Joni Mitchell has said her music did not get the recognition it deserved in

the 1970s due to music industry sexism.

The musician, whose introspective, confessional songs became touchstones of

the singer-songwriter genre, said she "took a lot of flak" at the time.

"People thought that it was too intimate,"

the 79-year-old said in a rare interview with Sir Elton John.

"I think it upset the male singer-songwriters.

They'd go, 'Oh no. Do we have to bare our souls like this now?'"

She added: "I think it made people nervous."

The star said she was pleased that contemporary artists seemed better

equipped to express the feelings of loss and sorrow that she explored on landmark albums