Joni Mitchell - Blue

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 7 / 10 / 2021



Joni Mitchell - Blue

In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look at albums from the past, Nick Dent-Robinson examines Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s classic 1971 album, ‘Blue’, which is being released in various 50th Anniversary editions, which include demos and out-takes.





Article

It is 50 years since Joni Mitchell released her masterpiece album ‘Blue’ - regarded by some as one of the best albums of all time. The occasion is being marked by two separate new releases. The original LP along with the Canadian's three preceding albums (‘Song to A Seagull,’ ‘Clouds’ and ‘Ladies of The Canyon’) has been remastered and is being repackaged as ‘The Reprise Albums,’ a four-disc box set which will shortly be available on CD (£33), vinyl £97) plus digitally. In addition, five unreleased demos are also now available digitally as an EP called ‘Blue 50’ - to complement the release of the boxed set. ‘Blue’ was a high-water mark of the 1960s LA Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene. The album was created in the aftermath of Joni's split from British rock star Graham Nash – though it was probably more about coming-of-age than being primarily a disconsolate break-up record. Joni has described how she composed the tracks for ‘Blue’ on her Appalachian dulcimer as she travelled around Europe and the UK. ‘Blue’ has a confessional feel, part folk, part pop and it includes some true masterpieces. ’Carey,’ a song about Joni's brief relationship with an American chef she met on a Greek island has been rated by many as “a perfect song.” David Crosby admitted to being so crushed by Joni's brilliance on ‘Blue’ that, after he heard it, he seriously considered abandoning his own musical career to become a gardener. And Graham Nash once told me that he believed ‘Blue’ was the finest album he had ever heard... “pure and beautiful, yet so simple - true genius; Joni at the very peak of her abilities - and that really is saying something!” The out-takes on ‘Blue 50’ shed fresh light on this classic record. An early demo version of ‘A Case of You’ is rather looser and more intimate than the one on the 1971 album. And an interesting alternative take on ‘River’ about her relationship with Graham Nash is augmented by French Horn which gives a haunting feel to this track. And on the demo version of ‘California’ - about Joni's homesickness – her voice is particularly emotional. There are also two tracks on ‘Blue 50’ which didn't make the final cut of ‘Blue’ fifty years ago. ‘Hunter’ is about a stray cat whilst the folky ‘Urge for Going’ (later a B-side) would have fitted well with the underlying theme of wanderlust on ‘Blue.’ It is good this song is given another airing here.



Track Listing:-

1 All I Want
2 My Old Man
3 Little Green
4 Carey
5 Blue
6 California
7 This Flight Tonight
8 River
9 A Case of You
10 The Last Time I Saw Richard


Also In ReView

Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield (2019)
Andreas Dorau (2022)
Andrew Gold (2023)
Anthony Moore (2022)
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Beatles (2023)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blondie (2022)
Blue Nile (2014)
Bodines (2023)
Boyracer (2023)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Doug Dillard Expedition (2024)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Flaming Stars (2024)
Gene Clark (2019)
Giant Sand (2020)
Giant Sand (2018)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
John Cooper Clarke (2016)
Keith Richards (2022)
Lapre (2020)
Lemonheads (2022)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Mothmen (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
Neil Innes (2020)
New Leaf (2022)
New Musik (2023)
One Thousand Violins (2023)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Orchids (2023)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Prolapse (2022)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Sorrow (2018)
T. Rex (2023)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Thin Lizzy (2023)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
UB40 (2015)
Various (2022)
Various (2022)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)


Band Links:-

https://jonimitchell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jonimitchell
https://twitter.com/jonimitchell


Play in YouTube:-



Have a Listen:-




Picture Gallery:-

Joni Mitchell - Blue


Joni Mitchell - Blue



Post A Comment

Check box to submit




Profiles
Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell’s Blue Period (2012)
Joni Mitchell - Will You Take Me As I Am: Joni Mitchell’s Blue Period
Lisa Torem is impressed by Michelle Mercer's extensively researched new book on Joni Mitchell, which examines her career between 1971 and 1976


Digital Downloads



Soundcloud



Reviews
At Newport (2023)
Stunning live album from Joni Mitchell recorded at her surprise first full show for twenty years at the Newport Folk Festival


Most Viewed Articles

In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy. 1. In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024 2. Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview 3. Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview 4. Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers 5. In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson 6. In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview 7. Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview 8. Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview 9. Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview 10. Penumbra - Interview




Most Viewed Reviews

Groovy Uncle - Making Excuses 1. Groovy Uncle - Making Excuses
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light 2. Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Jules Winchester - The Journey 3. Jules Winchester - The Journey
Deep Purple - =1 4. Deep Purple - =1
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car 5. Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad 6. Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks 7. Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay 8. John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Popstar - Obscene 9. Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human 10. Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human




Home


Reviews
Interviews
Features
Live Music
Profiles
Albums
Photography
Writers