Joni Mitchell
Mark Bego
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Joni Mitchell
Mark Bego
Taylor Trade Publishing
Hardcover
320 pages
July 2005
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This is another one in the series of books written by Bego that includes his treatise on
Bonnie Raitt. This is another well-researched and informed look at one of the most important songwriters of all time.
The book covers Joni from all angles,
including
- Her affairs with members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Her music and songs
- Becoming a mother in her 50s
Mitchell was a unique voice and one of the first true singer/songwriters. Before she ever made it, various artists had covered her music, including Judy Collins and others. But when she released her first solo albums that included songs like "Michael From Mountains" (from her debut album) and "Chelsea Morning" and her own version of "Both Sides Now" (from her second release,
Clouds), she would be forever the main singer of her songs.
In his prologue, the author talks about his own career as a painter and being able to talk with Joni herself about painting and the like. He says that he wanted to be a painter first and foremost and only came to writing in a roundabout way. Like Joni, who started as a painter and then found her way into music, he says he felt a kinship with the Canadian songbird. He has included a painting he did of Joni...
No offense to Bego, but he made the right choice in opting for the printed word rather than the painted image.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Steven Rosen, 2009
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