Joy of Cooking “Joy of Cooking”

I first heard of Joy of Cooking when I wrote about their second album a few years back. I had mentioned that the lyric sheet for this (their first) album was accidently in that one—but I didn’t have this record yet—which is very similar to their second (same year, I believe)—really good record! End of review! Now some notes: Same band, pretty much, and Toni Brown and Terry Garthwaite are the songwriters, and they both sing, play guitar and keyboards, kalimba, clarinet—two women with some serious musical chemistry going on. I also recently came across a Toni Brown solo record, and a Toni & Terry record called “Cross-Country”—recorded in Nashville—that’s very good (may the magic review chooser fall on it soon)! No one’s asking me to choose between these records, but I’d be torn. Little internet tells me that Joy of Cooking released a third album in ’72 (which I’ve yet to see, but now I’ll look for), and a fourth one that was never released.

I mentioned that the first record had a weird, uncompelling cover, but a great band picture on back. Same with this one! The cover looks like a photo taken with a primitive process—like a Campbell’s soup can pinhole camera using a fermented fungus emulsion—it shows maybe a stark landscape with a setting or rising sun—it’s nearly abstract—and there’s a barely visible, bizarre, graphic of some hippies dancing (reprinted, much larger, 14 times on the lyric sheet—it means something to someone!)—also, some lyrics—what are they to? I have to listen carefully—they’re some of the lyrics to the first song on the second side. I guess it’s kind of a relief that they have some connection to the record! Also, I guess, they join an exclusive club of bands who have song lyrics printed on the front album cover. It’s a very odd choice, especially since they could have just used the band picture that’s on back—which is excellent—they all look great—I mean, they’re an attractive group. There’s David Garthwaite (I believe Terry’s brother), and the two percussionists, Fritz Kasten and Ron Wilson who both have some serious hair and moustaches. Maybe their musical seriousness kept them from wanting to use this kind of surface beauty to sell records—so good for them.

There’s no song on this record that stands out like that absolutely killer one on their second record. (“Sometimes Like a River (Loving You)”—so you don’t have to go look up my last review!) But they’re all good—they all “cook” (can I say that?)—a lot of groove, a lot grooves, grooviness, a lot of percussion, spare but full production. Good lyrics, too, some serious feminist messages, so you might want to use that lyric sheet (I have two, if anyone needs one). One of my favorites is “Red Wine at Noon”—it’s maybe the record’s most melancholy, and a very heartfelt song. “Now I’ve got white wine in the morning sun/Red wine at noon.” That definitely evokes something—even out of context—but within the song, it breaks your heart. My next favorite song, I suppose, is one called “Too Late, But Not Forgotten”—it’s catchy, but also complex. I noticed that those two songs are the two that Toni Brown sings on—though, like I said, I like everything. But I wonder if she (Toni) is the more melancholy side, and Terry is the more up-tempo, rockin’ out side. Of course, that’s oversimplifying, because they both sing on most of the songs, everything’s melded, integrated—including the guys—Joy of Cooking is an apt band name. I’ll definitely look for that record I don’t have—I’m curious. I’ll also look for the one that’s never been released—but don’t expect I’ll have much luck, there.

2.14.25