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Nothing more suitable than a moody version of ‘Jingle Bells’ to help with a Christmas hangover. Released on side B of Joni Mitchell’s landmark long player Blue (which turns 50 in 2021), ‘River’ is the second best song (the other) about the singer-songwriter’s breakup with Graham Nash. In early 1970, she took a trip to Europe to skate away (“along the river”) during which she broke up with Nash and felt remorse that they would be apart the following Christmas. I promise to be a bit more upbeat tomorrow.