are?

B L U E

a masterpiece beginning to end

COURT & SPARK too

Really depends on which 'era' of Joni you're drawn too. I am for the early 70's folky Joni. Many love (myself included) her foray into jazz during the later 70's and into the 80's
[Edited 7/2/08 16:13pm]

I'm probably in the minority, but I prefer her later work. For me, lyrics are mucho importante and - like most people - Joan's acquired wisdom as she's aged. I really like "Sex Kills", from Turbulent Indigo:


I pulled up behind a Cadillac
We were waiting for the light
And I took a look at his license plate
It said "Just Ice"
Is justice just ice?
Governed by greed and lust?
Just the strong doing what they can
And the weak suffering what they must?
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills

Doctors' pills give you brand new ills
And the bills bury you like an avalanche
And lawyers haven't been this popular
Since Robespierre slaughtered half of France!
And Indian chiefs with their old beliefs know
The balance is undone crazy ions
You can feel it out in traffic
Everyone hates everyone!
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills

All these jackoffs at the office
The rapist in the pool
Oh and the tragedies in the nurseries
Little kids packin' guns to school
The ulcerated ozone
These tumors of the skin
This hostile sun beating down on
This massive mess we're in!
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills

The woman has an EXPANSIVE catalogue and has changed her sound over the years, so the answer is subjective amongst fans. Where I would start is pick up her hits AND misses CD's and see what you like.

Most prefer the nostalgic sound of her earlier albums, like Clouds and Blue. Similar to Prince she had her bigger hits and breakthroughs on later albums. One would think a song like Help Me would be on one of the first albums, but that song comes on the 6th studio album. It's actually where she starts getting more jazzy.

1968 Song to a Seagull
1969 Clouds
1970 Ladies of the Canyon
1971 Blue
1972 For the Roses
1974 Court and Spark
1974 Miles of Aisles
1975 The Hissing of Summer Lawns
1976 Hejira

After this period she kinda meanders. SHe did come back with a few albums post 90 and just released Shine, which I thought was good, albeit the wierd cover, though my buddy thougt it was a snooze fest a little too light. It Joni Mitchell what do you expect.

IMO, Get Court and Spark, that where I actually started.

One of my favorites from Hijera is Coyote

No regrets, Coyote.
We just come from such different sets of circumstance.
I'm up all night in the studios
And you're up early on your ranch.
You'll be brushing out a brood mare's tail
While the sun is ascending,
And I'll just be getting home with my reel to reel...
There's no comprehending
Just how close to the bone, and the skin, and the eyes, and the lips you can get -
And still feel so alone.
And still feel related
Like stations in some relay.
You're not a, a hit and run driver, no, no,
Racing away.
You just picked up a hitcher,
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway.

We saw a farmhouse burning down
In the middle of the road,
Where in the middle of the night,
We rolled right past that tragedy
Till we pulled into some road house lights
Where a local band was playing.
Locals were up kicking and shaking on the floor.
The next thing I know
That Coyote's at my door.
He pins me in a corner and he won't take "No!".
He drags me out on the dance floor
And we're dancing close and slow.
Now he's got a woman at home.
He's got another woman down the hall.
He seems to want me anyway:
"Why'd you have to get so drunk and
Lead me on that way?'".
You just picked up a hitcher,
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway.

I looked a Coyote right in the face
On the road to Baljennie near my old home town.
He went runnin' through the whisker wheat
Chasing some prize down.
And a hawk was playing with him.
Coyote was jumping straight up and making passes.
He had those same eyes just like yours -
Under your dark glasses,
Privately probing the public rooms,
Peeking through keyholes in numbered doors
Where the players lick their wounds,
And take their temporary lovers
And their pills and powders to get them through this passion play.
No regrets, Coyote,
I just get off up away.
You just picked up a hitcher,
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway.

Coyote's in the coffee shop.
He's staring a hole in his scrambled eggs.
And he picks up my scent on his fingers
While he's watching a waitresses' legs.
He's too far from the Bay of Fundy
From appaloosas and eagles and tides.
The air conditioned cubicles and the carbon ribbon rides
Are spelling it out so clear:
Either he's going to have to stand and fight,
Or take off out of here.
I tried to run away myself,
To run away and wrestle with my ego -
And with this flame you put here in this Eskimo -
In this hitcher -
In this prisoner -
Of the fine white lines -
Of the white lines -
On the free, free way.

superspaceboy said:

yup. that pretty much sums it up, although all of her albums contain
worthwhile songs.

the only album i would add to the above list of essentials is Mingus
but perhaps it's not for everyone. but i adore Charles Mingus so the
simple fact that he and joni worked together was enough for me to be
smitten with the album since 1st listen.

IMO, Joni's softest period came with 1982's Wild Things Run Fast and 1985's Dog Eat Dog. (Though "Chinese Cafe," "You Dream Flat Tires," and "Love" saved the former from utter expendability.) I'd say she didn't quite successfully find her place amid the new synthesized pop sounds of the time. Everything else is treasure... and my favorite period is made up of her forays into the fusion sounds of 1972-1977. That to me is Joni's golden period.

But if I had to recommend the 5 best Joni albums reflective of her entire career, they'd probably be (and this is a tough decision)...

Songs to a Seagull
Blue (must-have Joni, although I personally would leave this off the list and add Hissing of Summer Lawns)
Court and Spark
Hejira
Turbulent Indigo

I feel that people greatly under estimate Songs to a Seagull ~ my favourite Joni album with Cactus Tree my favourite song. Blue is essential and I love Turbulent Indigo (Job's Sad Song ~ The Sire of Sorrow is a stunning work), Hissing of Summer Lawns, Clouds, Ladies of the Canyon, Mingus, Hejiara. Shine is great too. An incredible artist.

I now have all her albums because I found they are all somehow essential (much like Prince's catalog).

But if you have to be picky I'd get Court and Spark and Blue first, then something more complex like Hejira and you'll be a fan from then on, believe me, you'll want everything.

Cinnie said:

I have a feeling this is going to happen to me. I've found that each album is a treasure. I have so many more to go, so much to look forward to.

Mingus
Court And Spark

novabrkr said:

I have my own favorites, but I think this would be the best introduction.

Cinnie said:

it's my favorite and the one I'd recommend as an introduction, followed by Blue