I first listened to Joni Mitchell in the late 1980s. I was one of those nerdy kids who--even though it was already late in its history--read Rolling Stone like the Bible. Every month I would devour its reviews and articles and try to broaden my horizons. It was through Rolling Stone that I first learned of the very brilliant Laurie Anderson, the very gay Communards, and the very revered Joni Mitchell. And not only was it late in the development of Rolling Stone, but it was late in the development of Joni Mitchell. The first review of hers I read was of Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm, (3 out of RS's 5 stars). I was intrigued, bought it, liked it, and assumed I knew Joni Mitchell.

A year or so later, at the suggestion of a friend, I bought Blue, which dates from 1971. Well, I clearly had not properly known Joni Mitchell--in fact, one could say I didn't know songwriting at all before that. [Let's just say right now: if you don't know and love Blue, you head over to , and buy it right now. Best $9.90 you'll spend this year.]

From there I bought more and more and have been a Joni devotee ever since. The evidence of her genius is everywhere in the recordings. On Blue, listen to how she slows down at the end of Carey when she says "You're a mean old Daddy but you'-re out-ta s-i-ght...." On Court & Spark she puts God himself on death row and waxes poetic about the intersection of booze and sex (a couple of times). Her voice, bright and high on her early albums, starts to settle into a husky mid-range sometime around 1976 then deepens like dusk by the time the late 80s roll around. She covers a lot of musical ground--folk, country, piano ballads, pure pop, jazz, art song, world music, and easy listening. And throughout that she gives Dylan and Lennon a run for their money for the era's best songwriting.

My favorites? Well, the entire Blue album, but Carey and The Last Time I Saw Richard are my favorites. And others: Rainy Night House, You Turn Me On I'm a Radio, People's Parties, Down to You, Song for Sharon, Dog Eat Dog, Lakota. And you might call it a guilty pleasure, but let's not forget If I Could, her terrific duet with Seal. (Sorry, had to).

When I was working at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, during the height of my obsession with Blue, my boss Jan rolled her eyes at me when she heard me singing, and asked, "When are you going to get over music from 20 years ago?!" Never, I replied. She challenged me to a bet: a hundred of her dollars says I won't be listening to Joni Mitchell 20 years from then (1991). I accepted the bet. Jan, if you're out there, it's been 15 years, and I look forward to finding you in 2011 to collect my winnings.

And I'm not the only one. Seems out in TV Land they recently showed a star-studded tribute to Joni. Carter sent me a link to the video below, and I have since found a bootleg recording of it--Cyndi Lauper singing a slow-burn Carey. Here it is for a limited time, just for you:

MP3: Carey

Updated on 4/25/06 to add:
I'm in the office and I'm playing a big Joni mix on my iPod. The Last Time I Saw Richard just played, and I thought, how could I possibly say any other Joni song is my favorite?! It's simply amazing. The lyrics are so freakin' great--take a look:

The Last Time I Saw Richard
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh he said you think you're immune
Go look at your eyes they're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies pretty lies
When you gonna realise they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies just pretty lies

He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said "Drink up now it's gettin' on time to close"
"Richard, you haven't really changed" I said
It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You got tombs in your eyes but the songs you punched are dreaming
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet Love so sweet

Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
I don't want nobody comin' over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes, dark cafes
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings and fly away
Only a phase these dark cafe days

Copyright © 1970; Joni Mitchell

Why don't you leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite Joni tracks are?