Discography

Song To A Seagull

Release date:  March 23, 1968



Image Gallery [click/touch to enlarge]

  • Recording session for first album. Photo by Sulfiati Magnuson
  • Recording session for first album. Photo by Sulfiati Magnuson
  • Recording session for first album. Photo by Sulfiati Magnuson
  • Recording session for first album. Photo by Sulfiati Magnuson
  • David Crosby, John Sebastian, and Stephen Stills. Recording session for first album. Photo by Sulfiati Magnuson
  • Recording session for first album. January 1968
  • Recording session for first album. January 1968

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Album Notes

Produced by David Crosby
Engineer: Art Cryst
CD remastered by Lee Herschberg

Musicians:
Joni Mitchell on piano and guitar
Stephen Stills on bass
Lee Keefer and Joni Mitchell on banshee

This album is dedicated to Mr. Kratzman, who taught me to love words.

All songs written by Joni Mitchell

Cover photos: Mark Roth
Album cover art by Joni Mitchell
Art direction: Ed Thrasher

Reviews of the album from the Library:

Transcriptions of songs from the album:

Comments:

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lightoflight on

This album opened the top of my skull and Light poured within and without and I became bliss. Every time I listen, Joni I Love You:)

georgecobbold on

Such a haunting album. Pity people overlook it. My favourite songs are "I Had A King" & "Sistowbell Lane". XX

jonifan on

Great album. With the exception of one song, this album is all voice and either guitar or piano. One of Joni's top three albums in my opinion. My favorite song is Sisotowbel Lane. Man, Joni can really paint pictures with words!

s6270 on

I agree with Jacquie. I am a kid who just found Joni's music. I find it infuriating that I can only see Joni's albums in a 5"x5" plastic frames with tiny artwork. My parents don't have any of Joni's records, so I'm stuck with buying those tiny CDs.

Either way, the contents of the disc, whether in a 5x5 plastic case or a 12x12 cardboard sleeve, are great introduction to Joni's work. "I Had a King," with its melodic guitar intro, which follow the notes permeating from Joni's mouth, is my favorite cut on the album. The lyrics are incredible.

"Song to a Seagull" is another favorite of mine, to which I was introduced by Buffy Sainte-Marie's cover version. It's simple yet eloquent melody coupled with Joni's voice is spine-tingling. "Nathan La Franeer" is equally eloquent. It captures the essence of the cab-driver perfectly.

This is one of the most amazing debut albums I've ever heard. David Crosby was right to keep this album purely Joni, no session-musicians. SONG TO A SEAGULL captures Joni Mitchell at the tip of the iceberg of her career. It's a pleasure to listen to. In case you haven't listened to this record (highly unlikely, I know), BUY IT.

Jacquie on

I don't even remember how this LP landed in my room but it sweetly bewitched me forever, music and cover artwork. I keep it has one of my most precious belongings, yet no one would guess because it's just there among the others. I wouldn't think of getting the CD. (How can we admire the cover art work on such small frames?)

LKay09 on

Song to a Seagull! This was my very first Joni Mitchell album - I had purchased it back in 1970 (?) for my best friend's birthday because I liked the artwork on the cover! After listening to it I had to buy myself the album too. My best friend and I taught ourselves to play guitar and tried learning every song. Ahh... SWEET memories! :-)