There’s
a lot to say about this truly fab little box set – so let’s get to the nuts and
bolts quickly.
Released October 2012 in the UK (November in the USA) –
"The Studio Albums 1968-1979" by JONI MITCHELL is a 10CD Clamshell Box Set
on Warners/Reprise/Asylum/Rhino 8122797178 (Barcode 081227971786) and breaks
down as follows:
Disc
1 (38:07 minutes)
1.
I Had A King [Side 1]
2.
Michael From The Mountains
3.
Night In The City
4.
Marcie
5.
Nathan La Franeer
6.
Sisotowbell Lane [Side 2]
7.
The Dawntreader
8.
The Pirate Of Penance
9.
Song To A Seagull
10.
Cactus Tree
Tracks
1 to 10 are her debut LP "Song To A Seagull" [aka "Joni Mitchell"] – released
March 1968 in the USA (June 1968 in the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6293
Disc
2 (37:41 minutes):
1.
Tin Angel [Side 1]
2.
Chelsea Morning
3.
I Don't Know Where I Stand
4.
That Song About The Midway
5.
Roses Blue
6.
The Gallery [Side 2]
7.
I Think I Understand
8.
Songs To Aging Children Come
9.
The Fiddle And The Drum
10.
Both Sides, Now
Tracks
1 to 10 are the LP "Clouds" – released May 1969 LP in the USA (October 1969 in
the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6341
Disc
3 (44:59 minutes):
1.
Morning Morgantown [Side 1]
2.
For Free
3.
Conversation
4.
Ladies Of The Canyon
5.
Willy
6.
The Arrangement
7.
Rainy Night House [Side 2]
8.
The Priest
9.
Blue Boy
10.
Big Yellow Taxi
11.
Woodstock
12.
The Circle Game
Tracks
1 to 12 are the LP "Ladies Of The Canyon" – released April 1970 in the USA (May
1970 in the UK) on Reprise RSLP 6376
Disc
4 (36:13 minutes):
1.
All I Want [Side 1]
2.
My Old Man
3.
Little Green
4.
Carey
5.
Blue
6.
California [Side 2]
7.
This Flight Tonight
8.
River
9.
A Case Of You
10.
The Last Time I Saw Richard
Tracks
1 to 10 are the LP "Blue" – released June 1971 in the USA on Reprise MS 2038
and July 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44128
Disc
5. (40:25 minutes):
1.
Banquet
2.
Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire
3.
Barangrill
4.
Lesson In Survival
5.
Let The Wind Carry Me
6.
For The Roses
7.
See You Sometime
8.
Electricity
9.
You Turn Me On I’m A Radio
10.
Blonde In The Bleachers
11.
Woman Of Heart And Mind
12.
Judgement Of the Moon And Stars (Ludwig's Tune)
Tracks
1 to 12 are the LP "For The Roses" – released November 1972 in the USA on
Asylum SD 5057 and December 1972 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8753
Disc
6 (36:58 minutes):
1.
Court And Spark [Side 1]
2.
Help Me
3.
Free Man In Paris
4.
People's Parties
5.
The Same Situation
6.
Car On A Hill [Side 2]
7.
Down To You
8.
Just Like This Train
9.
Raised On Robbery
10.
Trouble Child
11.
Twisted
Tracks
1 to 11 are the LP "Court And Spark" – released February 1974 in the USA on
Asylum 7E-1001 and March 1974 in the UK on Asylum SYLA 8756
Disc
7 (42:37 minutes):
1.
In France They Kiss On Main Street [Side 1]
2.
The Jungle Line
3.
Edith And The Kingpin
4.
Don't Interrupt The Sorrow
5.
Shades Of Scarlett Conquering
6.
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns [Side 2]
7.
The Boho Dance
8.
Harry's House/Centerpiece
9.
Sweet Bird
10.
Shadows And Light
Tracks
1 to 10 are the LP "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" – released November 1975 in
the USA on Asylum 7E-1051 and Asylum K 53018 in the UK
Disc
8 (51:55 minutes):
1.
Coyote [Side 1]
2.
Amelia
3.
Furry Sings The Blues
4.
A Strange Boy
5.
Hejira
6.
Song For Sharon [Side 2]
7.
Black Crow
8.
Blue Motel Room
9.
Refuge Of The Roads
Tracks
1 to 9 are the LP "Hejira" – released November 1976 in the USA on Asylum
7£-1087 and Asylum K 53053 in the UK
Disc
9 (59:52 minutes):
1.
Overture-Cotton Avenue [Side 1]
2.
Talk To Me
3.
Jericho
4.
Paprika Plains [Side 2]
5.
Otis And Marlena [Side 3]
6.
The Tenth World
7.
Dreamland
8.
Don Juan's Reckless Daughter [Side 4]
9.
Off Night Backstreet
10.
The Silky Veils Of Ardor
Tracks
1 to 10 are the 2LP Studio Set "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" – released December 1977
in the USA on Asylum BB-701 and Asylum K 63003 in the UK
Disc
10 (37:23 minutes):
1.
Happy Birthday 1975 (Rap)
2.
God Must Be A Boogie Man
3.
Funeral (Rap)
4.
Chair In The Sky
5.
The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey
6.
I's A Muggin' (Rap)
7.
Sweet Sucker Dance
8.
Coin In The Pocket (Rap)
9.
The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
10.
Lucky (Rap)
11.
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Tracks
1 to 11 are the LP "Mingus" – released June 1979 in the USA on Asylum 5E-505
and July 1979 in the UK on Asylum K 53091
Joni
Mitchell's "The Studio Albums 1968-1979" is probably the prettiest Mini Box Set
in this WEA series so far. Each of the 5" Mini LP Card Repro Sleeves reflects
the original AMERICAN artwork and so every one of the 10 has a 'gatefold' sleeve (the first two albums were
single sleeves only in the UK). "For The Roses" and
"Mingus" even have their extra inner LP 'flaps' reproduced as a
separate inlay. The CDs themselves - 1 to 4 have the tan colour Reprise label
and thereafter revert to the standard silver look of 1980's WEA titles (a bit
more attention to detail would have gotten all the correct labels for each
period – something Rhino normally gets right).
Most
of the gatefolds open from the inside in order to get at the CD – so I put all
of mine in a Japanese plastic protective (which you can buy online) to avoid
scuffing. The original album ‘inner sleeves’ on "Hejira" and
"Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" are not here – but it has to be said
that the uber clean 5” gatefold repros are beautifully done and for an old
album’s nut like me – aesthetically pleasing – even if you will need a
microscope to actually read any of the lyrics or recording info. There’s no
booklet which is a damn shame given this woman’s musical stature.
On
that subject - I hate the way the Sony/Legacy/Columbia ‘Complete’ Box Sets look
with that generic Red Box cover they do – but at least they do come with
comprehensive booklets that ‘so’ compliment the audio (Byrds, Bill Withers,
Etta James, Nilsson – see reviews). I mention this because arguably WEA has an
artist’s roster that is far more worthy and deserves the presentation-business
done by them – songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, James
Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie
Lee Jones – and many others. A nice booklet would have lifted this astonishing
box set into the stratosphere. But these are mere niggles to the main event –
the wonderful AUDIO…
The
best bit for many will be the GORGEOUS QUALITY SOUND. From what I can hear
every one of these has used the upgraded HDCD remasters and the audio warmth
and presence on say "Clouds", "Ladies Of The Canyon" and
"Blue" is mind-blowingly good. Which brings us to the music itself…
Even
as lifelong fan of Joni – relistening to these albums in chronological order is
an awesome experience and on many occasions leaves you picking your jaw up off
the floor and reaching for the Thesaurus to find adjectives big enough to do
these songs justice. Track after track simply floors you – melodious, witty,
heartfelt, articulate – Joni Mitchell has a way with melodies and words that
oozes a rare intelligence. She’s an artist who was (and is) bound to engender
true hero worship. By the time you get to Blue classics like "River” and
the sublime "A Case Of You" – resistance is quite literally futile
(lyrics from it title this review).
The
other brill thing about a box like this is the dipping-in and the rediscovering
of song nuggets that you’d either forgotten or aren’t on those “Best Of” compilations
– Night In The City (from Song Of A Seagull), That Song About The Midway (from
Clouds), Conversation (from Ladies Of The Canyon), California (from Blue),
Electricity (from For The Roses), People’s Parties (from Court And Spark), The
Boho Dance (from The Hissing Of Summer Lawns), Furry Sings The Blues (from
Hejira) and Off Night Backstreet (from Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter). The only
real clunker for me is the patchy jazz album “Mingus” which to this day still
feels indulgent. Other than that this is a peerless and incredible body of work
(for not a lot of wedge).
If
ever an artist deserved lavish – it's Canada’s finest – Joni Mitchell. Don't
think – don't dither – dive in and drool.
God
bless you our Lady of the Canyon and stop smoking you silly twit – you're far
too precious to lose…
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