Song to a Seagull

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Song to a Seagull

Studio album by Joni Mitchell
Released	March 1968
Recorded	Late 1967
Genre	Folk-rock
Length	38:00
Label	Reprise
Producer(s)	David Crosby
All Music Guide (3/5) link
Joni Mitchell chronology
	Song to a Seagull (1968)	Clouds (1969)

Song to a Seagull is Joni Mitchell's 1968 debut album. It was originally released as self-titled because of an error at Reprise Records' publishing department. Subsequent releases have titled it Song to a Seagull, and the intended title can be seen clearly on the cover.

It is a concept album divided into two halves, "I Came To The City" and "Out of the City and Down to the Seaside". The first track refers to her failed marriage to Chuck Mitchell in Detroit, and a similar theme is explored with "Michael from Mountains," where love is cut short by a man's need to wander. "Night in the City" is a celebration of nightlife, "Marcie" is a profile of a lonely woman, presumably a friend of Joni's, and "Nathan La Franeer" ends side one with the true account of a bitter citydwelling taxi driver Joni once encountered.

Side two takes on more natural, organic themes: "Sisotowbell Lane" describes domestic bliss, and "The Dawntreader" and "Pirate of Penance" concern sea themes- first of a mystical sea captain calling her away, and then to a murderous pirate with whom a dancer is infatuated. Though some speculate that "The Dawntreader" is written for David Crosby, Joni has denied this fact. The final two tracks concern freedom: "Song to a Seagull" and "Cactus Tree." "Song to a Seagull" is especially noteworthy for its uninhibited treatment of the desire for freedom.

Joni Mitchell would later note that the album is more a result of her love of classical music than of folk or Dylan-esque Singer/Songwriter, and this is evident through the thick, rich, and often unusual harmonies, and the densely poetic lyrics of the album.

The album was produced by David Crosby, who later commented that he "basically just pushed the record button". Joni had mastered her songs through years of playing in clubs, and required no overdubbing or multi-tracking. He also revealed that he had recorded Mitchell singing next to an open grand piano to capture the strings vibrating in resonance with her voice.

Stephen Stills contributes the bass guitar track to "Night in the City". It is interesting to note that Mitchell had already achieved hit songs recorded by other artists ("Both Sides, Now," "Chelsea Morning"(Judy Collins), "Eastern Rain" (Fairport Convention), "Urge for Going," "The Circle Game" (Tom Rush)), but chose to record none of these for her debut.