Notes and Notions
  • Home
  • Blog

Joni Mitchell -- Big Yellow Taxi, Both Sides Now

1/25/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
I was nine when Joni Mitchell's recording of Big Yellow Taxi was published, on her Ladies of the Canyon album, 1970.  This album went gold, and also included Joni's hit song, "The Circle Game."    I don't remember ever hearing "Big Yellow Taxi" in my childhood or teens, but did hear it later on, when Christian contemporary singer Amy Grant put it on one of her albums.  This rollicking song appealed to me not just because of the fun sound, but also because the words were clever and gave a message to consider-- maybe we ought to stop and think about whether "progress" (i.e. building more concrete edifices and cemented public areas) is really progress.

I never knew the song was called "Big Yellow Taxi" though-- I always thought of it as "Paved Paradise, Put up a Parking Lot" because  that phrase in the song was so memorable.  So I was delighted to find this video with Joni Mitchell's original version of the song (which she wrote while living in Southern California and performing and interacting with other Southern Cali folk singers such as Crosby, Stills, Nash, The Mamas and Papas, and Jackson Browne).  "Retro Top 10" has put together a nice collection of photos in the video.

The first song I ever heard Joni Mitchell sing (also via video, and fairly recently) was "California," in which she sings and plays a dulcimer.  I was impressed by her amazing vocal range and fluidity, in this song.  It's very enjoyable to hear.  Here is a link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS52fO-0pTM

One song of hers that I was very familiar with when growing up, though I'd never heard her sing it, was "Both Sides Now."  We learned that song in music class in school; I remember enjoying its sweet lyrics and mellow sound.  It had been made a hit by Judy Collins, another folk singer of the '60's.  So even though I'd heard the Judy Collins version many times, I didn't know Joni Mitchell wrote it until just recently, when learning more about Joni.  The song itself is excellent-- no wonder Judy Collins wanted to sing it.  Judy's version was released in 1967 (Wildflowers album) and reached #8 on U.S. pop singles charts in 1968.  The next year this song won Judy a grammy for "best folk performance."

Joni Mitchell's own recording of the song was published in 1969, as part of her Clouds album.  Here she is, singing it in 1970:
Joni went on to experiment with jazz sounds, as well as some rock and pop.  She has recorded numerous albums, done extensive touring and other performing, and has received a total of 8 grammy awards in various categories, for her musical work.  She is also an accomplished visual artist and has been recently spending more time doing painting.  If you would like to see some of her paintings, there is a nice collection of them here, on Pinterest.

Do you have a favorite Joni Mitchell album or song?
2 Comments
Anjela
1/25/2015 11:10:11 pm

Hi Diane,

Thanks so much for sharing and hunting me down! Been listening to Joni since the 60s and adore her more now than ever before....Just got her boxed set for Christmas !!! Loving it.

Anjela

Reply
Diane Hurst link
1/26/2015 04:14:16 am

Awesome!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author - Diane Hurst
    I am a music lover and songwriter.  Some of my own music can be heard at www.dianehurstmusic.com

    Please subscribe to my 
    email list 
    for info about 
    new songs,
    new discoveries, 
    new adventures :)

      
         SUBSCRIBE HERE
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Bluegrass
    Christian Music
    Classical Music
    Electronic Music
    Folk Music
    Humor
    Instrumental Music
    Jazz
    Music For Children
    Pop Music
    Renaissance Music
    Soul Music
    World Music

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2022
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

Photos used under Creative Commons from douglasalisson, Gareth Lovering 1,000,004 views thank you, Waiting For The Word, Hobbes vs Boyle, Wolfgang Wildner, Mr.Sai, bengt-re, Menlo Innovations, ky_olsen, craiglea123, cb6379, cogdogblog, außerirdische sind gesund, gabriel "gab" pinto, liz_com1981, Waifer X, Jenn Durfey, kevin dooley, Edmund Garman, keepingtime_ca, Strocchi, cmatulewicz, 1950sUnlimited, mwilkie, spakattacks