Joni Mitchell - Carey

If you were to debate the greatest female singer from the modern era, then I would expect Joni Mitchell to be up there with Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin. For the best female songwriter I would envisage her to be vying with Carole King and Ellie Greenwich. So, the best female singer / songwriter has to be Joni.

 During a lengthy career, she spent many years exploring her love of jazz, but it is  her early acoustic early days that will be most fondly remembered.  In particular, "Blue" is a shockingly personal album, with confessional revelations about her loves, failed relationships (with James Taylor and Graham Nash) and even giving up a child for adoption. Nothing was hidden in one of the key albums of the 1970s, that still resonates today with all songwriters.

"California" and "Carey" were based on her European travels in 1970, after her break-up with Nash. She finally reached Matala in Crete, a quiet primitive small seaside town, where hippies had congregated in the caves.  

"Carey" is her literal account of her friendship with a young American, Cary Raditz (her adding of an "e" was a spelling mistake), a passionate redhead, who cooked at the Delfini's restaurant. They enjoyed their time together, eating, drinking, walking, and her composing new songs on her Appalachian dulcimer. For his 24th birthday, her gift was the first version of this tribute to him.

The opening "The wind is in from Africa"  has to be one of the most evocative openings, with her  poet's eye.  She has described him as a scoundrel ("you're a mean old Daddy"), but was obviously attracted, as she emphasises the repeated "I like you"s. But  Joni was no hippy or backpacker, she hated the grime and missed her creature comforts ("my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne").  Homesick, she knows she will depart soon, but wants to enjoy a final night out with Cary.

Like fellow Canadian Leonard Cohen's classics (such as "Chelsea Hotel"), it is a warm recollection of a brief carefree moment in time.

The recording captures the classic early Mitchell style, with a jaunty and easy upbeat simplicity. Her pristine soprano is simply stunning (great backing vocals too), and  I always love the sound of her dulcimer playing (there should be more dulcimer in modern music). Although James Taylor accompanied most of the "Blue" album, on this occasion Stephen Stills supplies the acoustic guitar and bass.

Joni Mitchell will never be able to shake off "Blue", a time capsule of a confessional from a heavenly voice.  "Carey" is a beautiful and tender highlight.

Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfZJ6sHeA6k

Hear Next -  "Blue" is always the entry point, but then progress to "Court and Spark".