| "Carey" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byJoni Mitchell | ||||
| from the albumBlue | ||||
| B-side | "This Flight Tonight" | |||
| Released | 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock,soft rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joni Mitchell | |||
| Producer(s) | Joni Mitchell | |||
| Joni Mitchell singles chronology | ||||
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| Official Audio | ||||
| "Carey" onYouTube | ||||
"Carey" is a song from the 1971Joni Mitchell albumBlue. It was inspired by her time spent with Cary Raditz, living with a cave-dwellinghippie community atMatala, on theGreek island ofCrete.
In early 1970, Mitchell's relationship withGraham Nash had recently ended, and she decided to fly to Greece for a break, with a female friend. Mitchell's European travels, which also encompassed France and Spain, were intended as a "time out" from her increasing fame and fortune in themusic business. After a few days in Athens the two friends traveled to Crete, rented a car and drove toMatala on the south coast of the island. There, Mitchell met a red-hairedcane-carrying American, Cary Raditz,[2][3] who was working as a cook at the Mermaid café (now the site of the Petra & Votsalo restaurant).[4] She wrote the first version of "Carey" in Matala, for Raditz's 24th birthday. After about two months, she and Raditz traveled to Athens together, but Mitchell then flew alone to Paris, where she wrote "California", referring to Raditz as a "red, red rogue", and on returning to the U.S. completed "Carey" together with other songs for theBlue album.[2]
Although the song was sometimes rumoured to be about fellow singer-songwriterJames Taylor, who plays guitar on someBlue tracks (although not on "Carey" itself) and with whom Mitchell had a briefaffair, Mitchell stated publicly that the "Carey" in question was Cary Raditz. References to the village of Matala and theal frescohippie lifestyle abound in the song lyrics. Mitchell frequently introduced live performances of "Carey" by recountinganecdotes about Raditz and their Cretan adventures.[5][6]
In November 2014,The Wall Street Journal published interviews byMarc Myers with Mitchell[7] and Raditz,[8][9] about the background to the song. Mitchell said that she "latched on to Cary because he seemed fierce and kept the crowd off my back... I enjoyed Cary's company, and his audacity....[h]e was a bit of a scoundrel." Raditz said that his "cane" had in fact been a discardedshepherd's crook, and commented: "I liked Joni a lot and didn't like losing her company. But on the road, you already know the friendships you develop are short-lived. That's built into the experience."[2]
While in Europe, Mitchell taught herself to play theAppalachian dulcimer, which was to become a feature of her musical output in the following years. Her dulcimer skills were first showcased onBlue and in particular the original recording of "Carey", which also featuresStephen Stills on bass and acoustic guitar. "Carey" was released as a single, debuting at number 93 on theBillboard Chart on September 4, 1971 and lasting just one week; nevertheless, it remains one of Mitchell's most enduring and popular songs.
In 1971Record World called it "a tune that others are sure to record."[10]
According to the liner notes:[11]
"Carey" appears on two Joni Mitchell greatest hits albums –Hits (1996) andDreamland: The Very Best of Joni Mitchell (2004).
Mitchell herself performed a different interpretation ofCarey on her 1974 live albumMiles of Aisles. Backed byjazz bandTom Scott & The LA Express, and recorded at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, thisreggae/ska version has been criticised by Stephen Davis inRolling Stone, who went so far as to say that the song was "murdered".[12]
In 1972, actressGoldie Hawn recorded her version of the song for her albumGoldie (Warner MS 2061).[13]Kiki Dee issued a live version of the song on her 1995 album Almost Naked.[14] At the televised 2000 tribute concert to Mitchell, held at theHammerstein Ballroom, New York, the song was performed byCyndi Lauper.[15]
At theLibrary of CongressGershwin Prize concert in 2023 honoring Mitchell,[16] Carey was performed byMarcus Mumford as the opening number, with Raditz in attendance in the audience.
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] | 27 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[18] | 93 |
| USCash Box Top 100[19] | 92 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| Studio albums |
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