The All-Inclusive Joni Mitchell Thread

[Cairn]

Menju, we are top 5 twins.

[emptytuileries]

01. The Hissing of Summer Lawns
02. Hejira
03. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
04. Blue
05. Ladies of the Canyon
06. Mingus
07. Court and Spark
08. For the Roses
09. Dog Eat Dog
10. Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm
11. Turbulent Indigo
12. Clouds
13. Song to a Seagull
14. Taming the Tiger
15. Shine
16. Wild Things Run Fast

[menju56]

Listening to For the Roses again now and remain perplexed as to why it's not generally considered among her very best albums. Seriously, some of her finest, most intricate and unusual songwriting, and her VOICE. It's outstanding.

[Owen]

Ooh, that reminds me:Top Five!

For The Roses
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Court and Spark
Turbulent Indigo
Wild Things Run Fast

Although, my most listened to Joni album is Travelogue, with the orchestral versions of A Case of You and Both Sides Now thrown in for good measure.

I am baffled as to why it has gotten so overlooked, most people say it's because it was bookended by her two most "popular"/well known records but that's no excuse! For The Roses combines the best elements of what came before with Blue, and what was to come with Court and Spark.

[menju56]

^ For the Roses love!

I also like how enthusiastic you are about Wild Things Run Fast which I think is quite underrated too. As for Travelogue I haven't listened in ages but I am going to dive into it again soon. The packaging on that one is really gorgeous.

[SkyLab]

1. Blue
2. For The Roses
3. Hissing
4. Hejira
5. Don Juan

....very uninteresting I know.

[menju56]

Oh but all five are very, very good

emptytuileries, your list is interesting what with Mingus so high up. That's an album that doesn't seem to get a lot of love.

I listened to Travelogue today and enjoyed it a lot. Hadn't heard it in a long time so it sounded pretty fresh to my ears. I like the song choices as well - some less obvious ones like "Otis and Marlena," "Borderline," and "The Dawntreader."

[Owen]

Controversial statement alert!

I prefer most of the Travelogue versions over the original's.

[SkyLab]

Oh but all five are very, very good

And I just still can't get over the fact that she released them all within six years. That blows my mind.

5 classics....and you could add Court and Spark to that list seamlessly to make 6. 6 in 6 years. That's nuts. It's a point worth repeating in my mind. Old Dylan couldn't even pull that off.

[Owen]

I know, right? From Blue to Hejira, her artistic growth and songwriting stands as one of the greatest achievements in modern music history. DJRD is pretty amazing as well, actually.

[menju56]

Controversial statement alert!

I prefer most of the Travelogue versions over the original's.

Interesting! The entire album has an effortless elegance about it. I think I might just listen again tomorrow.

And agreed re Joni's creative peak in the '70s. I guess back then it wasn't as unusual as it is now to be putting out high quality records every year or so (Steely Dan stand out for me too in that regard) but Joni's output in those days is just phenomenal. Incredible quality and artistic growth in such a relatively short space of time.

[Owen]

Does anyone have a favourite Joni Mitchell cover? I really love Shawn Colvin/Mary Chapin Carpenter's live cover of "Amelia", Brad Mehldau's jazz piano version of "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow", Kd Lang's "Jericho" and Duncan Sheik's "Court and Spark". There are many more, actually, but I'll start with those.

I know Both Sides Now has been covered thousands of times, but it's been sort of a staple for me when I perform live. Apparently I have been clueless about just how well-received my version has been because I finally posted a recording of it on my music page and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I love that Joni's music can speak to people, even through a cover, because the song itself is just perfectly written from the start.

[The Seaward]

kd lang's "Help Me" is my personal favorite joni cover.

also, (not really a "cover") joni's orchestral reworking of "Both Sides Now" completely trumps the original recording. even before emma thompson's emotional scene in Love, Actually, that version moved me to tears. still does.

[Jamiieee]

I love Tina Turner's version of Edith and the Kingpin from the Herbie Hancock album, and also Mandy Moore's version of Help Me (sue me!) from her covers album.

[MrQuin]

Does anyone have a favourite Joni Mitchell cover? I love that Joni's music can speak to people, even through a cover, because the song itself is just perfectly written from the start.

I prefer Björk's take on The Boho Dance in all its simplicity and beauty.