movie in full @ http://archive.org/details/theblueangel1930

Famous Blue Raincoat (choral) - Allison Crowe (Heavy Graces)

"Famous Blue Raincoat", its composer, Leonard Cohen, says, reflects on the "tyranny" of possession -- of the kind that enslaves us as women and men.

It's territory covered here by musician Allison Crowe. (Crowe's previously celebrated the Cohen songbook via renowned interpretations of "Hallelujah", "Joan of Arc" and other tunes from the master songsmith.)

Impressionistic visual accompaniment comes via film scenes from "The Blue Angel" ("Der blaue Engel" first released in Europe in 1930 saw its full North American release the following year.)

This choral rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic is the first of two versions recorded by Allison Crowe for her album "Heavy Graces".

Oh Canada... Cut the Cake

When she's not cooking up music, Allison Crowe is baking rainbow cakes, tossing salads, knitting helmets and all manner of things. Celebrating her secret life is a new blog - "7 Thumbs Up". Dig in, and dig it ( :


To accompany all the good food and bonhomie, we've selected a vintage song performance - in fact, "A Case of You". According to legend, this Joni Mitchell song, (originally on her "Blue" album), references the relationship of Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, two quintessential Canadian singer-songwriters.

Saluting this, July 1, Canada Day, here's Allison's interpretation (from her "This Little Bird" album).