I only own on album by the wonderful Ms. Mitchell, Blue. I love it. I could play it for hours and not get tired of it. But I'm ready to move onward and hear more Joni. What would you guys recommend? Of the non-Blue songs I know of hers I'm pretty fond of Woodstock, Chelsea Morning, and Help Me.

There's a temptation to submit Hejira or Hissing of Summer Lawns as (slightly) left-field recommendations, but I think the obvious choice is the right one: I'd go with Court and Spark. It's her most immediate, warm and totally loveable album. She's made more ambitious records, but she's never made a better one by my reckoning.

damosuzuki said:

agreed.

'Court And Spark' and 'Blue' are the only ones I have.

GangstaFam said:

I'm getting that one next m'self.

I'd get "Hejira" next, as it's my favorite Joni album.

Hejira is definitely a classic in the same vein -- or at least dark mood -- as Blue (and it's arguably my favorite Joni album). But Court and Spark or For the Roses have always struck me as definitive Joni. And I agree, Court is the most accessible: Though nothing Joni has released is thoughtless, it's definitely not as ponderous and heavy as some of her other stuff.
[Edited 8/18/06 0:21am]

I only have Blue and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, but by God, if that isn't one of the best albums ever than I don't know what is.

i would pick up for the roses
it's a transition album and one of my favs
u can hear where she came from (folk) and where she is going (deveolping her own sound) with this one.
then i would go in2 court and spark, hissing and hejira.

"Travelogue"
"Wild things run fast"
"Dog eat Dog"
"Mingus"
"Hissing of Summer Lawns"

COURT AND SPARK!

CinisterCee said:

You're gonna love it!

FalseSetto said:

dog eat dog? really????
that is the only one i dont have
i am kinda scared of it
it seems like it might be a graffitti bridge or new power soul

FalseSetto said:

I'd rank those three as being among her weaker efforts, actually. I wouldn't say they're worthless albums, but I certainly wouldn't cite any of them as being the proper place for a beginner to go.

Nobody's mentioned Turbulent Indigo. Worth buying for the final track alone.

RitaQoS said:

ohhh hells yeah
i 4got about that one
the last 2 songs
yvette in english....beautiful

After Blue, For the Roses is my favorite. A nice transistion between the folky and the jazzy.

RitaQoS said:

Agreed! And "Yvette in English" is a latter-day classic as far as I'm concerned.

I just bought these:


Here's how AMG lists her discography:

CinisterCee said:

Totally underrated and completely fucking awesome!

My fav

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

Unbelievable. Incredible. Amazing. Perfect!