Hits

It’s telling that it took until 1996 for Joni Mitchell’s first greatest-hits album hit the market—with the provision that she be allowed to compile a companion album of Misses. The obvious songs are here—“Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock,” “Help Me,” “Free Man in Paris,” “River,” “Both Sides Now”—and the album features the first LP appearance of her 1967 version of “Urge for Going” (covered by Tom Rush on his excellent The Circle Game album), previously only a b-side. This is a quick summary that’s perfect for those raised on Top 40 radio of the ‘60s and ‘70s.