Mezzo-Soprano Tour de Force, 1970

I’ve never thought of myself as a big Joni Mitchell fan - although I suddenly note that she wrote some of my favorite songs. But this brief concert from 1970 is flawless.

I heard it once back in the 90’s, I think, on a bootleg tape. I had no idea there was video.

If you were sent to music court to argue her case, as formulated by Jason Ankeny - “when the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century” - this concert might be all the evidence you need.