Ferndale Library Recommends: Ed Spins Joni Mitchell Three Ways

"... ‘soul’ genre not of top interest here, and suggest priority consideration be given to ‘soft rock’, ‘blues/rock’, or ‘country rock’,”
– cable sent by the United States embassy in Moscow to the State Department that was among diplomatic communications (1973-1976) posted by WikiLeaks

Apparently the Soviets really dug Joni Mitchell. 

When's the last time you took a listen to this pioneer of late '60s/early '70s folk music? 

Thanks to Head Reference Librarian Ed Burns, I've got "Big Yellow Taxi" stuck in my head. Mitchell, among the most influential and innovative recording artists of the 20th century, infused a jazzy verve to her poignant, pop-inclined ballads. Her voice was a balance of cathartic rasp and a lullabies sigh. And it turns out Ed's quite a fan. 

Ed revisits his high school days, recalling with reverence and nostalgia the days when he first came upon the sublime, melancholic music of Mitchell. 

Read on for recommendations of specific tracks from his favorite Mitchell albums as well as his take on a recently published biography. 

Blue
by Joni Mitchell
(CD Mitchell)

The album Blue was released in 1971. I started listening to Mitchell in 1974 when I was a junior in high school and she came out with Court and Spark. I purchased it and subsequent albums, but never went back and listened to her older music. When I bought my first CD player, I joined a CD club to jump start my collection. Naturally I ordered Court and Spark, but the club accidentally sent me Blue. I decided to go ahead and listen to it, and I continue to listen to it. Personal favorites are the melancholy River and the uncharacteristically upbeat Carey.

Both Sides Now
by Joni Mitchell
(CD Mitchell)

Both Sides Now was released in 2000. It contains Mitchell’s renditions of some standards as well as reboots of some of her own older songs. Her voice, now seasoned by decades of drinking and smoking, is perfect for traditional chanteuse numbers like At Last and Stormy Weather. Listen to the fresh, young Mitchell sing A Case of You on Blue, then listen to the older and wiser Mitchell’s interpretation on Both Sides Now. The contrast is hauntingly poignant. And, check out the self-portrait on the CD cover. What a talent.

Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell's Blue Period
by Michelle Mercer
(782.421 M)
Will You Take Me as I Am is part biography, part thesis and part fan love letter. Before reading it, I knew some tidbits about Mitchell’s life, but not a lot. It was interesting and illuminating to learn so much about her. Sometimes I’d be reading about particular incidents or what she was going through at different times, and I’d think, oh yeah ... that’s in this or that song. That was fun.

If you’re a Joni Mitchell fan too, visit her official website: jonimitchell.com.

Ferndale Patch thanks Jeff Milo for contributing to Patch! Check back soon for more ideas from library staff. Are you looking for recommendations on something specific? Email leslie.ellis@patch.com, and we'll pass on your questions to the library.