Hits - Joni Mitchell > Reviews > I played this CD 'til I broke it!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	classic songs, expert track arrangement, aesthetically - pleasing packaging and liner notes, full lyrics provided, broad appeal
Disadvantages:	Cardboard/paper packaging can rip and fray, CD easily falls out of case, album only concerned with her biggest 'hits', not necessarily most beloved songs

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

When I think of Joni Mitchell, I think of my childhood. Even though I was born waaaaay after she burst on the '60s California music scene and became internationally renowned for her music, I was raised listening to her. My recovering-hippie mom used to sing "The Circle Game" to me when I was a baby; when I was first learning how to play piano, I found the sheet music for "Both Sides Now" and taught myself how to play it. And of course, we always had her albums playing in the house. I must've known all the words to "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Chelsea Morning" before I hit high school. Because of this, getting to know Joni Mitchell's music was never an issue for me; I've always known it, and I've always loved it.

However, I didn't purchase "Hits" until a few years ago. We had nearly all of her albums on CD, but I was intrigued by this collection. I put it on the stereo and was not disappointed, and neither were my parents. To a longtime fan like myself (and to even more hardcore, seasoned fans like my parents), this album was well-rounded and nearly perfect. I say 'nearly', because the album solely concerns the songs that were tangibly successful -- got the most airplay, sold the most records, etc. Hence the name. This excludes some old favorites like "A Case Of You" and the classic "Blue". Still, I wouldn't fault the album for those exclusions; it's an unbeatable listening experience all the same.

The album is chronologically arranged, but not strictly; one can tell upon reviewing the track listing that some attention was paid to theme and tone when composing the order. The album begins on a quiet, wistful note with "Urge for Going" and builds from there, flowing ever more effusively into Mitchell's classic, fresh-faced flower child hits. The listener is drawn in and carried along on her crystal clear, expertly-ranged soprano voice and enthusiastic guitar-strumming that made Mitchell famous. Then, the album gently segues into her more reflective, complex material; her songs take on a new level of depth as she ages, but some of that bright enthusiasm fades and gives way to murkier emotional depths.

Mitchell's talent and flair for musical experimentation are clear here, too. Her impressive vocal range and finesse is finely displayed on some of the earlier songs, most notably "Woodstock" and "Big Yellow Taxi". However, the more recent songs show wider thematic and musical influences; her interest in jazz is primary among these, and it really shows in the vocal harmonies and instrument choices in her later songs.

What I loved most, though, is how the album ends with the spare but powerful "Both Sides Now", a complete break from chronology, but a perfect way to end the album. It's quiet, moving, well-known, and a true Joni Mitchell classic. The message of the song can easily be taken as a broader statement about the songs on the album itself; she's grown, changed, and matured, but she's still trying to work through the same old life issues and mysteries the best way she knows how. Fortunately for us, one of the ways she does it is by writing songs.

This album is a classic, well-rounded grab bag for longtime fans of Joni Mitchell who may not feel like putting all of her albums in the CD carousel and listening to them in succession; however, it's also a great collection for those who are just getting into her and want to know more about her style. Either way, it's eminently listenable, whether you're listening to it for its own sake or playing it as background music. You'll find yourself singing along with nearly every track, and you'll more than likely associate many of the songs with good, old memories.

And yes, I did play this CD 'til I broke it. Well, the problem was, I carried it around with me everywhere I went; because the packaging was paper and cardboard, and the CD was housed in a slot in the packaging, it was always falling out! After a while, it just got too scratched to play anymore, but I loved this CD so much, I'm planning on buying a new copy! That's the only drawback in the packaging, though; otherwise, it's great. The black-and-white photo motif is appealing to the eye, and the liner notes are comprehensive -- even including full lyrics so that you can sing along!

Simply stated, Joni Mitchell is a musical icon. She helped pave the way for the generation of female singers/songwriters/guitarists we see today (i.e. Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, etc.). She was my inspiration for learning to play the guitar, in fact! No respectable music collection would be complete without some Joni Mitchell, and ANYONE that likes Joni or just wants to know more about her should buy this album. If you're missing some of the excluded songs, you could always buy the companion piece, "Misses", but I didn't like it nearly as much (and while "Misses" does have "A Case of You", it STILL doesn't have "Blue"). Whether as a piece to round out your Joni collection, or an album to introduce you to her music, this album is ABSOLUTELY A MUST-OWN.