Just read an interesting book on the careers of Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell and Carole King called Girls like Us. it is not a well written biography, but very imformative in a 'summer read' kind of way. I was particularly interested in Carly Simon. I have come to really see her compositions as brilliant as I have gotten older-they were 'just pop tunes ' to me when I was a teen, but , man, she is so incredibly honest and the way she inflects words and just the incredible melodies....she was and has been underrated.
On the other hand, James Taylor, who I read was a heroin addict throughout their marriage, has been overrated. His jealousy toward her talent is revealed as well (his pathetic need to be the genius) as his pathetic parenting and the toll it must have taken on Simon to be married to an addict and his cold dismissal of her once she finally left him only helps me appreciate her more for what she was able to do under all that. James Taylor is one of those rich people who always pretends to be a poor folkie who is deeply sensitive (all the sweet baby james crap). He is a baby. Heroin addicts never stop-they change to methodone if their addiction is serious (which is true in his case) so they can function. The author didn't understand that-how drug addiction plays out. Taylor must still be a methodone addict, therefore, as it isn't something you get off, but use to control heroin cravings.
Funny the way he is seen compared to the reality.
Audrey really likes Carly Simon and I have really come to appreciate her more listening to her music again and reading what she went through.
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