What does it sound like?:
With Blue, Joni Mitchell established herself as the leading singer-songwriter of her generation, a generation that included illuminaries such as James Taylor, Neil Young, Carole King, Jackson Browne and Leonard Cohen. Her songs flowed with a cinematic beauty and her poetic lyrics elucidate deep, troubled undercurrents the others couldn’t imagine. Seduced by the smooth-talking David Geffen to change label from Reprise, she continued a run of albums that confirmed her as an icon of popular music. This box collects together For The Roses, Court & Spark, The Hissing Of Summer Lawns and the double live album Miles Of Aisles, nicely remastered and packaged. It follows beautiful box sets of her Reprise albums and two lots of Archives full of quality outtakes and live recordings, covering the period up to 1971.
For The Roses is both two steps forwards and one step back. The dulcimer, so prominent on Blue, is absent. Having spent years developing unusual, jazzy chords and tunings on her acoustic guitar, she experiments more on piano. The jazzy twists work perfectly on Barangrill but are thick and knotty on Banquet. Tom Scott’s woodwinds add subtle flecks of texture and colour, perhaps a little too subtle, like guests barely noticed at a party. His orchestral arrangement on Judgement Of The Moon And Stars befits the composer it tributes but feels out of place on Let The Wind Carry Me. There was less time to prepare these songs and, at times, it shows. Her words are blunt and coarse. Of course, plenty of them are excellent but Joni found it difficult to connect as emotionally as she did on Blue. As a result, her singing is slightly less on point. Nevertheless, she proved to Geffen she could write a hit, You Turn Me On I’m A Radio. If not for Blue, For The Roses would have been a precise stepping stone between Ladies Of The Canyon and Court & Spark, broadening her musical horizon. Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire, an observation of someone close descending into a heroin abyss, is meandering and enervated enough to fit nicely onto The Hissing Of Summer Lawns. By any normal measure, it’s a magnificent LP, but, wedged as it is between two truly exceptional albums, it feels a little flat.
Court & Spark is a copper-bottomed masterpiece. The songs are sharper and cut deeper. Her vocals are poised and beautifully phrased. There is an actual working band, a great one, the L.A. Express, consisting of Max Bennett on bass, Joe Sample electric piano, Larry Carlton guitar, John Guerin drums and Tom Scott woodwinds. In addition, guest musicians trip over themselves to help out, including Jose Feliciano, Robbie Robertson, Wilton Felder, as well as Dave Crosby and Graham Nash. The playing is dazzling, inspired by the richness of the melodies and the intricacy of the lyrics, cramming so much detail into each song. It’s a heady mix of Jazz and Pop that is intelligent, moving and stimulating enough to keep listeners spellbound over decades. Only Steely Dan’s search for the Mu chord can compare and they used many of the same musicians.
Miles Of Aisles is effectively a live greatest hits, recorded on the Court & Spark tour with the L.A. Express providing backing on half the songs. Ironically, only one song is included from that album and it’s not the big hit. However, it’s the solo, acoustic performances when there is the greatest communion between singer and audience. The band arrangements for the older songs lose something rather than add. These songs are strong, though, built to withstand more than just a quirky arrangement. Gathered together on two old-fashioned pieces of vinyl, they make an extraordinary collection twenty years before an official Joni Mitchell Best Of. There are two new songs tacked on at the end and they are not out of place. The Archive boxes have revealed some fascinating, bewitching live concerts, plus some engaging inter-song patter. Maybe Archive number three will do similar. Only The Circle Game gives a glimpse of Joni’s relaxed inter-song conversational style.
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns is something else, shimmering like a mirage. The overlap with Steely Dan is even more marked, giving the music real Jazz chops, moving further from Folk and Pop, picking up African elements along the way. It’s both sleek and modern and raw and primitive with shifting time signatures and languid melodies. The lyrical content changes, too, becoming less personal and introspective and more a critique of a certain kind of American domesticity, one in which the women are invariably frustrated and unfulfilled. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns is more demanding of the listener but its genius is the equal of Court & Spark. It’s certainly very different to the Saskatchewan Folk music of her youth. Listen to Blue, from 1971, Court & Spark, 1973, and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, 1975, in chronological order and you will hear a mind-boggling artistic evolution that is second to none.
Bernie Grundman’s remastering is exemplary, freshening the sound, ironing out a few wrinkles, dabbing some new paint on the colours that were fading, all without disturbing the essential core of the source material. Her multi-tracked backing vocals benefit most but the L.A. Express in the studio sound especially wonderful. There are no extras, no outtakes. They are reserved for Archives Volume 3 due to be released next year. A previously unseen Joni painting is on the box cover and the booklet includes an essay by Neil Young.
Joni is obviously keeping a close eye on her legacy, determined to secure it with grace, style and impeccable logic, keeping the catalogue intact and the extras separate for the enthusiasts. Quite right, too. She is one of the greatest of the late 20th Century and this box captures her bestride her pinnacle.
What does it all *mean*?
Thankfully, Joni and her team still believe in physical product. The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) whets the appetite for more to come.
Goes well with…
The Reprise Albums (1968-1971), Archives Volume One: The t Early Years (1963-1967) and Archives Volume Two: The Reprise Years (1968-1971).
Release Date:
23/09/2022
Might suit people who like…
Joni Mitchell. She’s one of a kind.
You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio
I prefer the live version:
Yeah – “Miles of Aisles” is a great – and maybe rather under-celebrated – live album.
Great title, too.
I keep thinking it’s a Miles Davis album. 😉
Lovely writing, Tig, a great piece on a truly great artist. Amazingly, she could have had a very successful career as “just” a painter, too – that cover is some kind of masterpiece, and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees. I never get tired of these (and other of her) albums, the gift that keeps on giving.
I agree. One of the big bonuses of this reissue/archive series is the inclusion of her own artwork. It enhances the beauty of physical product and is even better with vinyl.
Have you got her book Morning Glory On The Vine? It’s an absolutely gorgeous artifact, packed with her paintings, drawings and handwritten lyrics. And it’s incredibly cheap now compared to what I paid a couple of years ago.
Excellent review Tigger, though I’m a big fan of For the Roses which for me is on a par with the whole sweep of albums from Ladies of the Canyon to Summer Lawns. I’m a fan of Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter too, which is often overlooked but which fits in well as a natural development from Summer Lawns.
I have a bone to pick. For the Roaes is a masterpiece melding folk and jazz wonderfully. Just because Court and Spark is an uber masterpiece, it shouldnt diminish FTR. FTR should be assessed against others in its oeuvre, if there is one, not just against other Joni albums.
Of course you are right. However, listening to it in this context, a box with Court & Spark, Miles and Hissing, it’s a notch, just a notch no more, below the others. I do point out that, by any other measure, it is magnificent.
Ok if you discussing them in the box. I find it fascinating listening to the emergence of that jazz style. Btw. Do they reproduce the original inside cover. ?
Yes. The painting is the cover of the outer box.
I was referring to the rear shot of the naked lady , presumably Ms Mitchell, staring out to the water
You naughty, naughty man.
I knew what you were getting at, Junior 😁.
A striking image.
A precursor for the Athena tennis girl.
But less itchy, it seems.
Received the CD box set this afternoon. All four CDs are gatefolds and appear to be faithful reproductions of the originals, including the inside covers …
When did your copy arrive Tiggs? My little limited edition print arrived last week, but no sign of the discs yet….
I had to make do with streaming.
Stream from Bargie? That’s my only quibble re your (as always ) magnificently erudite review. If you wandered into here (why would you?) it looks like you’re listening to pristinely pressed vinly. Unless things have changed, you’re not. 192 digital maybe?
I never listen to vinyl anyway. I don’t have a turntable. The world and technology has moved on. There are plenty of different ways to enjoy music with quality sound.
And the artwork – digital too?
I’m honestly not getting at you, I will just say once again these reviews should be titled “Streams supplied by Bargepole”.
And just to be clear, I accept totally that Barbie’s supply of records & books to review adds nothing but good to our Forum
The date of release is a giveaway. The last time I stayed up all night listening to an album to review on release date was Blackstar and, even then, I had a sneak preview, not from Bargie.
Hoffmanites are giving decent early reviews for the SQ. As these albums have been around for 50 years then only really worth picking up if you have never owned them or if there is a significant improvement in sound quality. Not sure what “dabbing new paint” means but am sure if you get a mint quality original it will sound amazing, however reissues may be easier on the wallet. If they are not brickwalled that is a good thing
Nice review of the content as usual
I too would elevate For The Roses to the same level as Court And Spark. In fact, I prefer it to The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, which sometimes strikes me as a cold album. Anyway, all three are works of genius. I don’t listen to Miles Of Aisles as often as I perhaps should.
Trouble is I already own minty early copies of all these records, so do I need this box?
Mint copies? The new mastering is good and the book is an engaging read. In fact, the *optics* are excellent. Try streaming first, then decide but my feeling is you might need the cash for the lecky bill.
Hissing is Dan metallic, its frostiness representing the repression of the characters in the songs. It is sexy with it. The next box will be more so. 😉
As I have all the albums except Miles Of Aisles and money is tight, I’ll probably be giving this a miss.
Glad it’s out there, though.
I’ll be interested to hear (but probably not buy, alas – see above) the next volume of the Archives when it arrives.
I’ve always found the mastering of Joni CDs to be a rather lifeless. These songs were designed to be heard on vinyl.
The (very) hi-res (24/192) files released about 10 years ago sound wonderful, but they haven’t yet been used for physical product. Which is just crazy.
In the late 1990s all the Joni Mitchell albums on CD were quietly replaced by HDCD versions (»Mastered by Joe Gastwirt at Ocean View Digital Mastering, Los Angeles, California, using the Pacific Microsonics HDCD system«) which sound absolutely brilliant. The mastering and packaging was overseen by Ms Mitchell, and she even updated the artwork here and there (song lyrics were readable suddenly…). These editions (sold at budget price at the time) in my opinion have never been surpassed; and I don’t have time to compare bit rates and other marketing nonsense. I bought the previous two album boxes though – they’re nicely done, and are lovely things to own, but they are a luxury item. Who needs a CD that tries desperately to look like a vinyl album? (Well, Neil Young likes these kinds of things…)
Yes, I bought the HDCD Blue (and some of the others), and now I have a CD player that does HDCD decoding, and a couple of years ago replaced my well-worn s/h LP with a new one.
So I have at least four different versions of Blue, and a couple of different hi-res masters.
Fair to say, I quite like it.
Streaming in HD right now on the lounge stereo and enjoying it all very much. Not heard these albums before so I can’t really comment with any authority on the sound quality, but to my ears the vocals and acoustic guitars have stunning presence, and the whole mix is detailed, as you say, and crystal clear. This is definitely a Friday night bonus. Thanks for the review and heads up.
I already own all of these except Miles of Aisles and I’m still bloody tempted. Damn.
Me too – tempted and seduced by finally getting the live album. Still not here yet, mind you….
Damn newbies – I bought Miles of Aisles on vinly back in the 70s 😜
Is it confirmed that the new box includes the complete »Miles Of Aisles« on CD? I think most CD versions (except the Joe Gastwirt mix) had the between-song banter edited out…
Listening to the complete box set on Friday on Amazon HD music, I can confirm that there is some between song banter, but since this is the first time I’ve heard the album I can’t confirm whether it is the complete banter, nor indeed whether the banter has been remastered. 😉 Or maybe the streaming banter isn’t the same as the CD banter? A question I asked down below is why is ‘For the Roses’ not readily available on CD? Amazon has it going for over a hundred quid. So the best way to get that album, it seems, is to buy this box?
I don’t know the why, but the 2022 version of FTR is being released on LP at the end of October, which is much sooner than I’d have imagined – the individual Blue LP from the Reprise box is not released for another two weeks (at 38 quid!)
Anyhow, £33 for FTR on LP, or £35 for this CD box. Last year’s Reprise 4CD box is now down to £24.
Thanks @fentonsteve. It’s a no-brainer. I’m getting the CD box set.
As if that mad pricing wasn’t Vinyl Stupidity enough, consider the newly-announced PJ Harvey b-sides & rarities set:
3 CDs £20
6 LPs £160
I won’t be buying either, as neither contain Primed & Ticking, the best thing she ever did.
To be honest, I don’t know how much banter was on the original vinyl. There isn’t much this time, some but not much, except for Circle Game when she encourages the audience to participate.
hurrr
»Paint ‘Starry Night’ again!!«
“Joni, you have more class than…”
My favourite Joni period – I have the studio albums but not Miles of Aisles which I intend to buy separately. For the roses is to my mind greatly underrated – often in the shadow of the other two.
I think it was her first great album – better than Blue (I know – shoot me).
Looking forward to the archive sets from this period next year.
….but can you buy it separately?
Eventually I hope.
Give it about a year. The albums from the first box have just hit the shelves.
Just looking at the Dodgers, For the Roses is not available to buy as an individual CD. Yet the other two studio albums included here are (although not in this latest remastered version). What’s that about?
Not having been as big a seller as the other two, they thought they’d have less copies manufactured. Not enough, as it turned out.
They won’t be releasing individual remastered copies until the box has sold enough copies.
I was surprised to see the only individual releases from the two box sets so far, are Blue and FTR on vinyl.
To be fair, the SQ is kinda irrelevant as Joni is a perfectionist and has very good ears. She has always personally overseen the mastering of all her releases on all formats so everything sounds great. No brickwalling for Joni. The remix of her first album is I suppose a kind of exception but I personally didn’t dislike it; David Crosby’s original mix back in 1968 was always idiosyncratic.
I bought a Rotel RCD-1072 CD Player for my HDCD discs (I have hundreds), and I have never heard a bad sounding one.
The fact that there are no extra tracks on this set will preclude me buying it but this is my favourite period of Joni. Find FTR a bit hard going in places and is rarely played but the other 2 are among the greatest albums of all time. The comparison to the Dan is well observed Tig; the depiction of the stagnant dead eyed lives of the LA socialites is perfectly captured in the sublime arrangements. Looking forward to the Archive set.
It’s a deliberate policy. She is reissuing the original albums, remastered, just as they were. All extras are being released in separate, comprehensive Archives box sets.
Got all of J’s 70s run on album (and most of them on CD) so will pass on this particular set. Quite like the sound of the book mentioned further up the page though which is now only £13 on AUK
I have the box set ‘The Studio Albums 1968 – 1979’ so I really can’t see me bothering with this, but thanks for a terrific review!
Whilst the music is fine on that set, the mastering is not great; nasty-sounding 1980s CDs collected together and sold cheap. The Sony PCM1640 has a lot to answer for.
Thanks Nigel!
I have that box, too, and it sounds tired next to this one. However, you won’t know that until you hear it.