Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine.
Pick your twenty favorites tracks.
1:40, 2:36, 3:33, 4:30, 5:28, 6:26, 7:25, 8:24, 9:23, 10:22, 11:21, 12:20, 13:19, 14:18, 15:17, 16:16, 17:15, 18:14, 19:13, 20:12
You can nominate in this thread and post youtube links for fave tracks.
You're voting for any track that Joni appears on which could include stuff like Carol King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," where she sings backing vocals w/ James Taylor, or her performance of "Helpless" w/ Neil Young in The Last Waltz.
You can vote for live tracks, even if they haven't gotten an official release (there is a large Joni bootleg scene), but I'll likely combine them w/ studio versions and note in the results that there are different versions.
BONUS POLL:
List your five favorite Joni albums.
Discography and track listing can be perused here: http://jonimitchell.com/music/
Submit your ballots to jonimitchellpoll AT gmail DOT com.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 15:53 (8 months ago) Permalink
Whahey!
But I think Mojo short-circuited your hotlinked image. If you rehost it and post the link I will fix it in the OP.
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 15:57 (8 months ago) Permalink
It looks okay to me -- but here it is on flickr:
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 16:02 (8 months ago) Permalink
I have images off and when I click on it I get a Mojo logo. If it shows OK for everyone else then no worries.
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 16:06 (8 months ago) Permalink
I'm seeing a Mojo logo too (up top, not xp).
Been waiting for this poll! Woo-hoo!
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 16:06 (8 months ago) Permalink
Changed the OP image to the flickr link.
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 16:08 (8 months ago) Permalink
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 17:11 (8 months ago) Permalink
What's the deadline?
I'm completely ignorant of the post-Mingus albums. Hoping to discover a few great things from the 80s from this poll.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 17:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
oooohhhh second one of these I'm gonna participate in. yeah when is the deadline? not gonna have time this week
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 17:34 (8 months ago) Permalink
Oh yeah. Forgot the deadline. Um. How long are ppl generally giving for these? 2 weeks? 3?
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:13 (8 months ago) Permalink
give 2, or til the end of next week or something
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:15 (8 months ago) Permalink
Sounds good to me.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:18 (8 months ago) Permalink
10 days, lately
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:26 (8 months ago) Permalink
Good work Mordy. I was going to sit out the next few polls, but I think I might have a bash at this one, I really loved Blue once.
― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:26 (8 months ago) Permalink
ITT I will shamelessly, repeatedly foist Night Ride Home on you all until you vote for it and half its songs.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:38 (8 months ago) Permalink
was eager to vote in this poll way back when, but having listened to all my Joni Mitchell albums just a little while ago I confess I pretty much hate everything that I own post-Hissing Lawns (ie, Hejira, Mingus, Wild Things Run Fast, Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm). the sonic template she adopted just makes my ears bleed.
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:52 (8 months ago) Permalink
aw yeah! i was actually wondering the other day if there was a joni poll lined up
― TOP FEMALE LAWYER & CARTOONIST FOR 2011: (donna rouge), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:55 (8 months ago) Permalink
I'm an early Joni fanatic, and that'll probably make up the majority of my ballot. I think the split between Joni post-folk jazz fans and pre-1975 fans will be interesting. Also, will anyone stan for the really recent (like post 2000) compositions? I have an idea about how to incorporate her artwork into the poll too...
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 19:03 (8 months ago) Permalink
dude how can you hate hejira.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 19:58 (8 months ago) Permalink
I don't hate any of it! But for me 68-74 > 75-79 > 82-88 > 91-07
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:25 (8 months ago) Permalink
fretless bass + synth washes = total hell
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:26 (8 months ago) Permalink
I hate both of those things, and I love Hejira (but they're also the reason I hate Mingus).
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:27 (8 months ago) Permalink
no synth washes on Hejira, Shakey!
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
I listened to all five of those post-hejira records in a row, it all sort of mushified together for me at a certain point
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:29 (8 months ago) Permalink
er four
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:30 (8 months ago) Permalink
I've tried to like Night Ride Home as much as aero and Tim, and while it's the best of her post-peak period -- the billowy synths complement the dark blues and violets of her voice -- the songwriting is maddeningly uneven.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:30 (8 months ago) Permalink
Are you okay with 10 songs? Yet another artist where I can name 10 I already love, but to get to 20 I'd have to start relistening. And I'm lazy. And old. And not crazy about voting for 10 extra songs I'd never given a thought to until this week.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:53 (8 months ago) Permalink
oh yeah, absolutely. 10 is fine.
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:03 (8 months ago) Permalink
So I kicked off with Blue tonight. It's not as pleasant a listen as I was anticipating tbh - she's really pretty complex at that point melodically and harmonically, seems like I was more in the mood for something to holler along with. Lord knows how I'll cope when I get to the avantjazz stuff youse've been discussing already.
― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:56 (8 months ago) Permalink
I often forget that Blue was my first exposure to her and for many her best; when it's on I agree.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:06 (8 months ago) Permalink
I am heartily tired of the "autobiographical" angle though.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:07 (8 months ago) Permalink
Can anyone recommend any standout tracks from the post "Mingus" era? I can't face listening to several entire albums of session-dude jazz-inflected songcraft to get to the nuggets, quite frankly.
― don't slip in mud (Matt #2), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
I think of the eras of Joni as:1968-1970: the folkie years, some good songs but still developing.1971-1976: the peak years, run of 5 amazingly great studio albums1977-1979: the overstretching years, Don Juan and Mingus are good, but less compelling than what came before.1980 onwards: I've barely heard any of this stuff, apart from Wild Things Run Fast, which is good but slight, and the material on Misses. I've heard elsewhere that Night Ride Home is good though.
Pick for overlooked song - Love or Money from Miles of Aisles (1974 live album):
― funk79, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:31 (8 months ago) Permalink
From 'Night Ride Home', check "Passion Play", "Cherokee Louise", "Slouching Towards Bethlehem", "Come In From The Cold", "Nothing Can Be Done" and "Two Grey Rooms".
― Tim F, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:37 (8 months ago) Permalink
'Turbulent Indigo' is basically a lesser version of the same album (though ironically won more acclaim), but it's worth checking "Sunny Sunday" and "The Sire of Sorrow", from memory.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:41 (8 months ago) Permalink
yeah i imagine the vast majority of my ballot is gonna be from the 71-76 period
― TOP FEMALE LAWYER & CARTOONIST FOR 2011: (donna rouge), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:42 (8 months ago) Permalink
At least three tracks from 1969 alone are sure things for my ballot
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:49 (8 months ago) Permalink
Came to vote, stayed a couple minutes to rep for Shine (2007 album). For having not written a song for a decade prior, Joni actually has something interesting to say without blowing up in a storm of bad 80s synths about it. Not a classic, but definitely a great latter-day album from a 60s/70s genius.
― Tom Violence, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:23 (8 months ago) Permalink
I love "Come in from the Cold"
― Mordy, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
This bit:
Is it just vulgar electricity?Is it the edifying fire?Does your smile's covert complicityDebase as it admires?
The cracks forming in her voice by this point give the song a simultaneous fragility and gravity which allows her to carry off lines like that.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:48 (8 months ago) Permalink
i want to make A CASE for YOU to vote for "Urge for Going" which afaik is not on any of the LPs except for the Hits collection but is gorgeous
― Mordy, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 01:34 (8 months ago) Permalink
― Mordy, Tuesday, September 11, 2012 7:28 PM
yes. This is the best example of what she achieved in her later years: the parched vocal does wonders with vowels and punctuates those synth billows with devastating effect.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 01:39 (8 months ago) Permalink
btw I will defend Dog Eat Dog, particularly the title track, "Impossible Dreamers," and "Good Friends." The last song is a misbegotten attempt (Michael McDonald!) to assume that the late seventies studio rock comity still existed in 1985 (it was also her last Hot 100 appearance in America). I posted the video upthread.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 01:40 (8 months ago) Permalink
Tom Rush does a really nice "Urge for Going" on the same album he does "The Circle Game." That's the first time I've heard Joni's original, I have to admit.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 01:58 (8 months ago) Permalink
top ten should basically be Court & Spark tracks 1-10, with Twisted thrown in a bin somewhere
― Jamie_ATP, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 08:39 (8 months ago) Permalink
yeah that's gotta be one of the all time worst album closers. Doesn't fit the album at all
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 09:12 (8 months ago) Permalink
it's like someone at the record company was trying to sabotage the album. it's SO BAD.
― Jamie_ATP, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 09:36 (8 months ago) Permalink
Was Joni a big influence on Robert Plant by any chance? I'm hearing all sorts of his phrasing and melodic tricks on things like 'Free Man In Paris'.
Not sure why I'm assuming the influence goes that way, actually, except that he didn't start off singing like that, and a vague feeling that 'Going To California' might be a homage to her.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 10:46 (8 months ago) Permalink
I apologize in advance but I'm going to totally gum up this poll with endless 80s-00s Joni stanning
― would smash pumpkins (Ówen P.), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12:10 (8 months ago) Permalink
OK no I won't I'll just submit that ballot but I encourage all serious voters to listen to latter day materialMy #1 is from "Night Ride Home"
― would smash pumpkins (Ówen P.), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12:11 (8 months ago) Permalink
I've listened to her first 10 albums now, all of which I like to varying degrees. I'll have to listen some more before I can make a tracks ballot.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:39 (7 months ago) Permalink
I bought Don Juan's in April, prepared to accept it as an Unheralded Masterpiece. So it surprised me when I found nothing awful but little that imprinted itself (unlike, say, Mingus' "The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey").
― taking tiger mountain (up the butt) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:05 (7 months ago) Permalink
Yeah there's nothing offputting about it, it's just that once you get past the surface most of the songs seem undeveloped.
Whereas "The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey" is insane.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:14 (7 months ago) Permalink
They are underdeveloped, but there are a couple that really hooked me. 'Talk To Me' I like, it's got a nice groove and I can even overlook the horrible heptalk at the end. What's that all about, anyway, just her getting deep into the jazz? And appearing in blackface on the sleeve too, it's kind of an unusual move.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:25 (7 months ago) Permalink
I loooove "God must be a boogie man", both 1979 and 2001 versions. I don't know why but I always get "Which would it be? / Mingus one or two or three?" in my head all the time. Except for the bawling choir of jerks on the chorus it would be a top 10 Joni track.
― whiter than... this? (Ówen P.), Wednesday, 26 September 2012 17:22 (7 months ago) Permalink
That bawling choir of jerks is what almost made this top 20 for me! Although I can see how others may find them an irritant.
― don't slip in mud (Matt #2), Thursday, 27 September 2012 08:59 (7 months ago) Permalink
bawling choir of jerks
I love this phrase
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 27 September 2012 09:02 (7 months ago) Permalink
Voting deadline tomorrow! Get your ballots in!
― Mordy, Thursday, 27 September 2012 12:29 (7 months ago) Permalink
What do you guys think of "Paprika Plains"?
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 27 September 2012 18:37 (7 months ago) Permalink
Is it weird if I find Summer Lawns a little boring?
In other weirdness, I think I like For the Roses more than Court and Spark.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 27 September 2012 18:39 (7 months ago) Permalink
I love it, was the first track that really stuck out on DJRD. It didn't quite make my ballot though (xpost).
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 27 September 2012 18:40 (7 months ago) Permalink
Voted! Usual last minute agonies (why do no marks like The Cure get 40 track ballots and all the greats get only grumble grumble etc etc?)
Lindsey and the choir of jerks high on my ballot. Paprika Plains just made the cut.
― Jeff W, Thursday, 27 September 2012 19:11 (7 months ago) Permalink
can we postpone the deadline to sunday? i can't vote before, i have to work!
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 27 September 2012 21:19 (7 months ago) Permalink
Fine with me!
― Mordy, Thursday, 27 September 2012 21:32 (7 months ago) Permalink
Tbh, I haven't even gotten my spreadsheet to work. I may end up aggregating the scores manually idk.
It's Sunday now?
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 27 September 2012 22:51 (7 months ago) Permalink
done and sent! thanks for doing this mordy
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 27 September 2012 22:54 (7 months ago) Permalink
let's say that ballots are due friday but if they trickle in before too late on Sunday (when I plan to aggregate them) I'll include them
― Mordy, Thursday, 27 September 2012 22:54 (7 months ago) Permalink
Friday! Can't wait to get joni'ed out tomorrow putting together a ballot.
― skip, Thursday, 27 September 2012 23:05 (7 months ago) Permalink
another bump to remind people that ballots are due today!
― Mordy, Friday, 28 September 2012 14:31 (7 months ago) Permalink
I'd listened to my sister's copy a couple of times before but it's finally sinking in just how devastating Blue is.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 17:58 (7 months ago) Permalink
I might even rank this over Hejira. Maybe ...
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 18:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
My poll is feeling very canon-y but what can you do.
― skip, Friday, 28 September 2012 18:22 (7 months ago) Permalink
I've little idea what the canon is here, so it should be a fun rundown
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 28 September 2012 18:30 (7 months ago) Permalink
Isn't the canon all about Blue first and then Court and Spark?
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 18:31 (7 months ago) Permalink
Either that or I have listened to so much pre-Don Juan Joni that I think the whole damn thing is the canon.
― skip, Friday, 28 September 2012 18:35 (7 months ago) Permalink
I mean, I think "The Arrangement" is a historically critical musical achievement so getting down from a shortlist of 50 to 20 is going to be difficult.
If it's Taxi #1, Woodstock #2 and the rest nowhere, I'll be underwhelmed
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 28 September 2012 18:39 (7 months ago) Permalink
It's really tough narrowing down the tracks on Summer Lawns - lots of great mini-hooks in almost every track and a very consistent sound throughout.
― skip, Friday, 28 September 2012 18:41 (7 months ago) Permalink
Oooooh finally did my listen-through this past week, made my ballot and boy did my memory foam underestimate the immensity of Hejira giant corpse.
1968-1971: 61972-1976: 71977-1991: 51992-present: 2
Three (!) albums-I-love got shut-out on the tracks list.
― i thought it was an "edit" button. (Ówen P.), Friday, 28 September 2012 19:05 (7 months ago) Permalink
boy did my memory foam underestimate the immensity of Hejira giant corpse.
Wait, what did you mean by this?
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 19:38 (7 months ago) Permalink
Not trying to be a dick, just interested.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 19:39 (7 months ago) Permalink
I mean Hejira is unspeakably unstoppably good and "hmm! what Dog eat dog song could I vote for?" quickly became "Why can't I vote for all the Hejira songs"
― i thought it was an "edit" button. (Ówen P.), Friday, 28 September 2012 19:40 (7 months ago) Permalink
submitted!
― skip, Friday, 28 September 2012 20:58 (7 months ago) Permalink
It's really tough narrowing down the tracks on Summer Lawns - lots of great mini-hooks in almost every track and a very consistent sound throughout.― skip, Friday, September 28, 2012 2:41 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
it's all about In France... and Edith... for me
― Iago Galdston, Friday, 28 September 2012 22:45 (7 months ago) Permalink
In France is actually one of my least favourite Hissing tunes, feels kinda forced to me. Whereas Edith is amazing, probably my favourite. It's the song which most fully embraces that dazzled soft-jazz glow she's going for.
― Tim F, Friday, 28 September 2012 23:09 (7 months ago) Permalink
The "riff" so to speak of Edith just slays me....and the lyrics are amazing
― Iago Galdston, Friday, 28 September 2012 23:12 (7 months ago) Permalink
"Why can't I vote for all the Hejira songs"
Oh, totally. Double-tracked flanged guitars + fusion bass = musical heaven
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 23:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
Voted
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 28 September 2012 23:40 (7 months ago) Permalink
I applied a rule of no more than 5 songs from one album mainly to avoid voting for all the Hejira songs.
― Tim F, Saturday, 29 September 2012 01:07 (7 months ago) Permalink
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0097AQEOK/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=amz08223-21&camp=2902&creative=19466&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0097AQEOK&adid=1BRVAX2FD11094H92M7B
― Algerian Goalkeeper, Saturday, 29 September 2012 01:15 (7 months ago) Permalink
Just a reminder that though the deadline was yesterday I will still take ballots until aggregation probably sometime tomorrow evening. I will give fair warning but if you don't want to be caught out before tabulation occurs, get your ballots in now!
― Mordy, Saturday, 29 September 2012 14:01 (7 months ago) Permalink
ballot sent, hopefully not too late.....
― Lee626, Sunday, 30 September 2012 20:41 (7 months ago) Permalink
sending in a bit
― taking tiger mountain (up the butt) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 30 September 2012 20:41 (7 months ago) Permalink
I'll be accepting ballots until late tnite.
― Mordy, Sunday, 30 September 2012 20:50 (7 months ago) Permalink
Ballot sent - hopefully in time.
― Kent Burt, Monday, 1 October 2012 00:37 (7 months ago) Permalink
voted finally, hope to read this thread someday!
― Euler, Monday, 1 October 2012 01:47 (7 months ago) Permalink
voted. MOrdy and Joni rule!
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Monday, 1 October 2012 13:18 (7 months ago) Permalink
Jessica Hopper review of the new studio albums box set: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17269-the-studio-albums-1968-1979/
― Mordy, Saturday, 10 November 2012 05:17 (6 months ago) Permalink
This is a basic set-- no frills, just all the albums' original layouts reproduced in envelope sleeves, the fonts so tiny only mice could read them. There are no extras, outtakes or re-anythinged.
Ugh, why??
― skip, Sunday, 11 November 2012 05:00 (6 months ago) Permalink