Joni Mitchell Blue - Wow help me Agoners

Just popping back--I just received and listened to the new Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman mastered Blue on Rhino Vinyl. Absolutely to die for. Must more realism and detail with the new version. On my old standard Warner Bros. issue Joni's voice could harden up during some passages, now not at all. I can hear instruments and instrumental lines much more clearly. Differences between types of instruments is also much easier to discern.

Strongly recommended.

Dodgealum, I received my copy yesterday but have not cleaned or played it yet.

I'll bet this limited pressing will sell out fairly quickly if it's as good as you say.

IMO there aren't any other Joni albums like Blue. The problem with JM is that she is a true artist. Hard to pick a favorite. I came into her music when I was in high school and Blue was the album. One album that is largely overlooked is "The Hissing of Summer Lawns". It was the studio followup to Court and Spark and the first one after the Miles of Ailes lp. Critics across the board hated it but it's where Joni found the onramp to the fast lane. She interwove Hendricks Lambert & Ross' "Centerpide" with her own "Harry's House" and every other song had mystical imagery of sometype that surpassed even her previous output. After that everyone else followed her but none came close. Shadows and Light followed Miles of Ailes within two years of each other and I don't think anyone will ever mistake one for the other because how different they are from each other. I like all kinds of music and respect most artist in one way or another but no artist comes close to her musicianship as far as how fast and furious she grew interms of intensity and output. Maybe Steely Dan. Great Thread!

the first 4 joni records are all masterpieces of simple folk/pop.....after 'for the roses there was a lot more experimental pieces.

I have to say I'm also a huge fan of "Hissing". Love the fretless bass and the dreamy atmospheric sound.