Without conscious intention on my part, this seems to be turning into Joni Mitchell week. (I suppose that was determined by the laws of physics weeks ago.) Well, one could do a lot worse. And Canadians will like the oblique reference to their national anthem.
Here’s the song that many consider her finest, from the “Blue” album (I couldn’t find a comparable live version):
This song shows what can be done with only a transcendent voice and three instrumentalist. The other player, besides Joni on dulcimer, are James Taylor on acoustic guitar (the other male of our time that could match her in singing, songwriting, and proficiency on his instrument), and Russ Kunkel on drums.
Encomiums (and covers) from The American Songwriter:
That respect from her performing peers is one of the reasons that Mitchell’s songs have been so often covered. Her website lists 211 different artists who have covered “A Case Of You,” ranging from the sublime (Prince) to the ridiculous (Frank Stallone.) Graham Nash, whose breakup with Mitchell is often cited as the inspiration for many of the songs on Blue, took a crack at it. Diana Krall’s solo piano take is a showstopper, and the song continues to inspire, as evidenced by James Blake, a rising star in Great Britain, doing a faithful version in 2011.
Still, not one of these covers beats the original. It all goes back to the honesty and fearlessness of Joni Mitchell’s performance of “A Case Of You,” which, when combined with the beauty of the song itself, is intoxicating in every way.
James Taylor on acoustic guitar (the other male of our time that could match her in singing, songwriting, and proficiency on his instrument)
As opposed to, for example, Paul Simon.
Or Bruce Cockburn
Or Jim Croce
Or Paul McCartney
Or Glenn Frye
Or Joe Walsh
Or John Denver
Or Arlo Guthrie
Or Dylan
Or Martin Sexton
Or Richard Thompson
Or Jackson Browne
Or Joao Gilberto
Or Niel Young
Or Stephen Stills
Or David Crosby
Or Graham Nash
Or Stan Rogers
Or John Fogarty
Or Norman Blake
Or Doc Watson
Or Ricky Skaggs
Or Lindsay Buckingham
Or David Bromberg
Or Tom Rush
Or Glen Campbell
Or Lyle Lovett
Or Guy Clark
Or Steve Earle
Or Michael Johnson
Or Chris Isaak
Or Amos Lee
Or John Mayer
Or Kelly Joe Phelps
Or John Sebastian
Or Warren Zevon
and I’ve hardly touched outside the US …
And I haven’t touched bluesmen …
While some songwriters have a narrower !*range*! they remain very good within their niche. I don’t know that versatility is the end-all benchmark of talent. Paul Simon in particular branched out a lot in later albums like Graceland. I still enjoy early Cat Stevens and early Donovan, though I wouldn’t call them versatile.
I think you’re missing Jerry’s point a bit: it’s the combination of songwriting, vocal ability and supreme instrumentalism that he’s referring to. A lot of the folk on your list qualify on one or two of the grounds but not all three.
McCartney, though, is another good example. I’d add Robin Williamson, although I doubt Jerry would agree about his singing! With the same caveat, I’d add Bob Dylan (from your list) and David Ackles; both excellent instrumentalists and songwriters, and as far as I’m concerned both by far the best at singing their own material.
And you missed my point.
I really like James Taylor; but the peak of guitar playing + song-writing? Really, compared to whom?
He’s not as good or prolific a player or song writer as Bruce Cockburn, just for one.
And Stephen Stills (and for him, add on producing and engineering as well).
Niel Young?
And as noted above my post, Paul Simon?
Richard Thompson?
Lindsay Buckingham? (he’s certainly sold as many records as James Taylor, if popularity is your measure)
Same for Glenn Frye – he’s every bit the guitarist Taylor is and he’s written a lot of good and high-selling songs.
Have you listened to Martin Sexton?
Maybe it comes down to taste; because many of those listed are of the same stature in both disciplines.
many of those listed are of the same stature in both disciplines
Who could argue? But Jerry was praising Taylor as someone who managed to be supreme in all three disciplines: (1) songwriter, (2) instrumentalist, (3) singer. You’ve listed lots of people who’re good at two of them, and if I started going through my vinyl I could produce a list several times longer of people who’re similarly qualified. Anyone can produce a long list of good songwriters.
But the reason I suggested Paul Simon as a counterexample is that (1) he’s a songwriter of very serious note (I don’t personally like everything he’s done, but I still can recognize its value), (2) he’s an extremely good singer and (3), although this tends to get ignored, he’s a quite extraordinarily proficient guitarist. In other words, he hits the trifecta.
Personally, I’ve never rated Taylor in any of the three disciplines. 🙂
… and in all three (and then some, as with Stills).
I would add Tim and Jeff Buckley.
You forgot Townes. He’d top my list.
Agreed, I would include him.
John Hiatt!
Totally agree!
This is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs. I can’t get enough of it. Diana Krall’s version is wonderful also. Damn. Gettin’ out all my old vinyl now . . .
“the other male of our time”
Should that not be “the ONLY male of our time”?
I love Joni Mitchell’s folk period. My University of Chicago WHPK radio show always began with “Chelsea Morning”.
Thanks again, Jerry. I don’t think we all have to get into any sort of ranking exercise regarding our generation’s singer/songwriters to agree that Joni was/is near the top. She is a poet who, to our good fortune, also took daring and creative chances with her other arts — singing and guitar-playing.
“A Case of You” has been recorded by at least two singers who mainly do 40s jazz standards and musical showtunes (Diana Krall and Jane Monheit) and at least one singer who is mainly country and western (k d lang – she’s also done some Leonard Cohen covers), which I find pretty impressive.
“You said I’m as constant as a Northern star-
constantly in the darkness, where’s that at?”
Man that is one of the greatest song lyrics ever.
She does a live version on Miles of Aisles. That record is superb all the way around. Highly recommended.
Agreed!
Top notch skeptic, witty sense of humour and, now, a Joni Mitchell fetish? I knew there was a reason I follow this blog….Keep up the great work.
All music that I love or have ever loved begins with “Blue”. I was a 10 year old when it was released, found it when I was 12, and listened to it about 500 times when I bought it around 13. The seminal album of my life.
OK, I am going to have to put Joni on my music downloads list. Last night I had a dream where at one point I was rummaging through a drawer and I came across my ancient cassette of Hejira. Must be a sign.
Just to fill in the blank:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85KVRg11Ys&feature=kp
Cheers,
b&
Wow!!!! I had never heard Diana’s version.
Very nice. I do like Joni better, but Diana obviously let that song become hers.
Diana Krall is one of the first recordings I reach for when testing my sound system. One of my favorites.
Another is Elaine Elias. If you like the genre, and haven’t already, give Elaine Elias Plays Jobim a listen. She only sings on a couple of tracks, but very nicely. She is a pianist and singing is secondary for her, but I really like her vocals on this album.
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Joni is a unique artist possessed of great song writing and singing and instrumental skills as you noted. I’ve loved her since 1970 when I was a freshman in college.
“A Case of You” is my favorite Joni song and “Blue” is my favorite of her albums.
Thanks for blogging about her!
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You might like to check out Johnny Mercer. Brilliant lyricist, wonderful singer and co-founder of Capitol Records.
“I couldn’t find a comparable live version.”
Well, perhaps not comparable, as it’s solo with dulcimer only, and yet still…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAsXMlkwXgs
I’m a longtime fan of Joni Mitchell–ever since I heard “Big Yellow Taxi” on the radio in the early 1970s. [But I have to say that for years I thought she sang “They pay very nice” when in fact she was singing “They paved Paradise!”]
In my opinion “Hejira” and “Blue” are her best albums, but each is different and there are no failures among them. Hejira of course features the late great Jaco Pastorius on several songs. One song in particular (without Pastorius) stands out for me: “Amelia”, a meditation on Amelia Earhardt that constantly vacillates between two keys and is shot through with atmospheric guitar and vibraphone effects done by Larry Carlton and Victor Feldman respectively.
I was out of touch with her for a while after “Hissing of Summer Lawns”, which represented for me a departure from what I was used to. I would like to hear that album again now that my tastes have “matured” (along with the rest of me!). Other favorites of mine are “Ladies of the Canyon” and “Miles of Aisles,” a live set from the 1970s. The latter was kind of panned by some critics, but I loved it and listened to it over and over.
Beautiful.
I find it interesting that a high percentage of our population simply can’t identify what is being evoked by the blue TV screen light.
I’ve listed my favourite albums and songs before, but I forgot my favourite DVD (okay, there are many): “Painting with Words”, a live performance by a 55 year old Joni Mitchell in 1998. I found bits of it on youtube and finally managed to find a copy on the Internet after trying local music stores in vain.
Here is her live performance of “Black Crow” from that DVD:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ex2JmqMjBsc
Dr. Coyne:
Love your taste in music — seems to be a lot like mine. Are you a Cat Stevens fan by any chance?
This song and album (Blue) is one of my favorites and always makes me wonder at the ability to write such a beautiful song. Some songs, and this is one, seem inevitable as though, not to denigrate the talent/effort involved, the writer didn’t so much create as “discover” the song. A lot of Carole King’s, an amazingly prolific songwriter, were like that, too.
You have “discover” in scare quotes. Because, of course, she discovers that music in her own brain, not “out there” to be picked up and passed on.
First of all, it probably takes a certain type of brain. For example, although I can appreciate good music (like Joni Mitchell’s) I am incapable of writing even a bad song. But it’s more than that. She has studied and learnt to write music and exposed herself to a wide range of musical styles on which to draw inspiration, she has infused her life with music.
So, yes, not only should we not denigrate her talent and effort, we should acknowledge it and celebrate it.
I think you missed my point. Wouldn’t be surprised to learn that’s a common experience for you.