Blue

Simply just an immaculate album, top to bottom. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 10. Joni Mitchell needs happiness like a human needs oxygen or how a fish needs water. That’s the modus operandi of this album. She’s trying desperately to find it, or to return to the things that give her that happiness. To truly feel this album, you have to find sympathy for that search. Joni Mitchell makes it very easy to find, even if it takes a few listens. These are some of the most well-written tracks I’ve ever heard, and Joni’s masterful vocal delivery makes them work as always. It feels like eavesdropping on someone’s soul, through all the ups & downs of that search for happiness, including the peaks of global travel that can at least make her smile, and the lows, such as putting up her child for adoption or flying away from the people willing to give her the stars. It’s beautiful. I wish I had the words in me to describe how I felt while listening to this, but to find them would probably require an introspection & an intimacy reflective of Joni’s own, and I just don’t think I can do that. At least not as beautifully as she can. I have the words to describe how I felt AFTER listening to this, though. I’d equate it to feeling the most melancholy poem in the world welling up in your throat, one you didn’t even know you had in you, and yet one that’s still difficult to truly express. Her honesty feels inspiring, and it makes me want to document more of the world as I know it. There is a beauty to being able to feel, and I think this album has shown me that I just don’t feel enough. I want to be able to feel in a way that lets me write things like this. She’s so vivid that it’s impossible to not imagine these, and yet she does it with a tact that feels reflective of a side of humanity & a connection to the world that I’m not sure I’ve ever truly felt. I don’t think I’ve ever had an album leave me like this. Oh, she’s got me crying now, fuck. I think everyone should feel that sense of revelation after listening to this. Just go listen to it. It’s fantastic poetry for the soul. It’s a 10. Thanks, Joni.

Good song writing but her voice just doesn’t do it for me. Two good tracks and that’s all I could give this album

This is an extraordinary album, musically sparse and painfully honest. It was written when Joni Mitchell had just come out of her relationship with Graham Nash and was about to embark on a new one with troubled musician James Taylor. In between she spent time travelling through Europe ending up living in Greece with sand in her hair and tar on her feet. The songs on this album range from hope to regret to melancholy, with a simple backing of Appalachian dulcimer, guitar and piano, with Mitchell's vocals wavering with emotion in places. In the title track she sings that songs are like tattoos - permanent reminders of the past, of joy and pain. This is most evident on the song Little Green that she wrote shortly after poverty forced her to give up her baby daughter for adoption. Mother and daughter were reunited in 1997, giving closure to that chapter of her life.

First time listening to this entire album. Love the lyrics and music.

So sad and yet so musical, the guitar and piano tracks on this album are all amazing and pairing them with the vocals ON TOP of well written lyrics makes it what it is

i didnt quite get it... a few pretty good songs tho

Really really good. Joni Mitchell is such a great vocalist and song writer. It's a quick album with amazing lyricism and it's very beautiful sounding

This sounds like the inside of a World Market but I like it. The self titled is moving and very pretty.

One of my all time favorites ever, a perfect singer songwriter album

When music was really unplugged

Beautiful album. I think I can be a huge fan of Joni's contribution to music without being the biggest fan of her voice and particular style.

Oh man. Another album that always reaches top ten's of every list ever, and I haven't heard it! 01. All I Want Really sick opener! Those vocals are beautiful! 02. My Old Man Is superbly pretty, with some gorgeous lyrics. 03. Little Green Actual beauty. I don't know what to say, as I feel like a broken record here. 04. Carey Didn't care for this one as much. Just not as cozy or sweet. Still great, just not AS great. 05. Blue So badass. Beautiful piano performance. 06. California Song made me laugh and happy! 07. This Flight Tonight Is just kind of fine compared to the rest of the tracks, but is still awesome. 08. River That chorus is tear-shed worthy. Purely beautiful. 09. A Case Of You Actually made me cry. God damn it... 10. The Last Time I Saw Richard One of the weaker ones... and it's still incredible. Well, it's Blue. Everyone loves this album. And now I know why.

8.5/10

Too slow-paced for me.

Great songwriting but I can only do so much of her voice

I've had a lot of Joni of late. Another lovely album.

Auch mit ihrem dritten Album in dieser Liste werde ich kein Fan von Joni Mitchell.

Habe es schon mehrfach mit Alben von ihr versucht, teils mehrmals. Gibt mir nichts, wobei ich ihre Musik für richtig gut gemacht halte.

I do not care.

übel, und ich dachte, das müsste mir eigentlich gefallen!

Blue is considered one of the best albums ever released, and by many, the best folk album ever released. Not without reason. Joni Mitchell is really special. Folk is all about two things : the voice and the texts. And she nails both on a level that few would dream to. I've heard that she's rarely covered because of how hard it would be to imitate her singing; I don't know if that's true, but I wouldn't be surprised. You listen to her songs, and you think you know where it's going, and then her voice carries you elsewhere entirely. "My Old Man" encapsulates this the best I reckon, on the "We don't need no piece of paper / From the city hall / Keeping us tied and true" lines. It's eerie but she makes it work. As for the texts, Joni is a great storyteller first and foremost, but also an incredible poet. Just listen to the titular "Blue". "Songs are like tattoos" she says. Because the great ones are carved into your skin and into your soul with a permanent ink, just like this whole sublime, soothing album is in mine.

9.07

Blue is another Sunday morning album which is easy to listen too but the song its self is rather sad as she wants both love and freedom without losing something along the way.

Another chilled album like Nick Drake, but didnt find the songs as memerable and Joni's voice is quite shrill

Really great and personal folk album from one of the best to ever do it.

A really difficult album to rate. It's got everything I should like, but it just doesn't do it for me. 3.5

This was a chore.

Oh my god

Love it!

Love it.

It finally happened--I don't absolutely hate "River" anymore. If I listen to this record 1000 more times, maybe the rest will click as well. 2 keepers in 10 (20%).

Teied to like her music but despite the great voice and songwriting there is sonething that just doesnt click with me

Yeah, obviously a beautiful and moving album. Lovely bit of Appalachian dulcimer too. In my head it was a 5 star, but maybe some of it's hippy-ness has faded a bit.

And now I am ready to wish you all a good night! (and it's 11am...) Seriously, are all four Joni Mitchell's albums on this list really necessary? And this one is apparently the most celebrated, the breakthrough one etc. I really don't get her music...

It's not unpleasant, but it IS pretty thoroughly boring for the majority of the runtime. The same criticism applies to this as her other albums, in that her lyrics and vocal delivery is off-putting. She's just chucking way too much at it, and most songs are too dense with lyrics. I get the appeal, but this project has made it pretty clear that Joni Mitchell isn't for me. 2.5 rounded down.

perfection! women are wow <3

What a fantastic voice and such technical skill to maintain the tone and emotion she wants. I still can’t get completely on board with all of the leaps in notes without a clear melodic line. It has a dizzying effect. But still very glad to hear this all the way through. Favorites were Carey and The Last Time I Saw Richard.

Standouts All I Want

Great storytelling but I just cant get to like Joni Mitchells voice

How can one be so popular with such dull music and sound is truly incomprehensible.

Joni is genius.

I know an objectively beautiful and moving album but alas I have no emotions

Beautiful beautiful the origin of beautiful beautiful songwriting. She’s lovely

Good album, not stuff I’d normally listen to. Not quite for me though

3.3/5 - Not big on the vocals. Come to think of it, I'm not big on much about this album...

perfection, lyrics and songs of this quality are very far and between

Much better than I was expecting.

I think it's fair to call this a folk masterpiece. There's so many choices that set it apart from other folk. Like the weird little out of key notes, which might be from jazz scales idk man. And then there's also that chromatic ascent when she sings "paper from the city hall" in My Old Man. Also the part where the tone switches and the electric guitar comes in on This Flight Tonight is fun as heck. Her voice is awesome and never sounds weak and airy like some other artists who sing high like that. I knew a couple of these songs before but didn't realize how strong the album was as a whole. Never got bored of the lyrics and I've listened to it 5 times. Sad jingle bells is my favorite.

really narrow sound, but it's performed to a T. consistent, clearly something special, maybe a mindblower for 1971. lovely voice. favorite song was My Old Man. very strong 3

Rating: 10/10 Exquisite, a lovely collection of folk tunes. Just a classic. Soft and so poetic. Some of the most beautiful acoustic guitar ever recorded and its production is top notch, and I love Joni's voice that cuts right through it. It's pretty much perfect all the way through, from the big classics like California, A Case of You, and River (the anti-social anti-Christmas song) to deeper cuts like the beautiful back to back of Little Green and Carey, and a couple of the stranger songs like the title track and This Flight Tonight. Every track is unique and interesting in its own way. My favorite song though is still the opener All I Want. Could be one of the best songs ever made in my eyes. Incredible guitar plucking, and the lyrics really bring out the combination of the bittersweet, both the love and hurt, that's present in all of Blue.

Zzzzz...

Beautiful vocals and good music. While nothing jumped out at me it was very easy listening!

Queria gostar mais de Mitchell, mas não vai. O foco de suas canções são seus vocais, e eu simplesmente não gosto tanto deles. É uma voz bonita, não é nem um pouco desagradável, mas não me causa sensação alguma. Ouço o disco com total indiferença. É triste pois vejo o quão aclamado Blue é criticamente, então ouvi o álbum com a mente aberta, desejando que ele clicasse para mim. Não clicou. Muito tédio e monotonia. 2.5/5

1971. Fourth studio album. Entirely written and produced by Mitchell.

This is a great beautiful sounding album

Umm. No. That voice is awful

Wonderful voice. Great musicianship. Fabulous songwriting. This is a wonderful album.

Liked some songs more than others but overall ok. Her voice wearing over the course of a whole album.

To be considered one of the top albums of 1971 (along with led zep 4 and what’s going on) when the competition was so exceptional is quite an achievement. Along with a dulcimer, piano and acoustic guitar, Joni creates an album of remarkable intimacy with her then legendary wide range and what were perceived to be highly confessional lyrics. Listening today it sounds like a total masterpiece and James Taylor and Graham Nash will never die so long as people listen to this album. How many female singer songwriters owe a debt of gratitude to this artist and album.....?

Joni Mitchell is a genius. Full stop. This record shows why. Vocal command. Lyrical prowess. Musical depth. It's timeless and beautiful music.

I love some Joni Mitchell, and I wanted to like this more than I actually did.

Gosh there are songs on this album I absolutely love. I guess for that I’ll give it a 4 but there are others that I find too sleepy. This is a weighted average 4.

Now I really am moving to LA – also Paris All subtypes of love song covered; California is perfect and Carey and River are strange and divine

5/5 - an album I return to often. Influential on so many levels and the songs...they just feel like one continuous melody. The lyrics toe the perfect line of being specific enough to take you to a time and place (London, California, Canada, the late 60s), but general enough to see yourself in the music (writing love letters that never get sent, feeling the thrill of traveling on your own, having a sad girl summer). It's just so good.

Easy 5

yep

blueprints!

like it was fine? not a whole lot too it, pretty generic I guess

This really is a high moment in a series of very good albums, spanning from the late 60's to the mid-70's. For the most part, the arrangements are quite spare, solo guitar and piano pieces with a few pieces that have drum and bass. The songwriting tends towards the confessional with a few political moments and songs about daily life. It's all done really well. Not much to say, but it was enjoyable to hear this again.

This was a sweet listen, Joni has a beautiful and soft voice, very gorgeous. I was today years old when I realised one of my fav songs this year sampled her song ‘California’ off this album- which also happens to be my favourite out of all the tracks. To be honest though, I wasn’t exactly blown away. I felt that most of the tracks blended into one another and sonically the songs were kind of a bore…nice background music not something I’d playlist though. Im sad it didn’t resonate with me as much because I know how well loved this album is

My second favorite after Court and Spark.

I definitely could have been a more considerate listener but I think I prefer Tia Blake/Joan Baez

I didn't dislike it but I also didn't really vibe with it.

I always forget how old the music of Joni Mitchell actually is. Blue is a timeless classic and could easily be released years later. One of the best singer/songwriter albums of alltime, right from the heart.

Classic. I know it's good, but JM and Blue never 'do it' do it for me. If you love singer songwriters, it's a must. Has my wife's favorite song, even if she prefers it by another artist. over all A+

Best heard when sad or crying.

I think Joni Mitchell is pretty polarizing. If you hate her voice, you're never going to rate her higher than 2 stars, even for what is arguably her best album. I have no such problem, so to me this is a masterpiece.

Plate

Actually super film

"The Last Time I Saw Richard" is giving "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez and I mean that as a compliment. Technically this came first so rather: "Diamonds and Rust" is giving "The Last Time I Saw Richard" by Joni Mitchell. I know Mitchell is legendary in the folk scene but all I know her from is the endlessly covered "Big Yellow Taxi". Nice to hear what she's got outside of that one done-to-death song. Sounds like she deserves her reputation. Quite good for a collection of love sick break up songs.

Joni at her purest. A damn fine album.

A master singer-songwriter album. I’m a little ashamed to admit it but I’ve kind of grown off Joni over the course of this project—her reedy warble that’s never quite on tempo is incredibly distinct, but it does eventually get old. But she still flexes it to some effect in this recording, with the spare arrangements and bright open guitar tunings framing it well. And of course she hit an early and remarkable peak as a songwriter here, both in love (A Case of You) and loss (Little Green).

Not for me thanks but folk music isn't my thing. She's clearly a talented musician and songwriter.

Beautiful singing. A good album to relax too. 3/5 Favorite Songs: All I Want Blue California A Case of You

Fantastic album. Joni pulls on your heartstrings like no other. She’s iconic

Yesterday I got an album that had been hyped up online and didn't live up to that hype so I was nervous to get another album that had been hyped up online and what I have come to think of as THE Joni Mitchell album. I am happy to say that this album did live up to the hype. Its my second Joni Mitchell album in this experience and I like this one significantly more. I can't explain why, could be the song writing is better. The compositions and arrangements are better or some combination of that. I also find it amazing that this album wasn't carried by any big hits or any songs I had heard before listening to the album in full, which I think is a testament to Mitchell's ability as a song writer. Great way to start my Tuesday. 4/5

Perfect album

I had never listened to a Joni Mitchell song before, let alone a whole album. What a powerful, emotional voice! 4/5.

good

me gustó, tiene pinta de subir puntos cuando lo escuche de nuevo

Overrated

Very distinct sound. Not for me but so recognizable.

Not really my usual stuff but pretty enjoyable! She's obviously got a great voice, and the music was pretty interesting sometimes.

Very good. My biggest qualm is the lyrics sometimes just do NOT flow well: “Richard got married to a figure skater And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator” … what? It just doesn’t flow well with the song.

- nehez hangnemvaltasok es -ugrasok, pontos kivitelezes - oszinte, egyszeru de szep szovegek - szovegcentrikus - nagy hagterjedelem - Cseh Tamas US noi folkban haha

Im a sap for a blues woman but she was spittin she touched me. i just wish she was a bit heavyier in the voals if that makes sense 4.5/5 i really loved her voice

I grew up listening to this album. Mom played it often when I was little so I'm very familiar with all these songs. Many of them are in my regular rotation. I still almost cried twice listening to it today and I only kept it together because I was at work. Songs like Little Green and The Last Time I Saw Richard get me every time. Joni Mitchell has such a hauntingly beautiful voice. It's not all blues and melancholy though, with upbeat tracks like All I Want and Carey balancing things out. There's even a Christmas song sort of. 10/10

✅

What a beautiful album btw