‘Joni Mitchell sang Both Sides, Now over the phone to me’: folk music legend Judy Collins on her 87 remarkable years

<p>As she continues her farewell tour, the US singer-songwriter answers your questions on romance with Stephen Stills, friendship with Carly Simon and how folk underpins all pop</p><p><strong>How did you come into </strong><strong>Joni Mitchell</strong><strong>’s orbit and how did you end up recording </strong><strong>Both Sides, Now</strong><strong> before she did?</strong> <em>Steve-bayley
<br></em>I’m 48 years sober, but in the old days I drank. One night in 1967, I was passed out and the phone rang at about 3am. It was my friend [the musician, songwriter and producer] Al Kooper. He said he’d been at a club and had run into this woman, Joni, who wrote songs. He put her on the phone and she sang Both Sides, Now over the phone. It was brilliant. I said: “I’ll be right over.” I recorded it the next day and it became a huge hit.</p><p>I don’t think Joni was too happy that I was the first to record it, but she was very generous and I’ve since recorded many of her songs. She was unknown then, so I’m proud that I was able to help introduce her to the world. She’s one of the great writers of all time.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/nov/12/joni-mitchell-sang-both-sides-now-over-the-phone-to-me-folk-music-legend-judy-collins-on-her-87-remarkable-years">Continue reading...</a>