Richard Clark

A Joni Mitchell concert programme stated that her writing "Surpasses in conciseness and direction", and that is evident in these songs. The Blue album was written about the time of her breakup from Graham Nash, so there's insights of her separation trauma all over these songs. She describes her new found isolation by saying 'The bed's too big, the frying pan's too wide'. Her songs are deeply personal, she describes her experiences, holidays, friendships, journeys. They're all in here. Timeless classics, all of them. They say Joni has used over 40 different guitar tunings on her songs: I love that! Additionally, she plays the dulcimer and piano. Considering the fact that she considers herself an artist first, then a musician, she is a remarkable human. She has evolved over time to take on odd excursions into other musical forms, and Blue is quite different to her folk origins. Her creativity oozes from every pore! Essential Music!