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One of the definitive albums of our times
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I have treasured this album since it was first released. It captures Joni Mitchell's passionate vision as an artist. I appreciate the clarity of music, lyrics, and intention.
The best Joni has ever done
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This album is so indicative of the hippie genre and how we lived it. Joni has captured that era in her songs "Little Green" and "My Old Man". All the songs on this collection are awesome and they will stay in your head and on your "pod" for time immemorial. I love this music for the memories and the good feelings it creates now.
'Blue, songs are like tattoos.'
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: "The Blue album, there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either."--Joni Mitchell
Blue ranks among my three favorite Joni Mitchell albums (the other two being Court and Spark and Hejira), and it is one of Joni Mitchell's best albums. It was an instant success both critically and commercially upon its 1971 release. Mitchell wrote most of the beautiful blue songs on the album while travelling in Europe, infusing her definitive folk-rock sound with intimately poetic, confessional lyrics. Blue features a perfect arrangement of meticulously-crafted songs and Mitchell classics ("Carey," "A Case of You," and "California"). The album features an impressive list of backing musicians: Stephen Stills on bass and guitar, James Taylor on guitar, and Russ Kunkel on drums. The complete album tracklist includes:
1. All I Want 3:34
2. My Old Man 3:34
3. Little Green 3:27
4. Carey 3:02
5. Blue 3:05
6. California 3:50
7. This Flight Tonight 2:52
8. River 4:05
9. A Case Of You 4:25
10. The Last Time I Saw Richard 4:16
G. Merritt
Songs to Aging Children
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I recently viewed the American Masters documentary on Joni Mitchell during a time when I had been re-reading Norman Mailer's Marilyn- his take on the life of the legendary screen star Marilyn Monroe. And although there is no obvious connection between the lives or the talents of the two women there is a tale of two generations hidden here. Marilyn represented for my parent's generation, the generation that survived the Great Depression and fought World War II, the epitome of blond glamour, sex and talent. To my more `sedate' generation blond-haired Joni represented the introspective, searching, quiet beauty that we sought to represent our longings for understanding in a seemingly baffling world that we had not made. As this documentary and Mailer's book point out however they `represented' our fantasies they also shared a common vulnerability- attempting to be independent women in worlds dominated by men. Such is the life of the great creative talents.
Now to the work- this album of work only brings out the truth of what I tried to express above. In such songs as her homage to her place of birth Canada (and to her adopted home California), the songs of trials and tribulation of dealing with fame, men (in and out of love, think about My Old Man and The Last Time I Saw Richard) and the expressions of her political beliefs (as she rides on th eplane to somewhere) she sings her heart out, so, so sweetly we forget how powerful a voice she has. No barrelhouse singer here and for the material presented none is necessary. That is the true virtue of her value as a singer/songwriter. Blue is just a notch below Ladies of the Canyon in the pantheon of her best music but that just places it in very nice company. Sing on.
Joni's Best
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I LOVE this c.d. It's her best in my opinion. Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 are my favorite! ...And thats most of the cd! :)
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1 All I Want
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