Album of the Day

With CLOUDS, Joni Mitchell realized the promise of her debut to deliver a near-masterpiece. By the time of the Reprise collection's 1969 release, the singer-songwriter's work was being popularized by such artists as Judy Collins and Fairport Convention, but Mitchell's versions of “Chelsea Morning,” “I Don't Know Where I Stand” and the classic “Both Sides Now” (from which the album draws its name) have an unadorned beauty that's as distinctive as their famous covers. Though Stephen Stills contributes some backing instrumentation, Mitchell's playing and singing command the spotlight, coloring these ten originals with unusual chords and phrasing while remaining accessible. A Best Folk Performance Grammy winner, CLOUDS stands among Joni Mitchell's very best, and we'll give it another spin today to celebrate her birthday.