Skate Away On a River

There is just something about Joni Mitchell's music that draws me. A while back I was crushed to learn she had "retired" from recording new music. Crushed. My entire adult life has been lived with Joni Mitchell backgrounds.

So, now I hear that there is an album to be released this Spring, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell. Here's a track list I dredged up from the 'net:

• Sufjan Stevens - ‘Free Man In Paris’
• Bjork - ‘The Boho Dance’
• Caetano Veloso - ‘Dreamland’
• Brad Mehldau - ‘Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow’
• Cassandra Wilson - ‘For The Roses’
• Prince - ‘A Case Of You’
• Sarah McLachlan - ‘Blue’
• Annie Lennox - ‘Ladies Of The Canyon’
• Emmylou Harris - ‘Magdalene Laundries’
• Elvis Costello - ‘Edith And The Kingpin’
• k.d. Lang - ‘Help Me’
• James Taylor - ‘River’

But, I just saw/heard Joni's River sung by Sarah McLaughlan. Wow. She sold me. I have been grieving Joni's retirement, but now am heartened that there is talent out there to carry her songs. I'm not at all certain that I want to hear James Taylor sing River, when the likes of Ms. McLaughlan can out sing him while standing on her head. Ah well. There was already a compilation of tunes for Joni a couple of years ago, wasn't there? I'll dig it out of my collection soon...

Here's the YouTube recording of Sarah McLaughlan singing Joni Mitchell's River. If you are a Joni Mitchell enthusiast (and even if you're not), I think you'll agree that she does a fine job of it.