I'm a big Joni fan, and I showed my girlfriend the song "California" the other day, and she really liked it. So I told her I'd make her a Joni CD. So far this is what I have, feel free to give recommendations, I'm trying to mix ones I think are "essential" and other lesser known gems.

California

All I Want

A Case Of You

Big Yellow Taxi

Help Me

Free Man in Paris

Car on a Hill

The Jungle Line

In France They Kiss on Main Street

Coyote

A Strange Boy

Refuge of the Roads

Good choices! I am trying to think of some other "accessible" songs:

Chelsea Morning

Morning Morgantown

River

You Turn Me On - I'm A Radio

The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

Wild Things Run Fast

Ladies' Man

Number One

Night Ride Home

BOTH SIDES NOW

YOU TURN ME ON, I'M A RADIO

ALL I WANT

BLUE (PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE ALBUM)

COME IN FROM THE COLD

Agree with those who suggest River and Both Sides Now - these would pretty much be on any intro to music cd I would create!

Edith & The Kingpin would be the one track not mentioned yet that I'd single out but really just buy them the box set with the complete 68-79 albums box set and she'll love you, and Joni, forever! The run of albums from Blue to Hissing (and maybe Hejira) is surely up there as one of the greatest feats of consistant greatness in the history of music?

I think one should start with her new box set, Love Has Many Faces. Love it and the tracks Joni included on it.

Essentials and lesser known gems is how I would describe her whole catalog

dm3857 said:

California

All I Want

A Case Of You

Big Yellow Taxi

Help Me

Free Man in Paris

Car on a Hill

The Jungle Line

In France They Kiss on Main Street

Coyote

A Strange Boy

Refuge of the Roads

Edith And The Kingpin
Dreamland
Moon At The Window
The Beat Of Black Wings
Come In From The Cold
Sex Kills