Rock 'n' Roll's Leading Lady

• Share

(7 of 7)

The young girl with the grocery list of lovers and the rock star torn 'twixt licentiousness and reflection sometimes join the new landowner to worry about the isolation that comes from first-class travel and hilltop mansions.

Even though that worry is a cliche, she has managed to express it freshly:

"Just like Jericho, "I said "Let these walls come tumbling down," I said it like I finally found the way To keep the good feelings alive I said it like it was something To strive for.

Striving is easy for Joni Mitchell. Two collections of her sketches and poems are to be published next year. In the past month she has produced a song, two poems and several varied, expressionistic paintings. Because he was creative his entire life, Picasso is her idol now, and if his influence is as strong as James Dean's, Joni Mitchell will continue to be rock 'n' roll's woman of heart—and mind.