Blue (Joni Mitchell album)

Infobox Album
Name = Blue
Type = Album
Artist = Joni Mitchell

Released = June 1971
Recorded = 1971 A&M Studios, Hollywood
Genre = Folk-rock
Length = 35:41
Label = Reprise
MS 2038
Producer = Joni Mitchell
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3hbsa93gb238 link]
*Robert Christgau (A) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=joni+mitchell link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jonimitchell/albums/album/169213/review/6067564/blue link]
* [http://www.warr.org/ Warr.org] rating|5|5 [http://www.warr.org/joni.html#Blue link]
Last album = "Ladies of the Canyon"
(1970)
This album = "Blue"
(1971)
Next album = "For the Roses"
(1972)

"Blue" is the 1971 album of Canadian-born singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Among Joni's early output, this sad, poetic collection of intimate confessional songs is her most critically acclaimed. Exploring the various facets of relationships from infatuation on "A Case of You" to insecurity on "This Flight Tonight", the songs feature simple accompaniments on piano, guitar, and Appalachian dulcimer. "Blue" was a critical and commercial success, reaching #15 in the Billboard Album charts and #3 in the UK. The single "Carey" reached #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

History

After the success of her first three albums and songs like "Woodstock", Mitchell decided in 1970 to take a break from performing. While traveling around Europe she wrote many of the songs that appear on "Blue".

The album was almost released in a somewhat different form. In March 1971, completed masters for the album were ready for production. Originally, there were three old songs that had not found their way on to any of her previous albums. At the last minute, Mitchell decided to remove two of the three so that she could add the new songs "All I Want" and "The Last Time I Saw Richard". "Urge for Going", her first song to achieve commercial success when recorded by country singer George Hamilton IV, was removed. (It was later released as the B-side of "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" and again on her 1996 compilation album, "Hits".) Also removed was "Hunter (The Good Samaritan)", which has yet to appear on any official record. "Little Green", composed in 1967, was the only old song that remained.

There has been persistent speculation that the album, and particularly the title track, were named after fellow songwriter David Blue, [Eliot, Marc (2005). "To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles", p. 298. Da Capo Press. ISBN 030681398X.] who was a friend and possibly love interest of Mitchell's when the album was released. She has denied the connection.

In 1979 Mitchell reflected, "The "Blue" album, there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either." [cite news |last=Crowe |first=Cameron |url=http://www.cameroncrowe.com/eyes_ears/articles/crowe_jrl_joni_mitchell.html |title=Joni Mitchell |publisher=Rolling Stone, CameronCrowe.com |date=1979-07-26 |accessdate=2007-03-09]

Honours

* In 2003, "Blue" was ranked #30 on "Rolling Stone Magazine"'s list of the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time'
* In 2000, "Blue" won the top spot in "Chart"'s '50 Greatest Canadian Albums of All Time' ("Blue" was third place in 1996 and 2005)
* In 2007, "Blue" was ranked second in Bob Mersereau's book "The Top 100 Canadian Albums", behind Neil Young's "Harvest" (which was the second-place finisher in all three "Chart" polls)
* In 2001, "Blue" was ranked #14 on VH1's list of the '100 Greatest Albums of All Time', the highest album by a female artist to appear on the list. [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/vh1albums.htm Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Albums ] ]
* "Blue" was also voted #13 on "Hotpress Magazine"'s 'Top 100 Albums Ever', by various other artists
* "Blue" was voted #66 in Channel 4's countdown of the '100 Greatest Albums'
* In 2006, "Blue" was listed among "Time Magazine"'s 'All-Time 100 Albums' [cite news |last=Tyrangiel |first=Josh |url=http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/0,27693,Blue,00.html |title=The All-TIME 100 Albums: Blue |publisher=Time |date=2006-11-13 |accessdate=2007-03-09]

* In 1999, "Blue" was given the honor of a Grammy Hall of Fame award, which is given to recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance"

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Joni Mitchell
# "All I Want" – 3:32
# "My Old Man" – 3:33
# "Little Green" – 3:25
# "Carey" – 3:00
# "Blue" – 3:00
# "California" – 3:48
# "This Flight Tonight" – 2:50
# "River" – 4:00
# "A Case of You" – 4:20
# "The Last Time I Saw Richard" – 4:13

Personnel

*Joni Mitchell - Appalachian dulcimer, guitar, piano, vocals
*Stephen Stills - Bass and guitar on "Carey"
*James Taylor - Guitar on "California", "All I Want", "A Case of You"
*Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal steel on "California", "This Flight Tonight"
*Russ Kunkel - Drums on "California", "Carey", "A Case of You"

Production

*Engineer - Henry Lewy
*Art Direction - Gary Burden
*Cover Photography - Tim Considine

References

External links

* [http://jonimitchell.com/musician/album.cfm?id=5 "Blue" at jonimitchell.com]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3hbsa93gb238 "Blue" at allmusic.com]
* [http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-96/12-07-96/b01ae065.htm] inspiration of "All I Want" and nine other songs.