Joni Mitchell Nears 70: Recalling Her First Decade
by Xaque Gruber
Though I remember being assigned to sing “I’ve looked at life from both sides now” in the third grade choir, it wasn’t until purchasing 1991’s Night Ride Home (on cassette!) when I fully jumped aboard the Joni Mitchell train. I’m proud to say I own every album she’s ever released — and I cherish them all. In fact, exploring her vast, varied, back catalogue — especially her 1970s output — is something I recommend to every music fan. Always uncompromising, Mitchell danced to her own drum from the beginning. Her first decade of releases seamlessly journeys from deeply personal folk into pop, jazz, blues, rock, funk, world music, and the avant garde — a musical evolution that must be heard to be believed. Fortunately, for both longtime fans and the uninitiated, Rhino has released Studio Albums 1968 – 1979, an affordable 10-disc set perfectly timed to coincide with Mitchell’s 70th birthday.
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