Blue

Beautiful folk with Joni’s wonderfully unique voice. Don’t love the first couple of songs. Otherwise lovely.

I took a pause from reviewing after finding a love whom I dedicated all my time too as I love her so much, but She broke up with me and reading the description of this album I see Joni Mitchell had just broken up with Garham Nash when she started to write the songs. You see The Nash part stood out and I see he was part of the group Crosby, Stills & Nash I reviewed one of their albums before and one song, "Lady of The Island" I had dedicated to this girl and she said it was her most favorite that I had dedicated to her. All though being honest I gave their album a bad review as it was my second review ever and I was close minded. It's just how this came full circle, that is interesting. Although not a big fan of this album.

Albumi #160, 27.02.2025 Joni Mitchellin arvostetuin albumi vuodelta 1971.

Very melancholic

Nice lyrics. Remind me of traveling. Chill

4.5

took a couple listens, not my personal favorite in this lane but still very beautifully composed, doesn’t overstay its welcome, joni’s voice is (mostly) great, banger season

Little Green is a downright perfect song and always moves me to tears. 💚 i love the first half of this album, and the last song is so powerful. it starts to all blend together at some points, but this is definitely my favorite Joni album. 4.35 if i could 💙

It's certainly not aimed for me but I feel that it is very effective in what it's trying acomplish? I don't know if that make sense but I can't give it high score and I wouldn't like to give it a low grade just because I didn't have fun.

It's one of those albums that I have to be in a certain mood to listen to. Overall--great stuff.

This album just kept growing and growing. I liked it a lot. "A Case of You" was the standout track.

Love River so much. Just vibes. Not always my jam, but a good time nonetheless.

Really reminds me of Tapestry - Carole King, released the same year.

Soulful and a great listen

Acid, Booze and Ass- needles, guns and grass. Gangster line. Crazy strong voice. I’m a Joni Mitchell fan now. Love Case of you.

Not my preferred genre of music. Regardless, this is very well done. Slower/sadder songs. A solid album, if that's your thing.

Such a sad album, with some terrific songwriting.

тейлор свифт теперь я знаю откуда растут твои ноги!!! есть ощущение что этот альбом нужно переслушать (и переслушивать!!!) в мае :')

Very cool, chilled and beautifully sung

<3

Enjoyed this a lot more than the last one on the list, but it’s still not quite clicking for me

Great sound on this record. Simple setups and just great singing.

I love Joni Mitchell's soft but sweet voice and introspective lyrics that have a way about making you feel something. The album itself, however, falls short of powerful, particularly in the face of high expectations that were placed on it going on. Don't know how to explain it, but the songs collectively enjoyable to listen to, but no necessarily individually memorable. A great album, just not a 5

Liked it

Good stuff

I like the Joni's voice, it's so beautiful and nostalgic yet sad at the same time, great album

A really good, but slightly disappointing listen. The songs are all nice and soothing to listen to, until Joni Mitchell hits a register that cuts through in a very jarring way. Definitely detracts from more than a few songs, and brings down what is overall a really good album. And when it's good, it's incredibly good. Top tracks: Little Green, River, A Case of You

Got surprised by the melancholy, female vocals. All I Want is (twangy) guitars and subtle drum supported by soprano melody. Blues tells a personal story, filled in with piano instrumentation. More guitar in Little Green, chill vibe. Carey is more upbeat, introduces layered background vocals, uses guitar more for rhythm (same guitar as All I Want). More piano in Blue, feels like it ends soon. California, ukele? This Flight Tonight, more persistent guitar with rhythm. ACase of You, more or less "I can't get enough of you." Like the Christmas music reference (jingle bells) River, a song about the guilt of pushing away/hurting someone you love, like it a lot. The Last Time I Saw Richard, enjoy the piano instrumentation.

Cried along to A Case of You on my way home from the grocery store

Ascult si ma gandesc la Joan Baez, si la Nancy Bryan. N-am auzit pana acum de Joni Mitchell. Un clasic de folk. Chitara acustica buna. Pianul merge bine. Vocea duce bine!!! Merita sa-l ascult din nou. Sunt piese care chiar m-au miscat la prima auditie. Aduce mai mult cu Nancy Bryan (sau invers). Poate sa-l cumpar.

Considered for opening hours at cafe Kelvinos, but can it hold a crowd for more than one caffeinated drink? A tough question. Beautiful, but bordering on boring. Definitely background music. Maybe too iconic for a 3.

Gorgeous. Would listen again. Not any particular notable song though, except maybe "California"

Joni Joni Joni! Music and lyrics that are original and just about perfect. My adoration has grown with the years.

as i’ve listened to more of Joni’s discography, i’ve realized that I prefer some of her other albums to this one (Hejira, Court and Spark), but Blue is still such a classic. A Case of You makes me cry every time.

I've always known and respected Joni Mitchell as a top, top tier songwriter but I'd not really sat and listened to her albums properly before starting the challenge. Then Hejira absolutely blew me away, so I was really looking forward to trying Blue, which seems to be her most iconic and 'classic' work. And it has delivered. The songcraft and the quality of her singing and playing are fantastic; she's a true poet and a master of melody. I am more on the fence about my rating here, and maybe it's just because I heard this one later but it's not affected me quite like Hejira did. I don't know if that's because I've mentally set the bar too high, or if it happened to be the mood of the day but while I have gladly played this a few times, enjoyed it a lot and will keep it on rotation, I don't feel as excited to keep coming back to it as I did with its big, complicated older sister with her stunning double-bass work. The songs on Blue are probably just as good but I think I prefer the production and denser instrumentation on Hejira.

Veldig fint

A thousand more to go! Off to a lovely start. I find her voice extremely soothing.

Not my cup of tea, still very sweet sounding

Ahhh schitterend

Yep, that was really good and it holds up well. Great vocals and a clean sound. It's not *quite* a 5 for me, but still good stuff. 4.4

This album undoubtedly kicks ass. I understand the love and acclaim. While this definitely isn't anything that I would listen repeatedly, an occasional revisit is nice every once in while. Best Song: River Rating: 8.5/10 4 Stars

Unbelievable talent. Doesn't mean it's a full-bhoona 5-star album for me but I admire and respect the heck out of the work.

Фолк. Трогательно, искренне, открыто.

Great voice. Not really my thing.

I appreciate how Joni Mitchell doesn't feel confined to traditional lyric or song structure. It is very inspiring and when it works, it works well. "A Case Of You" is probably my favorite track off of this album.

I’ve intermittently over the years tried to listen to Joni Mitchell, with people’s views I respect saying she’s the best at this kind of thing. But I have never been able to connect, it’s the intricacies of her melody that are exquisite but also so singular to her that when they have passed they have left me. Listening to this today, will give it another try.

Wonderful album

The more I listen to Joni Mitchell the kid it feels like she's making the songs up as she goes along.

Olipas mainiota musiikkia, sellaista aamulla soitettavaa tunnelmointia.

Very very pretty and lovely. Had a good time listening to this in the shower (with clothes on, of course)

Didn't care for the last one. This album, however, is an amazing classic. Much more composed and a higher caliber of authorship.

Fine album. I've not liked it as much as time has but what do I know.

Talented

There will probably be a time in my life when I give this 5 stars, but it's not yet. Favourite tracks were All I Want and Little Green, but they'll probably change too.

Everybody always says what a great album Blue is. If you don’t ‘feel’ this one, then you don’t have feelings. Color me heartless the because I don’t get it. Great songwriting for sure. Everything produced and executed impeccably. Surely it’s what she set out to achieve. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it, but I won’t give it five stars. I’ve listened to this album maybe five times now and have never been able to discern what I’m supposed to pick up on or what’s supposed to really knock my fucking socks off. I don’t get the sense of loneliness that seems to be so prevalent for other people. Doesn’t come across for me. The songs have nothing to help tell them apart and it ends up as one big muddled mix. I don’t know. I wish I saw it. It’ll have to hold off on perfection for now and stick with exemplary. 4/5

Enjoyes the stories. Beautiful voice.

This is the second Joni Mitchell album we've had. I can't say I'm naturally attracted to her quavering voice, but the songs are good and I'm sort of acclimatising to it. This had a lovely chill acoustic feel to it. I will try and revisit.

Coming into this only familiar with A Case Of You, I was pretty blown away by this one. Beautiful song writing. Wonderful vocals. You can feel the influence of this on a generation of songwriters. It can blend into itself a bit which is what holds itself off from a 5/5 personally, but I really loved this one.

I’m not much for folk music but this album works. Beautiful voice and beautiful guitar work.

big classic. her choices of melodies are insuperable favorite track: river

This being my third Joni album in this list, I can now say with confidence that I would 100% connect better with her music as a whole had I been born a woman. Her lyrics are intensely intimate and offer a window into her life experience of being a woman in the 20th century. Her lyrical style feels more like poetry than the more familiar rhyming schemes of most modern music, which I find admirable and hypnotizing - albeit, it requires the listener's full focus, which admittedly I did not provide (having it on in the background while working). That all being said, there really is no other artist quite like Joni.

Beautiful album. Joni's voice is just wonderful, the guitar and piano work is amazing, it's just a nice rainy day album.

Mood setting to say the least. Joni never disappoints.

I’m sure I’ve heard Joni Mitchell before, but I don’t remember having done so. I found her album to be interesting as there were times I really enjoyed the songs, and sometimes I found them to be more average at best. Kind of like some would connect with me, and others just fell flat. I’m glad I finally got to check out her stuff, but can’t really agree it belongs on this list.

Good voice, good music, but I can’t see myself listening to this much.

Blue is an absolutely beautiful album from start to finish. I mostly was expecting some of the sound from Court And Spark from which i knew Joni Mitchell for but for some reason, this feels different and better(probably because this album is fresh in my memory) The lyrics are just beautiful and can tell some wonderful stories and of course, they are all amplified by Joni's beautiful voice and the backing music, I honestly do not know if i can really think of that many glaring issues for this album because it really did it's job perfectly. This album may not always be my cup of tea but i still really liked it. Best Song: This Flight Tonight Worst Song: California

Really good album that I have never heard before, only a few hit songs. It's something that I will definitely listen to again, kind of chill folk music. "River" is my favorite song on the album reminds me of times past, very contemplative. I'm sure I will listen to this again.

4.5/5. Oh Joni.

I had pretty high expectations going into what many consider to be Joni's masterpiece. Though I wasn't nervous or anything, I knew I'd enjoy this, considering how much I enjoyed some of her other albums, like 'The Hissing Of Summer Lawns' and especially 'Hejira'. While many of the songs here are far less musically ambitious than the ones on those albums, with the ones here comprised (almost solely) of piano and acoustic guitar, this album may still contain Joni's best crop of songs for me. Joni's voice is as soothing as ever, sticking to that high-pitched, fluttery style, and her melodies here feel almost intangible with just how unpredictable they can be at times - especially on the opener here 'All I Want', which may be my favorite song. The entire album sounds like its title, Blue. I can't think of any other word to describe the feelings this album evokes. It feels like staring out the window on a rainy day - as cliche as that metaphor might be. 'Little Green', from a lyrical perspective, is supposedly about Joni putting her child up for adoption in the late '60s - the line "child with a child pretending" had me almost tearing up. The title track is so warm and has maybe my favorite piano playing on here; it perfectly captures life's emptiness and the feelings of never-ending yearning in the presence of indulgence. 'River' feels similar in that sense, with Joni hoping to move on to happier times in the face of a ended relationship. This song interpolates Jingle Bells in its piano which, for any other song, would come off as tacky, but it manages to work here given the song's subject matter. As great of a listen as all her other albums. While I enjoyed 'Hejira' as an album a bit more, I do see myself returning to various songs from this album more often in the future.

Favorite tracks: All I Want, Carey, California, This Flight Tonight I just haven't quite heard anything else like this. There's so much personality in the way she sings. I think this album has a reputation for being a downer, but some of the songs are genuinely fun. Life is sad AND fun, y'know? 4 stars.

I'm generally not a fan of Joni Mitchell, I've always had mixed reaction to her records and it takes a bit of effort to warm up to her music. At times, her songs are boring and uninteresting (to me) and her voice has never appealed to me. But you know what, she's a Canadian and her music is deemed essential (rightfully so) and her impact for female artists (both musically and visual) can't be understated enough and I should suck it up and give it a chance. "Blue" is the only Mitchell album I own and only because someone gave me their record collection. More recently, I gave it a late night spin and I don't know if it was the beer talking or the sombre darkness, but this album really connected with me. There was a beautiful, calmness to the music and nothing like that "parking lot" song, which was welcoming and surprising good. I'm not saying I love this album, but there is something special about it that makes me feel everything came together and created a classic album that stands out from her other projects. I feel fortunate and happy to have "Blue" in my collection.

She’s great and thank you for a window into the mind of a woman. A lot of is simple and that’s ok because her voice shines and the lyricism is beautiful

another great joni mitchell album

Fav: River Least Fav: Carey Yeah, she’s good

Okay, this one is her best album, while some of her later albums have more interesting arrangements, having jazz elements and whatnot, this has the strongest songwriting of her career, all the songs are very sharp and better produced than the previous albums. A

I hadn't heard this album before. I enjoy Joni Mitchell in general so it was an enjoyable experience.

Beautiful, pensive perfection, to the surprise of no one.

This was pretty, unexpectedly liked it

I could listen to Joni Mitchell for hours. Her voice is really incredible. I like the accompaniment decision of keeping it pretty low key. I don't think it quite lives up to the bar the Wikipedia set it up for me, but it is really, really good with a lot of really good songs. Maybe I just got distracted, but there were just a few songs that didn't catch or keep my attention the way that I'd expect from a 5/5 album, so it gets a 4. Favorite Song(s): Little Green, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard

I love Joni Mitchell.

Favorite songs: A Case of You, All I Want, Little Green

I can see this becoming 5* down the line. Best Song: California Worst Song: The Last Time I Saw Richard

Okay, this one is her best album, while some of her later albums have more interesting arrangements, having jazz elements and whatnot, this has the strongest songwriting of her career, all the songs are very sharp and better produced than the previous albums. A

Sad, lovely. Perfect.

Soft and light (airy-light and bright-light), but too subtle for me to enjoy fully. Case in point, "River," which I've heard dozens of times at the holidays and paid attention to, hits me hard emotionally. I expect the rest of the songs would also if I paid sufficient attention to the words. So, overall, there is not enough of a music energy punch for this to be among my favorites but I would 100% respect those who have it at/near the top of their lists. I can tell the quality is there.

Ладно, я изначально хотел написать, что опять Митчелл создала нудятину, и опять неинтересно. Но, переслушав 4 раза, я поменял свое мнение: альбом -- мощь. Мне все еще не нравится голос исполнительницы, но отрицать силу альбома трудно.

I was in a right mood yesterday so I found her voice a bit annoying but I do generally like at least one song on the album

A singer-songwriter folk album with tender yet strong vocal performance accompanied by gentle guitars, pianos and an instrument called Appalachian Dulcimer. Joni Mitchell's poetry is very intimate and she paints some really vivid and melancholic images. It's a mood piece, you have to be in the right mood and place. Her vocals, though, may come off as atonal or a bit whiny at some points for some. For me, they kind of worked. Loved the first half more, the first four songs. Little Green was my favourite. It's not a sad album throughout. There are upbeat songs as well. But still, the album mostly drenched me in waves of blue and I felt very relaxed. Definitely worth listening.

Beautiful

4.5

Basically a truly excellent record if it weren’t for Joni’s vocals being so shrill and birdsongy. It’s ear-stabbing when she’s happy and flips to her highest register which makes upbeat tracks like All I Want and California total minefields. This Flight Tonight is pretty cool and folk-poppy despite the voice. The moodier and more sullen tracks like Blue and softer, pleasantier ones like Little Green are so pretty and A Case Of You really shines as the best overall song. A very conditional 4 stars because of the musical quality throughout.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I’ve enjoyed other Joni Mitchell stuff and this is considered one of the best albums of all time. And I thought it was pretty good! Just not excellent. 4/5

good vibes

What taylor swift ought to be. Singer-songwriter music that sounds authentic clean and real. Joni Mitchell is the godmother of folk, and we love her.

The album that is considered the foundation of the singer/songwriter genre is highly regarded for good reason. While it's seen as Joni Mitchell's best work, I personally prefer some of her later albums, especially Hejira and The Hissing of Summer Lawns. However, after a few listens, this beautiful and emotional earlier work proves to be almost as good. "I could drink a case of you and I'd still be on my feet"

Easy listening nice high vocals and shit

I’m was pretty unfamiliar with Joni Mitchell. Her style has a real appeal and the best of this album is quality.

Chef’s kiss zero notes

Very good and introspective album. If you pay attention to it, it's hard not to feel some emotion.

Not something I’d normally listen to but she has a beautiful voice and wonderfully written songs

weird girl but i fuck with her

Immediately, I love the range of her voice, the softness of the music in the background with the sharpness of her voice. I’m a fan. Joni will relax you with some sounds of nice comfort, then punch back with the depth of her voice and her lyrics. Beautiful album. Loved it

Great Canadian artist. I've been a fan for years. So glad this was my first of 1001 (ish) albums!

A hell of an album, even though I don't care for 60s/70s folk, this is something else.

At least 2 masterpieces here.

Heard before. Pretty good.

83% Best: My Old Man; Carey; Blue; River Must-Hear? Sure

If you’re wanting to listen to something with a toe tapping beat with hopeful lyrics that you can jam to with your friends on the way to the bar… this isn’t the album. If you want to sit in a dark living room with a bottle of bottom shelf bourbon then this is your soundtrack.

Gorgeous, a lovely album for all the thought daughters out there - 4/5 While I appreciate this, it is too sad and fluid to be in my rotation, this album is unsettling and melancholic in the prettiest way, but I am too mentally ill for it 👍🏽 Also, I resonate far more with Bonnie Raitt and Carole King, so I can survive without listening to this regularly and not feel like I’m missing out. After two Joni Mitchell albums, I can safely say I love her, but I will continue to appreciate her from a distance. Reviewed 04/09/2024

Soft piano and guitar music with nice vocals.

Here's the thing--I have never enjoyed soprano/falsetto singing and Joni's voice grates on me at times. However, her songwriting is just about perfect and I love when you can revisit a song and find new things. Just the song River makes this a 4 (also love the Jingle Bells ending).

Very nice. Needs another listen I think

Great album that has some real classics. However a little uneven. 4/5

surprised how much i like Joni

A beautiful, beautiful 4

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

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

Beautiful voice and great folk songs.

Pretty good ngl

Melancholy, yet soothing. I like it

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

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

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

Favorite Song: River

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

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

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

Gorgeous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

truly a one of a kind artist, great album

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

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

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

Very beautiful voice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 bc love actually

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

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

California

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perfect date night music, actually pretty good

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

Amazing singer songwriter

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

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

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

Big fan, yay!

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

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

Classic Joni. Ethereal and mellifluous.

pretty good

beautiful

California

Great!

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

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

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

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

Sounsed a lot like the Nico album

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

reminded me of my grandma ❤️

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

Just chillin'

Usually not my style but this was pretty soothing

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

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

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

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

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

All I Want California A Case of You

I find her voice grating, but the songwriting is beautiful. I prefer others singing these songs. I give it a 4 for adding these songs to the canon of popular music.

Joni Mitchell is a whimsical, playful, elf like folk legend, and this album pretty much puts that on full display. The bear bone instrumentals do a great job of backing her melodies, while still providing a very intimate feeling and a wonderfully 70s folk flavor. Mitchell’s singing style is a lot of head voice soprano, with fast, conversational runs and esoteric lyrics. In a way, her signature style is her greatest strength, but a tough challenge for the enjoyment of this album. Many of these songs are a little too poetic to really settle into a memorable groove or a poignant statement. Beautiful, singing, amazing instrumentals, but the lyrics are a bit jumbled and distract from the final product of the album. Stand out tracks “All I Want”, “Carey”, “California”, and “River”.

Nice. I had heard it before.

Astounded by this. I’ve never really listened to Joni Mitchell before, and the instant this started I was so taken by her voice and the melodies and the words. What a wonderful surprise this was!

Precious! 😍 (By the way, it's the first album that Spotify won't let me listen to. It's the first one I've listened to on YouTube)

This album was great! The best way to appreciate it would be by listening on a good sound system or over speakers. The music is so intricate and complex. I had no idea This Flight Tonight by Nazareth was a cover of a Joni Mitchell song. It's a beauty! Favourite songs: This Flight Tonight, Carey, California, River, A Case of You, All I Want Least favourite songs: My Old Man 4/5

Joni's style is very uniquely her own. Besides having a distinctive voice, the structures, the phrasing, and the vocal melodies are all her style that she created. Engaging storytelling too

Beautiful album brimming with emotion.

Kinda wish I'd had this as my first Joni album, the others had jaded me a bit before going in. This one is much more pleasant, but I'm still not huge on the whole "let's literally tell a story in a song" idea - it just makes it hard to imagine relistening to it.

Heard of Joni, but never really truly listened. Great voice with arrangement that at first sounds off, but works to tell the story. Really enjoyed this album.

Brilliant. I never tire of this music.

Had to look this one up on YouTube. Besides the multiple advertisements in the middle of the album I liked this one a lot. Too bad it's not on spotify :(

Listened to this years ago but didn’t love it then. I appreciated it much more now.

Joni's singing is amazing and this is a pleasant listen, but I mainly connected with the piano tracks. The title track is beautiful and haunting, River and the closer are very good too. I'll need to revisit this. Annoyingly not on Spotify.

Great album. Great lyrics, vocals, melodies Standout songs: A Case of You California Blue

Graham Nash of CSNY tells a beautiful story about how he met Joni Mitchell, and how he wrote Our House about their short relationship. He says, "heartbreaking, but at least I have a heart to break". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z3xTdZqzb0 So apart from that, and Both Sides Now, I don't know her that well, and I was interested to listen to this. The writing is sublime: radiant, sweet and melancholic. Quite often very revealing - I don't think people write like this any more. Generally hits the sweet spot for me for folk rock/classic rock. Unfortunately I did tire of her voice, struggled a bit by the end. Agree with Jack, Blue and California stood out the most. Shame this isn't on Spotify - I'd definitely give this a re-listen.

Heard this album a few times before. She's great. I think the highlights are blue, California and River. But it's all of a high standard. Unfortunately not on Spotify! Probably not really quite my thing but really enjoyed it none the less

Good 4/5

I liked it. Shame it's not on Spotify. Would love to revisit.

fuck... I think I like folk music her vocals are very vibrant and hold a lot of emotion the stripped nature of the instrumental is really nice. kinda like a lullaby for the south

Se me hizo muy bueno! Muy fuerte pero agradable e interesante

great old stuff

Full of emotion

Beautiful, emotional, soft. Really enjoyed this album, though I do sometimes find the high notes overbearingly sweet. Fav tracks: this flight tonight and river.

I'm so glad I discovered this, absolutely gutted that it's not on Spotify. I love how simple and stripped back the instruments are, it leaves so much room to really appreciate Joni's angelic voice on every song. Even with such simple music, it still feels like there is so much going on, especially on the latter half of the album where more instruments outside of a piano or an acoustic guitar are introduced. As much as I did love her voice, and as much as you get to hear it on this album, it does almost feel a bit monotonous at times, I think a bit more showing off her vocal range could have improved this album a lot, but as it is it's still amazing, only a very minor complaint.

I rather enjoyed this album. I had listened to the River song but the other ones were mostly new to me though I think I could hear the influence she had vocally on Sarah McLaughlin and Tori Amos.

Pretty darn good!

Joni Mitchell er musik for kvinder i overgangsalderen der flæber over deres tabte ungdom i 70erne. Og så er det åbenbart også for mig 😅 Simple melodier på primært klaver og akustisk guitar, men med en nærhed og nerve i vokalen

Lovely record. The direction in the production matches perfectly with joni's lyrics, creating this mesmerizing sea of atmosphere. Though I do wear of the deliveries vocally at times as the showiness distracts from the mood.

Nice vocals and steel string guitars.

This was really great. We had another Joni Mitchell album which I remember characterizing as 'ramble-y' both musically and esp lyrically. This one was very focused, great lyrics and some great guitar work by both her and her Laurel Canyon guests James Taylor and Stephen Stills. This Flight Tonight might now be my favourite Joni Mitchell track! Also Carey is such a jam! Lots of great classic songs from her here. I love the old school production on this too. No autotune happening here haha she’s all over the place with the vocals but it’s so interesting/exciting as a result of not sounding perfect. And 100% no ‘grid’ - I’d be surprised if there were even a click track

It’s a classic. A case of you is an absolute heart crusher. Her voice is at its peak. Wonderful album through and through

First time listening to Joni Mitchell. Wow, she has an amazing voice and vocal range. This is a beautiful album and I’m really glad to have listened to it. Blue, the title track, was a stand out for me. Case of You was another stand out. I’m giving it a 4 because I don’t see myself listening to this being in my rotation.

4.5/5 great vocals, super interesting songwriting and concepts Overall really great album, not quite amazing.

Joni Mitchell was never an artist that I got particularly excited about, but if singer/songwriters are your jam, she's one of the best. Blue highlights her poetic lyricism. She's a wonderful storyteller and paints a combination of visual and emotional imagery with her words. Her voice was in its prime when she recorded this album, and it floats beautifully on the clouds of guitar and piano music. Overall, a very pleasant listen, just not my genre of choice.

This is no Hejira, or Court and Spark, but there’s nothing like a Joni Mitchell record in the morning to lubricate the eyes.

Beautiful lovely album with some playful songs and some really beautiful ones. Incredible writing, which is astonishingly honest at times.

Couldn't tell you why I liked this album, it just all fits together beautifully.

Better than expected, considering it's Joni Mitchell. Some of these songs transport a sweet, exquisite melancholy that makes me longing for autumn. I guess that is something. 3.5/5

Wonderfully weird and soulful. I don't love every track but the standouts sure stand out. River surprised me. Loved the playful quote of Jingle Bells to make a sad love song.

Got a lot more from this than I thought I would. I could listen to Joni's voice all day.

Glorius

Beautiful voice Beautiful melodies. Great songwriting. Very nice album. Close to a 5

Regina Spektor vibes, 30 years before. And I love RS.

Whow. Mit ihrer sehr eigenen Art bewundernswert.

Listened to this while setting up some shots for a short film. definitely a big help. Absolutely lovely

Good. Her best album. Extra half star for good length.

Extremely solid album, with River being the glaring star for me. Great storytelling by Mitchell.

Rating 7/10 I liked this alot more than I expected I would, even if it does seem like Joni is just scatting and saying whatever popped into her head at that moment sometimes Fave songs: Little Green, California

Favorite Tracks: A Case of You River California

Old favorites but don't always find her voice pleasing

Some of those vocal runs set my teeth on edge. And the jangly rhythms sometimes grate on my nerves. But despite all that, the music is still incredible.

I applaud her for her vocals and lyric-writing abilities. Her songs come from the soul, they’re heartfelt and personal and you can really feel that in her voice as well.

Highlights: All I Want, Carey, Blue, California, A Case of You, This Flight Tonight, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard. The lyrics are deep, Couldn't quite dig Little Green, sounds like a cliched devotional to a hippy child. I didn't mind the length of the songs. If the composition and/or lyrics are right, any song over 4 minutes can be exceptional. Joni's vocal range is impressive (some quavering notes, but I forgive this. There is a wide range to cover with complex arrangements). I am swooning at the storytelling and world building lyrics. It is so close to being perfect. Overall: 8.5/10

Obviously some classics on here: Blue, River, and A Case of You always brings me back to Vassar. Great song writing. And of course I have to support as a Cali boy.

Never been a big Joni Mitchell fan but this is a very good record. The lyrics and acoustic guitar playing stand out but I do find some of the vocals grating, so it loses a star.

And here it is! The Joni Mitchell album above all others, lauded as one of the greatest albums of all time. And I can see why. Joni was singing about evergreen topics in such a way that goes in one ear and out the other. I say that as both a compliment and a criticism. As I listened to it, I found myself getting lost in the melodies and her beautiful voice and often forgot what I was hearing as it left. Almost like a songbird landing on my sill and chirping for a little bit before flying off. It's 36 minutes, and many of the songs run into that singer songwriter dilemma of sounding the same. And when its just you and a piano and some guitar, that can happen. Again, I don't say that to be critical, this feels like that sort of album that would play in a log cabin as the snow is melting and spring is poking its head out. My struggle is that I've never been a huge singer/songwriter fan. But if I was asked what one of my favorite albums was of singer/songwriters, I'd probably say this one. There's even a Christmas song (River)!

Actually really enjoyed this. 'River' is a great Christmas song!

pretty good, better than I thought.

Rollicking, warbling, bluegrass-tinged folk

Excellent songwriting (though some of the chord progressions in "My Old Man" feel a little odd). "A Case Of You" is a wonderful song.

Strong writing strong voice. Doing some research into what she had going on in life makes many of these songs even more impactful

I didn’t get to listen to this actual album the way i wanted to as it’s not on spotify so i listened in bits and pieces but she’s got an amazing voice and i think i’ve now become a fan. i was familiar with some of her songs but never put 2 and 2 together….

great songwriter!

Shrill Carole King.

I’m glad I finally got a chance to listen to this entirely. Above average composition and album structure. She’s a true legend albeit maybe an acquired taste vocally. I’m down with it.

“oh, i hate you some, i hate you some, i love you some; oh, i love you when i forget about me”

This was a surprise. What an iconic album. It's not exactly my cup of tea, but man does it deliver on all fronts if you're looking for some 70's singer-songwriter goodness. I'd easily recommend this to any fan of the genre if they hadn't listened before. Joni Mitchell comes off as incredibly sincere here, and even though there is some groovy slang mixed in, the album remains timeless. Highlight: River Lowlight: This Flight Tonight Surprise Hit: California

Heel integere plaat, prachtig gezongen

Love Joni.

I listened to this while on the airplane headed from Charlotte to Eglin Air Base. I think it could have used more harmony, but I enjoyed it either way. Pretty good for hippie music

Lovely vocals. The background instruments are just enough to keep it interesting without distracting from the singing which is clearly meant to be the focal point.

This is the first Joni Mitchell project that I have ever heard, and I think its a wonderful jumping-off place. Joni's vocals are astonishingly beautiful, and I wish I had heard this sooner. Thoughts: Amazing Favorite Song: California

This was a great album. I prefer this style of music and Joni has a beautiful voice and signing style. Definitely a great new find thanks to this project. 4 out of 5.

This album tells me I should listen to more Joni Mitchell. Great from start to finish!

I wish My Old Man and Little Green weren't on the same album as River and A Case of You, because the former songs are a case of lyrics really taking me out of a song and vibe.

I am realizing that Spotify doesn't have any of her songs available... I have fond 90s memories of her songs...

"My Old Man" -- the place where it slips into a 7th scale is weird to me Overall, a very pretty and appealing record. I heard things in it that made me think that much later artists I like a lot, like the Mountain Goats, were listening to this and learning from it,

Chill album, not totally my vibe but I thought it was nice.

Beautiful album 4

A great album. Beautiful voice.

Great album, but one cannot listen to it via streaming. Not sure if I have the vinyl handy to listen to.

What a voice.

Nice

Not sure what the story is but this one wasn't available on Spotify. This isn't my usual style but I enjoyed it quite a lot. The instrumentation is simple but there's some good musical complexity, and so much feeling.

I'm torn with Joni Mitchell because she is a great artist, writes some amazing tunes with beautiful poetical (and witty) lyrics and does possess a very unique and distinctive voice. But the voice is the issue for me, I find the tone a bit too shrill for my liking. None-the-less, this is a great, timeless record that I can appreciate, if not entirely enjoy.

I'm glad that I invested a little effort in tracking this down, good album.

Joni Mitchell has an extremely pleasant voice. This is super stripped back but honestly still was pretty enjoyable. Just a girl and her guitar

Not an album you have to listen to all of the words of. It’s prose accompanied by music. Quiet and ambient music that doesn’t need to be the center of attention. Just put it on on a rainy day. I’m sure it’ll accompany a cup of coffee on a quiet morning perfectly. In a world of sonically overloaded music, this is incredibly refreshing (even if it’s more than 60 years old). If Prince thought it was perfect then there must be something special here.

Desværre ikke på Spotify. Dejlig akkustisk album.

Quite good! Good to learn what was possible in 1971.

really good guitar playing that's allowed to shine through. I've known for a long time that I would especially like Blue but my parents didn't have this one and I never got around to it. If I had heard this as a teenager I bet it would be a solid 5 and a record I always think of. Hearing it later it's not as striking as it would have been, and the California hippie stuff is more grating than it would have been. Something that is still very very good when you think you've heard it all before

Super cool guitar stuff, and she sure finds weird and nice melodies over it. Liked this one a lot, didn’t know I was a Joni fan.

Joni Mitchell has such an iconic and incredible voice. The control she has over her voice is masterful with those key changes. This record creates a great sense of atmosphere which is emotional and heartfelt. It has fantastic songwriting and melodies. Personally it's missing some extra magic from some folk albums I prefer though.

-Pretty enjoyable and easy to listen album -losing points bc not on spotify -It was a good experience listening to what people call the "magnum opus" of Joni Mitchell's work but I probably won't be revisiting this album any time soon.

Beautiful. I dont see myself coming back to it but it's undeniably a great piece of music. points off for not being on spotify (cringe tax)

Nice tunes

Dit is gewoon steengoede muziek. Alleen ik vind haar stem niet altijd even fijn, dus vandaar maar 4 sterren en geen 5. Verder gewoon heel mooi.

I'd heard this was supposed to be an amazing album but on first listen I just didn't get it. There were weird syncopations, unexpected falsetto, and some songs weren't sung so much as liltingly spoken. I did some research to see why this was considered a great album. Digging into her history have some background to some of the songs and those lyrics were just so poignant. She creates scenes and feelings so well and with so few words. This album almost felt like you were reading a diary it's so personal. I'm not entirely sure I like her style but it's growing on me. Fav songs: Little Green, Carey, River, Case of You

It's a beautiful album. Quintessential Joni Mitchell - melodic and heartfelt- you can hear her soul in her music. It is the pinnacle of that late 60s/early 70s singer/songwriter folk. It's wonderfully produced, clean, and all around a highly recommended album

A nice album, like the voice.

Joni Mitchell is an incredible talent but this kind of music just doesn't usually do it for me. River is incredible of course but otherwise I'm mostly unable to appreciate the songs. I think that's more an indictment of myself than Joni though. 4.5 stars

what a voice

Great voice and calming music.

Not available on Spotify but I like Joni

Was good, very nice storylines

Not on Spotify. Found it on YouTube. Really incredible. This album clearly informed a lot of my favorite artists, and it was like a hidden objects game to find all the vocal cadencies that I recognize. These tracks are very unpredictable and full of interesting details both in lyrics and instrumentals. She’s amazing. I knew I’d love her, and I do. My mother in law loves her too and I can’t wait to talk to her later tonight at dinner about how good this was.

Loved it! More than I thought I would.

Familiar with several tracks, probably never sat down to listen to the entire album, generally a Joni Mitchell fan. She's got such a great voice, and selects such emotive songs...

Beautiful voice. Excellent story teller. Great guitarist. Truly a talent.

Few filler tracks but “Blue” and “Taste of You” are classics

Nothing to say about Joni, she is wonderful, always. Sad that this isn't on Spotify.

this was a very pleasant listen. i didn't know any of the songs going into it but after two plays all the way through, i have some newfound respect for joni mitchell and would definitely listen to this again. favorites: my old man, carey, river, a case of you, the last time i saw richard

Nice tunes sounds so young