Joni Mitchell — California

Sublime don't you think?

A Case of you - Joni Mitchell

3 marvellous versions

Just before our love got lost you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar

On the back of a carton coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice

Joni Mitchell and others

Both Sides now
She has been singing gorgeous music for over 40 years - and I like her paintings. I like Clouds too


Dr John and Rickie Lee Jones
This is another favourite of mine, which is Joni'ish


Neil Young
She collaborated with csny for ages


James Taylor & Carly Simon - Close Your Eyes
I think Mud Slide Slim was my 3rd Cassette


I just need an excuse to post some favourite tracks.

Herbie Hancock

The progressive jazz pianist and composer.

He appears here onstage at the Grammy awards with Stevie Wonder, Howard Jones, and Thomas Dolby, in a famous synthesizer jam



His 2007 tribute album, "River: The Joni Letters" won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album to win the award. This is a fantastic album!
1. Court And Spark 7:35 with Norah Jones
2. Edith And The Kingpin 6:32 with Tina Turner
3. Both Sides Now 7:38 Instumental
4. River 5:25 Corinne Bailey-Rae
5. Sweet Bird 8:15
6. The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms) 6:33
7. Solitude 5:42
8. Amelia 7:26
9. Nefertiti 7:29
10. The Jungle Line 5:00 with Leonard Cohen

The Jungle Line - H. Hancock, L. Cohen, Joni Mitchell

New York Jungle I (The Jungle Line - H. Hancock & L. Cohen)


Herbie Hancock and Leonard Cohen from the superb 2007 tribute album, "River: The Joni Letters" which won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album to win the award. This is a fantastic album!

Safaris to the heart of all that jazz
Through I bars and girders-through wires and pipes
The mathematic circuits of the modern nights
Through huts, through Harlem, through jails and gospel pews
Through the class on Park and the trash on Vine
Through Europe and the deep deep heart of Dixie blue
Through savage progress cuts the jungle line

In a low-cut blouse she brings the beer
Rousseau paints a jungle flower behind her ear
Those cannibals-of shuck and jive
They'll eat a working girl like her alive
With his hard-edged eye and his steady hand
He paints the cellar full of ferns and orchid vines
And he hangs a moon above a five-piece band
He hangs it up above the jungle line

The jungle line, the jungle line
Screaming in a ritual of sound and time
Floating, drifting on the air-conditioned wind
And drooling for a taste of something smuggled in
Pretty women funneled through valves and smoke
Coy and bitchy, wild and fine
And charging elephants and chanting slaving boats
Charging, chanting down the jungle line

There's a poppy wreath on a soldier's tomb
There's a poppy snake in a dressing room
Poppy poison-poppy tourniquet
It slithers away on brass like mouthpiece spit
And metal skin and ivory birds
Go steaming up to Rousseau's vines
They go steaming up to Brooklyn Bridge
Steaming, steaming, steaming up the jungle line

River: The Joni Letters

Travel makes one a better person

I've been to California a couple of times - LA I can take or leave, Hollywood a bit tacky for my taste. Santa Monica and Venice brill - Yosemite, San Francisco excellent.
"L.A. Woman"-The Doors, Carolina in My Mind"-James Taylor

Been to Egypt a couple of times, cruising down the Nile. The Egyptians are such nice people - seeing Karnak and all the other temples puts everything else into perspective. Cairo is a 24 hour city and so full of contradictions - 21st century alongside medieval.

I went down the Canadian Rockies a year ago - brilliant. The people are everything they are supposed to be - so friendly, food is brilliant, the wildlife is extraordinary. The scenery is stunning as are the trees.
Canada (by Joni Mitchell)

Our heart really lies in Greece - been many, many times.
The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks - Eagles

Been to Morocco - Marrakesh Express-Crosby, Stills and Nash - excellent seafood, Fez and the Atlas Mountains brilliant.

Barcelona - Queen. Gaudi architecture good, I've taken kids walking down the Ramblas.
Spanish Moon (Little Feat)

LONDON calling by the Clash - not been in years!

Been to Cuba a couple of times. Havana is wonderful.
Cuba--Gibson Bros.
Cuban Crisis - Atlanta Rhythm Section

France - Grateful Dead