'Girls Like Us' Review

I've finally made time to read a book about three remarkable women in music.  Actually it's a triple biography of Joni Mitchell, who I raved about on an earlier entry, Carly Simon, and Carole King. They are a tad older than me but still going strong.  Author Sheila Weller has the dirt on everyone and I read that Simon was embarrassed about reading of her past dalliances and indiscretions. . If Girls Like Us is candid on their sexual history, it's because these ladies grew up through the Sexual Revolution and Women's Liberation movements of the 60's and 70's and practiced it enough to influence their music. 

    Many year ago I knew somebody who knew somebody who knew Joni Mitchell and said she was 'a big whore' because she slept around with many famous people. That's an old unflattering term to describe her freewheeling lifestyle which provided plenty of material for her lyrics. This book also cites lyrics as autobiographical references for the other gals.  Plenty of gossip about the music business and former lovers & husbands will keep you glued.  These three ladies' lives crisscrossed in helping each other in recording studios as well as sharing lovers. Some of these men mentioned might not like how they come across as unsympathetic or with self-destructive addictions, but the book points out that these men did not give these ladies the kind of support they needed and were sometimes jealous of their talent and success.

    And what music they made and continue to make!  King's Tapestry is one of the all time bestselling albums and a must for any collection. And don't forget all the great songs she wrote with her first husband for other singers before becoming one.  Simon proved to be a good writer as well as performer but my favorite of the three is Mitchell. I'm proud to say I own every one her CDs and never tire of hearing them. How she explored new musical paths on each one is a neverending delight in relistening to them. I havr three of her DVD concerts and those too demonstrate her performing skills.

    Girls Like Us is more than a history of sexual awaking but a testament to the creativity and longevity of three similar but different careers. The best way to start to know them outside this book is get copies of their Greatest Hits. If you own these, this book is a good companion piece and reference guide.  There's enough history of their times that anchors their personal details and it's a trip down Memory Lane for us Oldsters.