Joni Mitchell

With some regularity in the publishing world either by sheer coincidence or confluence of forces in the cosmos several books on a particular topic will be published at about the same time. Right now, for instance, several books examining the life and work of Joni Mitchell are in the store. Having been a devotee since her first album in 1968, I've been particularly excited. The latest, by Michelle Mercer titled Will You Take Me As I Am, focuses on what she calls Mitchell's "Blue" Period, the work leading up to that seminal album through "For the Roses".

The details of Mitchell's personal as well as professional life (and also that of Carole King and Carly Simon) are chronicled in Shelia Weller's book Girls Like Us just out in paperback.

Finally, for those more interested in a more rigorous look at her music Lloyd Whitesell has written The Music of Joni Mitchell. For this book familiarity with music theory is assumed.