Ranking the Albums: Joni Mitchell

Join Pete Pardo and Grant Arthur as they rank the Top 10 albums AND songs of Joni Mitchell. #jonimitchell
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[@webbvandiver9139]

So awesome for Joni to be revered and acknowledged as a genius on a prog rock hard rock metal focused channel. Bravo Pete n Grant! 🤘🏻❤️

[@jackbrown4697]

I'm a metalhead and punk here but damn Blue is one of the best albums ever. Gotta show some love for the classics.

[@JasonSmith-pv1ff]

Hissing of summer lawns is Incredible

[@jasonshort1437]

I love The Jungle Line, so different.

[@kevtruth]

I'm super impressed that Sea Of Tranquility is covering Joni.

[@pdfortune]

I’m impressed and surprised. I’m surprised because the whole gang at Sea of Tranquillity rips any music that is on the softer side. For instance: How hard is it to understand that people can like the whole album of Whitesnake 87 even the way overplayed ballads?

[@sotdude7]

'Whole gang' is a way over exaggeration...

[@webbvandiver9139]

@@sotdude7agree Pete…you’ve always shown an appreciation and love for a ton of genres outside of prog/hard rock/metal. Person who made comment must not watch the channel consistently.

[@arnaudb.7669]

Earth Wind and Fire soon! \o/

[@TrickRipple]

Her choice of band members.😊 Pat Metheny live solo on Amelia - Joni's Shadow and Light concert is mind bending.

[@CanAlternateLostTape]

Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter is the apex of her recorded output, Joni at her most fearless and free, a summation of the musical and lyrical concerns of her work up to that point and a total work of art that continues to yield new insights connections and layers of meaning after 40+years of listening. Her run of albums in the 90s (Night Ride Home/Turbulent Indigo/Taming the Tiger) are underrated and deserve more credit.

[@donnybrookdetritus]

Awesome to see Joni get her ranking on SoT!

[@RobertsOnMyTurntable]

An amazing Canadian artist from a proud Canadian listener 🇨🇦🇨🇦 Love the show

[@jasonhart6025]

Thank you for celebrating Joni. One very special album that I feel was overlooked in your chat is her 1991 album "Night Ride Home", which is a personal (sentimental) favorite.

[@heygringo7]

Great later period Joni album

[@mattcarlock443]

I agree. I feel that Court, Hissing, and Hejira were her best run of albums, but Night Ride Home has a certain melancholy maturity that makes it special.

[@robertschobesberger6300]

would have been also one of my choices

[@carl-johanfougstedt199]

What a nice surprise to have a Joni Mitchell based show on this channel! This combined 10 favorite albums + 10 favorite songs is an amazing concept. Joni Mitchell is a really great creative and multidimensional artist even though I can´t say that I´m familiar with most of her catalogue. But what I´ve heard I really like. Blue, Court and Spark and Clouds are my favorite albums in no specific order.

[@willchan9960]

Court and Spark is a all-in-one & boundary-pushing album, easily her best. For the Roses is the runner up, definitely her best written album with a refreshing sound that really suits Joni.

[@milliewillie392]

Justice for 80s Joni ❤️🐕 1. Song for Sharon 2. Impossible dreamer 3. Ladies man 4. Hissing of summer lawns 5. Lucky girl 6. The reoccurring dream 7. Tea leaf prophecy 8. Ethiopia 9. Cool water 10. Tax free

[@quintbromley2112]

I was hoping the long wait for Hejira would land at #1, and honestly, Jaco deserves as much credit as Joni for its brilliance. Well done, guys. Excellent show!

[@MrSomadude]

Joni is such an amazing musician and singer. Anyone who appreciates great songwriting and playing can find something of hers to adore. Great video guys!

[@CathyLahn]

Excellent to be shinging a light one of our greatest artists, songwriters, unique chance taking badasses, JONI MITCHELL! LOVE Joni! And I'm a major ROCK fan, guitarist and heavy music lover. Bowie, Sabbath, Zep, Purple, Priest, AC/DC, Jeff Beck, KISS, T-Rex, Zappa, The Cure, Iron Maiden, Can, Steely Dan, Beatles, Stones, UFO, Yes, Lizzy, The Who, etc are many of ny favorites. But you must add Joni Mitchell into that list. Truly one of the real musical innovators of our time. Abd i love her mid to later 70s, more jazzy cool LPs, just as much as the early more acoustic efforts! Marc ⚡

[@rvegas81]

Thank you-just bought my second Joni album! This was good!

[@kennbrown4638]

1. Blue 2. Ladies of the Canyon 3. For the Roses 4. The Hissing of Summer Lawns 5. Court & Spark 6. Clouds 7. Hejira 8. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter 9. Song to a Seagull 10. Wild Things Run Fast

[@jimbrewster6483]

Like any list, the rankings are purely opinion. For me, I wouldn't go with the order presented here.

[@aldebaran4154]

Hejira is also my favorite. Black Crow is the song i love from it. Joni's own version of Both Sides Now is a kick in the gut. Judy's version is pretty, Joni's is heartbreaking. Those who want to get Joni's first 10 studio albums should buy The Studio Albums 1968-1979 box set. It was my revelation to how great she is.

[@Larjschoen1]

Awesome sharing the brilliance of Joni. My only surprise here is Pete placing Don Juan’s at #7, especially compared to her 80’s albums, but that’s the beauty of this type of ranking gig! Don Juan’s is sheer genius!

[@Prog-t9d]

Love Joni. Thanks for the reminder of how great an artist she is.

[@carlasprilla]

Excellent show! Have ordered a couple of CDs! Earth Wind & Fire ranking will be fantastic!

[@maddysmith8846]

Great show by Pete and Grant, I liked the format. Hejira has always been my favourite album but that run from Court and Spark through Don Juan is unimpeachable. As her voice dropped its upper register of the early Reprise years, it took on a different quality and something about a life lived, even in the short span of 10 years across the 70s. I agree with Pete on Wild Things, I’d never underrate it as an “80s” album. I agree Jaco’s influence is well felt on Hejira - I think he plays on 4 tracks and Max Bennet is on 2 and Chuck Domanico. Max’s bass and Joni’s guitar on Song for Sharon are totally hypnotic. Not sure I would want any changes to the album sleeve as Hejira, Joni’s road album, is one of the classic record sleeves. Agree with Grant that a Case of You is a great song and I would recommend listening to Joni’s own cover on 2000’s Both Sides Now. She takes the song to another level, you can taste the nicotine and late night bar in her mature lowered range, there is so much more depth and feeling. Lyrics are important for me and Joni arguably one of the greatest. Perhaps most importantly, in a heavily dominated male industry, as a singer songwriter she looked at things from a woman’s perspective. Often lyrics and music fuse seamlessly - Don Juan’s title track is a wonderful example.

[@darrendohertymusic]

My top 3 albums are ; 3 Hejira 2 Night Ride Home 1 Blue. Top 3 songs ; 3 Cherokee Louise 2 A Case Of You 1 Blue

[@Ron-wf5yw]

So looking forward to this. There are some better than others but not a complete dud in her catalogue. My top 10 would be - 1. Hejira 2. Hissing 3. Court & Spark 4. For The Roses 5. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter 6. Blue 7. NIght Ride Home 8. Wild Things Run Fast 9. Turbulent Indigo 10. Dog Eat Dog. Songs.- 1. Amelia 2. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter 3. Refuge Of The Roads 4. Car On The Hill 5. Circle Game 6. Coming In From The Cold 7. Don't Interrupt The Sorrow 8. River 9 Lesson In Survival 10. Last Time I Saw Richard

[@garyjoyce2160]

Nine of same ten. Different order 👍💯

[@Ron-wf5yw]

​@@garyjoyce2160Dog Eat Dog the 10th ?

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@Ron-wf5yw / only one. I don’t have. Lol 1985

[@Ron-wf5yw]

@@garyjoyce2160 it's her Under Wraps 😆

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@Ron-wf5yw / gotcha. Understood 👍💯

[@stevesmith3990]

In about 1983 my older cousin sent me a tape with Hejira on one side and Wild Things on the other. He also managed to squeeze in that live version of Woodstock. I was sold there and then. Hejira is my fave too, Joni was a major musical talent, its a shame she isn't really given the credit she deserves.

[@georgemathie8123]

Love these ranking shows with Grant such great dialogue and good fun my top 5 are court and spark, hejira, hissing of summer lawns, don Juan's reckless daughter, and for the roses she has so many great albums but these 5 that I play the most

[@jamesburgess1010]

Top 10 songs (in chronological order). That Song About the Midway Ladies of the Canyon All I Want Barangrill Electricity Blond in the Bleachers Help Me Edith and the Kingpin Song for Sharon Amelia.....(If pressed, this is my absolute favorite!)

[@mellotronin54]

Amelia oh wow what a track the acoustic guitar by Joni is superb. The lyrics and the use of metaphor in the song is so so good.

[@matthewclark9652]

"Blue" is # 1 followed by "Court And Spark" at # 2 & "Heijra" at # 3!!

[@TrickRipple]

Hejira- Refuge of the roads ❤❤

[@mellotronin54]

I love Mingus it is such a great album. Buy it genius. The Dry Cleaner from De Moines is alone worth the price of the CD.

[@jazzpunk]

...and it's just a 12-Bar Blues. Amazing!

[@iluvpepi]

Judy Collins had a hit with “Clouds”. She was the inspiration for “Suite Judy Blue Eyes”.

[@billybishop1997]

I love Blue and Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell.

[@lupcokotevski2907]

Joni uses Woodstock as a metaphor for a spiritual quest. Its her best song in terms of vocal, mood, affect and universal theme. It follows Laura Nyro's Stoned Soul Picnic (1968) and borrows some of Nyro's imagery and concepts, such as gold, dust, God, friendship, music and nature. Nyro is Joni's only stated influence, and one of Joni's top 10 songs is Nyro's Captain for Dark Mornings (1969), an obvious influence on Wuthering Heights. Nyro "probably influenced more successful songwriters than anyone " Elton John, 2007. The cover of Stoned Soul Picnic by the 5th Dimension was Billboard No.3 hit. They covered 10 Nyro songs which gave them most of their hits.

[@Scandolo]

My ranking: 1. Hejira (1976) 2. Blue (1971) 3. Don Juan Reckless Daughter (1977) 4. Dog Eat Dog (1985) 5. Night Ride Home (1991) 6. The Hissing Of Summer Laws (1975) 7. Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm (1988) 8. Turbulent Indigo (1994) 9. Court Ans Spark (1974) 10. Mingus (1979)

[@geoffdennis8382]

As I always say I'm a music lover of great music , and Joni's great. I'm not loyal to any one genre of music, love stuff from jazz to punk.Unlike those Kerrang reading knuckle draggers. Just kidding. Lol. Great show Grant and Pete.

[@jazzpunk]

1st time I heard SHADOWS AND LIGHT (blown away)...specifically, "In France They Kiss On Main Street"...I realized, for better or worse, that Jaco's thing could work outside his solo albums & Weather Report. I shoulda learned that from "Come On, Come Over"...but I'm slow.

[@jazzpunk]

Love your Jaco impression, Pete. 😁

[@jeffreyrobinson9120]

Really enjoyed Your album and song ranking. Grant definitely had the harder assignment, how can you choose just ten songs out of that incredible catalog ? I lean hard rock and metal but have always loved Joni Mitchell. In addition to her voice and songwriting, her guitar playing knocks me out.

[@matthewclark9652]

Jo Jo Gunne song "Run Run Run" went to # 27 (Hot 100) back in May of 1972 & their only Top 40 song.

[@jazzpunk]

"Academy Award" from that same album...love it!

[@webbvandiver9139]

JoJo’s 2nd record is my favorite esp with the opener Ready Freddy. Impressive hard rock song.

[@Scandolo]

Do Joe Lynn Turner solo catalog one day, or his pre-Rainbow band, Fandango! That would be great! Lots of love

[@floydshambles]

Thanks for doing this. Joni is tops.

[@matthewclark9652]

The group The Neighborhood (Big Tree Records) also did the remake of "Big Yellow Taxi" in September 1970 which hit # 28 (Billboard Hot 100).

[@beetlebum7760]

Albums 1. Court And Spark 2. Blue 3. Ladies Of The Canyon 4. Hejira 5. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns 6. For The Roses 7. Song To A Seagull 8. Clouds 9. Both Sides Now Tracks 1. A Case Of You 2. Help Me 3. Free Man In Paris 4. Woodstock 5. Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire 6. Car On A Hill 7. Coyote 8. This Flight Tonight 9. Just Like This Train 10. Furry Sings The Blues

[@matthewclark9652]

Judy Collins "Both Sides Now" (from 1968 "Wildflowers").

[@mellotronin54]

Well done guys I have just ordered three Joni CD's I have never owned.

[@matthewclark9652]

Joni does the remake of the late Elvis Presley 1957 song "You're So Square, Baby I Don't Care" (from 1982 "Wild Things Run Fast").

[@jamesburgess1010]

My top 4, I hate to rank, because each one is so darn great! 1) Court and Spark 2) Ladies of the Canyon 3) For the Roses 4) Blue. Then tied for 5th would be "Clouds" & "Hejira"....Beyond those 6, her records get a bit spotty, but with some great moments, nevertheless.

[@matthewclark9652]

I also think that Matthews Southern Comfort (with singer Ian Matthews) did a great version of "Woodstock" in 1971!!

[@jamesburgess1010]

Ah yes, That's actually my favorite version. A hit that made it all the way to #23, in the Spring of '71.

[@webbvandiver9139]

Matthews SoCo was a solid band! Never would think anyone on SoT comments would pull that band. Ian Matthews a forgotten extremely talent song writer. Good solo output imo

[@eldorado852]

Joni Mitchell wins for me with several bests: Best female artist, best folk singer, best female songwriter and best Canadian artist. There might be more though.

[@somerandomhomeboy]

Great concept! If this becomes a thing could you do an album and singles show on Tom Waits?

[@beetlebum7760]

I badly doubt those vocals would be Pete’s cup of tea, but musically it’s all over the place and very jazzy as well. I love Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs.

[@somerandomhomeboy]

@@beetlebum7760 That's a shame. I guess Tom Waits is an acquired taste. He covers a lot of ground vocally (Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, Screaming Jay Hawkins, and so much more). Oh well here's 10 songs I like. Table Toe Joe, Alice Way Down In The Hole, Franks Wild Years Jockey Full Of Bourbon, Rain Dogs Step Right Up, Small Change Black Wings, Bone Machine Walking Spanish, Rain Dogs Chocolate Jesus, Mule Variations Big In Japan, Mule Variations Heart Attack and Vine, Heart Attack and Vine Down, Down, Down, Swordfishtrombones

[@jazzpunk]

IMO, the John Guerin - Max Bennett - Robben Ford - Joe Sample - Larry Carlton (& Wilton Felder) connection is because of The L.A. Express. Their debut had Carlton & Sample...then Ford & Larry Nash came onboard. Joni & Guerin were a thing, right? Taylor Swift, indeed...right, Grant? 😊

[@webbvandiver9139]

Yes…Joni and John Guerin had a fling for awhile…thinking 74-75…Help Me was written about falling in love with him.

[@glerp10000000000]

I'm currently reading a Joni biography. Joni being a 70's Taylor Swift ? Hmmm.....Taytay could never be a 2020's Joni.

[@michaelholycross2633]

Dudes, I'm going to spend money...AGAIN! Lol

[@marxter6]

I always liked Chalkmark in the Rainstorm with Guest appearances by Don Henley/ Peter Gabriel & Tom Petty & others. I don’t how it ranks with JM’s Classic Albums.

[@monte.olson58]

Very cool ranking. Well done!

[@Larjschoen1]

One thing I want to mention here is Pete mentioned the live album with perhaps one of the greatest back up bands in jazz history, and the choice made to show generic stock footage instead simply filming this amazing band on stage is just infuriating! Drives me crazy!

[@johnnycashlives316]

These are the last two people on planet earth that I thought would rank Joni.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

They did rank bread

[@albertoramirez6388]

Judy Collins

[@michaelholycross2633]

Overworked Grant. Lol

[@scottmcgregor4829]

Yes, yes yes. This was a fantastic tribute. Still waiting for Kate Bush ranking.

[@scottmcgregor4829]

I think that Kate Bush was to the late 70s and 80s was what Joni Mitchell was to the late 60s and th70s.

[@maddysmith8846]

Yes, since around lockdown! Apparently with Martin and Steven… One day…

[@jamescouture3293]

Judy Collins is her name

[@sallocurto1571]

One of the best segments you have done. Smart, insightful and even though I’m a Joni fan and Hejira is also my favorite album of hers… I learned things. Oh, and there is no Laurel Canyon scene anymore. Keep up the great work.

[@sspbrazil]

I never knew Pete was a Joni Mitchell fan with his distaste of acoustic music. Greta rankings guys.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Great show, Grant and Pete! I love Joni Mitchell's music tremendously and still listen to her often. Like Pete, I am more partial to her more jazz influenced albums starting with For the Roses. In addition to the craftsmanship which was already there and the music becoming more eclectic, Joni's voice had become richer and fuller at this time. Cheers!

[@ericdinse5047]

Great show ! Giving me some musical thoughts to ponder.

[@agsmith001]

great one guys! ive read that Hissing was Prince's favorite album. 1. Mingus 2. Hejira 3. Hissing of Summer Lawns 4. Blue 5. Court and Spark ❤❤❤

[@matthewclark9652]

Pete: The song is called "Raised On Robbery" NOT "Raised On Radio"!!

[@webbvandiver9139]

Raised on Radio was song in Fast Times when Brad is washing his beloved car!

[@susanrussell3001]

Great review on a great artist

[@Act0rJSB]

Great idea to do the combo top 10 songs/albums. Ranking songs from this catalogue is way too hard a task for me, but that said Grant's #1 choice is spot on. On the albums front, Blue, Hejira and 'Hissing' are my top 3, with the rest of the 69-77 albums not far behind. Not as familiar with her post-Asylum albums, but Pete having Wild Things Run Fast at #4 makes me think that one needs investigation at the very least...cheers both!

[@johnkaufman5474]

"doin' a lot of acid, smokin' a lot f pot, doin' that Laurel Canyon thing..." I'm very surprised and disappointed to see Pete dealing in hackneyed cliches,

[@57md81]

I really enjoyed the exploration of Joni's music. I didn't think that you had it in you, Pete. My only suggestion is that the back-and-forth from albums to songs was confusing. For the next artist, please consider doing all the albums, then all the songs.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

It was a one off idea….

[@petes5041]

WHY? Just listen to the fucking music and appreciate it!

[@JoeChewBaca]

Yea, Little River Band would be a great one to do! Always awesome harmonies on those albums

[@bksherm]

Great Show

[@garyives8676]

Great video guys! She is the best!

[@jazzpunk]

Not a fan of the '80s production...I do like all 3 of those albums...that said, that band could rock. Colaiuta, Landau, & Larry Klein?!?

[@leightonfarms4962]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@harryturnbull4781]

Jesus H Christ who asked for this? Er like no one yet true legends such as Danger Danger, Dare and Anathema scornfully ignored out of personal prejudice I assume.

[@beetlebum7760]

Danger Danger are such a LEGENDARY band, right up there with The Beatles and the Stones!

[@susanrussell3001]

Great review on a great artist