River

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Oh, I wish I had a river

I could skate away on 

From Joni Mitchell's 1971 album Blue.  This is the fourth cut THC has featured from it over the years.  That voice, her sense of melody, the arrangements and unusual tunings.  An unmatched combination.  The album also contains her Peak Joni song, A Case of You.

Try A Little Tenderness

Composed by three English songwriters, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M Woods in 1932, first recorded by the Ray Noble Orchestra before Bing Crosby made it a hit the following year, and twice recorded by Frank Sinatra, it is Otis Redding's 1966 recording that is the definitive interpretation.

Produced by Isaac Hayes and backed by Booker T & the MGs, along with the Stax house horn section.

Otis was one of the greatest of soul singers and this is one of his best efforts.  He pays attention to every phrase, word, and syllable.  It may seem a strange connection but it reminds me of Joni Mitchell's vocal on A Case Of You where she differentiates her phrasing throughout the song to appropriately reflect the content of the lyrics.

And the arrangement is splendid.  Every little musical touch is perfect.  Pay attention to the little guitar riffs, keyboard touches, and horn flourishes.  They all fit.

This video gives a taste of Otis performing the song.  It's from his breakout performance at Monterrey Pop in July 1967.  The first part is the audio over video of concert goers but he appears in the last minute.

Song For Sharon

It seems we all live so close to that line

And so far from satisfaction

Joni Mitchell, from a 1983 concert, a much harder rocking version than that on Hejira, the 1977 album on which it first appeared.

Urge For Going

Imagine in 1966 tuning into a sedate, somewhat corny, Canadian folk music show and hearing a young woman you've never heard of sing this song.  In that context Joni Mitchell must have sounded like a being from another planet.  It was only in 1968 that she would record her first album.  The older gentleman introduced at the beginning is Jimmy Driftwood, who composed Tennessee Stud and the Battle of New Orleans.

All I Want

Joni Mitchell from Blue album (1970).

Amelia

I was driving across the burning desert
When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
it was the strings of my guitar
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

Joni Mitchell from 1976. 

A Case Of You

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

Joni Mitchell live.  From the album Blue (1971).  I can't find words.

Down To You

Beauty from Joni Mitchell.  The voice, melody, and arrangement work together seamlessly.  Down To You is one of her lesser known tunes but I think it one of her finest.  Worth listening to all five minutes.  She is singing about herself.  From the 1974 album Court & Spark.

Rainy Night House

What a voice and melody!  Listen to the unexpected twist in the second verse. And the arrangement on this live 1974 version backed up by Tom Scott and the LA Express is far superior to the album version.  I thought the lyrics were ridiculous even back then, but the sound of the words and phrases is just right.   Joni Mitchell, Rainy Night House.

Blue

Enough of this new music THC has recently posted - let's go back to 1970 for some California angst from Joni Mitchell.  From Joni's finest album of the same name.