My Secret Place

Last updated
"My Secret Place"
My Secret Place.jpg
Single by Joni Mitchell
from the album Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm
B-side "Number One" (Europe and Australia) / "Lakota" (North America)
Released1988
Recorded1986–1987
Length5:01
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Joni Mitchell
Producer(s) Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell singles chronology
"Shiny Toys"
(1986)
"My Secret Place"
(1988)
"Cool Water"
(1988)

"My Secret Place" is a song written by Joni Mitchell that first appeared on her 1988 album Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm . Recorded as a duet with Peter Gabriel, the song was released as the first single from the album and reached number 41 on the Canadian singles chart, becoming her first song to reach the Canadian Top 100 since "Coyote" eleven years prior.

Contents

Background

"My Secret Place" and "Number One" were the first two songs Mitchell wrote for Chalk Mark in A Rainstorm. When Mitchell was working on new material in Britain, Robert Plant visited the house she was staying at with the intention of finding potential songs to record. During his stay, Mitchell sang him stripped–down renditions of "My Secret Place: and "Number One" with an acoustic guitar. Plant was impressed with both songs, but was particularly interested in recording "Number One". Mitchell ultimately opted not to collaborate with Plant and instead elected to record "My Secret Place" with Peter Gabriel. [1] Mitchell's husband, Larry Klein, had played on Gabriel's So album in 1986, which prompted Gabriel to invite Mitchell and Klein to his Ashcombe House studio, where the duet between Gabriel and Mitchell on "My Secret Place" was recorded. [2]

On "My Secret Place", Mitchell expended an entire reel of tape by layering the same guitar part 24 times. She rationalized this decision as a means to make her guitar more prominent in the mix, believing that the guitar overdubs would "beef up" certain sections and make the chord changes more noticeable. [3] Mitchell executed these guitar parts on a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar [1] and utilized a guitar tuning of C# G# D# F# G# C#. [4]

Lyrically, the song details a story about moving from New York City to the Colorado mountains with a loved one. [3] Mitchell described "My Secret Place" as the only love song on Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm.

"The song's about the threshold of intimacy. It's a shared thing so I wanted it to be like the Song of Solomon where you can't tell what gender it is. It's the uniting spirit of two people at the beginning of a relationship." [1]

Critical reception

J.D. Considine of Rolling Stone thought that the song showcased "the similarities between her [Mitchell's] voice and Peter Gabriel's", saying that they "illustrate[d] the shifting confidences of shared intimacy". He highlighted moments in the song where the two swapped lines within a stanza, which he thought was an effective means of demonstrating the fluctuations in balance within a relationship. The publication also listed "My Secret Place" as one of Mitchell's 50 greatest songs. [2]

Uncut commended the drumming of Manu Katché and also praised the song's vocals, saying that "Gabriel and Mitchell's voices tie together to the point of being inseparable. They finish each other's sentences and sing in unison, an aural equivalent of a couple who've accidentally started to dress the same." [5] Ken Tucker of The Village Voice thought that the song's lyrics evoked the "confessional mode that made Mitchell the most admired '70's singer-songwriter" and deemed the song as a strong album opener. [6] Greg Quill of the Toronto Star was more critical, saying that "My Secret Place" was "arguably the least appealing song on the album", although he praised Gabriel's "strong counterpoint" vocals. [7]

Track listing

  1. "My Secret Place" (edit) – 3:17
  2. "Number One" – 3:46
  1. "My Secret Place" (edit) – 3:17
  2. "Lakota" – 6:25

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [8] 41

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joni Mitchell</span> Canadian-American singer-songwriter (born 1943)

Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her personal lyrics and unconventional compositions which grew to incorporate pop and jazz elements. She has received many accolades, including eleven Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Rolling Stone called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever", and AllMusic has stated, "Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century."

<i>Passion</i> (Peter Gabriel album) 1989 soundtrack album by Peter Gabriel

Passion is an album released in 1989 by the English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel. It was the first Peter Gabriel album to be released on Real World Records, Gabriel's second soundtrack, and his eighth album overall.

<i>So</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Peter Gabriel

So is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, released on 19 May 1986 by Charisma Records and Virgin Records. After working on the soundtrack to the film Birdy (1984), producer Daniel Lanois was invited to remain at Gabriel's Somerset home during 1985 to work on his next solo project. Initial sessions for So consisted of Gabriel, Lanois and guitarist David Rhodes, although these grew to include a number of percussionists.

<i>The Hissing of Summer Lawns</i> 1975 studio album by Joni Mitchell

The Hissing of Summer Lawns is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in November 1975 on Asylum Records. It continues the jazz-influenced sound of Mitchell's previous album, Court and Spark, with more unconventional and experimental material. It features sampling, synthesizers such as the Moog and ARP, and contributions from acts including the jazz-rock groups the L.A. Express and the Jazz Crusaders and James Taylor, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Man in Paris</span> Single by Joni Mitchell

"Free Man in Paris" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. It appeared on her 1974 album Court and Spark, as well as her 1980 live album Shadows and Light. It is ranked No. 470 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<i>Wild Things Run Fast</i> 1982 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Wild Things Run Fast is the 11th studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Her first of four releases for Geffen Records, it was released in 1982 and represents her move to a more 1980s pop sound. This was her first album to work with bassist Larry Klein, whom she married in 1982. Klein would play bass on and co-produce her next four albums.

<i>Dog Eat Dog</i> (Joni Mitchell album) 1985 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Dog Eat Dog is the 12th studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1985. It was her second album for Geffen Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manu Katché</span> French drummer and songwriter (born 1958)

Manu Katché is a French drummer and songwriter of Ivorian descent. He has worked extensively as a session musician, notably with Sting and Peter Gabriel, and his solo albums as a bandleader are largely in the jazz fusion style.

<i>Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm</i> 1988 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm is the 13th studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on March 23, 1988, by Geffen Records. Her third release on the label, the album features duets with a number of artists such as Peter Gabriel on "My Secret Place", Willie Nelson on "Cool Water", Don Henley on "Snakes and Ladders", and Billy Idol and Tom Petty on the track "Dancin' Clown". Henley also performs backing vocals on "Lakota", and Wendy and Lisa perform backing vocals on "The Tea Leaf Prophecy ".

<i>Night Ride Home</i> 1991 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Night Ride Home is the 14th album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1991. It was the last of four albums she recorded for Geffen Records.

<i>Turbulent Indigo</i> 1994 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Turbulent Indigo is the 15th album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Released in 1994, it won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Album. John Milward, writing for Rolling Stone, wrote that it was Mitchell's "best album since the mid-'70s".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Time (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 Peter Gabriel song

"Big Time" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth studio album So (1986). It was his second top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 8.

<i>Robbie Robertson</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson is the solo debut album by Canadian rock musician Robbie Robertson, released in 1987. Though Robertson had been a professional musician since the late 1950s, notably a founder of and primary songwriter for The Band, this was his first solo album. Robbie Robertson won the Juno Award for "Album of the Year", and producers Daniel Lanois and Robertson won the "Producer of the Year" Juno award, both in 1989; there were no Juno Awards in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 single by Peter Gabriel

"In Your Eyes" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth solo studio album So (1986). It features Youssou N'Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. Gabriel's lyrics were inspired by an African tradition of ambiguity in song between romantic love and love of God.

<i>Blue River</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Eric Andersen

Blue River is an album by folk rock musician Eric Andersen, released in 1972. The album was reissued in 1999 by Columbia Legacy with two extra tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Klein</span> American bassist and record producer (born 1956)

Larry Klein is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is based in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back to Front Tour</span> 2012–14 concert tour by Peter Gabriel

Back to Front was a concert tour by Peter Gabriel, a retrospective performance based on every song from his 1986 multi-platinum album So played in sequence. The backing band included musicians that Gabriel toured with in 1986–87 in support of the album's initial release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panopticom</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Panopticom" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in January 2023 as the first single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O, his first album of original material since 2002's Up. Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright Side Mix" on 6 January 2023, and the "Dark Side Mix" on 21 January. The cover features David Spriggs' Red Gravity as the cover art. The single was released on the first full moon of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I/O (song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"I/O" is the fourth single and title track of English musician Peter Gabriel's tenth studio album I/O, his first album of original material since 2002's Up, and his first featuring a title track. Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright-Side Mix" and the "Dark-Side Mix". I/O was released on the Pink Moon, the full moon in April, which occurred on the 6th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Voice Again</span> 1986 promotional single by Peter Gabriel

"That Voice Again" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So. The song was released as a promotional single and reached No. 14 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Gabriel identified "That Voice Again" as one of his favorite songs on the album.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Flanagan, Bill (May 1988). "Secret Places" (PDF). Musician Magazine. pp. 65–69, 72. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Browne, David; Dolan, Jon; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Martoccio, Angie; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Wolk, Douglas (June 22, 2021). "Joni Mitchell: 50 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Bego, Mark (2005). Joni Mitchell. United States: Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 223. ISBN   978-1-58979-134-3.
  4. "The Guitar-Tuning Odyssey of Joni Mitchell". Acoustic Guitar. April 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. Sodomsky, Sam (December 7, 2020). "Joni Mitchell: The Ultimate Music Guide" (PDF). Uncut. pp. 86–89. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. Tucker, Ken (March 29, 1988). "Public Invited". The Village Voice via Joni Mitchell: Library of Articles.
  7. Quill, Greg (March 25, 1988). "Album is All Joni, Despite Heavyweight Sidemen" (PDF). Toronto Star. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8588." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2024.