Joni Mitchell - Blue
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Joni Mitchell’s 1971’s LP Blue, regarded by most critics as a masterpiece and consistently is listed on best of lists of the greatest albums ever made.
A bit of a sea change for Mitchell, incorporating jazz stylings in both her phrasing and the music, it’s sparse on instrumentation, yet the songs feel full largely due to Mitchell's own vocals.
Created just after her breakup with Graham Nash and during her relationship with James Taylor, Blue explores the various facets of relationships from love, to insecurity, to disappointment, and contains some of the most poignant and personal lyrics ever composed.
No recommendation for this episode.
While in high school, Joni wanted a guitar, but her mother believed she wouldn’t stick with it, so refused to purchase one for her. So on the day she wisdom teeth were pulled, she, bought this $36 baritone ukulele with money she had saved. That’s the instrument she performed on early on.
Joni sings Me and My Uncle, written by John Phillips On the Oscar Brandt show in 1965.
Joni Mitchell performs at The Bitter End in New York City in 1968
Joni Mitchel at the Newport Folk Festival.
Joni and her husband, Chuck Mitchell.
Joni signs her first record contract with Reprise Records in 1967.
Pictured (L to R) Elliot Roberts (her manager), Joni, David Crosby, h and Mo Ostin (Warner Bros. executive).
Joni appeared on the the first episode of The Johnny Cash Show in June of 1969. She performed The Long Black Veil with Johnny Cash on the show.
Here’s Joni from her performance at Carnegie Hall.
Graham Nash and Joni.
Joni did not perform at Woodstock because she was performing on The Dick Cavett Show the next day. Contrary to what we said on the episode, Joni was joined on the show by Stephen Stills (not Graham Nash) and Davis Crosby, fresh from their performance at Woodstock.
In August of 1970, Joni is persuaded to perform at the Isle of Wight Festival.
During Joni’s performance at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, a man named “Yogi Joe” jumped up on stage to and started ranting and had to be physically dragged off.
After the incident, Joni chastises the crowd regarding their attitude lack of respect for the pedometers.
Below is a clip of her performing “Woodstock” at the same festival.
James Taylor and Joni toured and performed together prior to her recording Blue.
Joni wrote many of the songs on Blue on the dulcimer. Here she is performing “All I Want” and “California” on the dulcimer from a BBC In Concert recorded in October of 1970.
John Sebastian, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell and David Crosby perform at the Big Sur Folk Festival in September of 1969.
