For The Roses - Joni Mitchell

Advantages: superb singer songwriter
Disadvantages: takes a little patience to listen too

...This album from 1991 saw Joni Mitchell and her ex-husband Larry Klein in the producer’s chair, for her first release in the 90’s. The album opens with the atmospheric title track written in 1988 “Night ride home”. The impression of the night is conveyed to the listener by the use of a sound sample, which is that of chirping cicadas, the sound effect runs for the whole length of the song. This sound is what holds all the instruments used on the track along with the signature sound of Joni’s acoustic guitar playing style. At the start of the track along with the opening lines “Once in a while, in a blue moon, there comes a night like this, like some surrealist, invented this, 4th of July, night ride home” as the artist finishes this line the sublime bass playing of Larry Klein begins adding... Read review

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Advantages: You get to hear a more mellow, mature Joni singing lots of romantic songs.
Disadvantages: Not all the songs will appeal to everyone.

...and credits that are required. But what's really nice is that all the artwork is original Joni Mitchell. Yes, both the album cover as well as the booklet are paintings done by Joni herself. Starting with the front cover of the album (which is also the front cover of the booklet - see picture below) where we find a self-portrait of Joni, at a bar with a glass of red wine, a lit cigarette in one hand and a pen, carefully placed on the counter top. Joni looks pretty serious in this picture, but it is without a doubt a show of artistic talent. There are more joyful paintings inside the booklet, including one of a vase of yellow roses that is reminiscent of Van Gogh's vase of sunflowers. I particularly liked the last picture inside the booklet, which is also on the back cover of the album. This is another self-portrait, where Joni is in the same... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: None

...with an early recording from 1967 "Urge for Going". Then from the 1969 album "Clouds" comes "Chelsea Morning" then from the key album "Ladies of the Canyon" from 1970,the most popular tracks of her career "Big Yellow Taxi”,” Woodstock" and "The Circle Game" can be heard. The songs "Carey" and "California" from the huge album "Blue" from 1971 are next in the running order, followed by the 1972 cut from "For the Roses" album "Turn me on I'm the Radio", then from the 1974 release "Court and Spark" the next 3 tracks are taken "Raised on Robbery" "Help Me" and "Freeman in Paris" so far so good. Then for some strange reason the complier has put a track from "Blue" next,” River" should be after "California" as they are from the same seminal Joni Mitchell release "BLUE". The listener then fast forwards to the 1982 collection "Wild... Read review

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