Biography of Joni Mitchell

One of the most important artists to emerge from the singer/songwriter era of the early '70s. Mitchell first gained notice as a songwriter when her "Both Sides Now" was a hit by Judy Collins in 1968. That same year, Mitchell released her debut album, Joni Mitchell. It was followed by Clouds in 1969 and Ladies of the Canyon in 1970, the latter containing the much-covered songs "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock." Blue, her 1971 album, was her first to hit the Top 20 and has now sold over a million copies. For the Roses in 1972 was Mitchell's first gold album and included her first Top 40 hit, "You Turn Me on, I'm a Radio."Mitchell's 1974 album, Court and Spark, was a commercial breakthrough, producing two hit singles, selling a million copies, and being nominated for several Grammys. She followed it with a live album, Miles of Aisles, that duplicated its success. From the mid-'70s on, Mitchell's work became more complicated and less folk/pop-oriented. Hejira, for example, paired her acoustic guitar with the bass improvisations of Jaco Pastorious, and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter contained an impressionistic sidelong song. Her most experimental album was Mingus (1979), which found her setting lyrics to the last tunes written by jazz composer Charles Mingus, at his request. The live Shadows and Light (1980), recorded with jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, also leaned in this direction. Since 1982, Mitchell has adopted a slightly more accessible approach in a series of albums that take into consideration contemporary pop sounds. They have gained critical respect and sold moderately well. ~ William Ruhlmann