Here’s an entire BBC concert by Joni Mitchell, filmed in September, 1970. I’ve always thought that BBC concerts were the best, as they will always live and without accompaniment. This one is 48 minutes long, and she had long career after this with some great albums (“Blue,” “For the Roses” and “Court and Spark”).
I have nothing to add to this music save to say that I think she’s the greatest combination of singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist of our time, and like most boys my age (I was 21), I was hopelessly in love with her. James Taylor, who also had a BBC concert that same year, rivals her on the male side for the trio of talents, but Joni has the overall edge.
Oh, and some of my favorite songs here are “Chelsea Morning” (at the start), “My Old Man” (16:47), “Woodstock” (25:10), “All I Want” (31:00, on the dulcimer), “All I Want” (31:45), “California” (36:45), and of course “Both Sides Now” (44:25)
Can you imagine being in the audience and hearing these songs for the first time?
The first comment is ineffably poignant:
I am at the end of my life, 68 years old and in hospice…dying with leukemia. I remember owning my first JONI MITCHELL album with clouds and Michael from mountains, Nathan la frenier, etc…. it changed my life and initiated my music career. I have lived lifetimes since then and changed careers several times. Now, resting on my couch, I listen to this old concert and remember how I felt when I was 13 years old and just hearing these songs for the very first time. at the time she was the older wiser woman whom I wanted to emulate…. now, watching this, she is dewy youth and I the rusk, ready to blow away on the wind with a song in my heart
Yesterday I watched part of an interview Howard Stern did with Cher. Fascinating. When Cher was very young she was living at David Geffen’s house and Joni was living there as well as David’s partner. The interview had lots of interesting tidbits.
I saw the interview. Well done 👏
She just received her lifetime achievement award from the Juno awards 👏. Joni Mitchell is one of Canada’s national treasures!
I had a girlfriend in those years who played Joni Mitchell incessantly. The music still brings back traumatic associations.. As for James Taylor, he wrote one song, x40.
Well, please don’t listen to the music, then. But I think you’re dead wrong about James Taylor. His greatest hits are below, and the only way you can say that they’re all the same song is to say that they are mostly ballads, feature the voice and guitar of Taylor, and are not hard rockers. That last remark is, in my view, uninformed:
Something In The Way She Moves
Carolina In My Mind
Fire and Rain
Sweet Baby James
Country Road
You’ve Got a Friend
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Walkin’ Man
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Mexico
Shower The People
Steamroller
I see an oops — “You’ve Got a Friend” was written by Carole King.
Yep, thanks!
As another boomer, agree w you on JM, JT and Paul Simon. I’d add a bunch more from Taylor, mostly later than his earlier hits, including a few that are less ballad-like and perhaps try to make a point (like “Mexico”): Sugar Trade, Only a Dream in Rio. When he came back from drug abuse, and rehab, he made the basic statement “That’s Why I’m Here.”
Would add: Her Town Too (beautiful harmonies)
Song For You Far Away
Lonesome Road (sung at John Belushi’s funeral IIRC?)
Copperline
You Can Close Your Eyes
Yellow and Rose
Jump Up Behind Me
Never Die Young
As for Paul Simon…the list is too long.
And I still think Dylan is the greatest lyricist.
I have several friends of Jerry’s generation who likewise rhapsodize about Joni—gay, straight, doesn’t matter! And they also hold James Taylor in esteem. I gather there was something in the air that never reached me when I was toddling about. I accept that it’s me, not them. I’ve tried! Truly. But I just can’t adjust to either of their voices.
But I love Dylan. Go figure.
Absolutely amazing. One has to wonder how occasional humans appear that have so much talent that they seem to float off the ground.
Lovely. Thank you.
Goin’ down to Yasgur’s farm….
I think a lot depends on the sort of music you prefer. Not to knock Mitchell or Taylor, but I think Paul Simon fills those three requirements better.
Yes, and he is an excellent contender! But there are not a lot of contenders–not a lot of people who can write great songs, is a great singer, and is a great instrumentalists. Consider Bob Dylan, for instance. He gets one of out the three, but one is enough to make him great. Im talking about those who excel in three categres.
But yes, Paul Simon is a contender. But not all great musicians are.
Agreed. I would also nominate Neil Young, one of Joni’s favorites, as were all of CSNY. In fact, if one looks at the cover of the CSNY album “So Far”, the sketch of the group was drawn by Joni, and it is very nicely done.
Neil plays multiple instruments, writes great songs, and has a distinctive voice—though no one could call him, a singer of the quality of Joni. But he is a fellow Canadian, eh.
I suppose Paul McCartney would also qualify. He’s quite an outstanding bass player.
How about Elton John? And really don’t forget Frank Zappa.
Neither excel in all three areas. Elton John was okay on piano, but not a great instrumentalist. Neither was Zappa, whose voice was mediocre and who left behind no great songs.
Zappa did however excel at musically-complex smart-arsed satire. Remember “Discorporate”? I do (earworm happening now).
Dylan gets 2/3 surely – he’s great at using his voice (putting aside the patchy 1980s). Others – Tom Waits springs to mind, and a shout out to Joe Henry for being the best contemporary singer songwriter imo
That’s a lovely story. I’m a fan of music of that era, predictably, as a GenXer.
D.A.
NYC 🗽
I have watched that BBC concert many times over the last few years, and every time I am flabbergasted by the beauty of these songs of hers. The writing, the singing, and the playing are all incredible.
This will be my second post. While it’s not Joni related, I think readers might find Jack Antonoff’s analysis of the Beatles’ Happiness is a Warm Gun and conclusion that it’s the greatest recording ever made fascinating to watch.
And yes, Joni is the best of the best.
https://youtu.be/SEeAbMxYW44