Joni Mitchell

One of the first female performers in modern rock to achieve both critical recognition and commercial success, Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell lines up among music’s most singular figures. Several of her early, reputation-building songs, in particular Woodstock and Big Yellow Taxi, rank among the era-defining works of the late 60s, while her intensely personal fourth album, Blue, from 1971 (described as one of “the turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music” by The New York Times) is still arguably the pinnacle of singer-songwriter albums.

A lesser artist might ease up after such an accolade, but Mitchell has rarely rested upon her laurels during her stellar, six-decade career. Enshrining her legend as one of the best songwriters in music, with further 70s classics such as Hejira and the best-selling Court And Spark, her exploits have since encompassed everything from collaborating with jazz legends such as Wayne Shorter and Charles Mingus to making electronica-based albums (Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm) and orchestrated reworkings of her back catalogue (Both Sides Now). Her influence is truly immense: Prince was a fan, and even Madonna admitted to Rolling Stone that “Joni Mitchell had the most profound effect on me”.