Live at Carnegie Hall – 1969 explained

Live at Carnegie Hall – 1969
Type:	live
Artist:	Joni Mitchell
Cover:	Live at carnegie hall 1969 joni mitchell.jpg
Recorded:	February 1, 1969 (Carnegie Hall) February 14, 1969 (Zellerbach Hall)
Venue:	Carnegie Hall (New York City, New York) Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley, California)
Label:	Rhino Records
Prev Year:	2021
Next Title:	Blue Highlights
Next Year:	2022

Live at Carnegie Hall – 1969 is a live album by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on November 12, 2021, by Rhino Records.^[1] The album, which is the eighth overall release and the second live release of the Joni Mitchell Archives, features the storied, two-set recording that was captured at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall in 1969.^[2] This separate live album was pressed exclusively on vinyl, and serves as a companion to , the box set from which its material is derived.^[3]

Background and recording

Like its predecessor, Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971) contains a number of recordings from Mitchell's personal archive, including a two-set recording of Joni's debut performance at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York on February 1, 1969. Her sold-out performance at the venue was attended by Bob Dylan and Graham Nash, and earned rave reviews in the press; Fred Kirby wrote in Billboard that Mitchell had "charmed a packed Carnegie Hall audience on Saturday ... Miss Mitchell doesn’t merely sing a song, the fine folk artist effectively interprets her material. And what a lineup of material! Beginning with 'Chelsea Morning' and ending with a medley of ‘The Circle Game’ and the new ‘Little Green,’ the outstanding material flowed."^[4]

While discussing her career during the 1970s for Archives – Vol. 2, Joni recalled to Cameron Crowe about the night of her performance, specifically her experience with her parents and their thoughts about her garb of choice:

In the liner notes for the vinyl release, Graham Nash also recounted his then-partner's clothing for her performance:

Mitchell's father defended her after her mother made the rags comment, saying she looked like a "queen" in her outfit. She was thankful for his support and love, and said he "gave back [herself]".^[4] The design of the bald eagle found on the front of Joni's jacket from that evening is etched into the vinyl on the set's sixth side.^[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Discogs.

Performers

• Joni Mitchell – vocals; guitar

Production and recording

• Allison Boron – project assistance
• Tristan Calditaran – project assistance
• Sheryl Farber – project assistance
• Marcy Gensic – project assistance
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Mike Johnson – project assistance
• Joni Mitchell – reissue producer
• Tal Miller – project assistance
• Patrick Milligan – producer
• Susanne Savage – project assistance
• Mark Spector – project assistance

Design

• Joel Bernstein – photography
• Graham Nash – liner notes
• Doran Tyson – product manager
• Shannon Ward – packaging manager

Notes and References

1. Web site: Now Streaming: Live at Carnegie Hall, 1969 (3LP)) . jonimitchell.com . February 18, 2022.
2. Web site: Joni Mitchell’s 1969 Major Concert Debut at Carnegie Hall that was produced by famed folk music producer Harold Leventhal Released for First Time . Brakes. Rod . Guitar Player . August 21, 2021. February 18, 2022.
3. Web site: Joni Mitchell – Live at Carnegie Hall - 1969 . . Discogs . February 18, 2022.
4. Web site: Joni Mitchell’s 1969 Carnegie Hall debut to be released for first time . jonimitchell.com . March 10, 2022.
5. Web site: Joni Mitchell’s 1969 Carnegie Hall performance gets first release . Rugoff . Lazlo . . August 26, 2021. March 10, 2022.