The song “Both Sides Now” was written by Canadian singer, songwriter, and painter Joni Mitchell in 1967. The inspiration came when Mitchell was reading Saul Bellow’s novel Henderson the Rain King while on an airplane. There was a part in the book where Henderson is also on a plane and looks down at the clouds. Mitchell put the book down and thought about the clouds. Judy Collins was the first to record it and released it on her 1967 album titled Wildflowers. She released it as a single in 1968. It went to #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. It was in the top 40 in Australia. Collins won a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Folk Performance for the song.
The song was a lovely Sixties folk rock hit of the late 1960s, and a good an example of someone who was originally an early 1960s folkie growing into the folk rock scene. The track also helped many hear a Joni Mitchell song. Mitchell recorded “Both Sides Now” for her 1969 album Clouds. The number of covers is astounding, including ones by Dave Van Ronk, Anne Murray, Bing Crosby, Claudine Longet, Frank Sinatra, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Goulet, Dion, Jimmie Rodgers, Neil Diamond, Oliver, Pete Seeger, Andy Williams, Cilla Black, Willie Nelson, The Tokens, Randy Scruggs, Tori Amos, and many more. A good song is a good song!
Judy Collins, born Judith Marjorie Collins in Seattle Washington, in 1939, has been performing since 1959. She sings in a variety of genres — from folk to country, pop, rock, and show tunes. She is also known for her social activism. Collins continues to tour and perform.