Once regarded as the singer-songwriter’s singer-songwriter, Mitchell’s influence seems to have faded in recent years, presumably down to nothing more than the passage of time.
This comprehensive 17-track compilation provides another chance to catch up with the hugely influential Canadian songstress’ repertoire, which stretches back to the late sixties when she emerged as a distinctive voice on the folk scene. Early hits such as ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ and ‘Both Sides Now’ showcase her distinctive guitar style and fragile singing but most of all they reveal a gift for penning complex, emotionally charged songs.
The best material comes from her groundbreaking 1971 album Blue, acknowledged as her masterpiece. Selections include autobiographical vignettes such as ‘Carey’, ‘You Turn Me On I’m A Radio’ and ‘California’. The equally regarded Court And Spark is represented by ‘Free Man In Paris’ and ‘Help Me’.
Elsewhere, Mitchell explores a more impressionistic jazz groove on songs like ‘Amelia’, ‘In France They Kiss On Main Street’ and ‘Furry Sings The Blues’. Notable by their absence, however, are era defining songs such as the oft covered ‘Woodstock’ and ‘This Flight Tonight’ (a hit for Scottish outfit Nazareth), but there’s more than enough here to offer a satisfying overview of a major talent.