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California (Joni Mitchell song)

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"California"
Single by Joni Mitchell
from the album Blue
B-side"A Case of You"
Released1971
Recorded1971
GenreFolk rock
Length3:48
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Joni Mitchell
Producer(s)Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell singles chronology
"Carey"
(1971) 		"California"
(1971) 		"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"
(1972)
Official audio
"California" on YouTube

"California" is a song written by Joni Mitchell that first appeared on her 1971 album Blue. It was also released as the second single from the album, as a follow-up to "Carey".

Background

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Mitchell described the song as a "letter back home". While on her travels in Europe, Mitchell wrote the first verse of the song in Paris, France, wrote the second verse in Spain, while longing for the creative climate she had experienced in California, where the last verse was completed.[1][2]

Composition and reviews

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In the song, she expresses the depth of her longing for California despite considering herself a member of the counterculture.[2] Like "Carey", "California" takes the form of a travelogue, and uses a stream of consciousness narrative technique.[3][4] Pitchfork critic Jessica Hopper describes both songs as "how-Joni-got-her-groove-back ditties".[5] The lyrics tell of her time in France, a trip she took to Spain, and an excursion to a Greek island.[3] At the end of each story in each location, she expresses her desire to be back in California.[3] The person that "Carey" was based on also appears in the second verse of "California".[6][7] According to author Larry David Smith, Mitchell uses the descriptions in "California" as a strategy to demonstrate "principles associated with the Earth Mother manifesto."[3]

"California" uses a verse-bridge structure.[6] James Taylor plays guitar,[2][4] Sneaky Pete Kleinow pedal steel guitar, Russ Kunkel drums and percussion.[4] According to singer Estrella Berosini, the recitative phrasing Mitchell uses on "California" was influenced by California singer Laura Allan.[4] According to Rolling Stone critic Timothy Crouse, the song "jumps along in quick bursts", but the refrain is "flowing" with tango elements.[8] Crouse praised the "subtlety" of the production, particularly "James Taylor's twitchy guitar and Russ Kunkel's superb, barely detectable high-hat and bass-pedal work."[8]

Critic Kim Ruehl called "California" one of the highlights of Blue, describing it as "personal and largely sentimental."[9] Cash Box said it was "within the basic framework of most of Joni's previous material except for a most unusual melody."[10] Record World said it was a "beauty" and had Mitchell's "distinctive, personal stamp on it."[11]

"California" was included on Mitchell's 1998 compilation album Hits[12] and on her self-chosen 2004 compilation album Dreamland.[13]

Covers and legacy

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American group Wilson Phillips covered the song as the title track to their 2004 studio album California.

Bob Dylan played Mitchell's recording on the "California" episode of Season 2 of his Theme Time Radio Hour show in 2007.[14]

"California" is quoted in the 2014 film Wild, in which Cheryl Strayed (as played by Reese Witherspoon) writes the line "Will you take me as I am?" in the Pacific Crest Trail register on day 9 of her journey.[15]

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Joni Mitchell - Live at the BBC Television Centre, London, UK / Sept. 3, 1970". BBC, via YouTube (citing Mitchell at 36 minutes 21 seconds). 3 September 1970. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Bego, M. (2005). Joni Mitchell. Taylor Trade Publications. pp. 86–89, 98–99. ISBN 9781589792210.
  3. ^ a b c d Smith, L.D. (2004). Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell and the Torch Song Tradition. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 48, 50. ISBN 9780275973926.
  4. ^ a b c d Weller, S. (2008). Girls Like Us. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416564775.
  5. ^ Hopper, J. (November 9, 2012). "Joni Mitchell The Studio Albums 1968-1979". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  6. ^ a b Whitesell, L. (2008). The Music of Joni Mitchell. Oxford University Press. pp. 90, 148–150. ISBN 9780199719099.
  7. ^ Marc Myers, "Joni Mitchell on the Muse Behind ‘Carey’", The Wall Street Journal, 11 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b Crouse, T. (January 21, 1997). "Blue". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  9. ^ Ruehl, K. "Joni Mitchell - Blue". About.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  10. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 23, 1971. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  11. ^ "Single Product" (PDF). Record World. October 23, 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  12. ^ Parisien, R. "Hits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  13. ^ Jurek, T. "Dreamland". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  14. ^ "Episode 54: California". Theme Time Radio Hour Archive. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  15. ^ "Joni Mitchell Library - Blue @ 50: Joni Mitchell's Music in Film: Film Experience, June 18, 2021". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
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