Frank Lawton

Why Joni Mitchell sounded different from the start

Polio in childhood weakened her left hand, leaving her to devise alternative tuning, surprising phrasing and ‘chords of inquiry’ that hang like question marks in the air

Joni Mitchell in 1968. [Getty Images]
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  • Travelling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell

    Ann Powers

    HarperCollins, pp. 480, £25

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