Blue

I think this is a pretty darn good album. But it sure gave me opposing views. Like on the opener All I Want. She has some great vocals but then sometimes she switches too abruptly between ranges. And her vocals are clever but also maybe a little juvenile? - I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you. I just don't know how to feel, although I know I feel like it's a solid song. There are no clunkers on this album and her piano-based ballads like My Old Man, Blue, River (minus the Jingle Bells bits), and The Last Time I saw Richard really bring out the emotions - both her delivery and sharp (sometimes bleak) lyrics. But they are not to be outdone by her soft acoustic pieces like Little Green and A Case of You - also tug on the emotions. And then there are her more up-tempo folk pieces like Carey and California - just fun. This Flight Tonight ain't no slouch either, a great version of that song. You won't appreciate this album if you only listen to it once or twice.

It sometimes takes me a moment to get past the way she jumps up and down the scale in her singing, but once I get past that it's clear as day what a beautiful voice she has and how outstanding her songwriting is. There are so many albums in the 1001 that reward a close listen. I was a little dismissive in my first listen, but when I focused on listen two, following the lyrics, I was blown away by this album and understood all the accolades. Great musicianship (guitars, piano, singing), great songwriting, powerful lyrics, beautiful voice. Favorite tracks: Little Green (about the baby she gave up for adoption and didn't see again until 1997 - crushing lyrics), Blue, California (fun fact - Going to California by Led Zeppelin references Joni Mitchell: "To find a queen without a king / They say she plays guitar and cries and sings"), This Flight Tonight (really like the guitar on this song), River (the nicest song to ever feature Jingle Bells), The Last Time I Saw Richard ("All romantics meet the same fate someday" - great line). Definite 5.

I knew most of these songs, though it ended more quietly and moody than I anticipated.

This will be my third Joni Mitchell album to review, and I’m really looking forward to it. I gave four stars to both Court and Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, the latter of which I should have given five stars to. I wasn’t familiar with any of Joni Mitchell’s music before starting this project, but she’s quickly become an artist that I keep going back to. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday than listening to one of her most popular albums. This album is great, and I can see why it has a reputation as Joni Mitchell’s best work. It’s intimate, beautiful, and features great songwriting. The whole album is poetry set to music, and it works wonderfully well. I feel like other artists struggle to be accessible when they focus so much on the songwriting, but not Joni. The instrumentation might be somewhat sparse, but it’s a treat to listen to. I love the guitar and piano playing, and no matter which one she’s using, it’s soothing to listen to. Colors came up as a theme several times throughout the album, but that theme was subtle, and I liked how the cooler tones of those colors drove the mood of the album. Joni’s singing was absolutely fantastic, and her voice fills in every corner of this album to perfection. “My Old Man” and “Carey” are neck-and-neck for being my favorite song on the album. The backing vocals and carefree spirit of “Carey” are so much fun, and on “My Old Man,” I love that key change about a minute into the song (at least I think it’s a key change, I’m not very well versed in music theory). That change shifts the mood of the song before right before the lyrical tone shifts as well, and I thought it was brilliant. From a songwriting standpoint, “Little Green” might be the best song on the album. The story of the child that Joni gave up for adoption is absolutely heartbreaking, and as man, I will never understand the bond between a mother and her child, but this song is about as close as I’ll ever get. There were some moments on this album that weren’t my favorite, but the singing and arrangements were so beautiful that it I always had something to enjoy in each song. This album is great, and it earns its reputation as one of the best albums of all time.

A beautiful album.

Oh, this is such a relief on so many levels after listening to that Muse album straight through yesterday! First of all, there is such an overabundance of male voices and perspectives coming at me on a daily basis that a female one makes me want to get down on my knees and weep with gratitude and relief. Second of all, when that voice is Joni Mitchell, I’ll go from my knees down to a fetal position and just soak it in. I’ve never listened to this album (or most albums) from start to finish. I love this whole 1001 albums project for forcing me to take the artist’s intended journey. It’s new for me. After the Muse album the “simplicity”….no, that’s not the right word….the “straightforwardness”, maybe, of a voice and a guitar is such a gift. That’s what my brain and ears, such as they are, were craving. And her turns of phrases, both musical and lyrical, are delicious. The notes of the phrase “we don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall” in “My Old Man”…so satisfying. Oh, my kingdom for the vocal freedom of Joni Mitchell…her voice feels like a bird soaring on gusts of wind and relishing every swoop and directional change. Jesus, though….how desperately lovely and heartbreaking is Little Green. And River…I’ve never been able to listen to it without crying, and that’s okay. It’s such an absolutely perfect encapsulation of that very particular shade of heartbreak. I’m so grateful when I find those songs that I know can strum that particular heartstring for me…it reminds me to tend them. That said, now I’m crying in the grocery store, so….that’s inconvenient.

I don't know very many Joni Mitchell songs and I hadn't really listened to anything by her except Big Yellow Taxi and Both Sides before starting on this 1000 Album journey. This is the second album of hers that I've listened to here, and man, I just love everything about her sound. The performances (both instruments and vocals) are just absolutely perfect. Super stark and simple, but over the top in beauty and clarity and inventiveness. There was one track, This Flight Tonight, where Joni's vocals got so loud that they distorted a bit, which was surprising given the high production quality of the rest of the album. However, this kinda worked to give that part a more raw sound, so maybe it was like a happy accident and left in on purpose? Anyway, I loved it and listened to it twice. Five stars.

Magnificently beautiful album. (10) ★★★★★

Not my favourite Joni Mitchell album, but still one of the greatest albums of all time!

i mean what is there to even say. masterful storytelling. one of my favorite things about joni is that i don’t think her voice sounds that ‘impressive’ at first listen—just cos she’s not belting or doing anything that obviously crazy, and it has a lighter tone that might be mistaken for ‘weakness’. BUT if you actually try to sing along it becomes apparent just how flexible her range was. just so effortless…i would describe her voice as being nimble which i think also suits her very dense lyrical style. incredible vocal + narrative dexterity. yeah. the way she slightly mispronounces “percolator” in the last time i saw richard is like a lance through my heart. i cry every time. fav tracks: the last time i saw richard [probably in my top 5 songs of all time tbh..]; california; all i want; river; carey; little green

obviously amazing. there is just SOMETHING in the music that even without hearing the lyrics makes me cry...to the point that when some songs start i get choked up even though NOTHING HAS EVEN HAPPENED YET but i know what's coming and i'm emotional just from the anticipation of it. that being said this is one of the rare cases where i do care a lot about the lyrics, and like any of the artists that penetrate my typical inability to hear lyrics, it makes them all the more special to me. there's something about the way the words roll off her tongue that feels so inextricable from the melody itself, like the words are begging to be sung a certain way rather than her writing lyrics to fit a tune. But also the inflections in her voice feel so natural and effortless that it's hard to tell which she came up with first, or if it was even a conscious process at all rather than an organic outpouring of emotion. it really is as good as everyone says it is.

See guys! The Blue Album is on the list after all! I'm joking, of course. However, while I would love it if the Weezer blue album was on the list, I am perfectly content with getting Joni Mitchell's Blue instead. Why is that, you may ask? The reason is simple. This album's amazing. I've said this to a few other albums, but this might be the saddest album I've ever heard. Songs like "Little Green" and the title track are written in such ways that really capture strong emotions well. Speaking of which, the writing on these songs is great. I can see why the 1001 albums book listed Joni Mitchell as an example of a great songwriter. Of course, while a great songwriter can be successful despite having a weak singing voice (just ask Bob Dylan), strong lyrics are made even stronger with a good vocalist. Fortunately, Joni Mitchell is also a good vocalist. I really like her singing. It's nice. The sound is quite simple, but still excellent. A lot of the sound was provided by Joni Mitchell herself, though other artists like James Taylor contribute as well. They all do well with the music. Overall, this is a timeless album that absolutely deserves the praise it has gotten and then some. It is a true artistic statement of a quality that doesn't come all the time. It is, dare I say, a masterpiece. 5/5.

Everything they say about Joni's songwriting is true.

Wow, this is a gorgeous album. I can't help but feel that it must have inspired Kate Bush's Aerial album - the title track is definitely reminiscent of this record, for sure. Favourite tracks: All I Want, Carey, Blue, California.

Pure, unadulterated occasionally over sharing songs about love, lust, absences, adoption and all human emotions. This was where Mitchell went as clear as cellophane and allowed us to experience what she was experiencing, whether for good or ill. You'll jump between sadness and exhultation from song to song, all anchored by her amazing voice and supporting instrumentation. Some may feel it's an emotional car wreck, but even sunlight can look beautiful glinting off shattered glass. Best Tracks: All I Want; Carey; California

One of the greatest folk albums

all i want isch suuuper. sie spielt soo speziell gitarre. my old man au super, was isch d melodieee? little green (heisst drum am spina sini band so?). sie het überraschendi chords so unglaublich im griff. carey het background vocals ööh. und so klatsche uf 2 und 4. sie molt extreem guet bilder. title track jooo sie scho seehr brüele singe mengmol. california hani au scho ghört, mega schön mit bitz perkussion und so. uuuuh yes pedal steel! jaaaa ganz bitzli hihat jaaa! meega geile song so minimalistisch. this flight tonight hani etz au hammer gfunde würklich, stüprt da zf e füfi zue? river passt gad sehr, es regnet dusse und ich bin im bus. haha sie spielt e art jingle bells am schluss. i could drink a case of you and inwould still be on my feet isch wuuunderschön als textzeile. sie cha sooo texte. the last time i saw richard au wieder okay joni verzell ich friss der alles us de hand.

blau alles ich will omg ihri stimm so e melodie wommer nie weiss, wo sie hiigaht, I love it wauw insane bis jz, nüt mega catchy aber unglaublich schön casey het jz chli meh ums lied ume california ultraschön, river und a case of you nüt mega krasses die letzte zeit ich sah richard he ja es isch route 4 oder 5

Perfect. Beautiful melancholy tunes that make me wanna learn the dulcimer. Joni is pretty much always great and this just might be peak Joni.

I love Joni and this is my favorite of her albums. I know, not really that hot of a take. I remember back, just when I got out of college, I decided to check out this album, because I was unfamiliar with Joni’s music and always heard it was good. I was so blown away, I took it to my roommates and played it for them. One walked away after a couple songs, and the other called it “boring” and I shut it off. I couldn’t believe it. Anyway, I think this might be my third five star rating in a row, and this was the first one there was no debate in my head about it.

Wonderfully authentic and down to Earth. Joni takes you on a trip down a path thats been heavily travelled, but rarely talked about.

loved this album. incredible

An absolute stunner and a record I had already coincidentally been listening to on repeat this week. Along with Hejira, Blue is the absolute peak of Joni Mitchell records.

Magnificent, one of the best of all time. Little green and the last time I saw Richard are classics I hadn’t yet heard and the studio version of California is a romp. River and All I want are of my favorite songs that bring me back to my teenage days

How does anyone not love Joni Mitchell?

Not my first listen, but first in a while since it was put back on Spotify. Really just a timeless classic -- I have gone deeper into Joni's discography in the last year (For the Roses is one of my favorite vinyls that I own) and nothing compares to Blue. She was ahead of her time then and is now the blueprint for so many indie/folk female artists.

A masterpiece of writing and performance. Ne plus ultra.

The good songs are so good that it deserves a 5.

I am only a little familiar with Joni Mitchell. Wow, she really is remarkable.

This was astonishingly good. I'd never heard a single track from this album before and now I have half a dozen new favourites to listen to. There was a period of around 30 seconds or so at the start where I figured I would detest this album, but once I had adapted to the vocals, I was totally on board.

‘One of the greatest albums of all time’. ‘The pinnacle of composition and structure.’ ‘Not bad for a girl’. It’s hard to review or critique or even listen objectively to this. Every mediocre cafe singer has heard this and when they sing of their intensely personal life and tell you pointless stories of how this particular song came to be, this is the album to blame ‘This next song came to me when I was doing a load of laundry. Then I caught the bus to buy some milk and my sister rang and we chatted for 34 minutes. I had an itchy nose so I scratched it. My cat meowed and I fed it. This song is called ‘feeding the cat while doing the laundry’ (start cliched chord pattern). Joni is not at fault here. (Neither is Jimi Hendrix or Yngwie Malmsteen or Aretha Franklin, or Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Bob Dylan or Jaco Pastorious or Celine Dion or Metallica to name a few.) A prodigiously talented songwriter, a brilliant guitarist and a great singer, I can’t blame people for wanting to copy her but her stuff is uncopyable. In short this is a great album. One of the few that you should listen to. But I prefer others - offhand Hejira or Court and Spark - from her. Nonetheless five stars.

So glad this is here. I have no idea where my copy is and out of sight out of mind. Maybe I lent it ? Thanks. For some simplicity. Some clarity where we can focus on just the voice and one or two instruments. For the reminder of feminine whimsy raw honest folk, delicate and shrill and some playful non-standard standards. And then case if you. Often covered. Tender sensual emotional and sad and oddly soothing. What an album. And the there's the lyrics, as devastating as an unexpected poem from The New Yorker. Careful. Thanks Joni.

On Blue, Joni Mitchell is your mother and she's singing you gentle, soothing lullabies. This a key brick on the path of women singer/songwriters that leads to your modern day Joanna Newsom, Fionna Apple, or Weyes Blood. *Heard before.

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

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!

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

im pretty sure this is a 5 yeah

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

Fantastic album.

Perfection

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

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

Beautiful album. What a talented songwriter

Brilliant album.

Beautiful album, no notes, perfect

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.

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

A realisten, but what a joy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very emotional performance, 5/5

Reminded me of college days at coffee shops. memories

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

One of the greatest

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

All time favorite- glad to be back on this though

yes

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

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

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.

Exquisite.

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

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

tremendously good album

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

You already know we love this one.

Not feeling blue after that

I could drink a case of this album

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!

i believe every damn word she says. true brilliance.

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.

A absolute masterpiece

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.

Such an amazing talent. Her vocal range is awesome.

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

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.

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

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

Simply stunning!

Top 10 of all time

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

Thankful this is back on Spotify

Stunning. 5.

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.

haunting, lovely.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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

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.

Legendary

Joni is a classic. Period. I could listen to this album on repeat for hours and be totally content. The emotion and quiet power she injects into a song through her vocals performance is up there with the best female rock vocalists like Janic Joplin, Mama Cass, etc

I really don't understand the 1 star reviews, surely you should be able to acknowledge the incredible song writing

An amazing beautiful album!

I listened to this while driving anxiously around North Philly in a torrential downpour. Joni, your voice soothes all storms. I love your grace and simplicity.

I really liked this album.

There is a reason this is considered one of the best albums of all time. Just absolutely beautiful, musically and vocally. My favorite songs here are "All I Want," "River," and "A Case of You," but every song is really lovely. Such an amazing album that you can tell influenced so many since its release.

Goodness gracious. I really enjoyed this album. What a talent.

Folk with a soulful, pop sensibility.

Holy Fuck

Wow. Beautiful lyrics and an enchanting voice...wild at such a young age.

The blueprint (ha) for the modern singer/songwriter album, Blue demands — and deserves — your full, undivided attention. With sprawling compositions that go to unexpected places, Joni keeps you on your toes whilst giving one of the best vocal performances of all time. Top it off with some of the rawest, poetic songwriting and you’ve got a bonafide, even in those few instances where her melodies don’t go in my personally preferred direction. Favorite tracks: Carey, Blue, River

*sigh* she has such a way with words

Well... I can't tell a bad word about this one. Simple. Beatiful. Moving.

Calm singer songwriter stuff doesn't tend to be my favourite genre but I loved this. Joni's voice is brilliant and brings the less interesting songs up a few notches, but there are some songs that are great on their own merit. Not sure if I'd listen to it a lot, it's not really my thing, but it's fantastic so I might get into it. 4.5.

Can definitely understand all the accolades after listening to this all the way through for the first time. Brilliant song-writing, beautiful singing, raw emotion. Start to finish it's cohesive and there's no weak points. "Carey" and "This Flight Tonight" are underrated.

Joni Mitchell is a brilliant songwriter, and these deeply personal songs about her relationships might not translate to everyone, the album is an amazing product. Also, “A Case of You” is a top ten all time great songs.

A masterpiece from one of the all time great songwriters.

I like this album very much. And I own it too. Since the album isn’t available to listen to on this site, I listened to my own copy. My favorite Joni album is Hejira.

Nice voice.

Frank and personal lyrics enhances the mood and you are easily swept away into the glimpse of this life.

Such a beautiful, beautiful album. Her voice and lyrics just defined that decade. She is a timeless musician, 50 years later and she still sounds like she recorded it yesterday. Sadly I can only give it 5 stars.

Incredibly influential, and it deserves it. A beautiful album with incredible, introspective songwriting. Delicate and intense.

Are you kidding me? For me it's top 3 of all time.

Joni is not available on Spotify but I have the vinyl album and listened. It is one of the best albums of all time.

I loveeee this album

Joni’s songwriting is uniquely brilliant and this is her at her apex. California is my favorite

A Classic. Have been a fan from the beginning.

Album # 23 This is true JM musicality and lyrics. Some of her music I can handle but her vocal range ends up in the higher pitches for a lot of her songs and it hard for me to tolerate. She is a living legend and it was nice to see her get her due for the 2024 Grammy Awards. Both Sides Now is not on this album and might be on another suggested album down the road but it hits hard now. Thank you JM for a life of song and lyric

This is a fantastic album and by far Joni's best. Full of hits and memorable songs

Justice for Emma Thompson. This was lovely and the Christmas song in particular is a favourite to listen to at Christmastime!

女性のソロアーティストが続きましたー ジョニミッチェルはこのアルバムと蛇を持ち上げてるジャケットのしか聴いてなくて、結構なアルバム出してることにびっくりした（すみません、これで1001の名盤をレビューしようなんて・・・。） 変則チューニングってことをさっき知って、嬉し、びっくり（Sonic Youthかい！ってなって笑） Blueを聴けば聴くほど母って感じで、包容力の塊と思っている。 傍らに咲く花を愛でるような感覚にさせてくれるアルバムだよね。 陰が醸し出す美しさがいいねー 楽器の鳴りがピアノもギターもダルシマーも美しすぎる Californiaの寒空の曇り空の下で聴きたいなー（行ったことないけど、、）

Close your eyes and imagine the images. An album of feeling and grace. No notes... One of the great singer songwriters of her or any age.

This is an incredible album. I have listened to it many times before and I will listen many times again.

joni doesn’t have her music available on spotify :(

Absolutely stunning record. I own this on vinyl, but I feel like I haven't fully been able to get it into it until this came up for me. I am honestly SHOCKED to see that the average rating is only around 3.5 -- are people really rating lower because she's not on spotify? You go Joni, who needs spotify, those bastards. Anyways. What a unique voice, so beautiful. These songs just cut right to the heart. This is Taylor Swift for people who actually like music. I guess you could say I'm "Tangled up in Blue" now! Ok I'll stop. Brilliant record.

Day28 - theres a reason this album is considered a masterpiece

I love being wrong. I had never gave this album a chance, yet still scoffed at the idea of it being a "top10 all time " record. While it's not in my top 50, I get it. Initially my review was going to read: Joni Mitchell, excellent vocalist, great poet, mediocre musician. But this album just hooks you. Each track is unique and the sound here is obviously beutifuly produced. I will be coming back to this

Super entspannend

yes its that good

Love this record, but I can’t listen to it because some steakface said some stupid-ass shit on his podcast and Spotify chose money and alternative facts over virtue and truth and we are all the worse for it.

Halfway through, I can already hear how Joni has influenced so many modern singers making the greatest music of today. Some of the most genuine vocal performances delivered through one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. I enjoyed some of the melodic allusions throughout (i.e. ticket to ride). The ending is harrowing. 10/10. Favorite songs: Little Green, Blue, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard Least favorite song: My old man

Just one of the great albums. Coherent and tells some wonderful stories. One of my all time favourites.

Fun energy, and lyrically inventive. And probably the most melodically interesting stuff I've encountered in this project so far.

Beautiful folk voice inspired music whilst bangin James Taylor

I have always loved this album

Not all songs are on Spotify

One of my all time favorites

Love

ugh i would kill to be her friend

One of my “desert island” albums. FORMATIVE. Been listening to it for almost 40 years now.

a perennial favorite

Didn’t really like Joni at the time this album and her other classics were released. But as I have matured I realised what a great songwriter, wordsmith and musician she always was. This album was a window into my appreciation of her. Once I had heard it I immediately went out and bought her full back catalogue. I now rue the lost years I did not have her albums in my life. Blue encapsulates everything I like about Joni in one album and I think and hope will be regarded as a classic album always.

A series of beautiful minimalist acoustic folk tracks, a stark contrast from Mitchell's much lusher later releases. The subject material is personal, deep, and varied. What I like is how introspective and critical she is, displaying complex emotions over her relationships, her depression, and certain events in her life like giving up her daughter for adoption in "Green". She's highly expressive of how she feels but can't be simply labeled by "hopeful" or "desperate" or "anxious" in any given track. She bounces between them to show she's given a lot of thought retrospectively. And I feel she's done this better than her later releases. At the expense, this record does sound much rawer. It still sounds excellent, but the instruments and her vocals feel a bit less orchestrated, which produces a more lively effect and "go with the flow" style. This is actually a good thing. The main downside is that it places too much weight on her lyrics and accompaniment, which makes passive listening less interesting with barer, forgettable melodies in some tracks, like the piano ballad "Blue". Still, there are plenty of fantastic melodies out there, the most memorable being "California" and "All I Want". Her most famous song "A Case of You" almost feels improvisational with how the acoustics follow the lead of her voice. I liked the Christmas-style parody (just barely recognizable) on "River" which is about people who don't have family to connect to during the holidays. The only tracks I didn't care for were "My Old Man", "Blue", and "This Flight Tonight" but I can acknowledge how great they are, especially the lyrical subject.

I didn't listen to it today, but this is a great album.

Perfect album.

I was already inclined to like this as my parents are fans of Joni, my mother in particular. Blue didn't get ads much play as Court and Spark but it is one I definitely remember hearing growing up .

One of my absolute fav albums of all time. It just gets better everytime I listen to it.

This album sounds so far ahead of its time. It's a gorgeous showcase of heartbreaking lyrics, incredible talent on both piano and guitar, and outstanding mixing. I can't get over how great this record is.

Favourite tracks: California; blue; river; all I want

Yeeha

This one blew me away. Really tempted to give it a perfect score which I haven’t considered for an album I hadn’t heard before. Rating: 4.9

Not currently available on Spotify. Beautiful masterpiece. Nostaligic of a seemingly simpler time even though this was released at the height of the protests and chaos of the Vietnam War.

One of my favourite albums of all time, and a great start!

This album was not my taste and I honestly did not even make it through the entire thing but I'm going to rate it 5 stars because she hates Joe Rogan.

A few Blue gems.

I had to go to youtube to listen to this as Joni pulled her music off spotify, but it was worth the effort. I really like the poetry / stream of consciousness of her storytelling, but you don't even need to understand english to feel the emotion in her voice. This is beautifully complimented by the stripped down and raw music. This album takes you on a journey that you'll want to revisit.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Interesting that we’ve had the top 3 of the RS list in the past month. This is gorgeous. The way she moves her voice is wild.

After the first listen: I get why people really love this album but I don’t think I’m one of them. Joni Mitchell is clearly a great lyricist and I imagine it doesn’t awe me because I’ve heard so much music inspired by her approach already and am just not a lyrics person. I can’t say I love her voice either. “Case of You” and the title track are killer though. After the second and third listen: Woah. This demands your full attention. These songs are haunting, poignant, and beautiful. I get it now. Almost all the tracks are killer. Maybe I just need to keep digging.

Luckily I already have this album, it's a legit classic. Sadly it's not available on Spotify to stream

Still love it!

Give me more of shit like this.

Excellent throughout, no notes.

this was one of my favorite albums in high school. In college, I moved across the country to a place with winters, and this album changed for me once again. So much so, I spent weeks and weeks writing a paper about this album, about Joni’s unique instrumentation, of her gorgeous lyrics, of how she can create these mental paintings with a single color. The blues of my freezing winter skies were echoed in this album, as were the highs of my sunny skies. My fears, my desperations, my hopes, all of my love found a home here. I still love this album and I know most of it by heart. It’s an album I’ll carry (pun?) with me for the rest of my life. I’m still working on hitting those high notes though.

Awesome

This feels like how a bird flying on a nice day must sound. Gentle and beautiful.

A wonderful album. Joni’s voice is light and effortless — it seems to float as she gently yet confidently moves through her songs. Her voice has a sort of pure, candid quality that makes me feel like I could tell her anything. Excellent stylistic consistency throughout the album with just enough variety for interest. Extra points for removing her album from Spotify because she has moral character. 9/10 Lucas was that good enough for you

Sadly i could listen to only one song. But it was awesome. Brilliant crisp voice. Very emotional

Possibly the most honest, heartfelt, raw album ever

I think I already mentioned this on the last Joni album but very fond memories of driving around the Blue Mountains on a trip with Alexander listening to the J Files episode of this album

Another spin of vinyl since this one isn’t on Spotify. I love this album.

Really great music

Goddamn it, Joni. Feels. So many feels.

Masterpiece

Loved it. Folk music with a chill autumny vibe to it

Love this album. Carey is a favorite

I actually had a bit of trouble finding this album because Joni's still not back on Spotify. Because of notable idiot Joe Rogan apparently. This album gives roots to artists like Aldous Harding and Big thief. She's very good. The musicianship on this is incredible as well. It's such an easy album to listen to. Also, Lou Reed wishes Berlin was half as good as this.

One of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums

I really enjoyed this one! Her voice is so pure, and her melodies are really satisfying to listen to. She kind of reminded me of Carole King. I'll be listening to more Joni Mitchell for sure.

All time classic. Joni has a tremendous voice.

This is one of the best albums of all time, and is among my favorites. 5 stars, no notes.

The only thing I don't like about this album is that it isn't on Spotify. 10/10.

This album destroys me. I have tears on my face.

Well this is just a pure classic in every-way. You can see where so many found influence and inspiration.

Could be a 4/5, but I'm feeling good today

Nice

A true treasure

Great

Great songs

This...right here...this. Albums just con't get better than this. The way Mitchell can deliberately make the structure sound free and loose is unprecedented, and hasn't been replicated since. I love everything about this record. Each song stands on its own as a total classic, but they all complement each other to paint a complete picture of how music was evolving in the early 70s. The guitar work here is astonishing. Most singer/songwriter artists don't bother putting this much work into crafting unique acoustic guitar parts that don't just complement the vocal performance, but stand alone ass just pure craft. I think River pretty much sums up the absolute poetry that is the lyrics of this album. "Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on But it don't snow here It stays pretty green I'm going to make a lot of money Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene"

I don’t often fill my cup with the type of tea brewed by singer/songwriter types sat down with their guitar or piano, but Joni’s voice on Blue is so smooth, her writing so strong, that I’m finding the irresistible taste linger long after my final sip.

A long-time favorite of mine—Joni at her best. Some bops, some ballads, beautiful lyrics, beautiful melodies, full of melancholy and twisted love. Track picks: “All I Want,” “River,” “Carey,” “California” Favorite lyric: Just before our love got lost you said/ "I am as constant as a northern star"/ And I said, "Constantly in the darkness/ Where's that at?/ If you want me I'll be in the bar" -“Case of You”

Perhaps the greatest album ever made. A perfect work, often imitated and never paralleled.

The lyrics, musicality, and themes are all top-notch. Seriously wow, amazing.

Side 2 GOATED

Great

Amazing album!

if anyone needs me I’ll be down at the mermaid cafe

This is the best album ever made…period. If you don’t like Joni Mitchell, please leave earth.

A stunning album start to finish. Beautiful lyricism, Joni Mitchell is a master of metaphor and it makes her love songs so rich. Definitely going to listen to more of her work.

Joni Mitchell's voice is entrancing and these songs are great.

Such a mood

Wow, I feel like if this album came out in 2012 it would have fit right in. Way ahead of its time and seemed to pave the way for indie folk. I'm hearing Florence and the Machine, Madonna, Ingrid Michaelson, Iron and Wine. Interesting harmonies and instrumentals. This made me go listen to her debut album and it's so good. Big fan. 5/5

I enjoyed this a lot, definitely one I'd relisten to. Very touching, intimate lyrics. I really love My Old Man and Little Green, they make me cry but everything about this is exquisite.

Sublime.

5 star. Seminal classic

Great album! Joni at her best! California and Case of you are incredible. The writing on River is impressive. Not as musically interesting as Hejira for my liking, but still a behemoth of an album!

Classic.

Great! Everything I’ve heard about this album is true. Joni’s singing and guitar work is awesome. Very cool!

Dry straw-like stalks of dulcimer strings drone almost all alone save for a low folksy drum in ‘All I Want’, the straightforward opener to Joni Mitchell’s 1971 classic Blue. Angular acoustic comes in too to syncopate with the stream of some unimpeded singing. With a voice that runs a very wide range, Miss Mitchell indeed sings her confessions freely in this song that serves as a self-reflective letter to her lover. The final verses flows: “I want to have fun / I want to shine like the sun / I want to be the one that you want to see / I want to knit you a sweater / want to write you a love letter / I want to make you feel better / I want to make you feel free”. There’s specific emphasis on the final word, and perhaps that might imply that the combination code of love-n-liberty serves as secret key to happiness in any relationship. But to surely summarize the song, see the second verse: “all I really really want our love to do / is to bring out the best in me and in you too”. Warm chords wash over ‘My Old Man’, Mitchell’s ode not for a father but rather for her dandy boyfriend-lover. It’s a brilliant piano ballad featuring Mitchell’s preferred modal musical styles. Unexpectedly melancholy tonalities arise in little portions like on the “dancer in the dark” lyric and also more remarkably in the middle bits where the chords take a tragic turn into foreign territory. These sad passages are paired to words that work well to justify such gloomy music. For example, each abrupt bridge describes the Old Man’s absence: “but when he’s gone / me and them lonesome blues collide / the bed’s too big / the frying pan’s too wide”. O, but blessedly, he returns! And each happy detail concludes with the ever-catchy chromatic honky-tonky sassy passage: “we don’t need no piece of paper from the city hall / keeping us tied and true.” Defying the times, these two can be as good as married with their love alone. ‘Little Green’ gently lulls with its acoustic arpeggiations and its esoteric story-like lyrics. Although it never really reveals its audience, the song is secretly addressed to an anonymous daughter; and until the 1990s, no one knew that the song regarded Mitchell’s own mysterious child, a daughter placed for adoption just before the singer’s breakout success. Reading the lyrics from this lens, one can piece together a painfully personal reflection on an unfortunate situation. Upon the adoption: “…you sign all the papers in the family name / you’re sad and you’re sorry but you’re not ashamed / little green, have a happy ending”. That’s a tough one. Scratchy dulcimer returns to accompany ‘Carey’, one of the more produced pieces on this minimalist record. There’s a bass and some heavy hand-drums dancing along for the whole song. All the lyrics paint a picture of the end of a jaunty party of hippies headed up by the mystifying main man Carey, an ever-alluring island-dwelling playboy described as a “bright red devil” and a “mean old daddy”. Each chorus, Mitchell copies her words and harmonizes herself with silky sirens who sing so smoothly and movingly that it almost makes you want to pack up and move to Malata and join the company of ol’ crazy Carey. True to its name, ‘Blue’ brings the gloom. It’s a stark stripped-back ballad oozing with curious emotionally-expressive modal chords and nautical imagery. Like a blues musician, Mitchell utilizes the common theme of depression and emptiness; but the lyrical content and highly evocative music of her song combine to create a sonic product much more significant than any generic blues song. With a personal tone, Mitchell tackles serious social troubles; at its core, the song represents depression and the subjugation of women to male dominance. But there’s also drugs and damnation to discuss. Mitchell whines these striking lines “acid, booze, and ass / needles, guns, and grass” in such a sneering way to indicate her dismay and denunciation of her entire generation. ‘California’ promises sunshine. The singer dreams of retreating to the far edge of America. She’s had enough of her Careys in Crete, her cold Parisian streets, her Spanish party retreats. None of these nice delights can compare to the old home. She’s resigned and ready to return. And through a series of bright ever-catchy melodies, she hits the high-pitch right on the name of her favorite state California. There’s dulcimers and real drums, bass and lots of guitar (including a sharp steel solo every now-n-then to offer a touch of country, appropriately enough). She must be going home because the next song, ‘This Flight Tonight’, takes place from within an airplane. The sound is sinister: low-tuned strings flop ominously and at a very fast pace. There’s a destination and there’s nothing to be done otherwise, but still the singer longs for the land and her lover. Chorus is an order to “turn this crazy bird around” and a claim that she “shouldn’t have got on this flight tonight”. The third verse includes a particularly compelling production nugget: in an attempt to pass the tedious time, Mitchell listens to music over headphones and the specific song playing, all tinny and distant, briefly fuses with ‘This Flight Tonight’ itself. ‘River’ sounds like a sad rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’, the usual peppy melody paired to a piano’s disconsolate chords. And then the words of the first and fifth verse use the Christmas season to comment on coldness, but it’s not just about snow. Mitchell shares with us shades of her fame (verse 2). She laments a fractured love (verses three and four). Never mind the weather, these personal problems are the culprits causing the coldness. At the end of each verse, Mitchell wishes for an endless river, forever frozen and lonely and free for fleeing. She’d skate away from her cold woes if she could. Her voice soars, sincerely sorry for all she has harmed. She just needs to be alone for a while, as we all do from time to time. Here’s a highlight: ‘A Case of You’ comes packed with many little lyrical allusions and wells of meaning. Addressed to a former boyfriend, one complicated companion, the song overall suggests that Mitchell could never get enough of him. Indeed, she admits that “part of you pours out of me / in these lines from time to time”. Furthermore, if you consider the alcohol implications of the “case” in the chorus and title, she claims she could always be clear-headed when imbibing his intoxicating bittersweet vibes. In other words, she could see right through his illusions and ruses and just hold his soul. Charged by a delicate dulcimer, the song’s soft sound makes way for Mitchell’s masterfully expressive voice throughout. Last track regards a Richard, or more specifically, ‘The Last Time I Saw Richard’, an unsmiling title for an appropriately dark song about a depressed dude drinking away his dreams. And despite conversation, friend Mitchell can’t really encourage or convince Mr. Richard to get back to his stride. The music, played on a piano alone, vacillates between bitter chords and some brighter-sounding sonorities as the verses progress; and indeed the words, of which there are many, reflect some brief glimmer of hope as they go along. But it seems that Richard’s cynicism seeps into Mitchell’s mind. The last verse provides an update on both Richard and Mitchell years later: “Richard got married to a figure skater / and he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator / and he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on / and all the house lights left up bright”; and as for Mitchell: “I’m gonna blow this damn candle out / I don’t want nobody comin’ over to my table / I got nothing to talk to anybody about / all good dreamers pass this way some day / hidin’ behind bottles in dark cafés / dark cafés / only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings and fly away / only a phase, these dark café days”. And so it goes out, all glum and done. Minimal and personal, Blue consists of ten intimate musical moments with Mitchell. Often hailed as a “relatable record”, the deep Blue isn’t too difficult to dig. I suggest you get to digging and enjoy the treasure.

Really not for me. The voice was really jarring and the instrumentals were a bit too simplistic. It got removed from spotify, and I can see why. Sorry Joni, 1/10

Easily one of my absolute favorites of the 70s, one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time, one of the best vocals performances ever, etc etc. Just straight up beautiful.

Flawless

Annoying it's not on streaming

Songs written from the heart

I'm a fan, this is a really good album. Definitely melancholy, but its a vibe. 5/5

Good album. Great vocals.

A pretty much perfect album - Joni’s voice is incredible and this is her best collection of songs imo

Joni Mitchell is clearly among the best singer/songwriters of her generation. The songs on "Blue" still hold up - I enjoyed each one of them.

Wonderful melodies, quiet but strong.

Still got it

I can't put my finger on exactly what elevates this to a 5, but it definitely deserves it. I listened to it four times throughout the day; I just kept getting pulled back to it.

Really good 5/5

Precioso

One of the most perfect things ever made

Clásico de Clásicos.

Gracias por el hermoso día que me regalaste, Joni.

Tope.

This is quite an amazing album, and despite Joni's voice getting a little tiresome after a while, the cosy familiarity and brilliant songwriting offset the shrillness.

Precioso

Easy easy 5. 10/10. Have loved this one for so long. This album is in a league all of its own making.

One of the best ever

almost didn’t listen because it wasn’t on spotify, but i’m glad i didn’t skip. this album was absolutely amazing. felt very personal and had some incredible vocal performances. will be listening to more joni mitchell in the near future.

Incredible. One of the great talents of all time.

Fullkomið albúm. Fullkomlega kósí á svona rigningardegi.

I really liked her soft sound

instant 5, cool how clear the lyrics are and I like the way the melodies wander. I didn't really like little green

"Blue" is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. The album was written after her break-up with Graham Nash and during an intense relationship with James Taylor. It is confessional exploring various facets of relationships including love, break-ups, random ones and insecurity. The music itself is in the folk/folk-rock genre and has simple accompaniments, primarily piano and acoustic guitar. It is very highly regarded with many critics considering it one of the best albums of all time. The first song "All I Want" has James Taylor on acoustic guitar and interrestingly enough, is about Joni's relationship with him. You get a sense of her approach right away; nothing appears hidden. How they hurt each other, jealously and traveling. "Carey" is a happier song with some great backing vocals. Joni spent some time with hippie Carey on Crete and this is a song about that. I really got a sense of the brilliance of this album with "Blue." Another song about JT and his and their issues including heroin addiction. Piano-based and melancholy. "Blue, there is a song for you; I love you." "California" opens up side two. Acoustic. A travelogue. Joni's in Paris but longing for California and will they accept her back. "River" is her Graham Nash break-up song. Piano and emotional vocals. Beautiful imagery as she's using a river to skate away. Thought of as a Christmas song and ends with "Jingle Bells" notes. I don't know if there is a better break-up song and there's plenty of those. "A Case of You" is sort of a straight-forward love song. She's sitting in a Canadian bar thinking of someone. This is about as deeply personal an album as I've heard. Sort of stream of consciousness without a filter. Whereas she would tell stories with meanings hidden in the future, this is direct and to the point. The music plays perfectly to her lyrics. A great album worthy of it's high accolades.

Blue- such a good album. On the top of any of my lists. Probably, Joni’s best and most personal songwriting. Totally unique singer and songwriter. I like all the alternate tunings and interesting harmony. Really dig her piano playing too. “Case of You”is such a great song- all the songs are, and I have heard this album so many times but this time I really appreciated “Little Green.”

I never really got that into joni but this album is definitely a masterpiece. I’ve never really heard anything that sounds like it, the writing and the playing are both in a league of their own.

Brutally raw and vulnerable. Maybe Joni’s best album-there’s a few contenders for that title.

Exceptional and beautiful

Great album wonderful singer, beautiful songs, a real talent

This might be the most gripping folk album I’ve listened to. The instrumentation is quite simple with just the piano and guitar but it’s so clean and crisp. Great imagery and songwriting carried by such a beautiful strong voice. Listened to this one 3 times over, so good. 5 stars

Quite, quite lovely. Less taxing than other Mitchell albums, you can focus on the voice a bit more.

Amazing album. My favourite song is still All I Want. My least favourite is the title song, where the high-pitched high-vibrato singing is getting on my nerves a little, though less so than in the past.

I love this record though find it hard work: I stop to listen to it, as I can’t have it on in the background.

What is there to say? Easily one of my favorite albums at any point in my life, and if I don't listen to it that much any more it's only because I can play the whole thing in my mind without effort. Contains, in my opinion, three of the finest songs ever written in "Carey", "The Last Time I Saw Richard" and, of course, "A Case Of You", and when the worst song on this by far is the global standard "River" you can't really nitpick. Despite that, I'm not even sure this is her greatest work - such an incredible talent!

One of the best albums ever recorded. If you are looking for heartbreakingly transparent lyrics that are underpinned by lush, unpretentiously complex melodies...look no further.

I spent decades pretty much ignoring Joni Mitchell, and this album took a while to get into. But a few years ago it all clicked, and I love this album and play it frequently. Includes what is now my favourite Christmas song, so couldn't be any less than 5 stars.

This is just one of those albums that is so important that adding my review to it seems completely unnecessary. First of all, Joni Mitchell's voice, with its ability to suddenly take a high, almost birdlike note, is the star of this album. The instrumentation is mostly piano and guitar but the music itself takes some experimental turns that show the forward thinking nature of the album. Above all, this album is heartbreaking, and feels voyeuristic in how personal it is.

Great album, Joni is a legend!

Beautiful album with many of my favorite Joni songs!

5.0 + As the album name and cover suggest, there's a melancholy that binds these ten songs. I usually skip to the happier moments ("All I Want", "Carey", "California") but every song on here is gorgeous and deeply emotional. I especially love how she sneaks in details that set things slightly off-kilter, as in the line "will you take me as I am?/Strung out on another man..." at the end of the homesick "California."

Some high highs and mixed in with forgettable tracks. Loved Carey, California, and A Case of You. Can see how this influenced the singer/songwriter genre that came after it. 4.5/5

This album is ethereal and heavenly. Please put it back on Spotify. You're ruining my playlists. Do not trust people who think her voice is annoying - they might be skinwalkers. 5/5. Really good music this week! Should I be worried?

One of the great albums. My auntie left this on a cassette when she emigrated to Australia in the 70's and I claimed it and played it and played it again. Stylised vocals and guitar but so lyrical and personal- it's beautiful, and timeless.

A beautiful and timeless masterpiece of an album. While this may not have usually been something I'd actively seek out, I enjoyed it and followed it very closely throughout. It's amazing how this was entirely written and produced by Mitchell also. Favourite: This Flight Tonight

Duh

Yeah, I support women's suffrage.

Amazing voice, amazing guitar player, A Case of You is so good

16th Feb. Last day in Janine and Lloyds house. Sun is rising onto the mountains. Feel excited about Rome, looking forward to it.

Like looking at Joni from the other side of a one-way bathroom mirror. Powerfully raw to the point of beauty, yet enough remains among the sparse accompaniment to properly cover her shame. Not as fun as her more jazz-inspired works later down the line, but definitely her best. A crying shame that it’s not on Spotify.

I really love this album. Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter and has a beautiful voice. There are no skips on this album and nearly every song is a standout to me. 5/5. Standout Tracks: All I Want, Little Green, Carey, Blue, California, This Flight Tonight, River, A Case of You, The Last Time I Saw Richard

Mother is mothering

4.5

太好听了，上一次听到这么好听的专辑还是door 的la woman

I can feel the melancholy. I usually don't like singer songwriter styles... this is too good though.

I didn’t like this album the first time or two that I listened to it. I thought that Joni sounded too shrill for my liking. But I grew to love the honesty in her voice and the little twirls in her songwriting and guitar playing. She has better vocal performances elsewhere, but this may be her best collection of songs. A

This is, in my opinion, the greatest album of all time. I've loved it for six years now.

Perfect

Quelqu'un s'est fait #manifested par ici

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Joni's voice is one of the beautiful sounds in this world. Her gift for melody, her ability to effortlessly blend pop with jazz and elevate the singer/songwriter genre to high poetry is why she is still being spoken with with such reference today. Blue is a shining moment in her discography.

Love this record.

Honestly, this album could just be “Carey” and I would rate it 5/5. But every single song on this album adds on to the last. A true pinnacle of emotion in recording. Her voice on this album is like raw sadness and love. Easily one of the best albums of all time.

HOT TAKE TIME, wherein we rank the takes based on how firm the hill of the take is I'm willing to die on: * Tapestry is better than Blue: I see the argument, mainly because I personally prefer Tapestry over Blue. Tapestry is a divorce album, and it has the feeling of being wronged by that one guy Carole King is moving on from. Blue is about a number of different lovers, most famously Graham Nash and James Taylor among others, and is more sparse and feels more personal. It also has the most underrated Christmas Song ever written (River). Tapestry has great session musicians, including Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, while Blue is all Joni. Sure, she has occasional exes like James Taylor strum guitar on a few tracks, but this is mainly Joni on piano and guitar, and her underrated vocals. VERDICT OF TAKE: Tapestry has the hits, which could be why I opt for it over Blue. Both albums remain influential, but you can't begrudge anyone who prefers Blue. * Blue is overrated: Rolling Stone famously named this the THIRD greatest album of all time in their 2020 poll. Seems high. But this is the sort of thing that happens when you have the likes of Phoebe Bridgers ranking her all-time favorite albums. VERDICT OF TAKE: I doubt Blue remains at number 3 whenever Rolling Stone updates their poll again. It probably belongs around number 30, which is where it was in their 2012 poll. * Blue isn't even Joni Mitchell's best album: In my book, that honor belongs to Hejira, which is a classic set of 9 bangers. No one falls over themselves to praise Hejira like they should. It's probably due to the fact that Hejira has Coyote, and Blue has River. VERDICT OF TAKE: This is the hill I'm dying on. And unfortunately, I only awarded Hejira with a 4 when I should have branded it a 5. Blue is a classic album, but I'm a Hejira Stan. This 5 is for Hejira as much as it is for Blue.

I have to admit, I'm surprised another folk-rock album is getting five stars on here. Joni Mitchell has a great voice, and I'd happily listen to this whole album again later!

70s Taylor Swift lol

I don't need to listen to this one because I have quite recently (and many times before that). One of my favourite albums of all time, it is perfect. Some of the best songwriting and musicianship ever recorded.