First Frost

It takes some balls to cover Joni Mitchell.

But at age 27, Tom Rush's mournful take on "winter closin' in" was a masterful and haunting interpretation... So much so that in the early years of Boston FM rock radio it was easily the most requested song around the time of the first frost or hard freeze as "Indian Summer" slipped away.

Being a native New Englander, and staple of Boston's active 60's folk scene, might have been part of the appeal, but Rush's simple arrangement and deep baritone compliment Joni's lyrics in a most memorable way.

Tom Rush Urge For Going The Circle Game (1968)

Joni Mitchell's own version wasn't released until 1972, as the b-side of the "You Turn Me on I'm a Radio" single. It's first album appearance is on "Hits" (1996).

Joni (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943 in Fort Macleod, Alberta) turns 66 tomorrow.