Blue

One of the best records I have, and one of the best Christmas songs in "River" too.

I'm not really sure what to say about this album. I'm not sure I really understand why it's considered _so_ good, maybe I just didn't listen intently enough. I find the vocal mildly unpleasant, but nothing that ruins anything. Standouts Carey California 3/5

Teilweise gute Nummern.

I hated this, the entire thing

Didnt like it at all

A fun fact about my cat: he loves Joni Mitchell. He will always come and hang out if he hears her. I love Joni Mitchell too, so that works out. This is one of the albums I already own on vinyl, so I was excited when it popped up here and I had an excuse to revisit it!

A beautiful, beautiful 4

it goes without saying but the songwriting is some of the best i’ve ever heard!!!!! i understand why this is a staple 😻

Solid, but a bit much at times.

the hissing of summer yawns

im pretty sure this is a 5 yeah

I understand why this is rated so highly by critics. But, the songwriting style (storytelling, minute details) just aren't for me. Her voice is divine at times, but the high falsetto gets a little jarring. "River" was a standout, and "A Case of You" is better with James' Taylor's guitar. 3/5

It wasn't anything too special

Joni Mitchell was not a name I was familiar with before doing this project and she has quickly become one of my favorite singer songwriters. I love her music

Another astonishingly well-made album from Joni. Although I like Court and Spark better, this is an equally great album.

I liked this. Joni Mitchell is great. I don't love her singing style all the time, but I was in the mood for it today 3.5

It's OK. Musically it's nice, vocally it's nice, but I'm afraid that 'nice' just doesn't really butter my parsnips.

# 300 : Keeping it real, nice voice and nice instrumentation (what ever it's called), not sure it’s the 3rd best album in the world (Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of all time), but it's nice and sweet. Very beautiful and heartfelt. Favourite Track : Carey Listened : 16/08/2024

Not really a fan of this.

The vocal pyrotechnics often undercut the emotional moments of the songs by distracting from them rather than emphasizing them. I also find her voice to just be grating at times. The instrumentals are nothing special at best, pretty corny at worst.

Really different than I was expecting. Way too folksy for me.

Absolutely beautiful. Just a real work of art, and a musician with unbelievable talent. I wish i had listen to this earlier in life. 4.5/5 Definitely will listen again

Fantastic album.

Perfection

Only listened to first half. Joni's voice sounds nice but the timbre of the songs is a little too light and airy for me. Pleasant background music for a nice morning.

Heard it before... it's over my head. Got bored. Yes I'm the problem on this one

i streamed one song and i fear it was good but i hate joni mitchell so this is a 0 for me

Beautiful voice and great folk songs.

Not my cup of tea. What I expected from a Joni Mitchell album. Probably one of those albums you needed to be 15 for when it came out.

Pretty good ngl

A beautiful album, much-loved since my teens. Not a bad song on it.

Pleasant enough to have warbling away in the background, but that’s about it for me.

Melancholy, yet soothing. I like it

Отличный альбом, который породил, мне видится, всё женское инди 10-ых. Лучшая песня - River.

Angelic voice and captivating songwriting - my kids love this one and I see why after a listen.

Poetry in music. A reminder that I should always listen with the lyrics up.

Favorite Song: River

in my younger and more vulnerable years, I once spent an entire lunchtime arguing with one of my Year 10 music teachers about whether Joni Mitchell sucked or not. really I was rescuing him from ripping bongs and day-drinking in the staff room, which is usually how he spent his lunchtimes. one time he pegged a recorder at a kid and ran out of the room crying because, for some reason, playing a recorder along to some afro-cuban beats in 7/8 wasnt enthralling to a class of 14 year olds. his wife was a substitute teacher at the school and nothing gave me a more visceral understanding of freudian sexual development than seeing those two together. anyway suffice to say that I don't get joni mitchell at all. music for people who own 4 airbnbs for tax purposes and refuse to fix the plumbing in any of them. the best thing she ever did was temporarily quit the music industry to become a morgellons awareness activist

Not usually the kind of album I go out of my way to listen to, but I’m glad I did. Lyrically it’s a really solid LP, and Joni’s voice sounds great; her voice is technically great, yet still has a raw honest edge to it. I just feel the overall album is a bit of a slog to get through. It’s a very somber record. But from a musicality standpoint it sort of loses its momentum with me as it goes on. I like variety in my LP’s, and very few genres can hold my interest unless there’s a bunch of different flavours thrown in the mix. I give this album a 3 - but it’s a high 3.

I can see why critics are so high on it. Her voice is pretty incredible and an amazing instrument that is well-used on the entirety of the album. The piano work is engaging and, for me, leads a pretty good musical effort. The problem was I was just bored with all the songs. I kept thinking, "Oh man, there is some potential here and I can't wait for the next song to catch my interest. It happened precisely once on "River." Most other times, the lyrics just felt a bit too artsy and forced into a cadence that rejected them. I understand the reverence for this the same way I may appreciate a painting I don't particularly want to look at for long.

What a terrible album. I think I like this even less than Tapestry by Carole King.

May become one that I looks back on and wonder why I gave it a mid rating. The flow of the vocals don't work for me too well and although it started to grow on me, it is taking a lot of effort.

Great voice and great lyrics. Its just not an easy listen for me. There is just something missing for me. I think the album lacks fun. Favourite song: River Least favourite: everything was much of a muchness Album artwork: Great cover

I appreciate its place in music history, but I've tried to enjoy this album more than a few times over the years, and something about it just doesn't quite click with me. I go back and forth on whether I enjoy her voice or not, but I definitely think it's too loud in the mix.

The album review was very interesting. It talked about how this album came out at the tail end of the hippie movement, and the music reflects this in a stripped down, singer-songwriter format that is so common today. The themes are melancholy and personal, the album title Blue fits it well. Joni Mitchell is always going to be the Big Yellow Taxi artist to me, but she is more than that. Her voice and range is not my preferred taste, but I recognize her talent and her influence on folk music. I'm proud that she's a Canadian.

I too sometimes wish I had a river I could skate away on.

Glad that was only 10 songs

Beautiful album. What a talented songwriter

(listened feb 5 2024) its fine i guess highlights: all i want, california

Great stuff

On one hand, you can feel how much influence this album has had on so much music that came after it. On the other hand, not really my style.

Gets better as it goes.

Kept losing my attention - got better as it went on.

Really listened to River. What a song, the lyrics are amazing.

Interesting voice. I like it, but sometimes it can be a tad bit much.

Gorgeous.

Too much Joni Mitchell. One album was plenty. 2 is too many.

I think maybe I’m just not enlightened enough yet for Joni Mitchell. I’m one of those plebs who doesn’t like the style and it makes me sad bc she’s obviously very talented

I was super impressed by the first song, but by the end of the first half I was a little eh on it. But the B Side is an absolute masterpiece, 5 back to back great songs. This is a fantastic singer-songwriter album with some incredibly strong pop choruses. If the front half were as strong as the back, this could easily be one of my favorites. Great record nonetheless!

Brilliant album.

Beautiful album, no notes, perfect

Love Joni Mitchell and was happy to finally have an album of hers on here! Short album as well but some great music!

UGH. Now we're cookin. Antithesis of Frank Sinatra. Obviously comparing them doesn't make sense haha but he was my last album so. All I'm saying is what a relief. Nothin like authenticity. Real vulnerability, risk, expression, feelings, growth. This is the good stuff.

Great album probably my favorite joni mitchell album. Low to medium 4

Didn't know "River" as Joni's originally. Always love that song - even when it's not Christmas.

God damn it. The 1001 editors have a hard on for Joni Mitchell. 4th album so far. Please stop.

I did not expect to like this at all. Thinking of rating this as a 5, it's amazing.

Feel like her voice goes a little high and warb-ly for my tastes but still have always enjoyed this album

Top three were carey, california, and this flight tonight I appreciate the tenderness in her songwriting, very honest. Some of it was just a little too old folk-y for me

I liked it. I want to listen to it sitting on the porch on full volume with no other distractions to really hear the words and get the full effect.

God oplevelse. Ikke lige min genre. Synger underligt men behagelig oplevelse

I do not understand why this is considered folk. I think that Joni Mitchell is one of those artists who cannot be tied down to a genre because in all honestly, she is her own genre.

Première fois que j'écoute Joni Mitchell. Aucun intérêt pour moi, ce chant minimaliste standard ne m'attire pas du tout et ne génère qu'un profond ennui. Je ne suis pas allé au bout. Et dire qu'il y en a 3 autres à venir ... =>1/5

Decent

new kind of music for me, but a good album. maybe need to grow on me a little

A realisten, but what a joy.

I was expecting a classic instead i get hippy lyrics , boring music and a very dated sound.

Better than the last Joni Mitchell album, which was too jazzy for me. Some of these songs are quite beautiful-sounding but it's hard for me to imagine wanting to listen to them frequently

Not sure I was in the right mood for this album. It is fantastic however. Voice of an angel and some wonderful songwriting.

She had an "intense relationship with James Taylor" at the time. That explains a lot about the music. I can just see them trying to outdo each other with ever increasingly witty and broody love poems, with Nick Drake watching from the side, bitter and depressed about his own solitude. Meanwhile Graham Nash is cracking beers with Crosby and the boys, glad to finally be free of that looney case.

Nice background music

This is just folk rock at its absolute peak, pretty much as good as it gets here. The lyrics are raw and emotional, it's simple but catchy at the same time, Joni just strips it back and crushes it. It seems like the context is that she had a few relationships and breakups around this time (including with Graham Nash and James Taylor) and decided to take a break after her third album for a European vacation, which is the backdrop for a lot of this. It just consistently comes across as honest and sincere, she's not holding anything back. This is also one of the rare albums that gets better as it goes. It's incredible the whole way through, but a lot of my favorite songs on here were on the back half. Just an awesome album all the way through, easy 5 stars. Favorite song: California Other: All I Want, My Old Man, Little Green, Carey, Blue, This Flight Tonight, River, A Case of You, The Last Time I Saw Richard 7/13/24

one of one, this girl. 2.5

Not my fav Joni

Lots of songs were just too saccharine and sappy for me, although enough were more punchy that I tipped up into a two star review. I'd describe it as "okay" at best.

truly a one of a kind artist, great album

10/10. talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique.

She is very good and a very particular flavor.

Generally not my kind of music but Joni does have some feeling and heart in her singing and her lyrics. I can see why it's on this list.

Ååå skrev fett me notes men de försvann ju?! Va va meningen me de… aja Jag tyckte d va vibe! Brukar inte gilla mer balladig musik men acordföljderna och hennes inlevelse och röst gjorde d ändå intressant! Gillade också hennes röst, d e en statementrlst i min smak, snygg teckning med registerbyten och lätt vibrato Would listen to again mennn blanda upp de me lite annan musik, albumet va på repeat å då blev man lite trött Hade gett 3,5 om de gick

Ok. Beautiful voice but not a fan of her sound.

Yeah idk

Ugly as a horse but a voice as sweet and soft like spring. Forever forward a closetted Joni fan 🫶

it was ok. some of the songs were good but this album is not quite my style

folk is not my shit but its probably the best ive heard

I SHOULD love this I try to love this I don't love this repeat, repeat, repeat..... I know that one day, I'll listen to this album at exactly the right time, in the right place, in the right weather, and through the right speakers and I will LOVE it Today's not that day.

One more admires this record than enjoys or closely relates to it, and definitely prefers the Hissing of Summer Lawns. The pure and raw vulnerability of the voice – almost shaky at times – is what comes through most clearly, with collateral damage of seeming ragged, sloppy or overly confessional (or tedious in the case of Richard buying his ballet dancer girlfriend a dishwasher). Indeed, she's probably to be held to account for allowing so much confessionality (confessionalism) into pop music, of which we 've had entirely too much down the years. The lack of musical adornment grates after a time. “River” and “A Case of You” are the top tracks, though overall this is pretty squarely in overrated territory – and way overrated in that Rolling Stones' Best 500 Albums of all time has this inside the top 10 and maybe even top 5.

Very beautiful voice

country not really mine. The taxi song is by her

Great voice but not overly my kind of thing.

Just kind of monotonous and boring. Not offensive, just not exciting.

I just find her voice a bit annoying tbh. Just because you have a massive vocal range doesn't mean you should use the entire spectrum in almost every song. Not for me.

Liked this a lot more than her 70s folk contemporaries

Fucking great album. She has an amazing voice and it’s a great album. Title track and rivers are bangaroos 10/10 album.

I just don’t see the appeal.

Joni Mitchell's Blue is a timeless masterpiece that exudes warmth and comfort, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia. The album, with its introspective lyrics and soulful melodies, has a unique ability to transport to a place of solace and familiarity. Each track is a heartfelt journey, revealing Mitchell's raw emotions and profound vulnerability. Songs like A Case of You and River stand out with their poignant storytelling and haunting beauty. Mitchell's poetic genius shines through every song, weaving a tapestry of love, loss, and self-discovery. Her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in such a soothing manner is truly remarkable. Blue is not just an album; it's a cherished piece of art that continues to resonate deeply with each listen. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 8 STAND OUT TRACK - River

First time joni Mitchell listener was impressed on how long she held on a note. Good variety of instruments used

Joni’s best album, imo. So lilting and beautifully understated.

Not too great, not gonna lie.

Now this is more like it. This is what I want from my Joni Mitchell like figures, gentle, sensual, melancholy, and full of pathos. The Joni Mitchell stuff that I’ve had to listen to previously has been part of her later experimentations with Jazz, and I’m sorry, but I really don’t think that they work. I’ve said before, but Jazz Folk is really difficult to pull off, and when the actual Folk music you had been putting off is as good as this, why even attempt to introduce an element that is not only difficult to pull off just from a compositional standpoint, and near impossible to pull of well, and also just antithetical to the sort of music that you had been putting out in the first place? The big confession is that, I’m still not 100% convinced on Joni Mitchell after this. There are still elements I’m not sold on, her style of writing melody is still a bit busy for my taste, I’m not a big fan of her voice. But I do now understand what the positives people see in her are. I’d be very happy to give this another listen (or three) and maybe from then I can start branching out

Not for me! :(

Very emotional performance, 5/5

I can absolutely understand why people say this is a classic. I really enjoyed it. It's not completely my thing but credit where it's due.

6/10 Hi Joni? This is HR. Are you OK? We keep hearing this wailing from your bathroom. I want you to know you are a valued member of this team and we are just concerned for your well being. 6-27-2024

Not my type of music. Chasing high notes randomly for no reason

не лучше пммл. слишком тоненько поёт для моего удовольствия и слишком рождественские мелодии в той одной песне

Not m'y favorite JM album

🚮

I know this is widely considered one of the greatest ever, I just can't stand her delivery. Not a fan at all.

Pretty close to sublime. I just happen to have a preference for what came after her all-acoustic, angelic hippie phase. This album begins the transition.

I guess you have to be in the mood to listen to this. I wasn't.

Reminded me of college days at coffee shops. memories

Not my style

What more can be said. Masterpiece by Joni.

I’d usually rather listen to upbeat Joni but this is a powerhouse when it comes to songwriting. Odd tunings, funny phrasing with her vocal range going so high and low on a whim. The dulcimer rocks too. All songs good. Taylor Swift couldn’t write a single line as good as what’s on here if she tried. Full marks

Проникновенно конечно, но на другую аудиторию

Tweeeee

One of the greatest

Singer/Songwriter…Carey is the Highlight but the rest is typical for this genre…5/10

Incredible songwriting and music and lyrics. One of the legends for good reason.

Blue has conjured up such a mythos that has become quite impossible to downplay or dispute. Its stature from dismissed musings of the Laurel Canyon scene and its inhabitants to a vaunted masterwork of a woman approaching her peak in creativity has become something to behold and admire in recent memory. That didn't stop me, however, from coming away from this feeling blue because Blue made me cold. The majority of the record was essentially fitted in one ear only to pop out of the other. It felt monotonous at times. I didn't hate it but I didn't overtly love it like I wanted to, either. I respect its status in this day and age but it's not for me. Favorites; My Old Man, Little Green, California, This Flight Tonight, River.

Very deep, introspective lyrics with almost a light hearted musical approach. Best of both worlds. A young woman with things on her mind. And Joni sings her songs with the voice of an angel.

All time favorite- glad to be back on this though

I know it's critically acclaimed, one of the best albums of all time etc.. but it did nothing for me

yes

Sad girl. Save for a specific mood.

"But when he's gone...the frying pan's too wide" Relatable.

гитара, вокал... настоящая акустическая мечта. обязательно на виниле слушать

Joni Mitchell was an artist that I knew of, knew she was considered one of the best song writers of all time and I maybe knew 3-4 of her songs but that was about it. I don't recall what inspired it but one day I sat down and actually listened to one of her albums. (I believe it was Court and Spark) After hearing that album I wanted to hear more. Soon thereafter I had listened to all of her albums from 1968 to 1976. Somewhere along the way I "got" her. One major draw is that her songs are so intimate and that she reveals so much of herself in her music. Blue is impressive from beginning to end and yet it's just one of several brilliant albums in her discography. I've got nothing negative to say about this one, it was wonderful. I wish I could discover more albums that are on this level.

Classic Goddess

“Boring. Yawning. Sloppy.” -Abby Lee Miller

Beautiful voice, gentle folk piano accompaniment

I liked the first track All I Want and I get the autobiographical nature of it, and it's amazing she was so young to write something so accomplished and cohesive but it just didn't hold my attention – I kind of felt like it all sounded a bit the same after a while.

Didn't have weeping to the opening bars of Jingle Bells on my to-do list for June, but we are where we are where we are. Just the perfect album, no notes at all. Her guitar playing, vocals, lyrics and production are all beyond amazing. About eight songs could be my favourite, certainly California, My Old Man, A Case Of You are all worthy. But River is the most moving and affecting song I've heard in my life, and has to take top spot.

Strange, sounded quite amateurish actually

I can see why this album would be listed in the top 1001 of all time, but I can't say that it's my style, per say. It wasn't bad listening to this first thing in the morning while I was working- it definitely fit the mood. Overall, I just find this album repetitive and a little boring.

Exquisite.

To be honest, I am just not a big fan of Joni Mitchell. I've tried repeatedly to listen to her and just don't enjoy most of her music.

God what a beautiful album. If someone sang some of these songs to me I’d fall in love on the spot.

already listened

Easy listening, after the first track I was unsure but grew into the album and it was actually a solid piece.

Ever huge fan of Joni Mitchell. Could live without this album

Not terrible but I really dislike when her voice hits that upper register. And she does that a lot.

8/10 Lindo disco, lo oí sólo una vez pero tiene el estilo original de Mitchel y muy buenas armonías. Mejor tema: Carey

I’m always happy to hear Joni Mitchell. She brings me peace every time.

tremendously good album

Disappointing

Decent album, but nothing mindblowing. Carey is probably the best track here

4 bc love actually

Sure Joni, now let's get you to bed

Her best album, but I still don't get it.

Longing and pastoral monument of folk music. Always great to dive into Joni Mitchell's introspective music and lyrics.

already heard solid but not as good as court and spark or hejira

I have tried multiple times to love this album and I can't bring myself any further than just liking it. I think what is missing is either a set of striking melodies, or alternatively some more creative instrumentation.

California

Lirically, very nice. You can see how "blue" she was indeed.

Lyrically and melodically this is about as well written an album as you'll find. Unfortunately, it just doesn't resonate with me enough to hold my attention throughout the entire album. The lack of energy eventually takes its toll and my attention is lost.

while I like Big Yellow Taxi better, River is the most interesting track for me here on the folk album, otherwise ok

I want to love Joni Mitchell’s music, sadly I just don’t most of the time. It’s more like poetry set to music than good song-writing. She’s very talented, it’s just not very catchy. River is beautiful though.

I'm not the biggest fan of Joni Mitchell. I understand she's deemed as one of the pioneers and greats in folk music. I think it's her voice that gets me. I actually enjoy her singing voice a lot but it's her falceto that really feels like nails on a chalkboard for me. I was unaware that she was the artist who wrote This Flight Tonight - I thought it was Nazareth. I'm sure this is a common misconception. That song is so well written. The lyrics are beautiful and hearing her/the original version really brought its beauty in a new light. It also makes the Nazareth version even better, as they made it their own without having to stray to far from the original. The music is beautiful throughout this record. They say Blue is her best work... And it really did resonate far better than anything else I have heard. It's far from perfect for me... But I wouldn't argue this record being on this list. Great listen. No wonder why her music had been covered from so many artists: Nazareth, Sarah McLaughlin, Bryan Adams, Tony Bennett, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young , Lindsay Buckingham, Bob Dylan, Heart, even Green Day. But the list is almost infinite.. If you're a musician, I guess you have to cover her. The piano in the ending to River sounds like Jingle Bell's.

Interesting voice. Not for me.

Really love this album and Joni's unique voice.

I don't get it but I don't think it's made for me

I’m not a huge fan of her vocals but this is a beautiful album and she’s an incredible songwriter

I have liked many Joni Mitchell songs I've heard over the years, but I've never listened to a full album. I can't say I love this album. It has several great songs, but, overall, it is not one I feel a need to revisit again. However, the power of her songwriting is so strong, it is hard to deny, and I do want to listen to more of her albums, now.

Unlike the other Joni Mitchell album I've listened to (Court and Spark), this isn't a tough call for me. It’s a clear 5/5. The compositions are great yet simple, with gorgeous, semi-unpredictable melodies and some of the best singing you could ask for. Mitchell's voice is incredibly on-point here, and her little improv flourishes sound kind of jazz-vocal-y. And, like pretty much everything she writes, the lyrics are relatable. (Or they'll be relatable in a few years, hopefully.) I’m guessing this is one which I’ll grow to love, not only as I listen to it more in the future, but as I gain more wisdom. Like Court and Spark, this is an album for wise people. Instrumentally, I'd compare this album to Paul McCartney's and John Lennon's solo debuts, in that the instrumentation is very minimalist yet complements Mitchell's vocal beautifully. The piano is particularly good. Yeah. I’ll have to give it a 5. 5/5 Key tracks: All I Want, My Old Man, Carey, Blue, River, A Case of You

All I Want // My Old Man // Blue // California // A Case Of You //

Nah, not a Joni Mitchell fan at all

You already know we love this one.

Not feeling blue after that

T.I.L. that the original song "In flight tonight"is from Joni Mitchell and not from Nazareth. Overall good listening so it's a 3.5(4)/5

Not my thing. Listens: 1 Rating: 2

I could drink a case of this album

Perfect date night music, actually pretty good

5/5. The most relaxing album ever. And as a bonus, if you listen to the lyrics you can cry too. I respect the avenues of music Joni took but this will forever be a perfect album of back to back songs of pure emotion and lyrical prose. Each listen provides a new favorite song and new way of experiencing it, with age comes new understanding. A must-listen. Best Song: All I Want, California, River

Loved it!

An easy listening album

Never liked her voice, and I think it's more the resignation she sings about then the actual singing itself. We didn't accomplish anything in the 60's so why bother? such a boomer sentiment.

The first day to properly relaxxxx and this was a nice listen, like someone else's music while Lucas slept on the couch

Blue is the fourth studio album by Joni Mitchell, originally released in 1971. I've really been digging these early 70s singer-songwriter records recently. Maybe it's because summer is right around the corner. Maybe it's more of an introspective reason. Am I searching for lyrics that I can relate to? Maybe. Speaking of introspection, that is all over this record. It's really one you put on and sit down attentively, listening to every lyric and just letting them hit you. Joni recorded this album after her relationship with Graham Nash ended, and it shows. But not in a cringe "I'm so sad I hate him" way. Her heartbreak is really shown artistically and quite frankly beautifully. Her stream-of-consciousness lyrics along with mostly sparse instrumentation makes this record feel almost as if she's reading you her diary. It's very intimate. Best listened to on a rainy Sunday along with incense, coffee, and a joint.

Amazing singer songwriter

La canadiense Joni Mitchel o te gusta o te desespera. No hay término medio con su personal estilo y voz aguda (o sus extrañas afinaciones en la guitarra). A case of you es un perfecto ejemplo. California es su mejor canción, junto con la titular Blue, que es donde Joni se aproxima a terrenos menos folkies, senda que seguiría en posteriores discos. Blue está considerado como uno de los mejores discos de todos los tiempos. No coincido con esta opinión. Es un buen disco, con una influencia limitada aunque muy importante porque lo ha sido sobre todo en músicos de enorme prestigio. Hubo algunos discos tanto o mejores, en un excelso 1971: Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV, Marvin Gaye - What's Going On? David Bowie - Hunky Dory, The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers, The Who - Who's Next, Don Mclean- American Pie, John Lennon – Imagine, T. Rex - Electric Warrior, Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On, The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East, Nick Drake - Bryter Layter, Can - Tago Mago, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality, Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story, Carole King - Tapestry, Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate, Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram, Funkadelic - Maggot Brain Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head, Faces - A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse, The Doors - L.A. Woman, The Beach Boys - Surf's Up RORY GALLAGHER - Deuce, NINA SIMONE - Here comes the sun, IKE & TINA TURNER - Workin' together, BADFINGER - Straight up ,Jethro Tull - Aqualung, Janis Joplin - Pearl, David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name, Pete Dello and Friends - Into your ears, Santana - Santana III Gene Clark - Gene Clark/White Light, Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey Isaac Hayes – Shaft y Black Moses, Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson Elton John - Madman Across the Water, Al Green-Al Green Gets Next to You, Kevin Ayers – Whatevershebringswesing, Sixto Rodriguez - Coming From Reality... Este de Blue está a la altura de cualquiera de ellos. pero requiere paciencia y varias escuchas.

this is the first album so far where I started out wanting to give it a 5, but that conviction decreased as the album went on. I knew California, River and A Case of You beforehand (and had heard a couple of others in passing) – all are great legendary works, so I was prepared to love the album. however, today for the first time I realized California's lyrics are ridiculous, and River sounds like Jingle Bells (still a decent song though). a lot of the other songs were okay, but the closer was definitely a bad choice as even though A Case of You manages to elevate the already dragging album, that last song just plunges it into the previously-unreached depths. rough – but will still give it 4, even if just because A Case of You still remains unparalleled.

Classic album by Joni Mitchell

5 / 10 Cantautora, aburrida si no entiendes las letras.

I did not particularly like this album. Joni Mitchell's light voice, combined with the very simple guitar instrumentation, give the songs a thin, airy sound. The songwriting is obviously the focus here, with extremely personal, candid lyrics describing the vicissitudes of her relationships. This makes for some truly profound moments, like the first verse of "A Case of You" or the loneliness underlying "California". But those moments are too fleeting on an album filled with similar sentiments that don't land as well. Maybe this is the sort of album that will grow on me as the lyrics wedge themselves into the depths of my brain, to be rediscovered years later when they apply perfectly to my own deep emotions. But for now this isn't an album that I have much desire to listen to again and again.

i believe every damn word she says. true brilliance.

3.5 a lot to digest

This is my favorite album by one of my favorite singer/songwriters. The lyrics of each song could stand on their own as great poetry, but when you add in Joni Mitchell's unique phrasing and vocal gymnastics they become magic.

Fantastic voice, good lyrics. A bit too folky for me overall, though

Everyone in my family seems to love thos album! It's OK.

River is Jingle Bells. Otherwise some great songwriting.

A very pretty voice but I didn’t really connect with any of these songs

A few very good songs. After a while though it started to remind me of Mariah Cary when she has to hit her high note in every song. I would be listening to a song and mentally bracing myself for when she would go for the high note. Overall not a great experience listening to the whole album.

Classic Joni Mitchell. I'm not a big fan but I appreciate her influence.

A absolute masterpiece

Loved this. I feel bad I didn’t know California was on this album (or even by Joni…). Knew River and loved it; still love it. Also liked Carey.

This used to be in my Top 10 albums of all time, knocked out of the running by Zero 7’s debut “Simple Things:. An achingly lovely album — her singing and playing are wonderful throughout.

I have tried to get this album for many years and never been quite successful. It’s interesting we got it the same week as a Leonard Cohen one since (a) he’s maybe the subject of this album and (b) I hear similarities between the two. A lot of speak-singing and nothing super memorable on the guitar (shots fired!). That isn’t to say I hate it. I just don’t hear “greatest album by a woman” or “top three album of all time” when I listen to it.

# Playlist track - A Case Of You # Notes - Interesting listen. I didn't know much from Joni Mitchell before. - She has a tendency to "over sing" in some parts of the album. It doesn't feel like this is a lack of skill. Seems to be that those are ornaments and flourishes to add character and interest. However, for me, they tend to sound more distracting than interesting. -1 star. - By the end of the album, you are already a bit tired, and then you have to listen to "The Last Time I Saw Richard" which is the worst offender. -1 star.

Cute hippy music

first half was very rough but i found a few songs i liked near the end

Appreciate her voice. She's an amazing singer but it's just to slow for my liking.

Such an amazing talent. Her vocal range is awesome.

Big fan, yay!

A favorite in my collection. Something to listen to on pensive quiet nights. Great voice, great lyrics, great music necessary it.

Sad tones, incredible voice, difficult tonality. Some wholesome lyrics and songs, but all bittersweet.

01.05.24 Faves: - Blue - River - The Last Time I Saw Richard Opinion: I liked her voice. Not my type of album, or genre. English isn't my first language so I think I missed out the storytelling in the songs.

Another introduction to an artist I know of, but have never listened to in depth. Her singing style is very expressively lyrical. Enjoyed it.

Knew every word of it long before I left high school. Not a false note to be found. There may be albums I’ve recommended more often, but this is the only one with a perfect record: everyone I’ve ever suggested it to, from all walks of life, has come back massively in love with it. One for the proverbial Desert Island. What “California” meant to be before it was my home, what it meant to me the twenty-two years I lived there, what it means to me now that I will never live there again…this, in itself, is the story of my life: an essay of longing.

Not as good as the other one

Not gonna say anything groundbreaking here, because Blue’s reputation precedes itself more than potentially any other singer-songwriter album. But still, this completely floored me when I first heard it. Genuinely one of the best albums of all time, no arguments. I always forget how charismatic Joni is with her vocal delivery - it’s so captivating, so hopeful and just the right medicine for hard times. She really is one of the best to ever do it.

Classic Joni. Ethereal and mellifluous.

pretty good

My mum loved Joni and she loved Leonard Coen. I loved Blue - the first verse of "case of you" is a masterpiece of writing. I don't think I would have come to her if it hadn't been played to me as a kid - it's obviously very arty folk and her voice and phrasing are unique. This is a superb album, definitely one of the best ever and it deserves its reputation.

beautiful

Another album that I didn’t expect to be as good as it was. And only gets better with subsequent listens. It’s sparse but yet very deep, “simple” stream-of-conscious lyrics that are incredibly profound as they simmer. Incredible voice (that initially grated me) that truly makes the listen feel all the more real and personal. Awesome album 4.5/5

California

Great!

A beautiful masterpiece, one of those albums you just have to sit down and appreciate the lyrics.

V. Sad V. Wistful V. Triumphant V. Loving

definitely a 70s album, something about this era is so obnoxiously serious, I cant.

Simply stunning!

Repeat appearance… maybe a group glitch

Top 10 of all time

Een leuk album, ik denk dat er niet echt zaken uitspringen maar ik weet dat het wel een fijne sound heeft waar ik blij van kan worden.

a bit repetitive but beautiful songs. her voice annoys me a bit sometimes. probably won't listen to it much

A technically sound and thoughtful album that absolutely did not resonate with me.

important to remind yourself from time to time that Joni Mitchell does, in fact, have the bangers.

Not my cup of tea

Carey, Blue, The Flight Tonight

Thankful this is back on Spotify

Pretty good, see the inspiration for a lot of modern folk music there

I didn't realize how much Cheryl Crow did a Joni Mitchell. Much wow.

Her high notes made my ears bleed. Had real problems even just listening to this.

Stunning. 5.

I think listening to all of those jazz albums helped me appreciate this album more. While I appreciate the importance of album, it's not for me.

Joni Mitchell really is one of those figures in music that has a certain undeniable coolness about her. I find it difficult to really discredit her music in any way. She was both very culturally in tune with the world at all times and way ahead of her time. Blue is often regarded as the shining example of Joni’s genius. It is the antithesis of what makes her career so legendary. This also happens to be a far less complicated and far more stripped back outing from her, at least compared to her works later in the 70s. This is a rather simple folk singer-songwriter album. But make no mistake, it is uniquely her own thing, and a sound only really she could pull off. Done entirely by herself, she really flexes her own abilities and put together an album that is incredibly consistent and cohesive in its own themes and styles. Created during the in-between phase of two different relationships with famous musicians James Taylor and Graham Nash, it explores love in its own melancholic and weirdly beautiful way. This is assisted by Mitchell’s often strange lyricism, which I have grown to really embrace and appreciate as a part of her character. I know this may be considered blasphemy by many, considering the reputation this album has, but I still enjoy Hejira more. Like a lot more. That record is wholly in a class of its own, but Blue does nothing to stain the incredible collection of records that Joni put together over the years. Rating: 7/10

Turned off at track 6. I am the same age now that Ms. Mitchell was when she recorded this project, and I couldn't feel like I relate less to another human being than I do to her and this album listening to it in this present moment. A bunch of free verse, strummy bullshit with lyrics that sound like they were written by a teenager with their head in the clouds; more aptly a woman with little discretion and even less shame living in a free love fantasy world. Absolute dogshit.

I just cannot with her octave changes

Great lyrics, but just not my vibe.

Sounsed a lot like the Nico album

Die Lieder enthalten einfache Begleitungen auf Klavier, Gitarre und Hackbrett aus den Appalachen. Schnörkellos interpretiert von einer kanadischen Sängerin, die die Trennung von ihrem Partner verarbeitet. Das Album ist durchsetzt mit tiefe Emotionen, für die es viel Ruhe erfordert um jedes Detail zu erfassen. Leider ist die Stimme etwas quietschig um perfekt zu sein.

Great album start to finish!

Joni is a national treasure. Even the Kennedy Center says so. I grew up listening to her, and I still haven't tired of her unusual tempos, patterns, vocal range, and composition.

An all time favourite here, literally would not change a single thing about this one. Joni's voice is beautiful, as is the instrumentation, and every single song is filled with lines that stick in your head for days and days after listening. 'River', 'My Old Man', 'A Case of You', 'California'. I could just go through naming every song really, they're all fantastic.

reminded me of my grandma ❤️

Her upper range is a little annoying, but her voice isn't bad overall. Some of the songs were not so bad, but I don't think I'd listen often.

Pretty good.

How she howls... My head hurts

I was into it to begin with, but then i found a really annoying repeating pattern to the way she sings and harmonises with the melody.

Everything I expected

haunting, lovely.

Nette Singer-Songwriter Song aus einer anderen Zeit.

I enjoy the acoustic and musicianship of Joni - but lyrical can vocally it leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion

So hippie Boomer it hurts. But I mean that in the best possible way. Joni is ultra talented and there is some unique songwriting here that is not easily copied. Brandi Carlile probably comes closest. Maybe Tori Amos. Cool shit that just happens to not be my favorite style.

Love this album

So personal, so minutely detailed. Such an unusual and unique instrument, too. While I was a little too young to wear out the grooves of a Blue LP, its influence is undeniable. Can’t deny the queen her 5.

3 feels like a disgrace to Joni mitchell

Ok, a great voice. Great story telling songs but....why so many vocal histrionics? Kinda samey throughout and nicely tuneful but somewhat repetitive.

another album that I, quite simply, cannot be objective about. this is one of my favorite albums of all time, it may even very well be my favorite album of all time. what is remarkable about this album is that it is the progenitor of stripped down, bare bones , hit you right in the damn heart music. I suspect for a lot of people, this album does not sound remarkable but in an age where it is expected for musical artists to be authentic, and where artists get flamed for being too fake , this album Nexus in a time period where it was quite opposite- where a lot of music was superficial and this was one of the first albums to come along where a stark level of authenticity was unexpected. as a grown man, I am not ashamed to say this is one of the albums that gets me crying every single time I listen to it. the starkness met with the beautiful songwriting and The poetry of Joni's lyrics is just absolute perfection. I cannot say enough good things about this album, I truly think it is perfect.

Really good. Nothing more to say, but I did realize that her (and Neil Young’s) music is back on Spotify, so I don’t have to listen to YouTube ads in between.

Another album I hear a lot about but had never heard until now. I was sort of worried after the first 2 songs, her voice just really wasn't clicking with me but luckily it started to soften and I began really enjoying it. It is the sort of album you can really focus on the vocals which I am not normally good at so it did something right to get me to do that. It is also super impressive everything was solely done by her, just such a nice added touch to know. I still don't think it was completely my thing but I can see why many but it up there with some of the greats and maybe I will need to listen to it a few more times which I may do. 4/5 Stand Out Songs: Carey River A Case of You

I have not heard of this album but I have heard of Joni Mitchell. The songs had beautiful instrumentals and were very slow. It’s not my favorite type of music but I enjoyed listening to it for the time being. I’ll probably listen again!

Difficult vocals to love. I liked a few songs.

it's beautiful, it's catchy, it's depressing, it's endlessly replayable. Should be higher regarded as one of the best albums of all time.

Musically, I really liked it. At various points, I like her voice. Then there's the vast majority where it's just too high. I like to listen to music loudly. This was painful. The music keeps it from being a 1 star.

Just chillin'

Pleasant :)

Usually not my style but this was pretty soothing

Eeeh I did not like it.

joni mitchell gets it. she created a beautiful, poetic album in blue. i don't even typically go for folk music, but there's something about joni putting all her cards down. her lyrics are honest and snatch at your heart. the emotions in "a case of you" are plain as day, and it almost distracts you of how brilliant the metaphor is. her voice is lovely, albeit in an imperfect way. the emotions are present in her voice, so sometimes her voice isn't as pure as other singers'. but that's part of the allure of joni mitchell. gosh, this album truly was a delight.

Joni Mitchell is already a perfect example of someone who sings directly to your soul while giving you a big window into hers, but this album is arguably her magnum opus, and those soul-gazing qualities are amplified here. A lot of people complain about Joni's lack of poetic structure, but who cares? Those structures are meant to help people form a decent poem, but they're rather limiting and not needed when you are essentially channeling pure artistic and poetic expression in the way that Joni does. Her words and singing seem to come intuitively on this album, rather than prescriptively. It's hard to explain what exactly makes this album a cut above her others, but its true, and I think many people would agree. Honestly, having "River" and "A Case of You" back to back on this album is enough to be heart-wrenching. The latter, in my opinion, is the finest song that Joni ever wrote and a gorgeous listen that I never grow tired of. I also really dig Joni's playing of the dulcimer on this album. It persists here and there throughout the album and offers a unique sound to the album. A lot of dulcimer music almost sounds medieval or "renaissance" in nature, but Joni manages to find a way to integrate what gets construed as "old world folk" with this 1970s folk. Overall, this is just a gift of an album.

As I write this, the evening shade has given everything the same melancholic blue tinge as the album cover. I’ve been feeling weirdly emotionally stunted recently - I want the release of a good cry but the tears refuse to come out. I was walking along the street on one of the first warm spring days of the year and I basked in that beautiful steel guitar melody on California: “Oh, it gets so lonely / When you're walking / And the streets are full of strangers”. I was hit with that feeling of sonder; all of the people walking around me have lives I wouldn’t ever be privy to, and I was all alone, and I allowed myself to have a little cry. Everybody walked along unaware. I was so excited to see this album pop up because it was literally just put back up on Spotify a couple days ago and I’ve been listening to it nonstop. This is the first and only Joni album I've heard so far and I want to really absorb it because it's just mesmerising; her fluttering voice combined with some timeless guitar and piano work. I'm sure this has been covered well elsewhere but it almost feels insulting how flippantly some reviewers refer to Joni's womanhood. The first review here claims they "understand women now". Other reviews jokily call her a bitch, or call this "menopause-core" (she was 27 when she wrote this). Both sides of this coin feel a little trivialising. Obviously you don't have to enjoy this or think it's worth listening to. Just have some class? That being said, to remove this album from the context of her womanhood - of her experience of giving her child away, of her relationships with men, and her influence on a generation of female songwriters - would be doing this album a disservice. On All I Want, she sings "I wanna be strong, I wanna laugh along / I wanna belong to the living / Alive, alive, I wanna get up and jive". I can't help but think of that timeless Sylvia Plath quote: "My consuming interest in men and their lives is often misconstrued as a desire to seduce them, or as an invitation to intimacy. Yes, God, I want to talk to everybody as deeply as I can. I want to be able to sleep in an open field, to travel west, to walk freely at night...". 20 years later, Joni goes on an adventure to search for that same freedom and instead finds herself yearning for the love and familiarity she left behind.

What an amazing album.

A beautifully sophisticated album that is way ahead of its time.

A very good album with great writing. Joni is a great singer-songwriter. "Blue" still holds up today after 53 years. The only song I've heard from her before listening to this was "Parking Lot". Another one off the list. 4 stars from me.

A beautiful and emotional work of art, I don’t think there’s many songwriters that can capture so much emotion in both their voice and instruments simultaneously. Joni’s lyrics and voice are equally captivating and are even further supported by the incredible instrumentation that define them. I think the dynamics of this album are what brings it up to level with some of the greatest folk albums of the 70s: every single note holds so much emotional power in a way you simply don’t witness in the vast majority of music. Favourite Track(s): Little Green and River Specific Rating: 4.5/5

Absolute classic but you have to be okay with Joni Tuning and for the songs to go in unexpected directions! Her voice is wonderful - I have no idea how she hits those high notes and I love her guitar playing. Not my favorite album of hers but very quintessentially Joni.

Pretty good for hippie music

Quite an enjoyable album. Not a fan of the big pitch jumps, but that would be Joni’s signature found in pretty much every song. High 3

Joni Mitchell’s Blue is eye-opening and comforting. All the tracks elicited some sad feeling inside of me, but at the same time made me wanna change something about the situation. That is really why I enjoyed this album so much. Her vooice is nice, and the way she inflects it in a occasionally unpleasant way only adds to the character and feeling of the songs, exposing that sadness and brokenness she is attempting to get across. Highlights include Little Green, California, and River. All in all, Blue is an amazing album. Best Song: River Worst Song: My Old man

All I Want California A Case of You

California is particularly good. A good album and we like it.

Made me sleepy

Join Mitchell sings with such emotion and earnestness for her space. This is a hallmark album in this genre and makes total sense to have on the list but it isn't a blast to listen to.

Such a unique voice, but this album doesn't feel right. It feels a bit immature. The sound feels homogeneous. I kind of like the song River. I had a nice nap during my second listen.

This may be my first five-star (I think Marshall Mathers got one also). I was familiar with the hits, but the whole thing is vivid and gorgeous. I will come back to Blue often.

Nr. 153/1001 All I Want 4/5 My Old Man 2/5 Little Green 3/5 Carey 3/5 Blue 3/5 California 3/5 This Flight Tonight 2/5 River 3/5 A Case Of You 2/5 The Last Time I Saw Richard 2/5 Average: 2,7 I don't like her high-pitched voice. And she uses that a lot.

Legendary