Joni Mitchell : Both Sides Now

A real treat to hear her in such top form. Almost as good as =Court and Spark=. (Maybe better).
- John S Rodriguez, 08/14/2000, USA

Full title is: Both Sides Now

Length: 51:29

  Andrew Crowley - Trumpet
  Andrew Findon - Flute
  Anthony Pike - Bass, Clarinet
  Anthony Pleeth - Cello, Celli
  Ben Cruft - Violin
  Bill Benham - Viola
  Bruce White - Viola
  Cathy Thompson - Violin
  Chris Laurence - Bass
  Chris Tombling - Violin
  Chuck Berghofer - Bass
  Dave Arch - Piano
  Dave Woodcock - Violin
  David Daniels - Cello, Celli
  Derek Watkins - Trumpet
  Dermot Crehan - Violin
  Donald McVay - Viola
  Everton Nelson - Violin
  Frank Ricotti - Percussion
  Frank Schaefer - Cello
  Gavin McNaughton - Bassoon
  Gavyn Wright - Violin
  Gerard Presencer - Trumpet
  Godfrey Salmon - Violin
  Helen Keen - Flute
  Helen Liebmann - Cello, Celli
  Herbie Hancock - Piano
  Ivo Jan Vanderwerff - Viola
  J. Neil Sidwell - Trombone
  Jackie Shave - Violin
  Jamie Talbot - Clarinet, Flute, Flute (Alto), Sax (Alto)
  Jim McLeod - Violin
  John Anderson - Oboe
  John Barclay - Trumpet
  John Pigneguy - Horn
  Jonathan Strange - Violin
  Julian Leaper - Violin
  Julie Andrews - Bassoon
  Kate Wilkinson - Viola
  Katherine Shave - Violin
  Maciej Rakowski - Violin
  Mark Isham - Trumpet
  Martin Loveday - Cello, Celli
  Mary Scully - Bass
  Michael McMenemy - Violin
  Mike Brittain - Bass
  Mike Thompson - Horn
  Nigel Black - Horn
  Patrick Kiernan - Violin
  Paul Gardham - Horn
  Paul Kegg - Cello, Celli
  Perry Mason - Violin
  Perry Montague-Mason - Violin
  Pete Beachill - Trombone
  Peter Davies - Trombone
  Peter Erskine - Drums
  Peter Lale - Viola
  Peter Oxer - Violin
  Philip Eastop - Horn
  Philip Todd - Clarinet, Flute, Flute (Alto)
  Rebecca Hirsch - Violin
  Richard Edwards - Trombone
  Richard Henry - Trombone (Bass)
  Richard Skinner - Bassoon, Contrabassoon
  Richard Watkins - Horn
  Rita Manning - Violin
  Roger Garland - Violin
  Skaila Kanga - Harp
  Stan Sulzmann - Clarinet, Flute
  Steve Sidwell - Trumpet
  Susan Bohling - Oboe, Cor Anglais
  Tony Lewis - Cello, Celli
  Vaughan Armon - Violin
  Wayne Shorter - Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Ex-husband Larry Klein, who serves as co-producer and musical director, explains in his liner notes that Joni Mitchell intended to tell the story of a 'modern' romantic relationship in the songs, most of which come from the '30s and '40s. If so, her concept of a modern relationship is very troubled -- most of the selections are unhappy love songs. Vince Mendoza's arrangements -- a third of them played by a gigantic 71-piece orchestra, a third by a regular-size orchestra, and a third by a swing-style big band -- often suggest the oceanic sweep and serious, melancholy tone of film noir movie music. They also do a lot of Mitchell's work for her. As a singer, she has never had much projection or power, but she is a master of phrasing and tone. Mitchell often sounds like an alternate Billie Holiday, with the breathiness and note decay characteristic of later Holiday, if none of her delayed timing. Both Sides Now is not revelatory in a musical sense, but it does achieve its intention of reconceiving Joni Mitchell as an interpretive singer. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide