1981–1993: Pop, electronics and protest Joni Mitchell

mitchell performing in 1983

in 1983, mitchell began world tour, visiting japan, australia, ireland, united kingdom, belgium, france, germany, italy , scandinavia , going united states. performance tour videotaped , later released on home video (and later dvd) refuge of roads. 1984 ended, mitchell writing new songs, when received suggestion geffen perhaps outside producer experience in modern technical arenas wanted explore might worthy addition. british synthpop performer , producer thomas dolby brought on board. of dolby s role, mitchell later commented: reluctant when thomas suggested because had been asked produce record [by geffen], , consider coming in programmer , player? on level did have problems ... may able faster. may able better, fact wouldn t music.

the album resulted, dog eat dog, released in october 1985, turned out moderate seller, peaking @ no. 63 on billboard s top albums chart, mitchell s lowest chart position since first album peaked @ no. 189 eighteen years before. 1 of songs on album, tax free , created controversy lambasting televangelists , saw drift religious right in american politics. churches came after me , wrote, attacked me, though episcopalian church, ve seen described church in america uses head, wrote me letter of congratulation.

mitchell continued experimenting synthesizers, drum machines , sequencers recordings of next album, 1988 s chalk mark in rain storm. collaborated artists including willie nelson, billy idol, wendy & lisa, tom petty, don henley, peter gabriel, , benjamin orr of cars. album s first official single, secret place , in fact duet gabriel, , missed billboard hot 100 charts. song lakota 1 of many songs on album take on larger political themes, in case wounded knee incident, deadly battle between native american activists , fbi on pine ridge indian reservation in previous decade. musically, several songs fit trend of world music popularized gabriel during era. reviews favorable towards album, , cameos well-known musicians brought considerable attention. chalk mark improved on chart performance of dog eat dog, peaking @ no. 45.

in 1990, mitchell, performed live anymore, participated in roger waters wall concert in berlin. performed song goodbye blue sky , 1 of performers on concert s final song tide turning along waters, cyndi lauper, bryan adams, van morrison , paul carrack.

throughout first half of 1990, mitchell recorded songs appeared on next album. delivered final mixes new album geffen before christmas, after trying hundred different sequences songs. album night ride home released in march 1991. in united states, premiered on billboard s top album charts @ no. 68, moving no. 48 in second week, , peaking @ no. 41 in sixth week. in united kingdom, album premiered @ no. 25 on album charts. critically, better received 1980s work , seemed signal move closer acoustic beginnings, along references style of hejira. album mitchell s first since geffen records sold mca inc., meaning night ride home first album not distributed wea (now warner music group).