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
How did you come into Joni Mitchell’s orbit and how did you end up recording Both Sides, Now before she did? Steve-bayley
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.
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.