Joni Mitchell - Chelsea Morning (In Concert on BBC, 1970)

Emerging artist Joni Mitchell moved to New York City in 1967, and took up residence in the arty Chelsea district. She met Elliot Roberts in the fall and he began to manage her career, helping to open up the circuit for her in New York City.
While performing at a club in Florida, Joni met ex-Byrds member David Crosby, who was quite taken with her. David was a great help in convincing the record company to agree to let Joni record a solo acoustic album without all the folk-rock overdubs that were in vogue at the time.
His clout earned him a producer's credit in March 1968, when Reprise records released her debut album. She continued her steady touring to promote the LP, and that stimulus, in addition to the performers who were covering her songs and exposing her to bigger and bigger audiences as a major "songwriter," was causing a major buzz. At Elliot's suggestion, she moved to southern California late in 1967, and moved in with David, who became an enthusiastic promoter of Joni's and had her play at the homes of his Hollywood friends, where she got noticed by press and radio people, who in turn wrote and spoke of her talent.
She played the Troubadour in L.A., getting raves from the crowds and critics; she was also a big hit in London at the Royal Festival Hall in September, and at the Miami Pop Festival on the last weekend of 1968. Accompaning her at the fest was Hollies singer-songwriter Graham Nash, whom Joni had met through their mutual friend, David Crosby.
Also in December of '68, Judy Collins version of "Both Sides Now" peaked in the national music charts top ten, and brought Joni "lots of those little royalty pennies." This songwriting success helped create an eager anticipation for Joni's second LP, "Clouds", which was released in April '69. It contained Joni's own versions of songs already recorded and being performed by other artists; "Chelsea Morning,""Both Sides Now", and "Tin Angel."
Joni's concert at Carnegie Hall in February, and a later show in Berkeley, CA were recorded for a live album, but the project was shelved in favor of a third LP of original studio performances.
She made an appearance that summer on The Johnny Cash Show. The series was a U.S. summer replacement series that rated very highly on ABC-TV. Joni appeared 2 more times on Johnny's show, once more later in the first season, and once in 1971.
Joni toured as the opening act for her friends Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and while at the Atlantic City Pop Festival in August, she left the stage angrily due to the inattentiveness of the large crowd. She said she'd enjoyed the intimacy of the clubs and was now finding it difficult to concentrate and perform in front of huge crowds.
Reprise released Joni's third album, "Ladies Of The Canyon" soon after. It was an instant smash on FM radio, and sold briskly thru the summer and fall, eventually becoming Joni's first gold album (500,000 copies).
Reviewers and listeners began to note the confessional qualities in Joni's songs, and conjecture "who's that about?."
Joni made a decision to stop touring for a year and just live and write and paint, but after a few months she was persuaded to perform at the last minute at the Isle of Wight Festival. Held in August, this festival became a financial and logistical disaster, and the audience there had strong anti-performer feelings. When a stoned-out guy that Joni knew from her months in Crete jumped on stage and took over her mic ranting about how "Desolation Row is this festival...", he had to be dragged off stage. The crowd saw him as one of their own and booed his eviction until Joni chastised them tearfully about acting like tourists and not giving the performers the respect they deserved.
Joni struggled with a way to remain creative while dealing with the pressures of a career with a required touring schedule. The songs she wrote during the months she took off for travel & life experience would appear on her next album, "BLUE."
SOURCE: www.maplemusic....
PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads among multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948's oldies classics. LINK: tinyurl.com/Cha...

[@elainecubbins5333]

A musician, singer, painter, poet, and an adventurer. Love her always!

[@charlesmaeger9962]

+John and 1948, thank you for posting this. Days when beautiful poetry was put to music.

[@valpoore]

She was without equal...and such a wonderful song!

[@ethannoonoo]

~Is~ without equal :--)

[@stevelev]

just remarkable, such range and control, remarkable. i listen to her in awe, breathing so deeply, hardly breathing, so transcendent

[@artknight3683]

It is a bit frightening to know humans can be so beautiful and talented.

[@petergreen3122]

Beautiful voice and tremendous lyrics...Joni is a genius.

[@valerie.anderson9893]

Muscian and poet, so very, very talented. Angel.

[@ekquinn7059]

My idol for 50 years....💗

[@VickiFourie1]

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I heard Was a song outside my window, and the traffic wrote the words It came a-reeling up like Christmas bells and rapping up like pipes and drums Oh, won't you stay We'll put on the day And we'll wear it 'till the night comes Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I saw Was the sun through yellow curtains, and a rainbow on the wall Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you, crimson crystal beads to beckon Oh, won't you stay We'll put on the day There's a sun show every second Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today And the streets are paved with passersby And pigeons fly And papers lie Waiting to blow away Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I knew There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges, too And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses Oh, won't you stay We'll put on the day And we'll talk in present tenses When the curtain closes and the rainbow runs away I will bring you incense owls by night By candlelight By jewel-light If only you will stay Pretty baby, won't you Wake up, it's a Chelsea morning

[@frewofstew6304]

What a vivid song!

[@rubyred849]

I discovered her music living in Germany in the early 70's. She is still one of my favorites.

[@tuckasamms]

Joni Mitchell -sings the thinking man's thoughts. Just wonderful!

[@HarpHugger]

I would say "thinking woman's thoughts". But yes, wonderful.

[@sfbayareagirl]

Best lyrics ever

[@sullivansongz]

an intriguing mélange of genius, beauty and kookiness

[@drstevie]

Beautiful.

[@rheafoster7346]

wonderful singer, wonderful song

[@kermit3421]

Wonderful!

[@1969robe]

My favorite version .

[@stevoschannel4127]

Nearly 50 years ago...wow life really is short isn't it.

[@jesmarluk6635]

The best ever.

[@sfbayareagirl]

Since a child, one of my all-time favorite songs. Who writes lyrics like that?! Stunning.

[@ednafutz6606]

I had a blouse just like that! Just knew you'd love that bit of info......

[@ianthemod]

thanks for keeping us abreast

[@cherylcoyote]

edna futz Do you remember the designer? I'm obsessing about Holly Harp and BIBA these days.

[@Riley99]

It's not just the incredible voice she possesses that makes Joni's music some of the greatest of all time. She paints vivid pictures with the story in each song. That's what makes 99% of today's music insufferable. Lyric content of nothing but pure drivel.

[@davidedward2352]

I know she's only partly Canadian, but that makes me proud anyway!

[@wynnhorn9259]

She was born in Alberta, grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, moved to California after playing the folk circuit in Toronto.

[@davidedward2352]

Wynn Horn ....spent a long time in California too

[@florenceferraro7341]

You have to love this ! Will you help me find the tubing ?

[@mygoogleemail2063]

Now we know why Jenny wanted to be a folk singer.

[@wagner310586]

Lindo som

[@dannyadamson5580]

Vally P💜💜💜💜

[@stancarpenter7358]

I can't remember if Joni Mitchell ever PROTESTED at all. Something tells me she was much too busy playing her guitar and singing for very small crowds. 6/4/2020 "Little Stanley" absolutely reserves no Chelsea Hotel and/or Beacon Hotel and/or Trump Towers Hotel rights to anything concerning this KZbin.COM commentary presentation ...

[@4wk2ccna]

But Big Yellow Taxi though?

[@simeonbanner6204]

Bob Dylan's nasal voice and forced lyrics and pseudo borrowings no no. J M yes!

[@tyturlet5987]

vox