Joni Mitchell Albums Ranked From Worst to Best
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- This week we're ranking the 19 studio albums of Joni Mitchell, who won our most recent poll of 70's singer/songwriters.
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Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell CC (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. She has received many accolades, including nine Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Rolling Stone called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever", and AllMusic has stated, "When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century".
Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and throughout western Canada, before busking in the streets and nightclubs of Toronto, Ontario. In 1965, she moved to the United States and began touring. Some of her original songs ("Urge for Going", "Chelsea Morning", "Both Sides, Now", "The Circle Game") were covered by other folk singers, allowing her to sign with Reprise Records and record her debut album, Song to a Seagull, in 1968. Settling in Southern California, Mitchell, with popular songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock", helped define an era and a generation. Her 1971 album Blue is often cited as one of the best albums of all time; it was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", rising to No. 3 in the 2020 edition. In 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music". In 2017, NPR ranked Blue number 1 on a list of Greatest Albums Made By Women. Mitchell's fifth album, For the Roses, was released in 1972. She then switched labels and began exploring more jazz-influenced melodic ideas, by way of lush pop textures, on 1974's Court and Spark, which featured the radio hits "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris" and became her best-selling album.
Around 1975, Mitchell's vocal range began to shift from mezzo-soprano to more of a wide-ranging contralto. Her distinctive piano and open-tuned guitar compositions also grew more harmonically and rhythmically complex as she explored jazz, melding it with influences of rock and roll, R&B, classical music and non-western beats. In the late 1970s, she began working closely with noted jazz musicians, among them Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny as well as Charles Mingus, who asked her to collaborate on his final recordings. She later turned again toward pop, embraced electronic music, and engaged in political protest. In 2002, she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards.
Mitchell is the sole producer credited on most of her albums, including all her work in the 1970s. A blunt critic of the music industry, she quit touring and released her 17th, and reportedly last, album of original songs in 2007. With roots in visual art, Mitchell has designed most of her own album covers. She describes herself as a "painter derailed by circumstance".
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Shannon D's Joni Mitchell album ranking: • Video
Thanks for watching! Give us your thoughts in the comments.
Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from www.videvo.net
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![Joni Mitchell - Song To A Seagull (Full Album) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8PGITZmJrkE/mqdefault.jpg)
For me, it has to be ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’. It’s the one I go back to most. Compositions, lyrics, musicianship, production - all are of the highest order.
After Court & Spark came out, Hissing was panned by most people, but it grew on me and eventually became a favorite album for me.
I agree. The level of arrangement instruments, wind, strings.. very together and adventurous, even more than Hierja.
Totally agree , my favourite of all time . Liked Court and Spatk and close third Hejira .
This was truly a massive undertaking. Great lists and insights.
One of the most defining moments of Joni’s career is when the drums come in on Blonde in the Bleachers on For the Roses - the first time a “band” had performed on a Joni song - after that there are no songs without a band - it is a key moment
Love itt. - Joe
Exactly!
.that break on blond in the bleachers and "rock and roll man" is wonderful..
Blond in the Bleachers is a very special song, very unique yet very beautiful.
Hejira for me. Probably my favourite album by anybody
Me too
Me too
It's hands down for me Joni's most amazing album cover, that's for sure! It really matches the mood of the music: enigmatic, layered, compelling. I would love to hear a fully remastered version (like she just did for Song Of A Seagull) to really hear it on an even more intimate level.
There were rumours some years back of an expanded version but it never materialised
It's the soundtrack to the best road movie ever imagined in popular music. No one ever has or likely will compose a piece as brilliant as Amelia. Listen to where those musicians took that song from where it must've begun as raw material to how it sounds on the album. Everyone lifted to a higher plane if you'll excuse the terrible pun.
To me, For the Roses is her overall best work. Musically and lyrically, it seems to have no bottom. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire is one of the most haunting songs of heroin addiction ever written. The album is her masterpiece, but just my opinion.
Totally valid opinion. - Joe
My favourite joni album and song too! The album is a masterpiece
After watching this, I am going to listen to Joni's complete discography in order, and yes, I have them all! Great job guys!
Might just be able to do it with the aid of streaming.
Love Joni!!! Possible the best writer/guitarist ever!!! She intimidated all the guys in CSN by her brilliance.
For good reason, those guys are all ENORMOUSLY over-rated...with the possible exception of Steve Stills.
Joni Mitchell is SPECIAL!
I am 73 years old, my music is the music of the 60s, 70s, and 80. During these decades, I like everything from country music to Jazz. All the genre were doing their thing. My favorite artist was Joni Mitchell regardless of the genre. It is about five LPs at the top of my list in very close competition but Courts and Sparks is my favorite.
I first heard her on the radio. I do not know just what, but being born in 1950, I hard turned to folk rock. I immediately went out & bought, Song To A Seagull. How I can remember thinking how folks set their stage that affects their relationships, listening over & over to: I had a king in a tenement castle, lately he's taken to painting the pastel walls brown. Yes, Court & Spark.
Hejira was the first album of Joni's I'd heard, about 10 years ago. I listened to it because I found out Jaco played on it. I'd never really considered her music, nor had I ever heard her music played on the radio or anywhere. But over these last 10 years, seeing all the musicians I love that have played on her records, I slowly have gotten more and more into her and began to realized her brilliance. She's really become one of my favorite musical artists within the past couple of years. I think she is just amazing on every level.
Alex
Better late than never
"The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" Joni Mitchells best Album !!!
I tried to like it when it first came out/ friend played constantly in car/ but after Hejira it was too much / tho Hejira shows her new direction/ that the good thing about an artist w so much great stuff / we can all choose our favorites/ actually mine is almost more personal than just the songs- it was an era long gone
Totally agree. Got into it when I was ill (for a week) in 1977 - listened to it constantly and was utterly blown away
Still am
IN MY OPINION IT IS THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER
Court and spark , ladies of the canyon
😂 Joe reviewing Taming The Tiger and Jason’s cat tries to get his attention.
Help Me is my favorite song by Joni Mitchell.. It's quintessential 70's music.. Easily one of the greatest singer / songwriter of all time.
At a time when Joni will probably be dying before long, watching this video and seeing a group of younger guys praise Joni made me feel very good. My opinion of Joni's music is very simple: First 8 albums -- pure gold. Everything after that -- trash. Joni's singing up to the age of about 30 was the most emotionally expressive and sensitive singing I had ever heard. After that, she tried on one singing style after another, none of which matched her earlier talent. She turned into a second-rate lounge singer. She never understood that it was the sensitivity of her singing (coupled with her excellent songs) that made her early work so great. For me, Joni pretty much died around 1980 when this transformation took place. I have been grieving the loss of her ever since.
An interesting thing to note: When their votes are averaged together, their top five picks are indeed Joni's best albums. So, collectively, they got it right.
Recorded as she reached 30 Hejira chronicles a road trip across the USA mixing songs about people and events in her life with songs about the trip itself. Wonderful lyrics and stunning playing make this for me her finest album
great show! My top 10:
1 Blue
2 Court and Spark
3 For the roses
4 Hejira
5 Ladies of the canyon
6 Song to a seagull
7 The Hissing of summer lawns
8 Clouds
9 Don Juan's Reckless daughter
10 Wild things
All her albums in their own way have such an intimate feel and are a journey. As an artist I rank her 20th, and 7 of her records are in my personal album top 500.
After doing the Listography she’s probably in my top 50 all time. - Joe
Three guys talking but kudos on your commitment to be detailed, open and articulate. Great reviews.
I too love The Hissing of Summer Lawns
💙💜
Fantastic job guys, really entertaining to hear the views, history and just being a fly on the wall for the chat. Keep up the great work!!
That was a great listen, gents. One of my favorite artists and you did her justice.
I've only come to realize recently how great she is. She's a true-blue original and a real artist, like Dylan, Cohen and a handful of others in popular music. She created her own form of music, it's not folk and it's not jazz, she didn't just inhabit a genre. And inspired by your video I've decided to explore all her albums in chronological order, and I'm reading some bios. I thought I would hate the first album, I was shocked at how much I liked it. It is dated in some ways, but only minor ways, like the yodeling sound she makes on Night in the City, but overall it's as much a work of art as anything else she's done. The songwriting is unimpeachable throughout.
Yeah, she rules. - Joe
Joni Mitchell gave her all. The master of lyrics that hit my every nerve.
she is still alive
I’m a big, big fan of Joni’s albums from the very beginning throughout her entire career:
My top ten personal favorite studio albums are:
1. Blue
2. Hejira
3. Night Ride Home
4. Shine
5. Court and Spark
6. Ladies of the Canyon
7. Taming the Tiger
8. Hissing of Summer Lawns
9. For the Roses
10. Turbulent Indigo
And my favorite album I own on vinyl is the 8 vinyl record boxset Love Has Many Faces
And guys, when you get older, some of her later albums will resonate with you more.
The hissing of summer lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, Mingus is my favourite album run ever. Don Juan is my favourite. Such a great record front to back. Definitely polarising. Problematic album cover and you have to be a patient person to enjoy it. I love it so much. It clicks for me. Paprika plains is a masterpiece.
Kramzer massively underestimates her best album, Hissing of Summer Lawns. Having that at 10 shows me we are in different worlds. That album is light years better than the early folk stuff in my book. It's as good as it gets.
Yeah i don't know man... It's hard... It's joni, her catalogue is amazing. I do have more of a soft spot for the early raw innocent stuff. But I still rate summer lawns very highly. If we had done the star ratings back then you'd see. - kram
Jason's pets just submitted their own rankings. They've got Taming the Tiger and Dog Eat Dog as their number ones, which are very unconventional choices.
1. Hejira 2. For the Roses 3. Blue 4. Shadows and Light 5. Ladies of the Canyon 6. Miles of Aisles 7. Clouds 8. Court and Spark 9. Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm 10. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
Joni is an artist who is easy for me to pick my favorite. The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Hands down.
yes "For the Roses" has bunches of good songs that are under the radar.
Guys, thanks for doing this. I found it so interesting.
I want to give it a try, based on which albums I still listen to today:
1/ Song to a Seagull
2/ Hejira
3/ The Hissing of Summer Lawns
4/ For the Roses
5/ Ladies of the Canyon
Rainy Nigt House from Ladies of the Canyon is where join first hit the genius level that she maintained through Blue, Court & Spark, The Hissing Sound of Summer Lawns, and Herija.
Rnh is my favourite most people never heard it .down to you gets me now as well
The live version of rainy night hours on miles of isles is my favorite Joni Mitchell song of all time. I totally agree with you on your album picks. My favorites as well
🥀For the Rose's 🥀is my personal full album favorite.. then Song to a Seagull.. 🥀Hissing of, 🥀 Court and, 🥀Blue...💙
10. Pimp a Butterfly 7/10
9. Wild Things Run Fast 8/10
8. Song to a Seagull 8/10
7. The Hissing of the Summer Lawns 8/10
6. Hejira 9/10
5. For the Roses 9/10
4. Ladies of the Canyon 10/10
3. Clouds 10/10
2. Count and Spark 10/10
1. Blue 10/10
My personal top ten… one of my favourite artsist
Great channel guys. Loving these rankings.
Only have 1968-1976
1. Blue
2. Court and spark
3.ladies of the canyon
4. Clouds
5. For the roses
6.hejira
7. The hissing of summer lawns
8.sing to a seagull
. 60s and 70s the best.
Miles of Aisles is a brilliant live album
Miles of isles spoiled by jazz on some tracks others are pure gold
Really appreciate this one. I hadn't given her music a chance prior to this, outside of the surface level stuff.
One of your best discussions. Although your lists are similar, there was enough variation to highlight your individual preferences in sound and content. (I would have predicted a clean sweep for BLUE at #1 so colour me impressed.) Making a Top 10 list for Joni is easy but keeping to it would be hard for me. Sometimes, I'm charmed by her early, folky albums with that high, pure voice. Other times, I'm feeling more thoughtful and gravitate to her later ('confessional') albums. Usually, I like her hit-heavy, jazz-rock collections yet other times, I seek out the more experimental Joni of the late '70s and early '80s. The later albums are there, waiting to be discovered (so thanks for recommending TURBULENT INDIGO).
You didn't mention her two official live albums: MILES OF AISLES and SHADOWS & LIGHT, both of which are excellent.
Nice too that Jason gave a shout out to Shannon D. whose Joni reviews are detailed and lovingly presented.
My current list would probably match closer to Joe's (this month). I would also say that his realization that BLUE and COURT & SPARK are better albums than the flawed but brilliant HUNKY DORY and the disposable CARIBOU shows wisdom.
Kramzer, I will certainly go back and give a closer listen to FOR THE ROSES. It's a collection that I've still haven't fully embraced (but need to).
Nice job, guys!
This is what I like. I imagine a lot of other people would agree that longer, more in-depth analysis and opinion is what we like about videos of this genre. Well done. I almost wish you would re-do some of the earlier countdowns(Beatles, Pink Floyd, etc.) with more detail and longer.
I wanted to ask a question also. When you discuss virtually all other artists and albums, you discuss “production” and instrument tone, but with the Beatles you guys rarely mentioned the production and recording techniques that they pioneered and/or utilized to create their albums. It was just more like general “you know the Beatles and they are great”, instead of in-depth discussion like with this countdown, for example. Hey, love you guys and been a fan since it was just Jason by himself. Thanks for taking the time.
Guess, I never actually “asked” the question. It was basically gonna be “why” don’t you do that, and if you would please consider it in the future.
Appreciate the comments. The Beatles one we actually recorded a while ago, so maybe we were still a bit raw. Pink Floyd I think we were trying to keep it around an hour and more concentrating on ranking things. There’s always future possibilities where maybe we do more in-depth discussion about an artist and less about ranking the albums in order. More like a Podcast/general discussion. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic Cool. The Beatles one was great, but with the knowledge y’all have I just imagine that you have a lot more to offer on that. I look forward to more videos in the future
Chelsea Morning was the first song I heard from her, so my admiration for her goes way back. I like her jazzy stuff when I hear it but nothing sticks and I really cannot distinguish her albums after 1980. It is a different artist but not a bad one. Therefore I stick to a top 10:
10. Hissing of the Summer Lawns
9. Wild Things Run Fast
8. Night Ride Home
7. Songs to a Seagull
6. Clouds
5. Court and Spark
4. Mingus (This may be the album that Don Juan should have been, but this is very personal and warm)
3. Ladies of the Canyon
2. Blue
1. Hejira (I was 17 when this was released and of course Coyote hit me right away and this simply became and stayed MY album from Joni...this is not just a collection of songs but an album that is one piece - not a concept album as such.)
PS - it was very interesting to hear how people who did not grow up with/alongside her think about Joni...
Give "For The Roses" some time, it's revelatory... Amazing album. 👍🎶
Hissing is her most challenging album and her most fulfilling in the end; Hejira is the most accessible of her most sophisticated musical ideas, and Blue is just a majestic work of folk art. Just my opinion. Special place in my heart for Shadows and Light. (One minor complaint, Kram’s negative reaction to other people’s thoughtful ideas is just a bit off putting)
I'm with you. Hissing, Heijira, For the Roses, Blue, and Court and Spark are my top five.
Gentleman, I just want to say that I loved this clip. Kramzer in particular was really on for this one. I like the contrast of opinions. It keeps things interesting. One of my favorite clips by you guys. Good stuff, thanks.
Thanks, Ken!
I don't know a lot of the very early or later albums - of the ones I own on Vinyl or CD I'd go as follows - 1. Hejira 2. Court and Spark 3. Blue 4. The Hissing of Summer Lawns 5. Both Sides Now 6. Mingus. I'd like to get to know For the Roses and Clouds a bit better. She's an incredible singer songwriter; overlooked critically in the past when male voices dominated, perhaps. Really good video this. Thanks.
For The Roses
Court & Spark
Blue
For the Roses
Hejaira
Mingus
Miles of Aisles is my favorite JM album
Any list with Court and Spark at the top I can't disagree with.
Thanks for doing this
i've been waiting for this for a while
1. The Hissing of Summer Lawns (5 stars)
2. Court and Spark (5 stars)
3. Ladies of the Canyon (5 stars)
4. Hejira (4 stars)
5. Blue (4 stars)
6. Turbulent Indigo (4 stars)
7. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (4 stars)
8. Clouds (4 stars)
9. Mingus (3 stars)
10. For the Roses (3 stars)
For the Roses at 3 stars is certifiably insane. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic Maybe I need a re-listen to this album. It's been a while... I've always liked it, thought it was really good. But it has not stuck with me as much as some of her other albums. Dag
I’ve only got the first 9 so far and my ranking would go this way:
1. Song To A Seagull (I actually like her voice and melodies the best on this one, although admittedly the overall sound is a bit more to my liking on Court and Hejira)
2. Hejira (could actually flip with Seagull upon relistening)
3. Court And Spark
4. Blue
5. Clouds
6. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
7. For The Roses
8. Ladies Of The Canyon
9. Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
following this show I put her first album on and indeed, it is underrated. Beautiful little melodies and the sparse instrumentation works really well with them.
I really liked Chalk Mark, just as a fun, easy to listen to record. It was my first Joni Mitchell purchase as a 19 year old in the late 80’s and I dug it. But it’s not in the same league as much of the rest of her catalogue, like Clouds or Blue, as I have come to realize.
Court and Spark is her masterpiece.
Joni and Dylan are the premier singer/songwriters of the rock era. By a mile. Dylan is the better lyricist, but Joni is the full package. She is also a delightful person. Thank for this list, great job.
I've been buying Joni's albums for my daughters (ages 26 - 31) as a thoroughly superior alternative to Taylor Swift. Jury is still out.
Good job guys. Steely Dan soon?
God I hope so. - Joe
Dog Eat Dog is a HIGHLY under rated album. All you have to do is listen to the lyrics. It was instigated by the then current events of the time and still proves to be relevent.
I agree. In fact, when I finally bought a CD player Dec of 1986, I bought 4 CD's.
What's New--Linda Ronstadt
Gaucho-Steely Dan
Berlin Philharmonic --Beethoven Symphonies 4 & 7
Joni Mitchell --Dog Eat Dog
and all four CD's cost me over $100 !
Agreed!
just discovered your channel. his was a fun listen. your three #1s are my top 3 Joni - Hissing - Court & Spark - Blue
1: Court & Spark
2: For the Roses
3: the Hissing of Summer Lawns
4: Blue
5 Ladies of the Canyon
6: Hejira
7: Clouds
8: Song to a Seagull
Besides those: I'm not familiar enough to rank!
(the bassline in Trouble Child) "sounds like a Curtis Mayfield song". Very nice, Joe. That's why I watch this stuff.
I enjoyed watching your video ranking Joni's albums and I wouldn't argue with anyone's taste. It's pretty much subjective. You all have some valid opinions about Joni's albums and seem to know a lot about music. But there are a few important elements regarding the evolution of Joni's music that you all neglected to mention. Here are a few basics you missed: #1. You all seem to hold Hejira in fairly high regard, but none of you mentioned that it's the only Joni album where she plays the same electric guitar on every track. Unlike her other albums, she plays no acoustic guitar, no piano, and no dulcimer. There aren't really any big vocal arrangements and no strings, whatsoever. The album is unique in that respect. Also, she never has more than 2 or (at most 3) back-up musicians on any track. This very limited or sparse personnel was surprising since each album before it had more and more production, culminating with "Hissing of Summer Lawns" which was her most produced album up to that point. #2. None of you mentioned that "Twisted" on "Court and Spark" was the first time Joni covered a non-original song on any of her own albums. This tune, by Annie Ross (from the jazz vocal group "Lambert Hendricks and Ross") was a real departure for Joni and is not only her first non-original, but is an actual jazz tune. There would be elements of jazz creeping into her music before and after Court & Spark, but this was her first bonafide jazz tune. She would also cover another LH&R tune ("Centerpiece") on her following album, "The Hissing of Summer Lawns". #3. I think it's important to acknowledge how significantly Joni's lyrical style changed on "Hissing of Summer Lawns". You're all probably too young to appreciate how radically her lyrical style changed on this album, but many of her fans, and most of the critics didn't appreciate it. Most fans and critics wanted Joni to remain the folksy, vulnerable earth mama that they imagined she was and didn't want her to change too much. "Court and Spark" was a pretty radical change for her, but it was still very "pop" and accessible to her early audience, even though it had significantly more production than her earlier albums. But if you examine the lyrics on "Hissing", her style became incredibly sophisticated and critical. On "Edith and the Kingpin", she writes, "...Sophomore jive, from victims of typewriters, the band sounds like typewriters...". On "The Jungle Line" she writes, 'There's a poppy wreath on a soldier's tomb, There's a poppy snake in the dressing room, Poppy poison-poppy tourniquet, It slithers away on brass like mouthpiece spit". One of her best stanzas is on "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow", where she says, Truth goes up in vapors, steeples lean, Winds of change patriarchs, Snug in your bible belt dreams, God goes up the chimney, Like childhood Santa Claus, The good slaves love the good book, A rebel loves a cause". These and most of the other lyrics on the album represent the most significant change in Joni's lyrical style. #4. One other thing, you didn't mention that the only album Joni plays dulcimer on is "Blue". The fretboard on the dulcimer is diatonic, so the there are no sharps or flats, so if it wasn't for James Taylor's brilliant guitar playing on "All I Want", "California", A Case of You" and "Carey", those songs would be significantly less interesting in their harmonic structure. James really fills out the songs beautifully on his guitar. Well, I've said a lot, but I hope you find this a constructive criticism and I hope what I've written will help you to appreciate the brilliance of Joni Mitchell even more. BTW, listen again to "God Must Be a Boogie Man" from "Mingus" and how Joni holds her own with Jaco in a duet with no drums. It's smokin!
Top 5: BLUE, Court & Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Ladies of the Canyon. Weakest era, imv: the 80s. But after this decade her music became once again more interesting, experimental, and creative. Her later albums are worth revisting as you get older. : )
1) Court And Spark
2) The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
3) Ladies Of The Canyon
4) Song To A Seagull
5) Clouds
Always very interesting. Really appreciate your collective musical knowledge and reviews. Well, you've done Canadian artists Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Rush. How about that great off-the-road icon Leonard Cohen?
A great listen, thanks, even if I disagreed with much of it, obviously :) I was surprised by the high ranking given to Wild Things... so will need to go back and re-visit that one. It's maybe an age thing - at the time, her Hissing to Mingus musical journey had been so exhilarating that to me Wild Things was a major let down (apart from Chinese Cafe), whereas you've listened to it with no pre-conceptions. Very intriguing too to hear Ladies of the Canyon described as a kind of concept album. I expected more mention of how original her guitar playing is, which is partly why I'd place Night Ride Home (and Turbulent Indigo) way up higher than you guys did. Also her use of stacked harmony (dissident harmony often) vocals. I've always loved Dog Eat Dog since it came out - to me the brash 80s sound fits the themes, there are some great lyrics in there and her vocals are totally compelling. (One thing maybe worth pointing out: Thomas Dolby was only co-producer on that album, and only on some of the tracks. There seems to have been a fair amount of tension in the studio as he thought he'd been brought in to produce rather than just help out with the new technology. Incidentally, he's done a very cool cover of the Jungle Line.) Thanks again, a very enjoyable programme!
Spot on. Night ride and Turbulent are my top two!
Great Job! Nice to see ALL of Joni's catalog getting its due. I agree with Jason that her early albums (prior to "Court and Spark") are not as compelling, and I'm not a fan of her early, often falsetto style vocals. It reminds me too much of Judy Collins. I feel Joni's voice got much more nuanced and interesting as she aged. I think you all seriously under rated "Chalk Mark" and "Night Ride Home". They are two of my favorites and "Night Ride" is arguably her most accessible and consistent album on any era. I would also rate "Turbulent Indigo" in the top 5 at minimum, it is just stellar. I do agree "Taming of the Tiger" was a major dissapointment. My top 5 ranking for today (but not set in stone) would be:
1. Night Ride Home
2. Turbulent Indigo
3. Hissing of Summer Lawns
4. Court and Spark
5. Hejira
Thanks, Guys - you didn't 'Miles of Aisles,' which was my introduction to Joni (I still love it!).
Of the studio albums, here are my top five:
1) For the Roses
2) Blue
3) Hejira
4) Hissing of Summer Lawns
5) Court and Spark
P.S. I subscribed.
My choice as well. 'Woman of Heart and Mind' a real favourite from For the Roses but really I just love the way all the songs make up one whole experience
It doesnt belong on this list as it live, but Miles of Aisles is fantastic. For years there was no greatest collection then eventually Hits. So this served as an introduction to me. I had seen Last Waltz and I wanted to know more of Joni's music. It was a Christmas present my junior year of high school. I was hooked. Love all the songs. The songs performed live turned out to be as good, if not preferrable, as the studio versions. Jericho, which later resurfaced on DJRD in an inferior version, is my favorite track on this release.
You gotta mention the year the album was released when you name the albums.
Shadows and Light 1980 live album. With Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. The track Amelia is sublime.
This version of amelia is magnificent
Love hearing your reviews. Joni Mitchell is my favourite artist. Hejira is my favourite album of all time by anyone. I think For the Roses is excellent, but it’s a transitional album for me. I love her albums from the 80s. Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm is among my top five by her (just personal taste). I think Dog Eat Dog is prophetic. Turbulent Indigo is my second favorite JM album after Hejira. Love “Song to a Seagull,” reminds me a bit of Loreena McKennitt, it might been an influence on the latter. For me, Joni Mitchell is a genius, my favourite songwriter by far, and just overall artist.
I think I probably like Turbulent Indigo and Mingus much more than all 3 of you (well-perhaps Jason's putting TI at #5 is closer to how I see it). I also think a reason why I appreciate Joni so much is her acoustic guitar playing is phenomenal! she's really innovative-sometimes even avant garde the way she uses the instrument. depending on who you ask, she has 75 to 150 different tunings-which is just bonkers! not even Sonic Youth can come close to her level of songwriting with alternate tunings
10. Turbulent Indigo
9. Wild Things Run Fast
8. Ladies of the Canyon
7. Song to a Seagull
6. Clouds
5. For the Roses
4. Heijera
3. Court and Spark
2. Blue
1. Hissing of Summer Lawns
The sophistication of ‘In France They Kiss on Main Street ’ ….unparalleled.
That was well done guys!
I was giving a young lady a ride in my car back in the 1980s and I was playing Joni Mitchell. The young lady was a fan of Joni Mitchell. I got angry. Joni Mitchell was my secret, she did not suppose to no about her. My love for Joni Mitchell back in the 80s was not healthy.
Like I said in the Beatles review, I think you can really only discuss an artist's repertoire chronologically. In Joni's case, her debut is a first highlight, obviously, fully versed in the folk idiom she came of age in. Clouds extend and capitalize on that, then "Ladies of the Canyon" prepares for the transition into her second peak performance, Blue, which is the highlight of the piano playing singer songwriter. Again For the Roses extends the atmosphere of Blue and then she slowly gets into jazz territory, first with the poppy Court & Spark, then with the adventurous "Hissing", to achieve a last peak in her career with Hejira. After that, Don Juan... and Mingus prolong the jazz era in a not so captivating manner and next she tries to capture the 80s wave but this idiom just doesn't fit her musicianship and none of these albums are as remarkable. With that "failure" she likely tries going back to her own style in the 90s and nillies, but then her voice has started to crack and she's gone out of synch with the zeitgeist - no shame for anyone in their late forties or fifties!
First Joni Mitchell song was big yellow taxi I liked it then the album hissing of Summer lawns blew me away named my first daughter after her
#1 Court & Spark
#2 Hejira
#3 Blue
#4 Hissing
#5 Night Ride Home
Happy to see Night Ride Home in this list.. such an Atmospheric Album
Jason, Jason, Jason...I've got no words. I think maybe only Joni Mitchell could write a song about how you hear things differently from others. I'm not a huge fan of the jazzy period of her career. My top 5 favorite albums would probably be: 5) Song To A Seagull; 4) Clouds; 3) Ladies of the Canyon; 2) For The Roses; and 1) Blue. After that, I don't know. I remember enjoying Turbulent Indigo back in the day, but I would have to listen to everything again in order to figure it out.
It took me a while to learn to like Joni Mitchell, but once I really gave her records a chance and listened through them all, they basically get better with each listen. The only album I really didn't like at all was Taming the Tiger which I just can't stand for some reason.
19. Travelogue (2002) ★★
18. Dog Eat Dog (1985) ★★½
17. Taming the Tiger (1998) ★★½
16. Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm (1988) ★★½
15. Mingus (1979) ★★½
14. Both Sides Now (2000) ★★★
13. Night Ride Home (1991) ★★★
12. Shine (2007) ★★★
11. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977) ★★★
10. Wild Things Run Fast (1982) ★★★
9. Song to a Seagull (1968) ★★★½
8. Turbulent Indigo (1994) ★★★½
7. Clouds (1969) ★★★★
6. For the Roses (1972) ★★★★
5. Ladies of the Canyon (1970) ★★★★
4. The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) ★★★★
3. Hejira (1976) ★★★★½
2. Blue (1971) ★★★★★
1. Court and Spark (1974) ★★★★★
★★★★★ - Masterpiece
★★★★½ - Really great
★★★★ - Great
★★★½ - Really good
★★★ - Good
★★½ - OK
★★ - Bad
★½ - Really bad
★ - Awful
½ - The worst
I think her two live albums, Miles of Aisles and Shadows and Light, should be included, they're great in their own ways, and the live version of Big Yellow Taxi on MOA is better than all the other versions, incl. Counting Crows.
It's always brave to tackle these big discographies and especially for an artist who I think you best appreciate when you're in the right mood.
My ownership of Joni's albums is sketchy. I have her two main live albums, Miles of Aisles and Shadows and Light. Two compilations, Hits and Misses and three studio albums which I rank in the following order
3 Blue
2 Hejira
1 Court & Spark
For several years, the Hits compilation and The Poet by Bobby Womack were my Sunday morning albums.
Great reviews and rankings! Wonderful and thoughtful comments!
Here's my 10 favorite albums......
1 Blue
2 Court and Spark
3 Hejira
4 The Hissing of Summer Lawns
5 For the Roses
6 Ladies of the Canyon
7 Clouds
8 Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
9 Turbulent Indigo
10 Song to a Seagull
"A lot of differences" says it all...Joni can appeal to any genre!
Perhaps I should have said many genres...
In 1982, when I was just out of college and wondering what to do next, I listened to Court and Spark a lot in my car. It had a maturity to it that really connected to my situation, in particular "Down to You." I could feel Joe's excitement as he tried to describe all the good things about this album.
I've listened to Blue a few times. It's good, but I like Court and Spark better because it has less of a folky, singer/songwriter feeling to it.
I turned on to Hejira after a co-worker described it as an album for when you first wake up in the morning.
Just discovered your channel courtesy of your Joni M and Kate Bush videos. Really enjoy hearing your impressions on these artists particularly, as there's no one in my own social circle who listens to them.
I adore Joni from top to bottom, but I just don't click with the Blue album. And I really dislike A Case of You - to me it's one of the most boring songs in her catalogue. All her other 70s output however takes the cake as my most listened to albums of any artist, period. I couldn't live without Hejira, Court & Spark, and Hissing, and Don Juan is utterly thrilling every time it surges through my headphones.
BTW, my initiation and first hook into Joni: Chalk Mark.
Great stuff guys enjoyed this. I only have 5 of her albums, so this makes we want to check out some of the others
P.S - What do ye think of Warren Zevon?
I love him. I think he's one of the greatest songwriters of all time. A lot of his albums suffer from bad production though. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic 100% agree with all of that. Ya he's up there in my Top 5 Songwriters....
I personally think to pimp a butterfly is her best album
Court & Spark is my favorite.
Number 1 for me is "For the Roses."
My top three are Court and Spark, Hejira and Ladies of the Canyon
I agree Court&Spark is her best album. It is the connection point from her Folk period to her Jazz period. After Blue she was one of the biggest stars of the scene, and she could have the best players on her record. No womder she choose the best muiscians at that time. And also no wonder that she teamed up with the then and i think still now best Bass and Gutiar player of all time, Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny.
Hissing, seagull, court and spark, ladies of the canyon, blue, night ride home, hejira
Love your Tshirt Joe. I'm a big Sonic Youth fan. It would be cool if I found a SY Tshirt with Aja's cover :)
Thank you! Haha that would be pretty awesome.
Great idea, great work and opportunity to revisit Joni's albums. Thank you for that. Here is how I feel:
Turbulent Indigo at #1.
The songs are beautifully written and as a musician I feel that her guitar and music composition skills are at their best here. The lyrics become both abstract and universal in what they look at and how they describe it. To me that's actually her peak in musicality and musicianship. It also feels as a more ''authentically Joni'' album, almost as raw as Blue. Here other musicians are only discrete protagonists at her service. It frankly feels as if it was a solo acoustic album even though it clearly is not. She manages to paint the world with her guitar and words in a manner that is possibly unmatched yet in pop music. I love everything about this album including Sex Kills which is a master piece of guitar harmony and rhythm. If you don't like this song you need to listen to a live version of it with just her on the guitar: ua-cam.com/video/CESBHEDlPzA/v-deo.html
In Turbulent Indigo: Joni 's song show that they only need Joni. Here Joni can do everything and needs no one, she's a writer, a voice, a painter, a guitarist and a fantastic rhythm section.
Hissing of Summer Lawns at #2.
It has this warm, classy, and mastered sound to it and her writing and voice become even more mastered. This a turning point album in her discography and it is fascinating that it comes after Court and Spark from which it widely differs. This is a perfect album and probably the album that has the highest concentration of great songs of all Joni's albums. It could have been number 1, but I just feel that Joni's musicianship is way more accomplished in the 90's.
#3 Blue.
It was an entry point for me into Joni's music so it has a strong sentimental value. I evolved to like her deeper voice way more than her higher-pitched but this album is perfect in its own way. I feel that in terms of musicianship and songwriting her peak is actually in the 90's with Turbulent Indigo and Night Ride Home, but blue already tells you that the best Joni Mitchell is the raw Joni Mitchell.
#4 Night Ride Home
Night Ride Home forms a great diptych with Turbulent Indigo.This is an underrated album, it radiates inner peace and mastery. And some of her best songwriting is here: Night Right Home, Slouching Toward Bethlehem, Passion Play, etc. As in Turbulent Indigo, she created this rhythmical aspect to her songs that magnifies her words very well. Her work on harmony here and in Turbulent Indigo is a masterpiece.
#5. Dog Eat Dog.
Dog Eat Dog is a VERY underrated album. It has this kitschy 80's sound but there are underlying song structures and lyrics that are quite impressive. The Three Great Stimulants is among one of my favorite Joni songs and, just for that song, the album is legitimate in a top 10. Listening to her play it live, and seeing her slowly dance to the rhythm she creates is a magical experience. It is a testament to how Joni was still absolutely great in the 80's even though she was widely misunderstood. She experimented with sound but, more deeply, her songwriting and composition skills were still masterful:
ua-cam.com/video/SyAhJag4MAw/v-deo.html
#6 Hejira
#7 Clouds
#8 Don Juan's
#9 Court and Spark
#10 Mingus
Interesting takes. We disagree but well argued nonetheless. - Joe
Yes! I didn’t know about the poll or I would’ve voted for Joni as well. For some reason, I always forget to look at your community page. To me, she is one of the greatest songwriters of all time but for some reason does not immediately come to peoples minds when thinking about great songwriters, singers, or musicians. She certainly deserves her place though. Thank you so much...19 albums is a huge undertaking.
For any other big Joni Mitchell fans, there’s a terrific channel in the vinyl community, Shannon Talks Music, who is doing an in-depth series on Joni, complete with biography and a video devoted to each of her albums, in chronological order. Here is a link to the first one for her 1968 album, “Song to a Seagull”: ua-cam.com/video/tVyol_EJWXk/v-deo.html
P.S. “Dog Eat Dog” is pretty awful, in contrast to the rest of her discography. Thomas Dolby was a terrible match to bring on board as a producer, they butted heads the whole way and the end result was not good. And I like Thomas Dolby. I have several albums that he produced, Prefab Sprout “Steve McQueen” (“Two Wheels Good” here in the states) being my favorite, and they all sound good, though they are all dated... Dolby has a definite 80s vibe.
If you hit subscribe, you won't have to worry about missing the community page 😉
@@ryankramzer1256 Oops, I thought I already did that. Thank you. ETA: I was subscribed but had not “rang” the bell 😂
@@ryankramzer1256 OK now it’s telling me that I can’t hit the bell for notifications because your channel is meant for children? Oh UA-cam.
@@LisaTedescoVC What? Hmmm...We'll look into it.
Court and Spark... but I like all her albums and many of her videos and solo performances and in concerts filmed like "Coyote" on The Band's Last Waltz live. ¡Gracias, amigos!
Personally, I am amazed that Don Juan's Reckless Daughter isn't tops in the comments. Loved her early stuff but this record - I've got two copies and lost another to a girlfriend - is my most played album of all time. Love also everything except eighties stuff; glad she came back with fabulous Turbulent Indigo.
ranking albums is a pretty risky and daring enterprise. i enjoyed your ranking and reasoning behind it. it was fun and illuminating. kudos! how about doing one on Tom Waits albums?
Apart from everything from Blue to Hejeira, Night Ride Home is probably my favorite. Listen to Slouching Towards Bethlehem again.
With an artist like Joni Mitchell I find it impossible to rank albums in order. If I had to do something like this, I'd just categorize them as "Good. better, best" --with several entries in each category.
god this was so fun to watch
Thanks!
Court And Spark just for Raised On Robbery alone, her greatest song. Blue of course then Hejira, For The Roses, Clouds, Hissing Of Summer Lawns and Ladies Of The Canyon.
I'd like to see the trio rank the following artists/groups - Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Gordon Lightfoot, Steve Smith & Vital Information.
19. Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm
18. Dog Eat Dog
17. Taming the Tiger
16. Travelouge
15. Shine
14. Both Sides Now
13. Turbulent Indigo
12. Song to a Seagull
11. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
10. Wild Things Run Fast
9. Mingus
8. Night Ride Home
7. Clouds
6. Hissng of the Summer Lawns
5. Court and Spark
4. Hejira
3. Blue
2. Ladies of the Canyon
1. For the Roses