Both Sides, Rich Paschall
Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
Judy Collins is still performing “Both Sides, Now.”
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
Judy Collins was the first to release the Joni Mitchell composition”Both Sides, Now” in 1967. The following year it was released as a single, climbed the charts and won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. It is a staple of Collins performances to this day.
In 1969 Joni Mitchell included the song on her album Clouds. It has since been recorded by a long list of big name artists. In 2000, Mitchell released a new recording with an orchestral arrangement. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named “Both Sides, Now” one of the top 500 Greatest Songs of all time.
The 1960’s era Collins record was a bit faster paced and more of a “pop tune” than the folksy performance shown above with the Boston Pops. It has been reported that Mitchell disliked the popular Collins hit single.
But now old friends they’re acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day.
“Both Sides, Now” by Joni Mitchell © 1967 Gandalf Publishing Co.
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Categories: Entertainment, lyrics, Music, Rich Paschall
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Reblogged this on rjptalk and commented:
Perhaps we should have said “Who Covered Whom?” Don’t skip the later version of the song at the bottom with Joni Mitchell performing with an orchestra. Be sure to click on “View original post” to head over to SERENDIPTY for some good music and a little background of this big hit.
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Joni Mitchell is a Canadian ( I think) . What a great singer and song writer!
Leslie
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Yes, she is a Canadian.
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So we stand proud of her, Rich.
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We do, Leslie.
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😀
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Leslie, she’s a marvel. I could listen to “Amazing Grace” all day and night long. She retains that purety and clarity with the high notes. Collins, Baez, Mitchell — bring back all those memories of another time when our world was young and we were going to make things right.
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I agree Garry those were the days, my friend.
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Indeed. Need to find that station on our Sirius radio.
“Amazin’ Grace………I was deaf, now I hearrrrr”
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Your are blessed with Amazing Grace, Garry.
😉
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Leslie, awwww! Thank you.
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😀
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And she did sing it on stage — at both the shows when we went to see her in Boston.
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She is touring now and is about to take a few weeks off then play some European dates next year. It looks like she is not slowing down.
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She’s done a lot of writing for television shows. Sometimes, she also sang. I could ALWAYS recognize her voice.
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And, WHAT a voice!
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Yes, it is very distinctive.
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I had all her early records and I think I played them until I wore out the grooves.
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Rich, what’s your favorite Judy Collins song/cover? Hard to choose. So many goodies. I probably would go with “Amazin’ Grace” — maybe a duet with Joan Baez.
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Send in the Clowns was particularly good. I liked Turn, Turn, Turn as well. Both Sides, Now would be the favorite.
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Judy Collins still has that voice — to die for. Loved concert we saw in Boston. The audience — our people – old, gray, white or no hair. Softly singing along with Judy — as the songs, memories and years rolled back.
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She can provide a lot of memories, especially with Both Sides, Now.
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Rich, you’re correct. Her voice, especially the high notes, still so mesmerizing.
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