TIM CURRY - not at Joni's 75th Birthday - ALL I WANT...is youth and health

The good news was that the recent 75th Birthday tribute to Joni Mitchell actually included Joni Mitchell. The bad news...she was not quoted, and needed some help just standing on the stage to acknowledge the applause.

The usual suspects turn up to sing at events like this. James Taylor was there, with his familiar crooked and demented smile. But my favorite interpreter of Joni Mitchell was not on stage. Tim Curry's situation is slightly more difficult than Joni's. He can do interviews, sign photos for memorabilia appearances, and turn up at some events, but...he wasn't doing one of his tasty cover versions for the Joni show.

Yes, it's been a while since the 70's when Joni made arguably her best album ("Hissing of Summer Lawns" -- you'd expect a vote for "Blue" on this peculiar blog?) It's been almost as long since Tim Curry launched a solo career in the wake of his "Rocky Horror" fame, got a 3 album deal from A&M, and performed at The Old Waldorf.

Your download below, of "All I Really Want," comes from The Old Waldorf show. With his bombastic trombone-raucous voice, and campy sense of humor, he stomps all over what was originally a cutesy number strummed by an earnest folkie. I suppose for some, the real surprise in Tim's version is that he didn't nod to his "Sweet Transvestite" and keep the gender references in Joni's song.

When I interviewed him, back when the album was new,  he admitted that he changed "Rip my stockings (in some jukebox dive)" to "bop till I drop" to present himself as a solo artist and not a fictional character. I've interviewed stars who either stay in character, or ARE characters. Amanda Lear would be a vivid example. But Tim betrayed not a hint of flamboyance, and didn't even sport a Mick Jagger or Warren Beatty apricot nylon scarf. He was dressed conservatively in black slacks and a white shirt, with a skinny tie hanging undone around an open collar.

As for his interest in covering Bonnie Miss Mitchell (Bon Joni), Tim admitted, "I found a certain sense of self in her songs." His phrasing on the chorus of this song: "All I really really want our love to do, is to bring out the best in ME. And in you, too." But the red-blooded Tim changed "I want to knit you a sweater" to "I want a hand up your sweater."

While Jagger may yet go out on tour, and we are still seeing Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan attract huge crowds, time is passing. Paul Simon, Joan Baez, Elton John and KISS are all indicating that fans better see 'em NOW, because another tour is unlikely. And others...such as Joni and Tim, have not recorded albums in many years, and fans are just happy when they choose not to be totally reclusive.

Joni and Tim both have impressive credits that, more impressive, are still fresh and rewarding every time you experience them. Here's Tim, bringing out the best in himself…and entertaining you, too.

Tim Curry doing Joni Mitchell Live: All I Really Want