24 Essential Deep Cuts Every Joni Mitchell Fan Needs to Know
When we think of the folk musician Joni Mitchell, the first songs that come to mind are her biggest hits. “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now” continue to receive considerable airplay; each track has had several cover versions.
At age 80, Mitchell produced a moving rendition of “Both Sides Now” at the 2024 Grammys. The performance underlined her enduring quality while proving that there is much love for the artist in the recording industry.
While those are brilliant songs, Mitchell has a vast back catalog from a career that began in 1964, and many deep cuts are worth checking out.
1. Little Green
This track had an emotional message, but nobody knew that at release time. “Little Green” is from the 1971 album Blue, and it tells the story of Joni giving up her child for adoption. Her daughter’s existence wasn’t public knowledge until the mid-1990s, and this beautiful, hidden track takes on new meaning using the gift of hindsight.
The song is classic, stripped-back Joni Mitchell. An unaccompanied guitar intro quickly leads to a melancholy lyric that makes perfect sense when you understand the full story.
2. Urge for Going
Having a song reach number seven on the Country Charts is an achievement, but it’s not the definition of a hit. “Urge for Going” qualifies as a deep cut, even though dedicated Joni Mitchell fans will be familiar with this track. It covers a longing to be somewhere else, a feeling many of us identify with, and this 1965 release offers an early look at Joni’s beautiful lyrics.
3. I Had a King
The first tracks on any album are often forgotten. “I Had a King” is the opening song on Mitchell’s 1968 release Song to a Seagull, which most listeners will remember for the title tune. “I Had a King” sounds like a dreamy folk ballad, but it contains biting lyrics referencing the breakup of her marriage.
4. The Song About the Midway
Joni Mitchell’s turbulent relationship with David Crosby influenced several of her songs, and this is the finest example. From the 1969 album Clouds, “The Song About the Midway” features heartbreaking lyrics in Mitchell’s vulnerable folky voice. It’s a track that deserves more airtime, even though it relates to a difficult period in her life.
5. The Circle Game
While Joni Mitchell wrote this song, it took her a while to record her version. “The Circle Game” was initially released by Ian & Sylvia and Buffy Saint Marie in 1967. It’s one of her most covered songs, and her rendition gets lost among those many versions. It’s worth taking time to hear Joni Mitchell’s take on “The Circle Game,” which finally appeared on her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon.
6. Night in the City
Joni Mitchell was often critical of her debut album, Song to a Seagull, and the tracks that appeared on it. “Night in the City” appears over-produced by David Crosby, and it’s in contrast to the stripped-back style that made Mitchell such an iconic artist. It’s become a lost track, but it’s worth another listen as it’s one of her best upbeat tunes.
7. This Flight Tonight
When 1971’s album Blue came out, Joni Mitchell was at the peak of her powers. It’s full of emotional songs, but like all releases, some tracks are more memorable. The singles “Carey” and “California” stand out, but each track is beautiful, and “This Flight Tonight” is a classic Joni tale of regret and lost love.
8. Chelsea Morning
Different artists covered another track before Mitchell recorded it. “Chelsea Morning” is a joyful, upbeat tune. Many associate Joni with mournful songs, but that’s an unfair generalization, and this track proves her diverse songwriting talents. The Fairport Convention version is a stunning cover, but Mitchell’s 1969 tune is another hidden gem.
9. Day After Day
Joni Mitchell was still finding her way when she recorded “Day After Day” in 1965. The rarity of this track and Mitchell’s negativity towards some of her earlier work means that many casual Joni fans have yet to hear it. “Day After Day” is raw and lacks the polished nature of later releases, but it’s a beautiful tune that gives a glimpse of the brilliance set to follow.
10. The Gallery
Many of Joni Mitchell’s songs reference former lovers and failed relationships. “The Gallery” is an earlier release about Leonard Cohen and his paintings and love letters. It’s a deep-cut track from the album Clouds, although many fans feel it was good enough to be a single.
11. A Strange Boy
“A Strange Boy” is buried on Side One of Joni Mitchell’s 1976 album Hejira. It tells of a brief and seemingly passionate encounter with an airline steward. The man in question was a “Big Kid,” and this slow-burning tune deserves more recognition than it receives.
12. Twisted
It’s rare for Joni Mitchell to release a cover of another artist’s song. The covers that she has produced are overlooked, as fans prefer to hear another Joni original. “Twisted,” from 1974’s Court and Spark album, is one of the few exceptions. Initially composed by Wardell Gray and Annie Ross in 1953, Bette Midler released a version in 1973. Mitchell’s take on the song is an understated deep cut with an unusual theme that deserves more attention.
13. No Apologies
The 1998 album Taming the Tiger shows another departure, as Joni Mitchell embraces ambient music. The genre is a natural progression from 1960s folk, and it’s a seamless switch. “No Apologies” is my favorite track from the album, with its lap steel accompaniment and touching mournful lyrics.
14. Ethiopia
Most of Joni Mitchell’s work from the mid-1970s onwards could be “deep cuts.” For many, she’ll always be a 1960s and 1970s folk artist, and they forget her later work. “Ethiopia,” from the 1985 album Dog Eat Dog, shows that Mitchell could move with the times, as it includes classic synth-pop overtones. Beneath the music, the desire to sing about injustice remains, and this track criticizes aspects of the Ronald Reagan era.
15. Night Ride Home
It’s the title track of the album of the same name, but “Night Ride Home” is another later song that often gets overlooked. Many of Mitchell’s lyrics speak of complex love affairs, but this is pure romance from her marriage to Larry Klein. “Night Ride Home” features sweet words and contrasts the image of Joni Mitchell that many non-fans have conceived.
16. The Magdalene Laundries
A 1994 track from Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo, this track covers a far more sensitive subject. “The Magdalene Laundries” is based on a 1993 report that a mass grave had been found containing over 150 bodies of “fallen women.” The real-life Magdalene Laundries were asylums run by the Catholic Church, and this song is a heartbreaking tale of one incarcerated woman.
17. Turbulent Indigo
The title track of the Turbulent Indigo album is another lost classic. The release sees Joni Mitchell return to form, with veiled attacks on former relationships, but this song tackles a different theme. “Turbulent Indigo” refers to Joni’s love for the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and their share of vulnerability and complexity shines through in the lyrics.
18. Moon at the Window
When we think of Joni Mitchell, we immediately see an image of a singer and a guitar. Her backing musicians often lack credit for their work, and one of their finest moments arrives with 1982’s “Moon at the Window.” The track features husband Larry Klein on a rocking bass among talented musicians who bring a rich melody to this forgotten song.
19. Paprika Plains
From the quirkily-titled 1977 album Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, “Paprika Plains” is one of Joni Mitchell’s most significant departures. It’s a song incorporating jazz elements and features the brilliant Chaka Khan on backing vocals. As a result of those unusual influences, many Joni fans dislike this track, but it shows her ability to diversify and cover almost any genre.
20. Otis and Marlena
The original cover of Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter features Joni Mitchell as her black alter-ego. It’s an image that wouldn’t sit comfortably in the present day, and it’s another reason why we forget this album. “Otis and Marlena” is another tremendous lost track. This song is a back-to-basics classic Joni Mitchell tune in an album where the artist experiments extensively.
21. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
Two years after she experimented with jazz, Joni Mitchell fully embraced the concept with her 1979 album Mingus. The title is a reference to the jazz legend Charlie Mingus, and it’s another release that divides opinion among fans. Of the several deeper cuts, “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines” is a personal favorite, with Charlie Mingus’ arrangements helping Mitchell take her experiment to a whole new level.
22. In France, They Kiss on Main Street
The sole single from the 1975 album The Hissing of Summer Lawns may seem an odd choice as a deep cut. The release was, however, widely criticized in the music press. “In France, They Kiss on Main Street” was a flop, reaching number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Nostalgia can sometimes influence our opinion, but this is a great track looking back, featuring Graham Nash, James Taylor, and David Crosby on backing vocals.
23. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow
Another track from The Hissing of Summer Lawns, “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow,” is a story of a failed love affair. This time, Joni Mitchell takes a more aggressive stance toward her ex, departing from her whimsical takes on disastrous romance. It’s clever and different and not what you might expect from this artist.
24. Passion Play
As Joni Mitchell’s career progressed, her protest songs moved with the times. “Passion Play is a 1991 release focusing on the modern subject of pollution. More than thirty years after its release, the lyrics are still relevant, proving that Mitchell was a visionary and a brilliant musician.
