Mojo Magazine's CD For June 2026: Back To The Garden (A Tribute To Joni Mitchell)

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Mojo - The UK's unique music magazine - and what a wonderful perk it is that everyone who subscribes to their print edition receives a bonus CD usually related to that month's cover story.

It's quite likely that readers are not going to love all of the music the publication sends their way, but it's not their fault. It's just not possible for them to know and satisfy every subscriber's taste every single month. Regardless, the fact they're providing readers with music they most likely haven't heard before is very much appreciated.

The recently released June 2026 cover story discusses Joni Mitchell's fifty greatest songs spread out over nineteen colorful pages, and it comes with a fifteen track, sixty-eight-minute compact disc loaded with both well-known and obscure artists re-interpreting her work.

Today - because these compilations are loaded with deep cuts and rarities - Bloggerhythms begins a new, occasional series that will feature songs from selected Mojo CDs that I believe you'll find interesting. This month's Mitchell disc is a very good place to start.

While not quoted directly, much of the information posted here about each track is taken from the magazine itself.
Both Sides Now - Fairport Convention (1967 demo)
Judy Dyble was the original singer for Fairport Convention before - to use her own words - she was "unceremoniously dumped" by the band and replaced with Sandy Denny. Listen to Dyble sing on a Fairport demo of what is probably Mitchell's most famous composition. Dyble later recorded with Giles, Giles and Fripp, a trio that eventually evolved into King Crimson. These renowned British folk-rockers also gave birth to Richard Thompson's long, productive career. "Both Sides Now" was a #8 hit single for Judy Collins in 1968.


Midnight Cowboy - Roberta Flack
The title should be a giveaway that the Canadian singer-songwriter wrote this song for the 1969 John Voight/Dustin Hoffman film of the same name. However, it never made the soundtrack, eventually losing out to Harry Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'" instead. Roberta Flack recorded it for her Chapter Two LP in 1970, but it was left off of the final release. The track eventually found a spot on an extended edition of Flack's LP that was released in 2021. Mitchell's original demo also finally found a home on her Archives - Vol.2 compilation that same year. If you're only familiar with Flack's best-known, pop, hit singles this soulful track may come as a surprise to you.

Raised on Robbery - Kate Stables, Jesca Hoop & Lail Arad
I've never heard of these three singer-songwriters who recorded an EP together, Songs of Joni Mitchell, in 2025. Regardless, this is a very nice version of my favorite track by the revered singer-songwriter.


Woodstock - Iain Matthews and Egbert Derix
Iain Matthews spelled his first name Ian when he took a version of this song to #1 in the UK way back in 1970 with his band, Matthews Southern Comfort. Here, the former Fairport Convention singer completely reimagines the song and slows it down with help from Dutch keyboard player and composer, Egbert Derix.

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