Blue (Lp)

This was the first Joni Mitchell album I ever heard. It was 1992, and I was in grade 10. My vocal music teacher brought it in to play us a sample...and I felt a whole new world of music opening up for me. I have been a Joni Mitchell fan ever since.

"Blue" is an album that has Joni bearing her soul...leaving no stone unturned, no walls or curtains to hide behind. It is intensely emotional, and lets the listener get closer to her than any other album. This album is so special for that reason. Her playing is stellar...she makes it sound so easy. Her voice is in top form; singing with such clarity and young wisdom. I never get sick of this album...from "All I Want" to "The Last Time I Saw Richard." Is it folk music? No...I wouldn't say so. Has it ever claimed to be a folk album? If you want "Tom Dooley", then listen to The Kingston Trio...if you want something deeper and encompassing, listen to Joni Mitchell...no simple 3 chord wonders here.

I have read the bad reviews of this album (and also those for "Court and Spark"...yet another piece of Mitchell magic) and I just don't understand it. Someone reviewing "Court and Spark" said that they didn't like Joni Mitchell's voice...hmmmm...a matter of opinion...from a person who couldn't possibly give a good review of ANY of her albums since she has the AUDACITY to sing on them. It is the same for "Blue"...Joni needed Prozac...why couldn't she crack a smile...the album is dull and boring...her voice is awful...these negative reviews (for Joni Mitchll albums, they tend to be extremely short, and lacking in any real detail...as different from Joni Mitchell's writing as day is from night...maybe that is why they don't like her) could be sending people away from this album, or others by this absolutely legendary singer/songwriter. I have no problem with people giving albums negative reviews, but not if it is about criticizing her for her mood at the time of writing the songs...was she not allowed to be reflective of things in her life?

Give a negative review based on the musical performance, the lack of lyrical depth, the LACK of emotion, the poor production quality...it won't apply to this album.

"Just before our love got lost you said, I am as constant as a northern star, and I said, constant in the darkness,
where is that at? If you want me I'll be in the bar..." -Case of You, Blue

It takes alot for me to listen to an album over and over and over and over... and still not get sick of it.
i've had "Blue" for about 3 years and Joni still makes it into my cd player more than once every few days.
There are at least 2 songs that most passerbyers would recognize: "California" and "River", but many more to be appreciated.
This album has a beautiful balance of alternating very rich, almost sorrowful songs and whimsical upbeat songs...

"My Old Man" exhibits such simplisticly passionate poetry-
'...but when he's gone me and them lonesome blues collide; the bed's too big the frying pan's too wide...'
"All I Want" gives us an all-around bold, declarative statement that shows her desire to be a part of the grand 'adventure'/excitement that life offers through loving.
'..alive alive! I wanna get up and jive, i wanna wreck my stockings in some jukebox dive. do you want, do you want, do you want to dance with me baby? do you wanna take a chance in maybe finding some sweet romance with me...?'

With the occasional accompaniment from James Taylor and Stephen Stills, this album is worth much more than it's priced.
And as always, the mixture of Joni's voice, her beautiful piano playing, and her amazing lyrics are pure proof
that she is a true uninhibited musician... and she's still going strong.

Joni Mitchell has a totally unique voice & musical interpretation style. For lovers of Joni Mitchell I would actually rate this CD as a 5 star. I love her but the reason I gave it a 4 star is because I regard this music as "The Classics". It doesn't mean that some of you won't appreciate it; because you will but for current listener's of music it might not fall into the category of music you would want to be playing repeatedly today. Having said that she is an original in 60's folk music and has had a lengthy career; still producing albums so there is a fan base there for sure. These are my favorite tracks from this CD.

1.All I Want: Just take a listen to the guitar work in this song; it is outstanding. You can't manufacture that no matter what the technology used. The lyrics are so creative...the telling of a love story...a love/hate relationship....one where like many women back in the day...lost themselves in relationships over who they were as individuals. This song is so reminiscent Joni Mitchell; heartfelt interpretations of relationships & what they encompass.

2.Carey: To me this song will remind those that grew up in the 60's of when this song came out. It has a dated quality about it so might not appeal to all today. Many of the words used are ones that were used in the 60's....(some of which have come back from decade to decade) in the lyrical content. The guitar work is always impeccable as is the writing compositions. Her voice is like silk....a voice that has never been re-created to date.

3.Blue: Many artists have done renditions of this Joni Mitchell classic but I still think her version is the best. The piano work is so good and her vocal defines the song and takes us on a journey as imparted in the lyrics. It is a telling story of a period in time.....her falsetto vocals are just mesmerizing. I've only heard one other artist that gives this song justice which is Sarah McLachlan but with all due respect I still think Joni's vocals give it the quality that the artist intended.

4.California: I love the guitar work on this song...this song just makes me want to revere in. I love the textures to her voice in this song...shows how talented she was vocally. This still sounds so good today as do the others...nice to hear again!

5.River: Another classic Joni Mitchell song that has been done by many other artists. This is such a well written song...one that I have on my Xmas playlist because it to me is such a pleasant song to play along with other more traditional Xmas songs. She conveys her feelings about missing her home surroundings while on tour and of course relationships are key to most of her songs including this one. While I love this rendition...I like to always pay respects to the originating artist...I also like the rendition that Sarah McLachlan did of this song. I have both of them on playlists...Xmas & other playlists (Classics & Chilled). Give this originating version a listen to though as it's just lovely!

6. A Case Of You: Love the mandolin in this song...wow what lyrics on this song. This is a traditional folk song to me maybe because of the mandolin however I just love it for it's originality. Her voice is beyond words and reminds me each time I hear it that there has never been anyone like Joni Mitchell since she broke onto the music scene.

7.The Last Time I Saw Richard: Love the piano work in this track....this CD resonated well to digital format or maybe it is just how well it was originally produced. It just sounds so great though. This song when I listen to it I realize this is the artist that Ricki Lee Jones replicated her own style from. They have differences....but I can hear it easily when listening to Joni. This song is so honestly written of her relationship with "Richard"......she always gives you her truest articulation when sharing her experiences which is great.

Whether you are a current fan of Joni Mitchell or new to her music I do hope you will give her a listen & can appreciate the character in her voice & also each of these songs which most are relevant even today.