JONI MITCHELL. By Mark Bego. Taylor Publishing Company. 366 pages. $24.95.

The notoriously private Joni Mitchell couldn't escape the clutches of celebrity biographer Mark Bego, who has penned biographies about everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Vanilla Ice. His 366-page "Joni Mitchell" is about as predictable and uninspired as the book's title.

The book is an odd copy-and-paste collection of old interviews from one of the most prolific artists of the last 40 years. Bego failed to add any color to the book, which makes for rather bland reading. Ironic, considering the vibrancy of the subject matter.

Most of the book rehashes information with which Mitchell's fans are familiar. It chronicles her musical career from the folk music of her early years, the experimental jazz period of the '70s, and the underrated '80s albums to her confessional music of the '90s.

All of this information would have been informative for those who are unfamiliar with Mitchell's work, but Bego isn't skilled enough to tie it all together in a compelling way.

Furthermore, there's not much in the book about Mitchell as a painter or a guitarist, two aspects of her career that are often overlooked by the media.

Thankfully, Bego was able to cram one interesting tidbit into his bio. The book's introduction recalls his first meeting with Mitchell, backstage at the Grammy's. Mitchell asks Bego, a fellow painter, about his artwork. In describing their interaction, he comes across as a nervous fan, humbled by the experience of chatting with someone he apparently admires. It's the one bright spot in the book.

With its unimaginative rehashing of interviews and quotes, "Joni Mitchell" could have been written by anyone with a passing knowledge of Mitchell's music. Perhaps because she is so elusive, there still is no adequate resource for the influential artist.

Reviewer Marcus Amaker is a page designer for The Post and Courier.