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Joni Mitchell - Late career resurgence?


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I absolutely love Joni's material all the way through Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, but her voice has been ravaged by cigarettes nearly as bad as Dylan's ... worse, actually, when you consider what a beautiful instrument it once was (the same cannot be said about Bob, though I know some will want to debate me on that one).

 

I don't think she's put out a listenable album since the 80s, and it always bums me out that her career didn't have a different arc to it. I wish her the best, though, because I really think she deserves all the accolades she gets.

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Mr. H...

 

I couldn't agree with your statements more. Every time she puts out an album I buy it for my wife and the toll that smoking has had on her is unreal. She had one of the most distinctive and unusual voices in music (not unlike Emmylou, but although Emmylou has lost a few steps she has not lost nearly the rang Joni has), but some of what she has recorded is unlistenable. More than that, as with many older artists, she no longer writes interesting or distinctive songs. Sometimes it seems that every song sounds alike. She has been lucky to always have very fine sidemen back her up, which gives even her least distinguished material a very fine sound.

 

LouieB

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The last Joni record I bought was Turbulent Indigo. Her voice was noticeably deeper and not as wide ranging on that one compared to earlier records, nevertheless it still sounded okay to me. I haven't heard anything recently though. Has her voice gone downhill so much since that record that she is now getting Dylan comparisons?

 

(I actually like Dylan's voice. It was pretty rough going for a while around the MTV unplugged record, but it has sounded better on subsequent releases.)

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I think Turbulent Indigo is a kickass album. Very atmospheric and dreamy in most spots. It is one of those records that kind of takes me somewhere pretty and happy when I hear it. Yeah, her voice is shot, but its really all about the melodies.

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Shine is "out there" now, and it's very good. Her voice is a little too dusky for me to really get into anymore, but the arrangements and musicianship are very impressive. The lead track is an instrumental, and it reminds me a lot of my favourite Joni disc, Court and Spark.

 

PS, "Strong and Wrong" is terrible. She actually uses the phrase "shock and awe."

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i dont think she ever really lost the knack for songwriting, i think its mostly the dated production that let down some of her later releases and i always felt Jaco Pastorius, talented as he may be kinda ruined the tunes of hers he played on with that naff bass sound

 

that said i do still adore her, theres only one Joni Mitchell

 

mitchell.jpg

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Song to a Seagull

Clouds

Ladies of the Canyon

Blue

 

The only ones I own - I think.

 

 

Same with me except for that Seagull one. I appreciate her for what she is and how long she has been around more than enjoy her actual music all that much.

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My favourite Joni album is For the Roses, the "transitional album" between Blue and Court and Spark. An underrated gem!

 

Papa's faith is people

Mama she believes in cleaning

Papa's faith is in people

Mama she's always cleaning

Papa brought home the sugar

Mama taught me the deeper meaning

 

She don't like my kick pleat skirt

She don't like my eyelids painted green

She don't like me staying up late

In my high-heeled shoes

Living for that rock 'n' roll dancing scene

Papa says "Leave the girl alone, mother

She's looking like a movie queen"

 

Mama thinks she spoilt me

Papa knows somehow he set me free

Mama thinks she spoilt me rotten

She blames herself

But papa he blesses me

It's a rough road to travel

Mama let go now

It's always called for me

 

Sometimes I get that feeling

And I want to settle

And raise a child up with somebody

I get that strong longing

And I want to settle

And raise a child up with somebody

But it passes like the summer

I'm a wild seed again

Let the wind carry me

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Same with me except for that Seagull one. I appreciate her for what she is and how long she has been around more than enjoy her actual music all that much.

 

Ladies of The Canyon has a connection to where I happen to be sitting right at this very moment. Or rather - some say it does, anyhow.

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Ladies of The Canyon has a connection to where I happen to be sitting right at this very moment. Or rather - some say it does, anyhow.

 

 

In a big yellow taxi on the way from Morganstown to Woodstock?

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In a big yellow taxi on the way from Morganstown to Woodstock?

 

Something like that. Many years ago, a friend of mine told me that some dude he knew back in the 60s ended up around her somehow and told her about the town, and she wrote that song. It could be BS - but it does fit. Although, there are other towns with that name - in a few different states. And I am sure they would have all had main streets back then where people went shopping.

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