Queen Joni

Another example of personal bias but for me Joni is the greatest female (or indeed any gender) singer-songwriter ever.... and will never ever be bettered.

Call me an old ... (OK call me whatever you like) but the modern tranche of, particularly female, singers leaves me somewhat chilly.  Where are the strong lyricists who can produce anything equal to Both Sides Now, This Flight Tonight, A case of You, Free Man In Paris, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Amelia.... well practically all her songs.   Yes, I know, Carol King, Laura Nyro, Joan Baez, Billy Holliday and singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and many more; BUT Joni stills ranks above them all for me.

What about Swift, Ga Ga (aptly named), etc. I hear you cry?  What about them?  Mere minnows in a water full of sharks.

I bought her first album when it was first released in the UK having heard it from a friend who had returned from Canada with a copy a few weeks before UK release.  It was one of those defining moments when having known there isn't a god from a very early age, you suddenly discover there is certainly a Goddess or a Queen or... basically someone very very special.  That view has not changed to this day.

Highlights for me, apart from the first album:

Clouds:

Second studio album with 'Chelsea Morning' (Fairport Convention covered this on their first album) and the immortal 'Both Sides, Now'.

Ladies of the Canyon:

Third studio album and includes 'For Free', 'Woodstock', 'Big Yellow Taxi', 'Circle Game'

Blue:

Fourth studio album; highlights include 'Carey', 'Blue', 'This Flight Tonight', 'A Case Of You'.

Court and Spark:

Sixth studio album.  I had the US release of this when it first appeared (in HMV, Regents Street) but had to take it back as it had a scratch; unfortunately they only had the newly released UK version that had the black outlining on the cover....bummer.  However, at that time I was not that bothered as it is a great album.

Hejira:

Just sublime; Joni at her very best.  'Amelia' has got to be be one of my favourites but then there is 'Coyote', 'Hejira', Furry Sings The Blues', well just about all of them...

Travelogue:

Travelogue is a 2002 kind of 'Best of' but really a collection of her favourites reimagined with new arrangements and orchestra; just magic.

At the time I was not as 'keen' on the 80's period (Chalk Mark, Dog Eat Dog, Mingus, Night Ride Home) but on re-evaluatiopn some years ago I realised how good they really are.  Then of course there is the more recent (2000) Both Sides Now with the new recording of the title track (I think as used in some well known filum of the time?) as well as covers of some old classics.

I could go on (and on and on) about others, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, For the Roses, Hissing Of Summer Lawns, Turbulent Indigo, Both Sides Now..... You know them all!  You don't?? Well give 'em a listen; up to you to decide :-)