Publisher Description

(Book). Joni Mitchell is one of the most celebrated artists of the last half-century, and her landmark 1971 album, Blue, is one of her most beloved and revered works. Generations of people have come of age listening to the album, inspired by the way it clarified their own difficult emotions. Critics and musicians admire the idiosyncratic virtuosity of its compositions. Will You Take Me as I Am the first book about Mitchell to include original interviews with her looks at Blue to explore the development of an extraordinary artist, the history of songwriting, and much more. In extensive conversations with Mitchell, Michelle Mercer heard firsthand about Mitchell's internal and external journeys as she composed the largely autobiographical albums of what Mercer calls her Blue Period, which lasted through the mid-1970s. Incorporating biography, memoir, reportage, criticism, and interviews into an illuminating narrative, Mercer moves beyond the "making of an album" genre to arrive at a new form of music writing.

Notes

Extensively researched, with an entire chapter on Joni Mitchell's favourite things! Includes previously unpublished photos and coda of her unedited commentary on the places, books, music, pastimes and philosophies she holds dear.

Author Biography

Michelle Mercer is a journalist and a regular contributor to National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Village Voice, Down Beat, and numerous other publications. She is the author of Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter.

Long Description

Joni Mitchell is one of the most celebrated artists of the last half-century and her landmark 1971 album EBlueE is one of her most beloved and revered works. Generations of people have come of age listening to the album inspired by the way it clarified their own difficult emotions. Critics and musicians admire the idiosyncratic virtuosity of its compositions. EWill You Take Me as I AmE a the first book about Mitchell to include original interviews with her a looks at EBlueE to explore the development of an extraordinary artist the history of songwriting and much more.THIn extensive conversations with Mitchell Michelle Mercer heard firsthand about Mitchell's internal and external journeys as she composed the largely autobiographical albums of what Mercer calls her Blue Period which lasted through the mid-1970s. Incorporating biography memoir reportage criticism and interviews into an illuminating narrative Mercer moves beyond the making of an album genre to arrive at a new form of music writing.

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