Blue

01) All I Want - 7,0 02) My Old Man - 6,5 03) Little Green - 6,5 04) Carey - 6,5 05) Blue - 6,5 06) California - 6,5 07) This Flight Tonight - 6,0 08) River - 9,0 09) A Case of You - 6,0 10) The Last Time I Saw Richard - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,65 (67/100) Current ranking: 682/1040 Oh God, this is so boring...

Really emotional. Nice voice but quite a slow album for me.

Gorgeous

What more can be said about a near perfect album.

I wouldn't mind if this album was listed multiple times...

5/10

Man, whenever people compare Joni Mitchell to Taylor Swift I die a little. She could never hit this hard.

I’d accept the point of view that this is one of the best albums albums ever made. It’s captures an inchoate feeling, a longing for something fleeting, that is magical. Joni is the full package, lyrics, melodies and an amazing voice that sends chills. Oh and A Case of You is one of my favourite songs of all time.

So sad... I luv it

It helped me to think of this as poetry and not music. I have a narrow lens, but the first time I listened I reacted negatively to the lack of traditional song structure. Coming back now months later with a new lens I have more appreciation for what she was doing. Still not my cup of tea but I recognize the artistry and the unquestionable impact.

Echt schön

I enjoyed this much more than The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Solid all the way through. Giving it a solid 4. Could see this being a high 4/5 with a few more listens. 4.3/5.

Fascinating rises and falls, melodically and thematically. Obsessed with My Old Man

A gorgeously heartbreaking folk album with beautiful songs and heavenly vocals. Mitchell covers a ton of ground in her lyrics, and the album acts as a song cycle beginning with love, continuing onto heartbreak, and ending with something like acceptance. Mitchell's vocals are the highlight; she moves effortlessly between notes and hits some amazing highs, all the while expressing the joy and pain in these songs. There's a nice mix of guitar-based songs and piano-based songs, which keeps things fresh musically throughout. It's difficult to even list the best songs, because they're all so strong, but "Blue" and "The Last Time I Saw Richard" are my favorites (though "Case of You" boasts the most striking lyric with the part about touching souls). One of the best, if not the best, folk albums ever written.

Beautiful voice I suppose but not my cup of tea

Day 35 Richard's a bitch Fav track: This Flight Tonight

Why do female artists get compared to each other, even across generations more than men? Why do their songs get investigated for signs of their personal lives to a greater degree? As far as comparisons, since female artists are rarer, critics and the public can reach for a seemingly definable number of similar artists. Also, whether by choice or what the public will tolerate the last 60 years, singer-songwriters dominate the ranks of female stars. As a result, the top female artists lean more towards introspective and personal lyrics. Or once again, perhaps sexism leads to assumptions that romance is all women probe in their songs. This general look at female artists is a long prelude to what I will try to avoid in looking at Blue, an obvious five star classic. I did not quite remember the all Joni aspect of the record, including producing it. I have always found the guitar work quite prominent, with the steel strings snapping right in your ear. A similar living room feel occurs with the piano on “River.” Mitchell sprinkles upbeat images and music amidst her exploration of unsatisfactory relationships. Girl-group backup singing, drops of Caribbean flavor, both of which would appear on “Big Yellow Taxi.” Mitchell remains in control despite her unhappiness. As she roams throughout Europe, Joni decides to go back to “California.” She revels in the bad boy qualities of “Cary”, but has decided to throw in the towel. This independent resilience and good-humor towards her men keeps a great balance of feeling on Blue. Her ability to create different mood and musical text

This is Joni Mitchell most successful album - and the reason why is that it's a master piece. A beautiful soul and voice. Just the stories and the voice of a angel

The talent is there but the style doesn’t appeal to me

obviously such an iconic voice and sound, california and carey and all i want are just perfect perfect songs but otherwise it's just nice to listen to an album which feels so cohesive and longing and Itself.

4 Liked it, did enjoy how many of the songs mentioned the word blue. Some great songwriting

I'm just... so bored by this. At least it's nice and short. I think I can handle songs on their own if that makes sense but a whole album is too much for me. 4/10

Still always surprised that I actually sort of like Joni Mitchell, and it’s only because of this list. I thought maybe it was a fluke, but nope — she’s pretty good.

I really wanted to like Blue, especially considering how highly regarded it is, but Joni Mitchell’s music still doesn’t quite work for me. This is only the second album of hers I’ve listened to, after The Hissing of Summer Lawns, and while I found Blue slightly more enjoyable, I’m still far from becoming a fan. What I can appreciate is how personal and emotionally exposed the album feels. Mitchell puts a remarkable amount of herself into these songs, and there’s very little sense of emotional distance. Tracks like “River” and “A Case of You” have a genuine intimacy to them, and the sparse arrangements give her lyrics plenty of room to take center stage. There’s also something impressive about the way the album can sound so delicate while dealing with fairly heavy emotions. That said, the same qualities that make Blue so acclaimed are also what make it difficult for me to connect with. Mitchell’s voice and vocal phrasing are simply not very appealing to my ears, and I often find her delivery more distracting than expressive. The album’s introspective, confessional nature can also feel a little overwhelming after a while. I can recognize the craft and sincerity without necessarily enjoying the experience of listening to it. Compared with The Hissing of Summer Lawns, though, I definitely prefer Blue. It feels more focused, direct, and emotionally coherent, whereas Hissing left me even more detached. Blue at least gave me a few moments where I could understand why people consider Mitchell such an important songwriter. So, while I can respect Blue more than I can genuinely enjoy it, I’m still not convinced that Joni Mitchell is an artist for me. There’s no denying the songwriting, musicianship, or emotional honesty here, but admiration and enjoyment are two different things. For me, Blue lands somewhere in between: a very well-crafted and influential album that I can appreciate more than I actually want to listen to.

2026.09.07

4/10

Classic

Legend

I have long thought that “Court and Spark” was Joni’s best album, but I feel more drawn to Blue as I get older. Her songs are about her inner life and the world at large simultaneously, seamlessly telling stories that are personal and universal. And her music and voice are transcendent. The first time I heard Joni, I was hooked; she burrowed right into my heart. And I was young! But she’s never left, and every time I listen to her I hear something that speaks directly to my life, at whatever stage. Her voice knows heartbreak and joy, with a sense of humor to boot. Oh, I am a lonely painter I live in a box of paints I'm frightened by the devil And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

I’d be disappointed if someone gave me this as a gift too.

It's truly a beautiful album. Joni has such a phenomenal voice, and there are some amazing songs. Still, I can't bring myself to giving it a perfect rating. It drags a little, and its a bit repetitive. Rating: 8/10 Favorite Song: California, River

First listened on 17th September 2026. Favourite songs are All I Want and Carey.

<3

Sometimes I listen to music and think, "I don't think I'm old enough or have enough life experiences to really understand this". An album I'd probably have to revisit in my late 30s/40s

Qq bons sons peut-être deux que je réécouterai mais écoute agréable juste pas qqch que j’écouterai souvent ou qui m’a particulièrement touché. Il faut reconnaître l’émotion dans l’écriture et la vulnérabilité dans le chant. Bon album

I absolutely hated it on first listen but I want to listen to it again. I tried to relisten to it but I remember why I dindt like it. I like it a bit more now. The guitar playing is ok at best. The lyrics are good and save it from being a 2. What I hate the most is how boring I find this album to be and her voice is so gratting. No clue why its at number 16 on apple music top 100. Theirs a lot of way better singer songwritter albums out there.

This is one of the best albums ever recorded. Blue is a testament to Joni's talent, her magnum opus, an exploration of loss and love, a magic spell that transforms everyday events into memorable moments.

Joni Mitchell, kanadische Singer-Songwriterin, nahm ihr viertes Album Anfang 1971 in den A&M Studios in Los Angeles auf, Henry Lewy am Mischpult. Reprise Records brachte Blue im Juni desselben Jahres heraus, mitten in der Trennung von James Taylor. Man hört das in fast jedem Song. Was vorher noch gefälliger Folk-Pop war, wird hier zu etwas anderem: Mitchell schreibt, als würde sie ein Tagebuch vorlesen, ohne sich die Mühe zu machen, unangenehme Stellen zu glätten. "River", "A Case of You", das Titelstück – drei Songs, drei verschiedene Arten, dieselbe Verletzlichkeit zu verhandeln. Der Dulcimer auf "California" und "All I Want" gibt dem Album einen fast hausgemachten Klang, das genaue Gegenteil der glatt produzierten Platten, die damals aus L.A. kamen. James Taylor und Stephen Stills spielen mit, bleiben aber im Hintergrund. Mitchells Stimme trägt alles – mal zerbrechlich, mal überraschend hart. Ich finde bis heute erstaunlich, wie wenig sich Mitchell dabei schützt. Kein Song hier versteckt sich hinter Metaphern, wenn er auch direkt sein könnte. Das ist es, was Blue von den meisten Alben seiner Zeit unterscheidet – und warum es nach über 50 Jahren noch wehtut, wenn man genau hinhört. Ein Album zum Durchleben, nicht zum nebenbei Hören.

Second half come back to salvage a 3 instead of a 2

A classic to play when I'm feeling sad and somber.

I dearly appreciate the smoothness of Joni Mitchells vocals and how they intimately intertwine with the guitar and piano, but singing lines like "if you want me, I'll be in the bar" regarding the love interest of the author, then comparing him to a cocktail is so painfully uninteresting, stereotypical and boring that I can't help and roll my eyes on quite a substantial number of lyrics in this LP. Most of the songs are also quite literal, which does make it feel like that you're living through Joni Mitchell's experiences, but it, once again, lacks any rawness and depth. I get that it's tough to be a popular musician and it has it's fair amount of being "on a lonely road ... traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling", but I'm too unprivileged for it to resonate it with me or even to be viewed as a real barrier in terms of finding true love, so opening the album with this line didn't do any favours for me. Perhaps I'm too desensitised as a person, so I'm unable to experience such trivial feelings in the grandeur she describes, or I simply feel a jarring lack of subtlety that makes listening and engaging experience for me.

insane songwriting, дуже красива музика, але нічо не можу з собою зробити: не люблю її голос 😭

This album is moving, emotional, and perfect. At times I was genuinely moved.

Masterful. Plus she can sing a bit.

no notes made at the time but I listened twice and liked it.

a slay ofcawse... mefav joni mitchell album atm is her debut bc its more melodic hut this is valy good too, i lurve carey and california and little green

Nope

I picture most of this album being played at a grand piano in the house from Modern Family that Phil shows around to Chris Martin when they had Coldplay on the show. California was the best song, though it’s third on the list of songs called California behind Chappell Roan’s California and Lorde’s California (which is far and away the best California song). Also I got jumpscared by the jingle bells intro to River, august is too early for Christmas music.

1001 has so far taught me that I really don't like listening to Joni Mitchell - let's see if this album changes that. This is my favorite JM album we've had so far, there were some great lines like "I love you when I forget about me".

Joni mitchell always struck as a little bit "lyrics without much compelling musically going on", but this is definitely her best. She mostly manages that tendency well, but I still think there could be more going here.

I will admit that this thing is beautiful and worth the listen. But besides River, I'm not sure I really remembered distinct songs from it because it does tend to get a bit same-y as you listen to it. As a result, I'm docking a star from something I feel should be a four-star album.

the lyrics are peak but the arrangements >> how her voice tends to sound to me.. got used to it as the album went on tho... some of the later songs hit hard, overall this was a really great listen, would listen again, but only when i wanna get deep in my feels or something (jingle bells jumpscare for the saddest song bruh :sob: why'd she twist the knife like that)

Nice

I could use less of this in my life. This is the 3rd album by this woman Ive been subjected to, and I can honestly say she just will never appeal to me. I gave her other albums 0 stars and this album isn't any better.

her voice is just so sweet

I have this album, mostly listened to Carey. It's such a unique song in how her voice dances through it. I like Joni's talent in writing and singing, but outside of Carey it was hard to get really engaged with the album.

el original hippie fresa…me encanta! creo que T Amos la habrá escuchado bastante.

Loved California, she is a gifted singer, but I'm not a fan of the genre

An easy 5 for me. An all time classic

I ended up developing a mental block while listening to this because an article on the side of the site was titled “The Enduring Legacy of Carol King’s “Tapestry”” and I couldn’t stop comparing this album to one of my favourite albums of all time.

I have this album, been loving it since 1971. I should listen to these tracks every day: All I want, Carey, California, A case of you. 1001 stars

This ended up being kind of mediocre to me, not because there wasn't recognizable talent on display, but because of how unmemorable the style of composition was. The singing was impressive, but the vocal melodies were hectic and rambled on too long, making them difficult to leave an impression. The instrumentals often came off as nondescript. Strong 2 to a light 3

4, or 5? I think I have to go with a high 4. I'm particularly fond of "River" and "Little Green," but all of the songs are very good, and worth coming back to again (and again), and so I'm very glad to hear the whole album again, and to be reminded of Joni's singular genius. Probably my biggest stumbling block is (you guessed it) her singing voice; I've come a long way since my initial dislike, but I still don't love it. But, still, this is a truly excellent album, and it deserves, I think, (at least) a high 4 stars.

Like a leaf blown about by the wind, Joni is a bit aimless at times, but that freedom is also one of her virtues. These songs have some jazz color to them, both in the accidentals and the improvisational quality to her playing. Overall, the lyrics and tones achieve a satisfying balance between loose and composed. I have respect for this record, but I can't wholeheartedly say I love it, because of her singing and some of what she chooses to sing about. That said, the record is transcendent of its insular inspiration, a phenomenon that always fascinated me; people write deeply personal music which so many others are able to take and relate to their selves, without really knowing what it's about or much about the writers P. S. I think it's cool how people used to use the word "blue" to describe feeling down. Nowadays people are too quick to assign labels to themselves like "depressed" and take it on as an identity rather than a passing mood, the way that the "blues" could be understood. Just be blue man

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background

she is like a siren

i feel relax , but not that attractive

Ironically listened to this album and her other album (hissing of summer lawns) while mowing the lawn again. I think I like this one more than the other one. Holy moly does she have a pretty singing voice

her best.

Unexpected note switches that I don't know if I love or hate. Her voice is beautiful and I love how she's using it! But it's a bit boring in my opinion. Therefore I will only give this album 3/5

gerou demais album muito bom fiquei escutando só ele por uns dias... de fato algumas musicas passam mais despercebidas mas estão longes de serem ruins!! acho que por isso não seria um 5 fechado, mas ele ta um nível acima dos outros que dei 4 estrelas

Muito bom, um dos melhores até agora com ctz. Da pra ver que inspirou muita gente, me passou uma vibe parecida com weyes blood em alguns momentos as melodias vocais mas se parar pra pensar deve achar muita gnt que pega inspiração daqui. Eu adoro esse tipo de musica que é mais "intimista" com o vocal bem destacado e 1-2 instrumentos. Acho muito satisfatório, principalmente quando a música é boa, que é o caso aqui. Destaque para: - All I Want - My Old Man - River - A Case of You

Un disco completísimo. Por diferentes motivos su nota subió a un 4,75/5 por las letras, lo familiar que ya se me hace y por marcar el tono del female singer-songwritter de la historia. Siento que en parte flaquea en tener un cambio y una búsqueda diferente dentro de su excelente discografía. Pero la en sus letras honestidad, su hermosa voz, hermosas letras, grandes detalles que hacen ponerte en la piel de Joni y melodías que para un disco de su tipo son hermosas, hace que el disco gane y mucho en todas sus facetas. Que hermoso disco.

Owned this one for years and listened to it many, many times over! Beautiful album. Beautiful voice. Just lovely to listen to with a set of charming songs! Why not 5? I'm not really sure. In reality it's probably 9/10 but that's not an option. It's a collection of lovely 4 star songs but only The River really transcends into my personal list of classics. The River is just perfect. The best Christmas song ever!! Favourite song. The River

I think Court and Spark edges this one out for me, but still a beautiful record and really shows how great she really is!

I know this is all influential and everything, but I didn't love it.

Perfectly pleasant but all pretty one-note. I appreciate the lyrics but nothing here is really grabbing me. Feels somewhat by-the-numbers.

beautiful and unique

It is great I just was not wowed

California my homeeeeeee

Found me on the wrong day

Pretty much perfect.

Just great and stunning album. 5/5

I like Joni Mitchell a lot. She is a great songwriter. She has a distinctive voice. She is Canadian. This album is in the singer-songwriter tradition. She writes about relationships with men from a feminist perspective. She talks about the loss of the 60s’ dream of peace and love. She talks about her new home in California but she still longs for Canada. Some of her songs are piano based, some are guitar based. She has excellent other musicians playing on the album such as James Taylor and Stephen Stills. Let’s look at some of the key songs on the album. California: great lyrics They wouldn’t give peace a chance/ That was a dream that some of us had. River: one of her best songs. Shows although she is in California she still longs for Canada. I wish I had a river// I could skate away on/ but it doesn’t snow here/ it stays pretty green. A case of you: Joni talks about a failed relationship. Beautiful lyrics. Carey: Joni talks about a little fling she had with a guy called Carey. Where did this take place? Maybe on a Greek Island. I am not sure. It is a more upbeat song. This is a great album. All of the songs are good. I give this album five stars.

soft

Neat way of changing typical emphasis to create new sounds with old lyrics.

Absolutely phenomenal voice, but, alas, not for me.

“I wanna talk to you / I wanna shampoo you.” Does it get any better?

I'm sorry, I really can't stand her falsetto.

I don’t think there’s a musical act I enjoy listening to less. By the middle of Little Green the sounds of the screams from my soul were drowning out her horrid twee voice.

sei la, não curto música muito alta (no sentido de agudo) além do mais, só violão e piano. não curti. provavelmente não ouviria novamente. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/6084-joni-mitchell-blue.php

agora que ouvi ele inteiro finalmente entendi porque falam tão bem desse álbum e porque algumas dessas músicas são tão referenciadas assim. lindo lindo lindo

lindíssimo e se entende porque é o mais consagrado dela com essas composições. considero as primeiras faixas algumas das mais lindas que já ouvi e depois entra numa monotonia que não tira o mérito do álbum

*Relisten*

Pioneer poet and so much more than history would have expected.

Esta bueno pero los agudos de la voz no me gustaron mucho

This is one of those albums that I have been aware of but haven't really had much opportunity to check out before now. And while I can see why others may praise this album, I had a harder time getting traction. This is definitely one of those albums in which the music is written to support the poetry, and not the other way around. Because of this I found the melodies often wandered without creating memorable hooks. Perhaps this one could grow on me in the future.

I’ve been excited to see when this one would pop up on here. I just re-listened to this within the last month and it grows on me more every time I hear it. It is not just the quintessential singer-songwriter album but possibly laid down the groundwork for deep introspection at this level. The songwriting and poetic nature are the core and the vocals and emotion elevate it to higher peaks, bringing it all together. The record toes the line beautifully between creativity and control, with Joni opening her heart and being so vulnerable while not allowing it to get in the way of the musical experience. This listen was just enough for me to feel like I’ve fully come around on this record after being uncertain after a few spins in years past. I couldn’t extend the favorite tracks further or I’d have to put just about the whole album. 1 re-listen Favorite Tracks: River, California

One listen through when focused and in a blue mood and this is a five. Will forever link this album to this day and will return to it again.

Great voice but not a Joni Mitchell fan

Pretty Annoying Boring Melodic Silly Overall: Fine

Ok, fine. This one was tolerable.

Masterpiece !!!!

a nice folk album. I have never rally liked her music a lot. This album certainly made me reconsider this. unfortunately like a lot of albums, there are a few really likable songs and a number of other that I don't like as much. my overall liking of her music moves this up to a solid 3

I actually got into Jodi Mitchell a few years ago after watching a documentary about David Geffen, who she was good friends with back in the 60’s & 70’s. Some of her music was used, in particular “Free Man in Paris” which was about him. It led me to listen to some of her albums, and I even ended up picking up a couple of vinyl. Favourites are “Song of a Seagull” and “For the Roses”. Haven’t listened to Blue in a little while, as the above tend to be my go-to albums of hers, but here we go :) A fine album overall, although still not my favourite of hers.

It's the best album of all time. Oddly, I can't really get into anything else of hers

I think this is a 5 even if I don't absolutely love it. It's just so well done - her voice, the lyrics, the music. It's difficult to fault.

Sometimes Joni Mitchell sails a little too close to a kind of Jazz I don't like but I can't deny that her lyrics are beautiful and a voice is captivating.

Beautiful. Melancholy. Excellent songwriting.

I thought id like this more, but maybe need to revisit

Superb album from start to finish. I'd listened to it before and enjoyed it but paid more attention knowing I'd be rating it. A classic.

Really fantastic. The lyrics were often quite beautiful and poetic and the whole vibe of the album sucked me in and made me feel like I was sitting next to a campfire. My one gripe is that I found all the songs on the album to blend into each other and become quite homogenous. Definitely one worth returning to. Favorite Tracks: All I Want, Blue, California

It’s quite rare that the last half of the album is stronger than the first. I was a little disappointed after the first songs, but it got better in the end. Favourites: River, A Case of You, Blue and California

amazing voice, song writing a bit hit and miss for me, would actually give a 3.5

A real mixed bag for me with this one. The tracks I liked were great. The tracks I didn’t like I REALLY didn’t like. The Last Time I Saw Richard in particular I bloody hated. I will give it another listen later though. When I generated Court And Spark way, way back as album 32 I hated it on the first listen really enjoyed it the second time round. Top Track - River

Hard to get into with her history that didn’t age well. Music is good but doesn’t hook me in necessarily, wanted to like

8/10 Really great. Not too much squealing, just superb songs

Wow. I've tried, I've really tried. But not only do all Joni Mitchell songs sound the same, but that same sound is really, really annoying.

This is a really beautiful album - everything just comes together perfectly. The writing, the guitar / piano playing, the singing - I can't really praise Blue any more. Joni is one of the most legendary singer-songwriters and this is her classic album. These songs are so personal and the bare arrangements make the vibe feel incredibly intimate, like you're watching her sing from her soul in a smoky jazz club Probably the highlights are All I Want, Carey, California, River and A Case Of You. The only track I wasn't particularly enamoured by is the closer, everything else is great

Absolute classic. Her songwriting and vocals and unmatched, vulnerable and emotional. River is still one of my all time favorites. 5/5

3.5

Detta album gillar jag mycket, både texterna, sång och musik är fina och funkar så bra ihop. A Case of You och River är mina absoluta favoriter men även Carey och Blue är också bra. Den enda låt jag inte är överdrivet förtjust i är California.

Strong folk sound, little bit of early country. Shades of Dylan with greater vocal range, albeit less lyrical depth. Strong theme of wistful melancholy throughout. Enjoyable experience but wouldn't make it onto the heavy rotation.

第一首歌就让我震动！吟唱...

Some great folk pop songs but I can find the high pitch sections painful River, Carey, blue are all great folk songs

muy lindo pero no es ni de cerca mi cantante de folk favorita

lovely album my fave tracks were my old man and carey

The beautiful piercing quality of Joni Mitchell’s voice sticks with me for a while after listening to this album. JM is absolutely top tier in this album. The soul is poured out for all and sundry, but in such a finely balanced way, equal parts delicate and forceful. I can even see the charm in the production that is slightly raw as it works with Mitchell’s voice. I won’t prattle on further but it’s a special album.

On the face of it you expect a chilled sweet and even deeply emotional musical masterpiece.  Pretty paired back as it's basically her sat on a chair having a little jam with herself. What I hear however is an annoying confession with vocals so limited in melodic structure your only left with a piercing chunter. It's genuine torture to me.  I am lost in a musical desert with the lovely guitar backdrop teasing the old melodic flourish only to whip it away at the last minute.  I continue on, my drought ridden journey entirely lost. Like a desert its beautiful and baron in equal measure.  To my parched ears, it's just an annoying oppressive wasteland.

Without a doubt this album is a contender for best in class. Potentially one of the best albums ever made. It's so raw and expressive. Emotional and exposed. She sings with such a youthful joy and curiosity, covering themes of colour, the natural world, travel, and love. It's a celebration of living life as an emotional being on planet Earth. Naturalistically recorded, you feel as though you are getting to know her as she sings. Rarely does music achieve such a feeling of fundamental human connection.

This is not my thing. Was very difficult to get through.

Joni is one of those artists whose popularity and legendary status just continues to baffle me. Elevator music with shrill vocals and boring lyrics.

Nice lyrics. I'm not that into folk but reading the lyrics and back story was nice.

I'm not a folk music fan, but this album was not terrible to listen to. It clearly had a big influence on artists who followed.

8/7/26. Joni Mitchell is great, her vocals, guitar, and songwriting shine on each track throughout. Also love the piano driven songs as well. Would recommend this one to others.

BEFORE: I don't love folk but Joni Mitchell is pretty unique - the crazy guitar tunings, complicated chord progressions and deeply personal lyrics. Calling it folk almost seems a bit reductive. I'm looking forward to this. I know River pretty well because it's on my Christmas playlist, and I also like A Case of You. AFTER: Right from the start, this sounds like nothing else. Mitchell wrings so much invention and feeling from just a guitar or piano, her crystal clear voice and very little else. Her singular vocals cut through everything so well. None of these songs are much over 4 minutes but they still contain so much detail, different movements etc. HIGHLIGHTS: It's all pretty special. Favourite tracks are Little Green, Carey, California, This Flight Tonight, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard. LOWLIGHTS: Don't be silly. VERDICT: 5 stars.

"All I really really want our love to do is to bring out the best in me and in you too" It alternates almost perfectly between solemn and upbeat tracks, this helps prevent a blending of tracks that's so common when listening to albums straight through. Need to revisit this next time I feel some kind of wistful, nostalgic flavor of depression. Whether it's nostalgia, remorse, whatever you want to call it, it's bottled up in this album. This is how poetry is meant to be experienced. And the love songs on here are sweet and intimate and the type of songs that make me want to go ahead and elope. I can't think of anything I would change. This is the first album in the list so far that I can say I loved and didn't just enjoy or appreciate. Five stars. Top tracks - All I Want, California Bottom tracks - River

Alright, some good emotional acoustic stuff but wouldn't say its very memorable, still not bad

Beautiful! What a voice! What lyrics!

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 Apologies to Emily because I KNOW she’s gonna love this one. And yea, though I know my mom won’t go near Joni Mitchell, I wanted to love this one too. I’ve come to really trust Emily’s taste, even if we like a lot of different stuff—if she was this excited about Blue, then I hoped I could love it too. I tried, I really did, but with her sparse and predictable instrumentation and lyrics that live up little to the reputation she’s amassed, I can’t say I’ve been convinced to Stan Joni. Notably, I didn’t mention her voice there, which I think is also supposed to be the stuff of legend. That’s because I’m really not sure about it. There was a point, in this album, where I felt just-below-middling about those vocals, which are full of lilting, sixties flourishes—round o’s and frail, trembling belts (she says “go” like “goh”?). I was especially irked with her skibidi-bop vibrato thing—part of me is like, girl, nothing about this song warrants all that. I’m not sure I can justify that kind of free-form flow state during that regular-ass piano stuff, but I can’t say it feels performative, either, which would be my point against it—without that, I’m no better for adoring Kate Bush (and a major hypocrite, at that). So that I could maintain my virtuous perch atop the moral high ground, I tried to really consider what makes this tick, and to Joni’s credit, I realized she builds out her melodies in a really interesting way. These aren’t really straightforward crescendos, even though it’s clearly signposted where those vocals are going—instead, it’s a clambering ascent, taking a zigzagging path like she’s softly bouldering. While this did make a couple of scattered rhythms click, I’ll admit this didn’t win me over emotionally. The classics, in particular, were where I expected this stuff to get really juicy—lyrically or musically—but they did little for me, either. “California” was one of my least favorites, and though the Apple Music review for Blue glazes the lyrics of “My Old Man” to no end, there really wasn’t anything extraordinary to me about saying when her partner’s gone the frying pan feels too big—like, it’s a neat detail and I like it, but I’m struggling to find the inimitable monumentality in it. What I will say earns that reverence was “A Case of You,” whose respect from me was hard-won after that corny title (which I thought was supposed to be a case as in illness, but is actually a case as in Wine, but guess what? That’s still corny). Those lyrics were had me arrested similarly to Leonard Cohen, but with a distinct literary flavor—though I should’ve been locked in from the opening lines, I was hooked after “oh I am a lonely painter / and I live in a box of paints / I’m frightened by the devil / and I’m drawn to those that ain’t afraid.” Still, that “Jingle bells”-ass song—rippin’ off like an Oasis Christmas—was about where I finally accepted that I resented having to give this a full listen, even if it did end interestingly. Ultimately, I walked away liking just “All I Want” and “Carey,” though I still detected notes of something interesting beneath the cheese of “River” and “A Case of You.” I will be listening to all four again because I’m not giving up on Joni, hence the three stars—this was more good than bad, certainly better than proficient, and I was only a little bit irritable by the end of the album. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing

A seminal masterpiece. I considered a four, but this album is iconic with no skips and impeccable vocals and sound, including jazz piano (!!), and truly wonderful storytelling. I may be Joni-pilled, but this is simply the holy and sacred Bible for sad girl music.

Reprise après pause dans le projet. Comment on fait déjà pour noter ça ? Je n’aime pas ce genre, de la country classique. Mais je crois reconnaître que c’est bien ? Ça remplit les attendus du genre Donc 6/10 ? Blue est très jolie ! This flight tonight ! River ! 8/10

Voz linda

Wow, Joni Mitchell was a great songwriter! Her album “Blue” features 10 songs, and every single one of them is truly powerful. She doesn’t limit herself to the folk conventions of her original scene, but cheerfully blends jazz elements into her chord progressions without ever making the music inaccessible. Add to that tasteful arrangements and minimalist yet sophisticated accompaniment on guitar and piano. So, basically, it could have been a perfect singer-songwriter album - if only Joni Mitchell had sung everything 1-2 notes lower. That’s probably just a personal preference of mine, but I don’t find her high notes (when she shifts into falsetto) pleasant. Still, it’s a very important milestone.

Great album, love Joni Mitchell. I've only heard California but I'm really liking what I'm hearing. Great music. Great album. It seems melancholy but still endures hopefully. Very interesting, very homogenous sounding but also dynamic somehow?? Idk Joni Mitchell is really cooking something up. Really enjoying this. I too want to go home. Wait she's Canadian??? Why is she singing about California someone's gotta hold it down in Edmonton Alberta dude. She is from Alberta what the hell. That's why we're so connected in a way I am Joni Mitchell. Beautiful piano. Oh California. I can't even get mad at her lack of patriotism it's such an amazing song. But California. This album is making me want to travel across the world and then come home. What an amazing reason to explore, in anticipation of coming back. What a privilege it is to live in a place that makes it so hard to leave. Look at this Joni Mitchell's making me all poetic. Why we jingle belling. What da hell. I can't skate. Well she's from Alberta she def can actually. Wait she's missing the snow?? So Alberta core. Dude in a way I literally am Joni Mitchell. Me when I move away and yearn for the Rideau Canal. Tabarnak. Wait she's actually yearning for Canada?? Dude this is literally so real. Wanting to take someone back to Canada and show them what home's like dude I am Joni Mitchell. Dude I did not know that was a universal experience. Maybe I need to go home. Oh I thought Ms. Mitchell was getting a little gay with it. That would've been good. Who is Richard? Grayson? Like the flying ones?? Damn Dick why are you so hateful let a girl live. Sus as hell. Good closing track. Big fan of this. Joni Mitchell you've done it. Favourite: California/A Case of You Least favourite: Little Green

it's good, I should relisten as I may have not appreciated properly

Good stuff. Not really my thing but I see the greatness in it.

(3/5) I'm being kind here, because my first impression hasn't been the best. Mitchell's voice is best at the lower registers where it has a silky quality, but once she lifts it up -- which she does *OFTEN* -- it's like a shrill flute. The arrangements are good for folk music and her songwriting is really good, but each lift of her voice brought my opinion back down, and this happens all over the album. Basically every song, really. This gets a bump, because women are underrepresented on the list, but this was a hard swallow and was really closer to a 2.5 for me.. And I'm struggling to understand the context by which everyone else just gushes over this. It's fine, but it's not Earth shattering (IMO). Carole King's "Tapestry", a contemporary to this album, was way more to my liking and was an easy '4', bordering on a '5'.

I have this one on vinyl and have played it exactly once since I picked it up several years ago, left with a bad taste and some disappointment at my initial reaction to such a legendary album. I'd almost forgotten why until it popped up in the queue, and I'm disappointed that another visit didn't bring me around. Despite some poetic lyrics and passable composition, I find the vocal style distracting and annoying, sometimes making it difficult to understand. Definitely appreciate her contemporaries such as Joan Baez or Carole King a great deal more, and wish that I could round this 2.5/5 up, but I won't.

164. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971) 8.5.26 Variety: 2 Adequacy: 3 Listenability: 2 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 4 = 3.0 "There'll be icicles and birthday clothes/ And sometimes there'll be sorrow" This might be a rough one. I've not heard much Joni Mitchell in my life outside of the one giant hit - "Big Yellow Taxi" which I find to be quite annoying. It's admittedly very catchy and easy to see why it was a hit, but man do I find Mitchell's singing voice to be grating. I think part of this is maybe that she was in some ways , if not the originator, but the popularizer of this kind of quirky, singer songwritery, acoustic coffee shop pseudo-hippy delivery that droves and droves and copied, and then the copies or the copies of the copies have just become such a cliche that somewhere in the mid-90s I think it became an already stale, very parodiable thing. So maybe when she first popped up on the scene this was all fresh and new and exciting, and original and bold and all that. I will try my best to put myself in that mindset, but it might be hard. As far as I know I don't think I've heard a single track off this album, which is crazy given its reputation. Rolling Stone has it still I think in the #3 of their Greatest 500 albums list. How much of this is old boomer grey-hairs clinging to the sound of their youth, and how much is genuine influence and greatness? I suspect somewhere in between, and I will make a prediction based on what little I HAVE heard of her ( mainly off Court and Spark I think) that this will be a lot of deep, introspective and personal, well crafted lyrics with nary a memorable melody. Otherwise how have I NOT heard any of these? THE TRACKS Side one "All I Want" - This was a lot jazzier than I expected, and quite a nice song about infatuation, and what seems like new love. About half the time, especially at the beginning of the verses Mitchell's voice was fine. It's the hiccupping extremes of the ups and downs that gets under my skin for some reason. "My Old Man" - Some fine piano playing here on a sweet love song that makes me think Kate Bush ( not one for covers outside of Elton John that I am aware of) or Tori Amos ( who has covered other songs on this album for sure, but not this one it looks like) must have replayed this one quite a bit. "Little Green" - This one worked a LOT more for me. More great acoustic guitar from Mitchell here, with a very pretty, very bittersweet tale of a too young mother and love and loss, and a chance at a better life. Holy shit this one must have caused some celebration in the offices of the Kleenex corporation when it came out. If people were paying attention to the lyrics I guess. And Mitchell tones the jazzy, jumpy vocal phrasing way down here. Her voice is warm, and tender and the sadness really comes across. More of this please. Cover by Morgan James: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV8UB2c46oo Cover by Bell-Skinner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv2Lg-w75FA "Carey" - The most instrumentally filled out song on the album thus far. The vocal tics are back, but not in full form, and there's some nice dulcimer playing to open things up on what feels like a very lived in, authentically experienced story of an affair in some possibly Mediterranean location. There's a lot going on here, and it's all very interesting, but leaves me feeling a bit indifferent. "Blue" - Another very pretty piano ballad that contains the DNA of perhaps Tori Amos's whole sound. Not sure if her vocals are growing on my or what, but this was also some pretty great stuff. Even when she goes high at the very end it works. Cover by Cyndi Lauper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_VrzLuy2WY Cover by Sarah McLachlan ( who herself seems very vocally influenced by Mitchell): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s38dMRb2j6w&list=OLAK5uy_lyIfWKiIyO9AelV5yKhutyqOU7gAtdvMk&index=7 Side two "California" - And the vocals swing entirely back again, but they aren't bothering me as much, though I am not fully acclimatized yet. This is a bouncy number about homesickness has a lot to like aside from the vocals, especially the touches like the steel guitar. It does suffer a bit from the "I'm just gonna name everything I can currently see in my field of vision" approach to lyrics where there's just a description of a bunch of stuff that happened. But that's fine, and the phrasing in the verses reminds me a LOT of the vocal melody from a Polaris song that I really like called "Ivy Boy". Cover by James Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ1zIdRiCg "Ivy Boy" by Polaris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A8MATboRoQ&list=PLsZPRnPvhMVtR5WM8WMhvbDHf7WuWFljI&index=5 "This Flight Tonight" - Some cool, aggressive acoustic playing, and the vocals are still not my favorite but this was a light, more fun one. The speed the lyrics were delivered at felt like a manic anxiety-ridden inner monologue of someone who can't shut their brain off. I did like the dip into the song within the song in the 5th verse. "River" - My least favorite track so far, and only partly because of the awful "Jingle Bells" piano motif throughout, and the general Christmas vibes. Also the most stereotypical offering on here I think. "A Case of You" - More great dulcimer work from Mitchell and accompaniment by Sweet Baby James himself on guitar. This was fine. It just felt lacking of any good melodies, and she really reaches into that falsetto in ways that haven't really annoyed as much as they did very early on. Wasn't a fan of either the Tori Amos or the Prince version either. I think this one is a prime example of the lyrics far outshining anything going on musically, which is maybe one of the reasons it seems to be a very popular candidate for covers with such different takes. Cover by Tori Amos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOxvhTHQLIw Cover by Prince: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lJ0f75oSL4&list=OLAK5uy_lyIfWKiIyO9AelV5yKhutyqOU7gAtdvMk&index=6 "The Last Time I Saw Richard" - More solid piano playing, but a very boring track with pretty formless and unmelodic verses, and not a chorus to be seen. Not to keep on comparing them, but Tori Amos took this sort of thing and made it so much catchier. But would she have even been sitting behind the piano without this stuff to have inspired her? HIGHLIGHTS - "Little Green" - "Blue" - "California" MIDLIGHTS - "All I Want" - "My Old Man" - "Carey" - "This Flight Tonight" - "A Case of You" LOWLIGHTS - "River" - "The Last Time I Saw Richard" FINAL THOUGHTS I really liked the acoustic playing throughout, and looking at the 1971 release date, it does feel like a different and fresher tale than the country-folk stuff going on around the same time with, as I mentioned, a more jazz influence it seems. It's distinct even from what Dylan was doing, and I can imagine James Taylor, Jim Croce and the like having their tops blown off by how personal and raw the content was. But it does seem the basic mode of the music itself was already in the air with Simon and Garfunkel being maybe the more pop forward presentation, and Taylor, Croce, Tim Hardin and many others already pulling the sound out of the air to craft this kind of inward looking folk, that seemed to want to shed the social and political messaging of prior decades. The artist most contemporary to her that she reminds me most of though is Labi Siffre, with both of them possessing such unique vocal deliveries, and unusually open and personal seeming lyrics. I say "seeming" because I do think it's almost always a mistake to infer authorial biography in a song, even if the inspirations are well documented and deemed of a personal nature by the author themselves. This discounts the listening experience un my opinion, and I think probably even Mitchell herself would want her songs to feel like universally lived in experiences. Which they do. I think. What I disliked most in this album - mainly the vocals ( her voice is fine, she just over inflects and trues too many gymnastics, sometimes even syllable to syllable) the sameyness of the acoustic mode ( acoustic guitar or piano with very little other accompaniment is a limited palette), and the lack of memorable hooks - are tempered enough by the actual songwriting itself, and the playing that it ends up being a bit of a wash. I can't deny how well crafted and legitimately influential this was, and I can't accuse Mitchell of unoriginality, or lack of boldness or any of the stuff I might normally throw at an artist whose stuff fails to move me. It's just ultimately a clash of personal taste. Singer songwriter stuff is just not my bag. And it takes a more pop facing type of it to really get me interested. Carole King for example on Tapestry, while taking a much different approach and aiming at the universal, was able to do this with a style and an ear for melodic hooks that I find lacking in Mitchell's stuff here. Song to song it's fine, sometimes even very good, but at the end, I struggled to differentiate much of it. I think this album is probably a much better one in theory than in practice, and very likely deserves it's special place in the history of popular music, but it's not one I think I'll be revisiting aside from maybe those highlights. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Just the highlights FURTHER LISTENING - Sit Down Young Stranger by Gordon Lightfoot - Madman Across the Water by Elton John - The Singer and the Song by Labi Siffre - Sweet Baby James by James Taylor - Pink Moon by Nick Drake - Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan - Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos - Once I Was an Eagle by Laura Marling - Multitudes by Feist

“The night is a starry dome, and they’re playin’ that scratchy rock’n’roll” I grew up around the Appalachian, or mountain dulcimer. Jean Ritchie brought it to the masses of America. It is entwined with the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky. They’re still teaching people how to make these things as they been doing since the 1800s. So my ears perked up hearing and reading about this for Joni Mitchell’s “Blue.” Of course the album is more than the inclusion of one instrument type. Joni Mitchell creates a sparse folk sound on this album, but one that can be at times catchy or melancholy. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Her song writing is impeccable and one can see how it became influential. Once again I must reiterate that I am a sucker for a fine voiced lady strumming an acoustic guitar. Add in an instrument that reminds me of home in a good way that is a recipe for good listening in my book. 4/5.

Buenas notas, buena composición. el lirismo de las letras es variado y no recae en el rant emocional. Un poco aburrido en conjunto -acaso no es mi mood- pero tiene canciones que líricamente son god

Classic

It's perfect. That's it. That's the review.

That was a joy from start to finish. My heart is full.

Meh. I've listened to this album before, both in pieces and in an attempt to sit down and love it. I know she is talented and innovative and all that, but the sound of her up & down vocalizing is too chirpy & volatile for me. I love some of the songs though, particularly as covered by kd lang and Indigo Girls! Ha

Oddly enough, I had an odd feeling that today would be a Joni Mitchell album. Wild. When The Hissing of Summer Lawns came up, I did a subsequent journey through her discography, including this. I liked it then, I like it now. It’s definitely the style I think she’s more traditionally known for, and I believe this is her reference point album. One of her albums can be looked at as a book of poetry, both literally and to follow the analogy that each time you revisit, you find something new. There are some really beautiful tunes on here. California is a bop. Her music does make you feel like a world traveler. She’s got a great voice and her writing is exceptional, but sometimes the high, pitchy runs turn me off a bit. Personally, Summer Lawns strikes more of a vibe for me, but again, I like this, I think it’s good, and I’d probably pick it up on vinyl. 3.7ish.

This is a great example of an album that manages to do a lot with very little. There is very simple, stripped back instrumentation and straight forward song writing the whole way through, but the lyrics, melodies and production choices all feel so laser focussed on giving each track its own strong sense of identity.

Very talented. I like other songs of his orher more

70's female folk music. Not for me

Nice, joni's pretty great!

pretty good i guess

What a gem.

Nah

It’s funny to hear the song ‘A Case Of You’, which was covered by Prince. Two stars…

10 / 10

Entiendo que a la gente le parezca uno de los mejores álbumes de toda la historia, pero personalmente para mí no lo es. Joni tiene una excelente voz, pero las canciones nunca cambiaron de ritmo y lo sentí tedioso en partes.

Album perfeito, um dos meus favoritos da vida

I'm of two mind on Joni. I simultaneously get her and she irritates me.

I'll be honest. Joni in small doses for me.

I used to listen to this 20 years ago. Now I don't really get anything out of it.

Joni Mitchell is SUCH a talented vocalist and these songs sound GREAT and are so interesting. Ironically the only song I didn't really like was the name of the album LOL. This is a very strong 4 maybe 4.5 Liked Songs: "All I Want" , "My Old Man" , "Little Green" , "Carey" , "California" , "This Flight Tonight" , "River" , "A Case of You" , "The Last Time I Saw Richard"

Not at all what I was expecting. I've never listened to Joni Mitchell and I'm not a huge fan of folk in general (except for a few artists) but since she's such a vocalist it makes the genre bearable to listen to lol. -1 for blackface

One of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time, and one of the saddest too.

I guess I don't get it

I bought this on LP when I was in my early 20s, and then traded it in shortly afterwards as I thought it was a bit dull. 20 odd years on, and I can see the appeal, particularly the second half. Will definitely be listening again.

What a treat, thank you RGP, a most wonderful 4 stars, side two is so brilliantly good and in “River” has one of my all time favourite Christmas songs of all time. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Tom.

An employee of a café I frequented a long time ago used to put this on for the lunch rush; it would usually play through 3 or 4 times before things slowed down and the place emptied out for the afternoon. I knew Joni Mitchell before that, but didn't appreciate it until then. Probably best not to think about how many cigarettes I smoked listening to this album, but given Joni's history with tobacco, probably apropos.

good

Not for me.

Blue is a beautiful folk album by the legendary Joni Mitchell. Her ability to portray stories on every instrument whether it's guitar or piano just pleases my ears. The main thing I love about this album is the singing. Her technique of jumping high and low while tackling these vivid lyrics is very amusing; it's simply astounding to hear. A great folk album is all it is.

fine

To me, this is the definitive Joni Mitchell album. While I appreciate her later, jazzier, overall more experimental escapades, I think this kind of music is what she is the best at. It's a one man show of vocal and instrumental mastery that creates incredible emotional resonance. Still, Mitchell maintains some of her trademark whimsy, which keeps the album from ever becoming overbearing. Following Little Green with Carey is an example of brilliance in sequencing. My only slight dig against the album is the fact that I never really enjoyed the title track as much as the rest of it. Also, it comes up right between my two favourite tracks on the album, so it always takes me out of it a bit. Favourite track: California

I keep coming back to this album trying to figure out why people like it so much but have always found it overrated. Maybe I just haven't paid enough attention to the lyrics to really get pulled into the music but man half of these songs just get on my nerves. Her voice is super unique but not always pleasant. I'll keep giving this a shot but rating it a 3/5 for now. Fave songs: California

Classic folksy; light, airy, & haunting.

i've gone from "never joni" to "i like joni" over the last decade, but i'm still not to "i love joni".

Nice album — no song was unlistenable, however a few were slightly boring and I didn’t really find myself enjoying the experience. Liked the song California though.

This is my review for the strokes new album. Just garbage

Not for me

What the hell is the point of that?

One of my favourite albums of all time

7/10

there’s only one word for this: beautiful

Second Joni album for me. I prefared the first one. This one didn't catch fire for me. Pleasant enough nothing special

It's a beautiful album and catchy and lyrical in equal measure throughout. I think it's just enough on the lyrical side of Joni Mitchell for me to really like it. Little Green, All I Want, a Case of You all stand out.

i’m sorry joni mitchell i underestimated you

This is brilliant. She has such an original approach to her vocals and guitar playing, I find it fascinating. Means that even when I'm not totally taken by the song there is always something that I really enjoy. Some of the tracks are wonderful, some are just fascinating. I'm not sure I actually think it is quite a 5 for me yet, but I think it will be and it's better than my recently rated 4s so I'm gonna be kind and just round up.

Another reviewer pointed this out, but it’s worth saying again- Joni does this thing where she doesn’t rhyme any of the lines, and once you hear it, you can’t unhear it. It’s really distracting honestly. I do like her voice in general, and her songwriting is good as well. I see why people love it, even if it’s not my thing really. River is kind of clever and funny, starting with an interpolation of jingle bells on piano, then she starts singing about how it’s never snowy or Christmasy in California and waxes poetic about grifting with her music “make a lot of money and leave this crazy scene”. Well clearly that didn’t happen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Felt REALLY long. Couldn’t believe it was only 36 minutes. Not for me.

Interesting voice, but too much murmur, not enough intensity for me. Might revisit.

I've had an erratic experience with Joni Mitchel on this website. I gave one album 4 stars (Hejira, liking 6/9 songs) and one album 1 star (The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, liking 0 songs). So I wonder how this one will hit me. I already have 1 song liked on this album - "River". I first heard this through Sarah McLachlan's cover of it and then when I found out it was a Joni Mitchell song I listened to her original version and also liked it. I love the simplicity of this one with just the piano and her voice. "Little Green" - once I figured out what this is about - wow this is a great song. "A Case of You" - is pretty cool. I like the "Last Time I Saw Richard" - the piano has a similar feel to "River" and I dig that. I just couldn't get into "Carey" even after multiple listens - but ended up "liking" everything else. Good job Joni! Liked songs on Spotify: 9/10 Rating: 4/5

Beautiful album that I discovered late, probably only a few years ago which is amazing though I’d heard, River, California- but I read about Joni and “Carey” after visiting Crete

The iconic talk-singing doesn't always work for me, but songs are consistently great and her singing voice is beautiful.

This Flight Tonight! Not a bad album, I'd say 2.5, but will round up because she had a great voice.

Nice voice

She's very talented but it's a little too slow and same-y for me.

An ok album

this + a walk in the woods

This is my first listen to this album as a whole, although I was familiar with a couple of songs on the album. First I'll say that if someone played this album for me without telling me who it was or what it was, I would have never guessed that the album is 55 years old. It sounds like it could have been made today. Second, this album proves that music can be simple and raw and still be amazing. The songs on this album are all so beautiful, but yet so simple. I know that this is considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and certainly one of the greatest albums by a female artist. While it's not something I would pick to listen to on a regular basis, it's definitely something that I'm glad I listened to. Amazing album!

Beautiful, breezy, clever. Cheers Joni

SOOO PEAK gives off spring-summer nights with the person you love vibes

love

This album is exceptional! It's incredibly good! Truly a classic.

5★/5 07.20.2026

Banger, des tubes comme California et River. Totalement la came d'Alex ça

C’était bien pour bronzer Mais je ne réécouterai pas forcément

Plutôt sympa, très chill

All I Want is for the River to keep flowing as I listen to this album.

This will be blasphemy to most, especially if you look at my other ratings, but I've never gotten into her. Her lyrics are sublime, but the singing is cloying and the lack of hooks makes so many of the songs blend together to my ears. Sorry...

Wasn’t my vibe

Banger

There is something unique and nice about Joni Mitchell’s voice. As a late 30s guy it’s not in my wheel house but I enjoyed the stripped down acoustic sound of this album. Although the cover of this flight tonight by Nazareth is better.

She sings.

I didn’t know what this was going to be. It was ok. Nice and quick listen.

A classic. Joni is the best of the best.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d be very happy with a Joni Mitchell CD for Christmas contrary to popular belief

Loml

The best way to describe this album is raw. Like touching an exposed nerve, Joni reveals and recoils at emotion, feelings, and memory. It’s incredible lyric’s combined with excellent musicianship. A truly singers album.

Reprise Records MS 2038 (US) vinyl rip: The odd guitar notes on "All I Want" are interesting. Maybe an alternate tuning. "Little Green," feeling the emotion in her voice. The sound overall is very intimate. Like I'm right next to her singing. Love the song "California." The stereo separation of guitars on either side helps her vocals really shine in the middle. The way her vocals float in and out of time is unique. "Acid, booze, and ass Needles, guns, and grass"

The album was mediocre, California was a solid song, included into my playlist of that genre/vibe. 4/10 2/5

Nice but that's all

This album is such easy listening and just beautiful

Classic and I don't even really like much Joni Mitchell

Perfect album title for this collection, and the songs actually give “Blue” layers and textures. Airy, light, and aching, all at the same time.

Not a big fan of folk or sing songy erratic vocals that are all over the place…hence this album was not for me.

I really doubt this genre will ever make a striking impact on me. This is a highly rated album but I feel nothing towards it. 5/10

Bien.

Rather not hear it again

BANGERS

I really don’t like Joni Mitchell’s music and her falsetto voice is like nails on a chalkboard. It comes out of nowhere in some songs and others it is the only way she sings. It is jarring and grating and I really hope I’m done with her albums now because these are not fun or interesting in the least.

I know a lot of people rate this as a classic, but Joni just bores me shitless. Her voice is nice, but she tends to wander off into high treble tones just because she can, and I find the lyrics pretty ridiculous a lot of the time. Not for me

One of the best folk albums ever and a brilliant listen from front to back. Nice to have finally listened to the whole thing at once.

perfect album, not a single note out of place. 5/5

A day isn't enough to take this album in. It's music, but more than music, it's words. Lots of words placed together with cadence and emotion in a way that transcends the words you could read on a book. I admire how efficient this album is, in that sense. Having heard other Joni albums now puts this one in context. This is stripped down, making it easier to appreciate how she dominates her vocals, and I think simplifying the song-listening experience as well. I listened to this in passing during my teens and never looked back, I think some 15 years later we might be repeating the process. This time, at least I feel like I get her. The acoustics grate at me, personally, often with beautiful details that embellish really simple compositions. Also, while I can admire how she blends her words together, her whimsical vocal direction also annoys me here. I can appreciate it as an art, I can appreciate her as a seasoned artist using her tools as best she sees fit, it feels that way, it's just not winning me over. 3/5

Holy hell what an intimate album

Couldn't get on with her voice

She’s a good singer it’s just a bit boring

My ex introduced me to this album back in college, and it still feels out of time, like music that is being created before you each time you play it. I don't know how she can jump in and out of a melody or play so loosely around a rhythm like she does, but the world is a more beautiful place because she does it.

She's one of the greatest lyricists to walk our earth; an intimate storyteller with enough of an ear for melody that every song feels unique and heartfelt. Blue, and Joni, deserve all of their flowers.

the sort of beautiful voice that can bring someone to cry at 10:30 AM on a tuesday morning

Didn’t mind it. Not something I’d listen to regularly.

All i want - 4 My old man - 3 Little green - 4 Carey - 4 Blue - 4 California - 3 This flight tonight - 4 River - 3 A case of you - 3 The last time i saw richard - 3

If there is a more iconic folk album from this era, name it. Even if you don’t love Joni, this the pinnacle of the genre. Personally, even though I don’t love every song on the album it does contain two of my all-time favourites in River and A Case of You. Easy 5 stars.

I thought I would like this more, I guess it is too slow for my bad attention span right now

Gewoon, wat saai op den duur

Super

Canta muy lindo ella, pero las canciones no me terminan de gustar.

8/10

Didn’t know River was on this album! I had only heard the Ben Platt cover of it from The Politician. Kinda folksy, but I dig it enough to give 3 stars!

Friday, 10 July, 2026 Legendary. An amazing album that transports you to the Mediterranean in the 70s. Joni’s voice is angelic.

Took quite a few listens to really get this record. It is beautiful. But also has a few tracks I literally couldn't remember as soon as they ended, so it droos to the high 4 category

Very cozy to listen to!

Me suena bastante a country, aunque es folk. Las letras son curiosas, tienes que prestarles atención para ver que son poesía. No me gustó mucho la voz de la cantante, por eso le doy 3 estrellas

So tender so raw so fun so calming. Listened to this CD in the car with Murphy for her entire 2 year old time

Weird but in a sad way

What if everything was beautiful and sad

I feel like this album is what I was expecting the TSwift tortured poets album to be like and maybe that’s why I didn’t care for TTPD. Little Green feels like it could be in the sequel to “Free to be (you and me)” but California is my favorite track. Ten songs didn’t feel like enough but there isn’t a skip on here.

Now that’s what I’m tawkin about. A warm hug for California transplants

Just incredible vocals

Soul-wrenching. 5 stars, easily the best and most consistently great album I've listened to yet.

Linda Joni... Un poco de cringe el falsete.

My favorite color.

she has a cadence unlike anything else

Good album

Blue is like listening to someone else's therapy session.. which I guess it kinda is. She gets real emotional and personal about love gone wrong over some mellow jazz-folk. It's the musical equivalent of a good cry. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - All I Want - California - River - A Case of You

Toppenplatta

It has been getting better every listen. Could tell it was good on first listen, but it's grown on me. Initially felt it pretty similar to Tapestry, but it is a lot richer in terms of emotional and lyrical weight. And honestly, apples to oranges to try to compare the two. Really great album, and glad I made the connection.

Best: Carey; A Case Of You; All I Want; Little Green; California Worst: The Last Time I Saw Richard

HOLY MACKEREL, Joni’s voice is bright and mellow the whole time as i listened to the album…I can understand why it’s a great album and don’t get me started on the opening track, All I Want? bro unbelievably ethereal.

I wanted to like it, but was just meh.

I've listened to pretty much every single album of this challenge so far (up to #366) all the way through but Joni's voice is my own version of purgatory, I simply cannot stand it and have no idea how anyone can.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Joni Mitchell and I’ve never rated her albums highly on this site, but this one blew me away. I don’t know if I never saw this on her other albums or if this one is special, but there is a really understated sense of beauty to everything she wrote. Really really strong album, would be a five if she didn’t take a couple songs off in the back third.

Not my vibe

I can recognize the uniqueness and artistry involved but I just didn't enjoy listening.

I’ve heard this one before a while ago Beautiful voice “A Case of You” is a highlight but overall the album doesn’t have enough to stand out for me to listen to it regularly

7/10 Best songs: Blue, California It's somewhat shocking that I've heard so many covers of Joni Mitchell's songs but never got around to listening to this album. It's good 60s folk, with an intense intimacy that comes from the vocal-centered (primarily) acoustic tracks. At times I get a bit tired of her vocal gymnastics, but it's an enjoyable album that really feels timeless. I could see myself coming back to it in the future, or at least listening to more of her music.

This is not just a great music album. This is one of the great pieces of Western art. She weaves tales of the fallout of the 60’s, she reaches into the soul of women to bring their beautiful contradictions, she writes love songs that are true to their power. She finds new chords and rhythms. I discovered this about 25 years ago and have plunged its depths over and over again. This is an album that cannot be appreciated in one day. I beg you to give it time to breathe and reach you.

I'm glad it finished - tier music. So here we got a sad and romatic kind of singer-songwriter music. Already warning, and in the end the album proves dull. Really dull. Mitchell's romantic stories and emotional verses are just uninteresting with that kind of generic background music, mostly guitar which sadly is bad. The piano adds just a bit of spark to this but even then her emotions evoke cringe and mostly not compassion. It sounds like your gf, who ain't a musician, sitting there and singing her stuff. You might make compliments due to your role but those are lies and you do not really enjoy it much. "Carey" was the one promising song but I did not add it anyways. Apart from that, there are maybe one to two songs that are just okay, with the rest being boring. We are here to listen to music and not some romantic poems. So respectfully, you do not have to heard this album before you die.

A masterpiece

Great!

As a Canadian, I guess I’m supposed to have a Joni Mitchell tattoo on my ches, but I’ve always found her voice annoying. The songs don’t suck, though.

Always like her voice and style ..enjoyable album

Sinds een paar weekjes heb ik een goeie koptelefoon. Rumoerig kantoor, veel in de trein, je kent het wel. Lekker noise cancellen. Wat een verademing ten opzichte van de losse oortjes. Geen ruis tijdens het fietsen, geen achtergrondgeluid en een veel diepere beleving van de muziek. Het zou dus kunnen dat mijn reviews er dus wat op vooruit gaan, omdat mijn algemene muziekbeleving er gewoon op is vooruit gegaan. Nu heeft Joni Mitchell niet perse de muziek die de beste koptelefoon nodig heeft. Wel blijkt des te beter hoe prachtig mooi Blue is. Her en der staat dit album in de top 10 beste albums. Nou, zo ver wil ik niet gaan. Maar deze plaat heeft wel iets bijzonders. Prachtige gokkasten in mooie liedjes. Maar zonder cliche te gaan klinken. Ik heb hem meerdere keren aangezet omdat ik er vanuit ging dat de liedjes mooier zouden worden. Dat is zo. Soms laat ze haar stem een beetje vibreren of uit de bocht vliegen. Dat vind ik niet het mooiste. Maar goed, zo is er altijd wel iets. 8/10 Highlights Little Green A Case of You

Great album except for the composition, the singing, and the lyrics.

Increíble disco, ahora entiendo porque lo consideran una obra maestra, la calidez, la atmósfera melancólica y tranquila que te da, esa portada intrigante de Joni, y sobre todo todo el increíble trabajo música y lírico hacen a este disco una completa obra maestra

2 Songs i liked, which i already had in my collection, form the best of

As a personal preference, I just don't like this kind of female voice. I don't know if it's the mix or some technical, but I find it very grating at loud volume. Having said it, after 3 or 4 songs I had accepted it and was able to enjoy it quite a bit. Great folk and country (?) sound.

Very nice female folk of the 70s slow and cool guitar work

It's Joni Mitchell Blue.

Best Song: River I opened this album and thought, "oh that's the one with River on it. I like that song. But, maybe there are better songs than that!" Nope. But a good album regardless if you like that 60s folk, even though this came out in 1971, it is still 60s folk.