A fancy photography book encapsulating work by legendary rock snapper Normal Seeff during his long and fruitful creative partnership with Canadian chanteuse Joni Mitchell is coming out this November, to coincide with the 'Big Yellow Taxi' star's 75th birthday.
Seeff's photographs of Mitchell have appeared on her album covers for 1976's Hejira and 1977's Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.
According to a rather breathless press release, "this collection of familiar and rare imagery tracks the pair's history together through these exclusive moments captured on film.
"A combination of album artwork and candid shots reveals Joni's personality in ways few have managed to capture before or since. Featuring commentary from Seeff on the enlightenment into his art that he gained from their sessions, this compilation is a true reflection on mutual creativity between artist and muse."
Seeff originally hails from South Africa, and was a qualified doctor practicing in Soweto emergency rooms before moving to the US in the 1960s to pursue his artistic ambitions.
He was also, get this, the youngest ever player drafted to play in the South African national football league at the age of just 17.
As well as capturing famous shots of Mitchell, Seeff also photographed artists as diverse as Patti Smith, Miles Davis, Kiss, Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa, John Travolta, Van Halen, Blondie, Tina Turner, Quincey Jones, Aerosmith and (literally) a shit-tonne more.
Like, I dunno, Steve Jobs, and Nobel Prize-winner Francis Crick, the bloke who discovered DNA.
And Jim Henson, off the Muppets.
So anyway, what have you been up to?
Joni Mitchell: The Norman Seeff Sessions is due out November 6 via Insight Editions
Printed from the official Joni Mitchell website. Permanent link: https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=4191
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