Track Listing

1. All I Want
2. My Old Man
3. Little Green
4. Carey
5. Blue
6. California
7. This Flight Tonight
8. River
9. Case Of You
10. Last Time I Saw Richard

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129 in Music
• Released on: 1988-01-11
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Joni Mitchell would go on from this 1971 recording to make more popular, more ambitious and more challenging albums, but she's never made a better one. Working with minimal accompaniment (Stephen Stills and James Taylor are two of the four sidemen), the Canadian songbird summoned an involving song cycle of romance found and lost. Though Blue is an uncommonly intimate representation, it's also astonishingly open and gracious. Songs such as "All I Want", "Carey", "California" and "A Case of You" work equally well as poetry and pop music. --Steve Stolder

CD Description
BLUE marks the culmination of Mitchell's early, traditionalsinger/songwriter period, and it is one of the very best albums of that genre. Though she was already beginning to experiment with elements of pop and jazz, BLUE focuses on Mitchell's skill as a folk singer, showcasing her reedy, expressive voice in duet with her piano or guitar. The arrangements on the album--which feature keys, dulcimer, bass, and assorted percussion--are spare and tasteful, so much so that it is easy to overlook their sophistication.
Yet it is ultimately Mitchell's songs that make BLUE such a moving and memorable experience. "All I Want" establishes the themes of wandering and soul-searching that define much of the artist's work, while "My Old Man" and "Carey" explore relationships with a keen attention to detail and emotional truth. Songs like "California" shuffle along with a sunny yearning, but the predominant mood--true to the album's title--is lonely, plaintive and stark, with "River", the title track, and "The Last Time I Saw Richard" ranking with the saddest, most moving songs in the pop canon. An album of great intensity and confessional depth, BLUE closed the chapter on Mitchell's folk period beautifully, opening the gates for the bold new work to follow.

Customer Reviews

constant as the northern star
The definitive singer/ songwriter album is an understatement for this work of art. It's always annoyed me that the most gifted artist working in the "POP" arena, has always been labelled or typecast into such narrow divisions. The greatest FEMALE songwriter? Well of course, but which Male is better? Since the early seventies, she set the standard and even Mr. Dylan sights her as one of his very few peers.So who among them sings, plays, writes, produces, paints the cover - even today, no one has equalled her. So BLUE should be your starting point as an introduction to this amazing artist. She sings, plays and writes in her own blood, with an honesty that will break your heart. Follow this with Hejira and Turbulent Indigo and you'll realise she really has no peers. GENIUS.

Joni Mitchell soothed a generation of young Americans
Joni Mitchell's generation wanted peace, loved the outdoors, embraced social reforms especially the civil rights movement and strongly rejected the White House orchestration of the Vietnam War. During this era some young radical Americans "dropped out" of society to bitterly protest a government's obsession with the Cold War and indifference to poverty.

It was a very difficult time in the United States. However, for the most part young Americans continued to function and were soothed by Joni Mitchell's penetrating but simplistic prose. "Blue," in my opinion is by far Joni's finest hour and to this day it can still strike a chord deep within me as it did over thirty years ago.

The late 60's and early 70's represented turmoil for many young Americans. To that end, we are all thankful for Joni Mitchell's creative ability to sooth the soul and regenerate the spirit. Her special brand of folk music helped heal a divided nation and foster a young generation of caring Americans.

Bert Ruiz

The best album you could ever buy
Blue by Joni Mitchell is one of those rare albums that is loved by a huge variety of music lovers. Whatever you're into, you will love this album after a few listens. Give it a chance and it pierces your soul. The songs embed themselves in you're phyche and you're hooked. The whole album is powerful, beautiful and inspiring and whether you are feeling happy, sad or lonely, it's one you want to listen to. An album that matches every mood - the most special music that i have ever heard.