The Pop Folk Album That Prince “Loved All the Way Through”

Nothing about Prince’s music, appearance, or general persona articulates humble or subtle. This, is one of his great aspects, as the musician made his bold presence known wherever he was. However, underneath all of the glitter and glam is a soul that is heavily influenced by folk music. Particularly the folk music created by Good-time Charlie herself, Joni Mitchell.

Prince’s admiration for Mitchell might seem rather off-brand given his overall state of being. Though, when inspected closely, the two share a sense of gut-wrenching vulnerability in their lyrics. And well, where else would he have gotten that from? Prince’s fandom of Joni Mitchell is extensive and almost religiously alarming. However, he wouldn’t have become Prince if he wasn’t a tad bit alarming. So, his infatuation with Mitchell speaks to his broader obsession with music.

Prince’s Longtime Admiration for Joni Mitchell

Funny enough, Joni Mitchell actually recalls the first time she ever saw His Royal Badness. “I remember seeing him sitting in the front row when he was very young. He must have been about 15” and “You couldn’t miss him—he was a little Prince-ling,” Mitchell told New York Magazine.

In addition to appearing at her concert, he also wrote Mitchell hoards of letters. Mitchell also recalled that “Prince used to write me fan mail” and “the office took it as mail from the lunatic fringe and just tossed it!” However, that didn’t stop Prince from admiring Mitchell from afar. When Prince made a name for himself and began to speak to the media, he got entirely candid about his admiration for Mitchell. Specifically, about one of her albums made in 1975.

Mitchell’s ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’

Mitchell’s 1975 album, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, is her seventh studio and also remains one of her most experimental. Given the culmination of jazz, pop, and folk rock, Prince adored the album and every note and lyric embedded in it. Matter of fact, when he sat down with Rolling Stone in 1985, he said “The last album I loved all the way through was The Hissing of Summer Lawns.”

In addition to Prince’s love for this album, he also was a devout fan of Mitchell’s song “A Case of You.” He featured the song on his album Piano & a Microphone and appeared singing it on the 2007 Joni Mitchell tribute album, A Tribute To Joni Mitchell. Prince’s steadfast love for Mitchell is one of those pairings that doesn’t seem to match up. Although, when looked at with a keen eye and attentive ear, one can see how Mitchell has influenced the late great Prince of Funk.

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