Joni Mitchell's Musical Journey in Somerset: Collaborating with Peter Gabriel on 'Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm

Joni Mitchell's Musical Journey in Somerset: Collaborating with Peter Gabriel on 'Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm

Joni Mitchell, known for her music inspired by the hills of Laurel Canyon, ventured to Somerset in 1988 to work on her album "Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm" with Peter Gabriel. Gabriel, who had rented Ashcombe House near Bath as a recording studio from 1978 to 1987, collaborated with Mitchell on the song "My Secret Place" for her album. The song tells the story of a protagonist moving from New York City to the Colorado mountains with a loved one, with Mitchell and Gabriel's voices blending in a conversational style. Mitchell described the song as a love beginning song, emphasizing the shared intimacy at the start of a relationship. Despite this collaboration, Mitchell's musical relationship with Somerset ended after this project, and she has never performed a full set at Glastonbury, despite a surprise appearance during Brandi Carlile's set in 2025.