Miss Mitchell,

In my mind, I am half a country away. Because 45 years ago tonight, my girlfriend and I are seeing you at the Assembly Hall in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. What a rich and intimate moment. You, and your band. You... and your dulcimer.

And here's a funny departure. In the middle of your set a man stands up and yells, 'Hey, Joni, play 'White Rabbit!' And, without missing a beat, you say, 'Honey, I'm slick, but I ain't that Slick'. And the place goes nuts.

I was honored to recount that in the winter of 1995 - ( around 'Turbulent Indigo' ) as I was serving you, Robbie, Charles Valentino, and others at the Daily Grill. We all had a hearty laugh. And then we moved onto more pressing matters... ( as in a round of cappuccinos and rice pudding - man, they had great rice pudding! ) - Smile -

Miss Mitchell, to this day I still have dual citizenship. I am, at once, a freeman in ( oh, alright, Thousand Oaks, not Paris! ) - and a prisoner of the fine white lines.

And even though relevance and musical literacy are remarkably absent in this generation, I am content.
I'm in Champaign tonight...Me and my girlfriend...You and your guitar -

Cheers, from the common man,
John

I was a twenty years old au pair from Switzerland who spent half a year in the United States, and I had never before heard of Joni Mitchell. This concert at University of Illinois was absolutely magic, and the very next day I bought all the Joni Mitchell LP's which were available. Since then I follow the career of Joni Mitchell, which was in times before Internet not always easy, because Joni unfortunately is not so well known in Switzerland. I'm over sixty now and I still love the Music of Joni Mitchell!
  [ed.]  [ed.]

Don't recall ever seeing Joni perform live except at this concert at U of I in Urbana. Surprising, since her music has been part of every yr of my life since Blue was released. At this concert, as happened so often, people in lobby were remarking how much I looked like her. Guess I did/do. Neil Young among the many who've so remarked. Kinda feel I get a flash forward of my own life whenever I see that beautiful face. Thanks for all the music.

I was 17 years old and my brother and two sisters went,it was magical,i'll never forget it. Sadly it was the only time I got to see her in concert. But she has been one of the biggest influences in my life. I don't know what I would have done without her!