Joni at 23....

[fitness1]

Just plain magical - from a Sing Out episode.

I actually heard Tony Rice's version of this before Joni's back in '88 when Native American came out.

Good luck to the other guys on stage following that up!

[mercy]

Lovely woman, and voice. I remember being 23 and golden time. Its a shame what age does to us. We are told by ancient wise men to count our days cause we are all Eloi, marching toward the sound of the bell.

[ghostnote]

Such a great song. I first heard the fabulous Tom Rush record of it when I was a kid, and I’ve heard him do it live several times. He actually recorded it, and a few other Joni tunes, before Joni did, and he often tells a nice story about that before he sings it. The short version is that they used to play the same little place in Detroit when they were starting out, he heard her trying out her stuff and he was floored by it. He asked if he could record some of it and she agreed. A short while later she sent him “a new one I’m working on”, which was Urge For Going.
BTW, Tom still does a really excellent version of it, too - I heard him just a month ago.

[fitness1]

Here's a live version where he tells the story...



And Tony's version for those who haven't heard it...

[Silly Moustache]

Thank you Fitness (Todd?) , for reminding me of this song, of Joni, and of Tom.

Joni Mitchell's song and her playing it in the video that you shared was magical, (Look at the guys behind her - spellbound).

Also that song is great poetry, so skilfully constructed and so expressive in every way.

I first heard it by Tom Rush on an open stage, just one mic, and an Epiphone Texan, in 1966 or 1967, when Tom appeared at the Cambridge (UK) Folk Festival - world famous now, but not back then.

I was 19 or 20, and was seduced by a dark eyed beauty, who wanted to go to see ... just .. Tom Rush.

I was a long haired R&B drummer, and somewhat dismissive of "Folk" music. Until that day in July.

Tom Rush changed my direction, and he sang this song.
I bought the Circle Game album, and got myself a guitar.

That album introduced me to James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Joni.

I bought their albums, which introduced me to other fine singers, and songwriters, and my interest in being a drummer started to fade.

My first band, a Boy and his Dog played numbers by Love (Arthurlee) and some obscure British folk like Soft Machine, Kevin Ayers etc. but my interest was to American contemporary folk.

It defines our baby boomer generation for me, musically at least.

[mercy]

Tony was such a talented guy, both guitar and voice. As I write this it is 5:15 on the west coast, new years day. Hearing Tony reminds me to use this year for what is important beyond guitar.

[LiveMusic]

Thanks for posting, excellent.

[The Watchman]

I have the Tom Rush version on my iPhone. I had no idea this was a Joni song. Thanks for the info.

[SpruceTop]

Joni's performances have always been magical to me--such a pure and expressive voice. Thanks For Posting This Video!