New Bio of Joni Mitchell

[pherank]

There's a new biography available, Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell, as talked about in this excellent article in the New Yorker:

 

Joni Mitchell’s Openhearted Heroism
By Dan Chiasson
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/joni-mitchells-openhearted-heroism

"She was born Roberta Joan Anderson in 1943. Like many pop musicians, she suffered a childhood of utter tedium, a bright star against the faint backdrop of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On the airwaves, she heard “Mantovani, country and western, a lot of radio journalism,” and, once a day for an hour, “The Hit Parade.” A soulful girl, she watched the trains approach and depart, or pored over the Sears catalogue. (She called it “the book of dreams.”) When Mitchell was eight, she contracted polio and was quarantined, for several months, in a hospital close to home. Her mother came to see her once, on Christmas; her father never did. Polio patients were told to keep perfectly still—it was believed that any movement might cause the disease to spread—so she spent the time alone and on her back. When she was released, her left hand was damaged (it would make conventional guitar playing difficult for her, and led her to experiment with her own, idiosyncratic tunings) and she had lost the speed in her legs. But, she said, she “came back a dancer.”

If you can't access the New Yorker article, it is also published on Mitchell's website:
http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=3756

 

Use the Amazon search box on the Ballet Alert homepage to search for the book!

[dirac]

Thanks for posting, pherank. Sorry to hear that Mitchell has been in poor health.

[KarenAG]

Loved this. I have always loved Joni Mitchell's music - amazing, glass-like, poetic lyrics, vocals unlike any other and wild, gorgeous tunes- what an artist! I, too, am sad that Ms Mitchell is not in good health. Thank you for posting this, Pherenk. 

Edited November 4, 2017 by KarenAG
clarity

[dirac]

A neat clip of Mitchell singing "Coyote" at Gordon Lightfoot's house.

 

 

[pherank]

Thanks Dirac - I believe that's from the Rolling Thunder Revue movie, which is out on Netflix or Amazon Prime...

[dirac]

Yes, it is from the movie. Not sure if I will get around to seeing it. I think it's Netflix. Have you seen it yet?

[pherank]

3 hours ago, dirac said:

Yes, it is from the movie. Not sure if I will get around to seeing it. I think it's Netflix. Have you seen it yet?

I watched some, not all.  ;)

As much as I admire the music, watching drunk/stoned/whatever musicians jibber-jabber isn't that interesting for me. I've spent enough time around touring musicians to know that the backstage club world is not glamorous, but mostly interminably boring and ugly.

In some ways, it works best to just watch the music highlights on YouTube!

Edited August 23, 2019 by pherank

[Buddy]

Since it's the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, Pherank, let's go at it somewhat differently. Here's two of her songs. If you want to skip the technical stuff, which might be quite interesting to some, move on to 9:50 after the first song. I just fell into this and haven't watched it completely so I hope that it ends on a high. Enjoy.

Edited August 24, 2019 by Buddy

[pherank]

3 hours ago, Buddy said:

Since it's the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, Pherank, let's go at it somewhat differently. Here's two of her songs. If you want to skip the technical stuff, which might be quite interesting to some, move on to 9:50 after the first song. I just fell into this and haven't watched it completely so I hope that it ends on a high. Enjoy.

Thanks Buddy - I've seen that one previously: I've watched a number of "Fil from Wings of Pegasus" analysis videos over the past year or two. They're pretty entertaining. (I also recommend Rick Beato's song analysis videos as well, as he has a great personality and lots of musical knowledge and experience).

There's some early Joni Anderson (Mitchell) Folk TV performances on Canadian TV that are great. It's immediately noticeable what a rare bird she was in comparison to the other folkies and their "good time" renditions of traditional songs. Her song writing style was remarkably developed in that early period.

Urge for Going (1966):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLu2-gG68S0

All the performances beginning in 1965:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abtBjHVAe08

[Buddy]

3 hours ago, pherank said:

Thanks Buddy - I've seen that one previously: I've watched a number of "Fil from Wings of Pegasus" analysis videos over the past year or two. They're pretty entertaining. (I also recommend Rick Beato's song analysis videos as well, as he has a great personality and lots of musical knowledge and experience).

There's some early Joni Anderson (Mitchell) Folk TV performances on Canadian TV that are great. It's immediately noticeable what a rare bird she was in comparison to the other folkies and their "good time" renditions of traditional songs. Her song writing style was remarkably developed in that early period.

Urge for Going (1966):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLu2-gG68S0

All the performances beginning in 1965:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abtBjHVAe08

Thanks so much, Pherank. Although I’ve listened to a lot of her music I don’t recall ever seeing her perform even on video until today. She’s quite magical in these. I didn’t know that she wrote "Urge for Going" which is a classic.

Interestingly, the one song that she isn’t performing that is shown here is the Youngblood’s “Get Together,” which went on to become perhaps the hippie ‘national anthem.’ I believe that I mentioned at the Bruce Springsteen topic that the two post-Beatles albums that touched me the most were her “Blue” and Paul Simon’s “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.” I guess that I wasn’t alone because I read later that “Blue” is the top selling female vocal album ever. Rolling Stone magazine had her on the cover in its next addition.

[pherank]

1 hour ago, Buddy said:

Thanks so much, Pherank. Although I’ve listened to a lot of her music I don’t recall ever seeing her perform even on video until today. She’s quite magical in these. I didn’t know that she wrote "Urge for Going" which is a classic.

Interestingly, the one song that she isn’t performing that is shown here is the Youngblood’s “Get Together,” which went on to become perhaps the hippie ‘national anthem.’ I believe that I mentioned at the Bruce Springsteen topic that the two post-Beatles albums that touched me the most were her “Blue” and Paul Simon’s “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.” I guess that I wasn’t alone because I read later that “Blue” is the top selling female vocal album ever. Rolling Stone magazine had her on the cover in its next addition.

Blue is often considered to be a classic of the singer-songwriter genre. I would also choose Hejira for its classic sound and memorable lyrics - a true sonic masterpiece (the song Coyote in the video above was on Hejira). A bit off topic, but if you can appreciate  Joni Mitchell then you can likely appreciate the great Sandy Denny (or any of the early Fairport Convention music):

Sandy Denny - Solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zVeqcz5X3g

Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeZL2FXkGqI

Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention - Farewell Farewell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8_eFRZP1uQ

Denny came to prominence at an amazing time - she one of a whole group of great British folk-rock singers, such as Maddy Prior, Jacqui McShee, Judy Dyble, June Tabor and others…

 

[Buddy]

13 hours ago, pherank said:

Blue is often considered to be a classic of the singer-songwriter genre. I would also choose Hejira for its classic sound and memorable lyrics - a true sonic masterpiece (the song Coyote in the video above was on Hejira). A bit off topic, but if you can appreciate  Joni Mitchell then you can likely appreciate the great Sandy Denny (or any of the early Fairport Convention music):

Sandy Denny - Solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zVeqcz5X3g

Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeZL2FXkGqI

Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention - Farewell Farewell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8_eFRZP1uQ

Denny came to prominence at an amazing time - she one of a whole group of great British folk-rock singers, such as Maddy Prior, Jacqui McShee, Judy Dyble, June Tabor and others…

 

Thanks again, Pherank, for these video clips. I did have one or two of the Fairport Convention albums and liked them very much.

I’ve watched the Joni Mitchell one that you posted several times. It and she continue to be magical. As the host says, “…she writes them beautifully and she sings them beautifully and she looks beautifully  at the camera too.” She was at a beautiful age with a modestly all-embracing presence and an understated high intelligence. And of course she had compassion.

Since this is a ballet forum I’ll make a comparison to video clips of the young Galina Ulanova. And I just took a look at Oxana Skorik’s most recent “The Swan” performance. Both what she does and what Joni Mitchell does may be different universes but both have their own immense beauty.

Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” album, along with Paul Simon’s “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon,” for me, had an overall uplifting quality that I found most welcome.

[pherank]

Mitchell was hugely influential on these female musicians and definitely inspired many a girl to try writing her own material. One of the more talented imitators:

Shelagh McDonald - City Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSVc8cq_As

Remember this one? For years the only version of Mitchell's "Eastern Rain" anyone knew was recorded by Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ1nlWHQTf4
 

Edited August 25, 2019 by pherank

[Buddy]

3 hours ago, pherank said:

Mitchell was hugely influential on these female musicians and definitely inspired many a girl to try writing her own material. One of the more talented imitators:

Shelagh McDonald - City Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSVc8cq_As

Remember this one? For years the only version of Mitchell's "Eastern Rain" anyone knew was recorded by Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ1nlWHQTf4
 

I’m loving these memories, Pherank, keep them going !

I’d like to look into these other singers, as I know very little about them except for Sandy Denny, and maybe get back to them later.

Let me go in another direction once more for a moment. It’s about Woodstock. I was there. I thought it was quite wonderful and still do. I highly recommend the new PBS documentary. It focuses on the good will that dominated everything.

Since it’s the 50th Anniversary I’ve been searching the internet for photos. Interestingly, it’s ones of Joni Mitchell that, of all the stars associated, most represent my memories and feelings. I know that she wasn’t there, much to her regret I’m sure as she was almost there and she did write the song. I’m not even sure that she would have been one of my favorite performers but seeing pictures of her and watching the video that you posted she looks to be the ideal Woodstock person.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Buddy
last sentence addd to and grammar correction

[pherank]

Lucky you, Buddy. Mitchell kind of made up for her absence at Woodstock by appearing on the Dick Cavett show around the same time (her manager had booked her for the Cavett show thinking that would be more important than having her appear at the festival):
The sitting around and talking part:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-yzV5gKvGg

Mitchell's performances on that show were first rate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zEi7uJxP68

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHhQpAelto
 

As far as the British female musicians I mentioned that all owe a debt to Mitchell...

Maddy Prior and Steeleye Span perform Weill and Brecht's "The Black Freighter":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIIUmw0LN_w


Jacqui McShee and Pentangle perform Light Flight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itjFfz079f8


Judy Dyble with Giles, Giles & Fripp (birth of the band King Crimson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqXh5s4t4k

Judy Dyble with original Fairport Convention lineup (pre-Sandy Denny)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXgvNZdzYNw


June Tabor - Hughie Graeme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lQD_oy5ko0

June Tabor - A Place Called England
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-gchaUT6Ac

June Tabor and Maddy Prior - The Grey Funnel Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHOokpi9hUw


Annie Halsam with Renaissance - Northern Lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIEqdXpG5Pg


Another admired singer of the classic rock/folk era:
Anne Briggs - Go Your Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS81zHrOB74

 

EDIT: I almost forgot about Linda Thompson…yikes!
 

Richard and Linda Thompson - A Heart Needs A Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqViJyweNV0

Richard and Linda Thompson - Withered and Died
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-HNSJoo7M

Linda Thompson - Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNYsoqYazl0

Edited August 25, 2019 by pherank

[Buddy]

2 hours ago, pherank said:

Lucky you, Buddy. Mitchell kind of made up for her absence at Woodstock by appearing on the Dick Cavett show around the same time (her manager had booked her for the Cavett show thinking that would be more important than having her appear at the festival):
The sitting around and talking part:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-yzV5gKvGg

Mitchell's performances on that show were first rate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zEi7uJxP68

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHhQpAelto
 

As far as the British female musicians I mentioned that all owe a debt to Mitchell...
 

Thanks once more, Pherank. I’ll try to listen to the other singers when I get chance. Watching these new video clips just reinforces my high opinion of Joni Mitchell. Even the few words that she got in during the discussion made her more precious. Her performances were excellent.

The reason that I wrote that if Joni Mitchell had appeared at Woodstock she still might not have been among my favorites is that her lilting poetry might have had a hard time registering in front of an audience of half a million and among such high energy performers as Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Yet Crosby, Stills and Nash, who appeared at the end just before Jimi Hendrix, were among my favorites with their new on the scene delicate harmonies. Also Richie Havens who acoustically opened the Festival was one of my favorites, so who knows. When she sang “Chelsea Morning” on the Dick Cavette Show with her bit of brilliant scat-like singing at the end she just might have won me over. Even Grace Slick (boy did I have a crush on her back then) got up and applauded.

 

 

Edited August 26, 2019 by Buddy
Janis Joplin's name added

[dirac]

Mitchell could have accompanied her gentleman friend of the time, Graham Nash, but wisely stayed home to do press. I am reminded for no special reason that a few years ago Nash dumped his wife of four decades for a lady half his age who looks rather like Joni in her youth. Mitchell dumped him by telegram, bless her heart.

[Buddy]

Thanks, Dirac, for this added insight. I only know a few of the facts in Joni Mitchell’s life, but she certainly could be beautiful and she could write things like this….

“I was born to take the highway

I was born to chase a dream”

[Kathleen O'Connell]

On 8/25/2019 at 4:36 PM, pherank said:

Mitchell was hugely influential on these female musicians and definitely inspired many a girl to try writing her own material. One of the more talented imitators:

Shelagh McDonald - City Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSVc8cq_As

Remember this one? For years the only version of Mitchell's "Eastern Rain" anyone knew was recorded by Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ1nlWHQTf4
 

While I'm not sure I'd claim that Mitchell was a huge influence on his music, Prince was most definitely a fan.  

[dirac]

On 8/26/2019 at 1:35 PM, Buddy said:

Thanks, Dirac, for this added insight. I only know a few of the facts in Joni Mitchell’s life, but she certainly could be beautiful and she could write things like this….

“I was born to take the highway

I was born to chase a dream”

You might check out the new bio, Buddy, if you're curious. The author is a bit of a fanboy but it has been an interesting life and unique career.

[pherank]

27 minutes ago, Kathleen O'Connell said:

While I'm not sure I'd claim that Mitchell was a huge influence on his music, Prince was most definitely a fan.  

A great example, Kathleen - "influence" can mean a great many things, and doesn't have to result in an artist being a clone or "light/junior" version of the original artist. All artists absorb many, many influences over the course of their lives, and those influences may impact personality, techniques used, the kind of people one spends time with, hobbies and side interests, anything.

[Kathleen O'Connell]

8 minutes ago, pherank said:

A great example, Kathleen - "influence" can mean a great many things, and doesn't have to result in an artist being a clone or "light/junior" version of the original artist. All artists absorb many, many influences over the course of their lives, and those influences may impact personality, techniques used, the kind of people one spends time with, hobbies and side interests, anything.

Prince was apparently very taken with Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns, which, upon reflection, makes absolute sense. If ever there were a Mitchell album that was going to tickle all the right Purple brain cells, The Hissing of Summer Lawns is surely the one.

Edited August 28, 2019 by Kathleen O'Connell

[Buddy]

16 hours ago, dirac said:

You might check out the new bio, Buddy, if you're curious. The author is a bit of a fanboy but it has been an interesting life and unique career.

Thanks, Dirac.

And thanks, Kathleen, for mentioning a Prince connection. Things like this are always very nice and interesting to know.

When I briefly talked about ballet, it makes me think about dance’s most beautiful moments. It’s something that we maybe wanted to dream about back then. What Joni Mitchell in her song “Woodstock” refers to as “the garden.”

Her lyric from her song “Born to Take The Highway,” — “I was born to chase a dream” — reminds me of a t-shirt that I saw on a little child a few years ago that said — “I Was Born To Love.”

Edited August 29, 2019 by Buddy

[Buddy]

In regard to the book, I’m rather happy at the moment to live with my dream-images of the young  Joni Mitchell. She was lovingly perceptive and during her comments that I’ve come across in the video clips — an absolute sweetheart. Sometimes I can guess at (or have read elsewhere) whom she’s singing about. Apparently the “For The Roses” album had a lot to do with James Taylor. There’s an extremely lovely duet audio, easily found on the internet, of them singing “The Circle Game” in London, 1970.

Once again, since this is a ballet/dance forum I can let my imagination go somewhat and find charming comparisons with the very young Bolshoi star, Alyona Kovalyova. I’m sure that we all can make equally favorite comparisons with many other young, angel-like, ‘artist/geniuses.’     

Edited August 30, 2019 by Buddy