Rating: 8.5/10

Top Track: ‘California’

Finally, FINALLY a female artist. Took me long enough, but here we are. I made this choice very carefully as my dad was a big fan of Joni Mitchell. A near-perfect mix of pop and folk with that unique voice of hers, she paved the way for solo female artists. Oh, and she can write amazing songs like no one’s business, just listen to her words on this album. I mean, wow. In fact, this album is probably what cemented her as a music legend; just take a look at its track record. The New York Times chose it as one of the 25 albums that represented “turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century music” in January 2000. In 2012, “Blue” was rated number 30 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, the highest by a female artist on that list. And more recently, in July 2017, this album was chosen by NPR as the greatest album of all time made by a woman. Just like her songs, the impact of this album is so powerful.

I’m not going to lie, I had pretty tough time choosing a top track for this album. For every other album I’ve covered, it hasn’t been too tough of a decision; this album’s top track choice has been the most difficult, hands down. I eventually decided on ‘California’ because it sounds like what I think of when I think of Joni. It’s just such an uplifting song that fits pretty well with the time of year we’re currently in; it’s a great summer song to play while driving around. Also, James Taylor plays guitar on this track. James Taylor! Another one of my dad’s favorites. Taylor lays down some fun and playful guitar licks on this song. Joni’s singing on this track is the best on the album in my opinion. The way she sings the song almost sounds like she’s just telling a story in her silky smooth voice. Also, it’s a song about my home state. It just hits home for me, pun intended.

Before recording this album, Joni Mitchell decided to take a break from performing after her success from her previous album “Ladies of the Canyon” which contained the two big hits ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ and ‘Woodstock’. Although she never made an appearance at Woodstock, the single took on big commercial success after its release one month after the festival in 1969. While vacationing in Europe, she sent a telegram to Graham Nash with whom she had been in a relationship with for almost two years letting him know that the relationship was over. Ouch. It is thought that the songs ‘My Old Man’ and ‘River’ were inspired by the relationship. Every single song’s lyrics on this album are so poetic and yet so direct, it’s amazing reading the lyrics on the inside cover while Joni sings them.

Just like I remarked about Marvin Gaye in my last post, no one sings like Joni Mitchell today and I don’t think anyone will in the future. If a warm summer’s breeze could sing, it would have the voice of Joni Mitchell. I could listen to her sing all day from my turntable through my speakers. Her singing is so smooth and dream-like, it could put me to sleep in a good way. Not only does she sing well, this album is almost 100% all her. With the exception of some added guitar, bass guitar, and drums on some tracks, this album is comprised of only Joni. Jumping back and forth from her folk-style acoustic guitar playing to her contemporary playing of the piano, Joni Mitchell creates an album unlike any I have heard before. It’s like if Bob Dylan and Erik Satie had a love child. Mitchell’s ability to tell stories through her lyrics is unparalleled by itself, but her skill in telling stories with just her instruments is equally, if not more impressive. While she has changed the sound of her music over the years, she is still arguably the best female folk singer-songwriters ever. Scratch that. One of the best folk singer-songwriters ever. Period.