Discography

by b garley s
Statesman (Univ Minnesota- Duluth)
April 16, 1970

Joni Mitchell, is published by Reprise Records, a division of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

This is one of the best albums to come out in a long time. Lovers of acid-rock may not agree immediately, but they will find some of the same emotional heightenment present in Joni Mitchell's work that they have found in The Cream or Led Zeppelin.

It's wrongly classified as folk music although this is the method by which the music is vocally presented.

Just from the music, Joni Mitchell appears to be a quiet, unassuming girl. Also from the mu sic it's obvious she's quite talented. She has composed and arranged every bit of music in Ladies of the Canyon.

THERE IS A BLUES quality in Joni Mitchell's voice not unlike that found in Joan Baez. However you won't find her harsh vibrato present, rather you'll hear a thin-sweet voice capable of deep richness.

Joni Mitchell shows a great individuality of style and true expression of emotion and purpose which has sorrowfully become unique in our society.

The folk quality of the music comes from Joni 's presentation.

It's the dominant single voice, at times echoed by others, which sings of our society and the people there that give us that impression.

But by looking at the song titles you'll discover none of the familiar "folk songs" that have been handed down to us.

She's as much a folk singer as Simon and Garfunkel, but without the complex musical arrangements.

But like Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell sings of the people in our society and brings alive a subdued social comment:

Hey farmer, farmer Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!

ALL OF THE LYRICS have been published in the liner. It's well to read them because then you'll soon discover they're poems first, displaying the soul of the poet, and lyrics second.

This doesn't detract from the impact of the music, rather it adds sincerity.

This is a sincere album.

Everything about Ladies of the Canyon "makes it." It is even the kind of album you may bring home to your parents, there are none of these nasty four-letter words. Unique!

Nationally and locally this album is already selling well.

If you plan on getting it you'd better be quick. Perhaps if we're really lucky, this artist of the new generation may come to the cold northlands.


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