Song for a Sunday

I’ve been discovering Joni Mitchell properly over the past couple of days – better late than never, eh? – and wondered which songs y’all might suggest…

This one is justifiably famous, and completely beautiful: Both Sides Now.

21 thoughts on “Song for a Sunday

  • March 10, 2013 at 12:49 am
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    I'd recommend anything off Ladies of the Canyon. It is my favourite of her albums, though, of her later work, I also really, really love Turbulent Indigo.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 7:51 am
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    Better late than never indeed. The whole album from whence this come — Blue — is wonderful.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 8:57 am
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    Amelia & Coyote from Hejira
    Boho Dance & Harry's House/Centerpiece from Hissing of Summer Lawns
    Paprika Plains from Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
    The Wolf that lives in Lindsey from Mingus

    I very much love her jazz influenced pieces, miuch more that her early folk-rooted songs. She has a wonderful voice and is a great writer of lyrics. Listen out for some fantastic musicians that she has played with on her albums.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 11:06 am
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    'Ladies of the Canyon'; 'Clouds'; and especially 'Blue'. In fact you can't go wrong with any of her albums. I am of the generation who grew up with Joni Mitchell and her contempories which is still my favourite period of music. So welcome to the club Simon.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 11:12 am
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    I grew up with Joni Mitchell too. Here is a link to a clip of one of her very early ones Big Yellow Taxi. She has certainly changed a lot over the years but as always still very good.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 11:47 am
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    With regard to DP's comment about Mitchell's jazz material, I'm sure I recall a reviewer on Radio 4's Front Row suggesting that singers from other genres often turn to jazz/swing when they can no longer reach the notes: a bit harsh! I like great songs with fine sentiments from whatever genre, and Both Sides Now is one such song. Thanks for sharing.

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  • March 10, 2013 at 12:58 pm
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    Blue is one of my all-time favourite albums. I used to play it incessantly when I was a teenager, and learned every song. I still think Joni Mitchell is a genius! Enjoy!

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  • March 10, 2013 at 3:58 pm
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    Thanks for posting this. I am an old fan of hers, ever since I first heard "Both Sides Now" back in about 1968. I love many of her songs; owned her first album. I don't even remember the name of the song I want to mention, but it was on that album, and one of the lines is "She's so busy being free." I loved that song.

    Best wishes from Anne

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    • March 10, 2013 at 5:08 pm
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      Your lyrical fragment is from the song "Cactus Tree" which is the last track on her first album "Song to a Seagull".

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  • March 10, 2013 at 4:16 pm
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    Wow. This one brought back a lot of memories. Haven't heard her in years – not sure why? Thanks for the reminder. :)

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  • March 10, 2013 at 7:35 pm
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    A case of you – perfect for singing along to, as long as you've had a few glasses of vino!
    Or, The Last Time I Saw Richard – just love the line
    . Richard got married to a figure skater And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator …
    the woman is a genius and you are in for a real treat.
    brought2book.blogspot.com

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  • March 11, 2013 at 1:57 pm
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    Like many others, I loved Blue, but I think a good intro might be her live double album, Miles of Aisles, which contains many of her best songs from her first five albums.

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  • March 11, 2013 at 11:40 pm
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    She is a wonder.

    My favorite lyric (the imagery is wonderful):
    "songs are like tattoos
    You know I've been to sea before
    Crown and anchor me
    Or let me sail away"

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  • March 13, 2013 at 2:27 am
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    There is poignant scene in the movie Love Actually in which Alan Rickman gives Emma Thompson this cd as a Christmas present. Emma's character is expecting a lovely necklace she found while snooping in Rickman's pocket. While Both Sides Now is playing, we see the necklace around the neck of his secretary and Emma crying in the bedroom trying to regain her composure. It is a real tearjerker!

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  • March 13, 2013 at 2:29 pm
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    Emmy favourite album is 'Hejira' but 'Blue' is held to be her best

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  • March 20, 2013 at 7:13 pm
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    Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I have now got Blue, and am much enjoying it.

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  • March 29, 2013 at 12:17 am
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    "Don't it always seem to go —
    you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone…"

    The Hissing of Summer Lawns
    and
    Court and spark

    and — see the film, "The Last Waltz" — a concert by The Band with guest singers: Joni Mitchell does a number in that, & all the other performances are terrific, too. I saw it 5 times when it came out: it changed my perspective….

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  • March 29, 2013 at 4:16 am
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    Listened to her relentlessly in college back in the day. She stands the test of time because of her genius with music, lyrics, the whole works. Try anything from her Hejira album. Glad you're enjoying her.

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