One of my favorite all time albums. The background on the cover, as well as the gatefold photo of Joni skating, was shot by Joel Bernstein on Lake Mandota in Madison Wisconsin, my alma mater which makes the album even more special.
Will have to pull my OG off the shelf and re-experience. Always enjoyed the point of difference that Joni offered in the early days of my vinyl collecting. I think one for evening listening with a glass of red or scotch. Song for Sharon and Amelia are just superb. This album is all class.
Hi John! I'm glad this prompted you to take a fresh listen to this great record. The artistry is off the charts! A great late night listen. Thanks so much for watching!
Hi Jeff Yes, I had made an error on this video, and corrected the information in the description box immediately after it was published. You'll find that it is the 2014 Chris Bellman there. I was pretty upset, but it was too late to correct in the video, and I didn't want to scrap the whole thing at the time. Sorry for the confusion.
Once again you have given us a great review of this unique gem of an album. Joni says it all herself, she paints with words...a restless travelogue. "Hejira" is a journey with "images" in sound laid out by her. It's sparseness, air and space between instruments, melancholy and humour too ...as in Furry's 'I don't like you' (he didn't) We all love to get lost in this space, Joni gave us. PS There is an AAA 180g remaster from 2014 by Bernie Grundman/Chris Bellman knocking around. Thanks for your great (quality) output !
Joni is an artist through and through. Every aspect has been considered. Really I can't think of anyone else where life and art are so intertwined. Never more so than in Hejira.
I was in college in 1979, writing for the student newspaper about music and movies and politics and whatever interested me at the time. We did a decade-end "Ten Best Albums of the '70s" list and I struggled with which Joni Mitchell album to choose: "Blue" (1971), "Court & Spark" (1974), "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" (1975, and grossly underrated at the time), or "Hejira" (1976). All four are intimate friends, markedly different but essential to who I became and who I still am as a human being, but I went with "Hejira." First, there's that cover (I have one framed in my living room), which captures the atmosphere of the music inside more accurately and poetically than any other I can think of. And the music is moody and monochromatic but also rich and resonant. "Song for Sharon," a haunting song about romantic illusions, longing, and disappointment, seems to play in the back of my mind 24/7. Thank you for your beautiful appreciation.
Thank you for that wonderful comment. I do love all the records you mention, each one unique and beautiful, but there's just something about Hejira that pulls me in. It's haunting beauty, fully reflected in the jacket design, superb imagery in the lyrics and gorgeous music. It moves me more than any other. I was always planning to highlight it in a video, and I hope I did it justice.
I truly do want to thank you again for helping us find good music to listen to. I don't have your knowledge or insight into music like this and you provide an invaluable place to find new (and old) music to enjoy. Please keep up the great work and thanks again for taking the time to keep the rabble informed.
It's my pleasure to bring some light into some of the greatest music of the past. This one holds up beautifully, both musically and sonically. Well worth delving into!
I always saw it as the jazzy version of Blue. I simply cannot choose a favorite Joni album from the 70s because there is so much greatness to choose from but Hejira is a strong candidate for sure. Absolutely flawless.
Hi Chris, I see it the same way, an artist with so many riches to offer. I chose this one because it made such an impression on me, and its allure has endured.
Scott thanks for your insightful review of this beautiful album. Also one of my favorites, and I also love tge way it takes you on a journey. Amelia is to me the highlight of the album, with such vivid imagery and beautiful arrangement and composition. A real gem!
Hi Mark, Thank you for watching and commenting. I would have loved to go on about the imagery in Amelia but the music can speak for itself. I love how throughout this album we're on a plane, in a taxi, some vehicle, constantly moving and experiencing everything through Joni, with her uncanny observations about people she's encountered. It's breathtaking.
This is my favourite Joni Mitchell album. Blue Motel Room is my favourite song on the album. It brings tears to my eyes. I'm so happy you love this record as much as i do.
Hi Gary, Yes, a great song as well, in an interesting style. I omitted a few songs in the interest of brevity, but virtually everything here is wonderful, even Furry Sings The Blues!
Interesting choice. I had struggled with finding an in into Joni Mitchell’s music. I had sampled all of the regular suspects without her music truly resonating with me. It wasn’t until Hejira that it finally clicked. It is as if everything that makes Joni, Joni, was distilled down to its very essence and with that it all snapped into focus and I finally got her. Hijera is a truly brilliant album.
Very well said. I think it is essential obviously, but I was immediately drawn into this one long ago. It cast a spell unlike anything else. I love the hypnotic vibe and unconventional structure of it. And the lyrics, just wonderful. I hope you enjoy the review!
Scott, thanks for the review on Joni's Hejira. Blue and Court and Spark get all the praise but I think Hejira is every bit as good as those, and is the Joni Mitchell album I reach for the most often. I certainly will be buying the next box set of her re-issues mastered by BG as well as the announced Mo-Fi One Step. Just got my Blue One-step delivered the other day and am excited to compare it against my other pressings.
Hi Micheal, I agree with you completely. Can't wait for Bernie's new masterings, but I'm really torn on whether to order any of the One Steps. Please come back and give me your assessment of the mastering and overall impression of the Blue One Step. There's little out there so far and that information from you would be very helpful.
Great review! I haven’t listened to this album in a long time, but your review has caused me to pull it out and put it on the top of my priority listening pile. I have most all of her recordings on vinyl and I agree that this was one of her very best.
Hi Robert, Thank you! I hope you enjoy revisiting this amazing record as much as I did. I'm glad the review prompted you to take a deeper dive into what I consider the most unique album in her amazing catalog. Please feel free to come back and give us your thoughts on it.
Thanks Scott for sharing your music. There are quite some great albums that had a sort of “hidden hero” who almost stole the show. R Waters/ Amused to Death had Jeff Beck, J Coltrane/ Blue Train had Lee Morgan… etc. Hejira had Paco!
Certainly! I think Jaco added something that's indescribable to the sound on this record. Larry Carlton, Bobbye Hall, John Guerin, Max Bennett - all top fight musicians of course. Jaco's fretless bass playing is a revelation here.
Hi, this video was so well put together! I loved the context that you gave regarding the album. I learned a lot of new things that I didn’t know, and I also agreed on so many points you had in regards to the album. I did a commentary myself on this album, as well as a Joni Mitchell deep dive. Joni Mitchell is one of the most important and best artists we’ve ever had. I made the argument that this album is one of the best albums of all time, and I will always stand ten toes down on that statement. Great video! Subscribed!
Hi Lola! Thank you for your kind words about this video! It is my favorite Joni Mitchell album, and I thought it important enough to be in this category. I'd love to see your commentary - I recently came across a video on this - perhaps it was yours? It sounds like it might have been. It was definitely a deep dive. I'll doublecheck and find your video and be sure to comment and subscribe! Great to hear from you!
@@ThePressingMatters I love that this is your favorite album. I can’t go a day without listening to this album. I listen to it at least once a day. I talk much more about it on my commentary! I can’t wait to check out more of your videos! I see lots that have peaked my interest. Thank you for taking time to produce such lovely content!
Joni isn’t on Spotify, so I’ll have to bust out my cd. I have this on vinyl, but I’m between set-ups at the moment. Thank you for the background and I really appreciate your descriptions of individual songs.
Really well done review Scott. I've never listened to much Joni but recently picked up a used copy of Song to a Seagull which I was very impressed by though the album was warped. Think I'll look for a better pressing, perhaps a Grundman remaster from Rhino. Last year we saw Diana Krall live in concert and she played Amelia which intrigues me partly due to the infusion of great jazz players on Hejira. As always, thanks for the review!
Awesome! A word about Song to a Seagull. You can watch my Joni reprise box set review for more info on it. The only exception to the excellence of the box set was that they remixed Song to a Seagull. I think a clean flat original might be preferred. After hearing the box set version, I streamed the original mix and preferred it. The rest of the box and the individual releases are recommended. It's an old video so forgive my awkward presentation, lol. th-cam.com/video/Mml4bJYhdn0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=WY2xGvGyVliF9RJ8
@@ThePressingMatters Great, I'll watch it! I bought this from a reputable reseller but it was too warped and skipped. Couldn't play the first song on either side. Don't believe a record weight would help much since the warp is on the edge. If or when I upgrade my turntable I'll be looking at a VPI Prime with an edge weight which might help with some of these original pressings. Haven't heard any good methods to flatten warped vinyl yet.....suggestions always considered!
@brianbillings6815 Well it would be an upgrade, nice clean vinyl etc. it was a bit controversial. I think you can stream the remix. Maybe try that. Make sure it's 2022 or something.
During that decade, 71-80, no one, in the popular music realm at least, bettered Mitchell. I throughly still enjoy Mingus’ recordings, including the European ones. The only “fault,” or perhaps shortcoming is a more accurate word, of the Mingus album is that it was premature, it was not gestated long enough. Mingus the composer is a lot for even a gifted musician to take in. Unfortunately, Hejira was the last unequivocal commercial success. That it was also great musically and sonically makes it a record to live for.
Hi Amos! Agree with all you've said here. The album Mingus is an interesting one for sure. I happen to like it but I do see its shortcomings and agree that perhaps more time to fashion it would have helped it. I'm currently spending more time with Mingus' albums and it's not something I got right away. Some more accessible than others but never less than fascinating. I can see why Mitchell was drawn to him in particular. An uncompromising artist like Joni herself.
I just listened to Joni’s Blue on MoFi One Step which was a great listen. They hit it out of the park. I will definitely be getting the other Joni One Steps when they come out. I believe this is scheduled for April release?
Todd, Thank you so much for letting us know your experience with Blue. Sounds promising! Were you comparing or hearing it in isolation? Any high frequency emphasis or pretty natural in the top end?
I compared the MoFi to my NM first US press. Joni’s voice is very natural without any hint of sibilance. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to hear how Hejira and Court and Spark sound.
@@toddbromgard5211 Fantastic! This is good news indeed! As you know it's a real balancing act to get this record right, and some versions fail on her voice. I'll be following this very carefully! Thanks!
@@toddbromgard5211 Would you be so kind to describe your analog playback chain please? So turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and phono stage. Heck, you might as well throw in amp and speakers, because, why not? 😆 Thanks.
BLUE MOTEL ROOM is the crown jewel of the album. It s about .. harmony in everything existential, personal and universal, finally finding it, as if inadvertently - in the anonymity of an impersonal roadside facility. And the walls of which happen to be, semi-metaphorically, BLUE - her previous keynote album. A mini-nirvana, a self-realization, a leg, in a moment - an end in itself in her life has ..occured; miraculously the quest has found its basically unnecessary, unintended purpose. A whim of superior force or just a personal moment in perception s everyday memory and vocabulary is here, has been actualized, reached, received - even succumbed to. Joy and delight have Entered. The composition s tranquility reflects an inner vision in interplanetary terms, not just an earthly reality, as conveyed & delivered by a desert sunset thru a motel window ... to caress a weary sojourner unto sleep s soothing sobriety. The blue hue streams like poetry it is in itself. So is life if you can look at it that same way. She could and can. "Shadows And Light" could be deciphered similarly. Moral philosophy is measurelessness being incarnated. Binary opposites define all mean7ng in conceptual thinking. The Blue Notes will deliver what ll remain in between. Exactness is always a folly. . . I ve listened the cut probably closer to 500 x since 1982 when I purchased the lp. It is a perfection, by all means. 🇫🇮
@@ThePressingMatters YEAH. It is about mysticism in everyday, zen-style, probably. Not an expert in zen, and I don t meditate. I m a carnal soul. JDM s urban existentialism could be linked to the concept as well. Feel free to link my mini-analysis to her offcial Yt ch where the tune is "advertized" or her personal official ws. I won t do it, once, a few yrs back tried and did link sth similar. Silence was all I got in return. Divas can be / are 2 bee-zy, no matter their age. Abbey Lincoln I did interview f-to-f, in 1993. We got along more than fine.
Yes, I made a correction statement in the video description. I could have sworn remembering it to be Kevin's! It was too late to reshoot it. Good catch! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Outstanding album. People might be interested in my review of Joni's career that I uploaded to YT only a couple of days ago. It's on my channel (obviously).
As an aside, while the Shadows and Light concert might have been great, it was a bit disappointing from the standpoint of the musicians. From the music they had heard from Joni, they were expecting the ability to musically explore, as jazz musicians would want to do. But it turned out to be very rigid, and that left some of them disappointed overall.
Ah, that's interesting, I'd not heard that before. They seem to be enjoying playing within the structure in the film, but I could imagine musicians like these used to stretching out a bit more. I suppose it was a balancing act to keep the songs recognizable and accessible to her audience while still having the new sound she was pursuing. My biggest gripe with that film are the dated cut ins that destroy the continuity. That film could use a cleanup and edit imo.
@@ThePressingMatters I'll add that it's not something I read, but rather talking at length with one of the famous name musicians just after he returned from the tour.
One of my favorite all time albums. The background on the cover, as well as the gatefold photo of Joni skating, was shot by Joel Bernstein on Lake Mandota in Madison Wisconsin, my alma mater which makes the album even more special.
One of the most beautiful and striking jacket designs from anyone. Obviously one of my all time favorites too!
Will have to pull my OG off the shelf and re-experience. Always enjoyed the point of difference that Joni offered in the early days of my vinyl collecting. I think one for evening listening with a glass of red or scotch. Song for Sharon and Amelia are just superb. This album is all class.
Hi John!
I'm glad this prompted you to take a fresh listen to this great record. The artistry is off the charts! A great late night listen.
Thanks so much for watching!
My absolute favorite Joni album. I can't find a Kevin Gray cut on Discogs. 🤔
Hi Jeff
Yes, I had made an error on this video, and corrected the information in the description box immediately after it was published. You'll find that it is the 2014 Chris Bellman there. I was pretty upset, but it was too late to correct in the video, and I didn't want to scrap the whole thing at the time.
Sorry for the confusion.
@@ThePressingMattersNo worries! I just checked the video description and saw that. 😅
probably one of her best, along with Lawns and Spark...excellent vid...
Thank you, a great run of albums there.! Thanks for watching!
Once again you have given us a great review of this unique gem of an album. Joni says it all herself, she paints with words...a restless travelogue. "Hejira" is a journey with "images" in sound laid out by her.
It's sparseness, air and space between instruments, melancholy and humour too ...as in Furry's 'I don't like you' (he didn't) We all love to get lost in this space, Joni gave us.
PS There is an AAA 180g remaster from 2014 by Bernie Grundman/Chris Bellman knocking around. Thanks for your great (quality) output !
Actually that may be what I have! I might be mistaken. I was going off faulty memory. Just checked it is the CB. I'll correct it in the description.
Joni is an artist through and through. Every aspect has been considered. Really I can't think of anyone else where life and art are so intertwined. Never more so than in Hejira.
I was in college in 1979, writing for the student newspaper about music and movies and politics and whatever interested me at the time. We did a decade-end "Ten Best Albums of the '70s" list and I struggled with which Joni Mitchell album to choose: "Blue" (1971), "Court & Spark" (1974), "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" (1975, and grossly underrated at the time), or "Hejira" (1976). All four are intimate friends, markedly different but essential to who I became and who I still am as a human being, but I went with "Hejira." First, there's that cover (I have one framed in my living room), which captures the atmosphere of the music inside more accurately and poetically than any other I can think of. And the music is moody and monochromatic but also rich and resonant. "Song for Sharon," a haunting song about romantic illusions, longing, and disappointment, seems to play in the back of my mind 24/7. Thank you for your beautiful appreciation.
Thank you for that wonderful comment. I do love all the records you mention, each one unique and beautiful, but there's just something about Hejira that pulls me in. It's haunting beauty, fully reflected in the jacket design, superb imagery in the lyrics and gorgeous music. It moves me more than any other. I was always planning to highlight it in a video, and I hope I did it justice.
I truly do want to thank you again for helping us find good music to listen to. I don't have your knowledge or insight into music like this and you provide an invaluable place to find new (and old) music to enjoy. Please keep up the great work and thanks again for taking the time to keep the rabble informed.
It's my pleasure to bring some light into some of the greatest music of the past. This one holds up beautifully, both musically and sonically. Well worth delving into!
I always saw it as the jazzy version of Blue. I simply cannot choose a favorite Joni album from the 70s because there is so much greatness to choose from but Hejira is a strong candidate for sure. Absolutely flawless.
Hi Chris,
I see it the same way, an artist with so many riches to offer. I chose this one because it made such an impression on me, and its allure has endured.
Scott thanks for your insightful review of this beautiful album. Also one of my favorites, and I also love tge way it takes you on a journey. Amelia is to me the highlight of the album, with such vivid imagery and beautiful arrangement and composition. A real gem!
Hi Mark,
Thank you for watching and commenting. I would have loved to go on about the imagery in Amelia but the music can speak for itself. I love how throughout this album we're on a plane, in a taxi, some vehicle, constantly moving and experiencing everything through Joni, with her uncanny observations about people she's encountered. It's breathtaking.
This is my favourite Joni Mitchell album. Blue Motel Room is my favourite song on the album. It brings tears to my eyes. I'm so happy you love this record as much as i do.
Hi Gary,
Yes, a great song as well, in an interesting style. I omitted a few songs in the interest of brevity, but virtually everything here is wonderful, even Furry Sings The Blues!
Interesting choice. I had struggled with finding an in into Joni Mitchell’s music. I had sampled all of the regular suspects without her music truly resonating with me. It wasn’t until Hejira that it finally clicked. It is as if everything that makes Joni, Joni, was distilled down to its very essence and with that it all snapped into focus and I finally got her. Hijera is a truly brilliant album.
Very well said. I think it is essential obviously, but I was immediately drawn into this one long ago. It cast a spell unlike anything else. I love the hypnotic vibe and unconventional structure of it. And the lyrics, just wonderful. I hope you enjoy the review!
Scott, thanks for the review on Joni's Hejira. Blue and Court and Spark get all the praise but I think Hejira is every bit as good as those, and is the Joni Mitchell album I reach for the most often. I certainly will be buying the next box set of her re-issues mastered by BG as well as the announced Mo-Fi One Step. Just got my Blue One-step delivered the other day and am excited to compare it against my other pressings.
Hi Micheal,
I agree with you completely. Can't wait for Bernie's new masterings, but I'm really torn on whether to order any of the One Steps. Please come back and give me your assessment of the mastering and overall impression of the Blue One Step. There's little out there so far and that information from you would be very helpful.
Love this album. Perfect match w Jaco
Absolutely magical! Thanks for watching!
Great review! I haven’t listened to this album in a long time, but your review has caused me to pull it out and put it on the top of my priority listening pile. I have most all of her recordings on vinyl and I agree that this was one of her very best.
Hi Robert,
Thank you!
I hope you enjoy revisiting this amazing record as much as I did. I'm glad the review prompted you to take a deeper dive into what I consider the most unique album in her amazing catalog. Please feel free to come back and give us your thoughts on it.
You have a great knowledge of music . Thank you Scott
Thank you Anthony, my pleasure to share music like this with you.
Thanks Scott for sharing your music. There are quite some great albums that had a sort of “hidden hero” who almost stole the show. R Waters/ Amused to Death had Jeff Beck, J Coltrane/ Blue Train had Lee Morgan… etc.
Hejira had Paco!
Certainly! I think Jaco added something that's indescribable to the sound on this record.
Larry Carlton, Bobbye Hall, John Guerin, Max Bennett - all top fight musicians of course.
Jaco's fretless bass playing is a revelation here.
Hi, this video was so well put together! I loved the context that you gave regarding the album. I learned a lot of new things that I didn’t know, and I also agreed on so many points you had in regards to the album.
I did a commentary myself on this album, as well as a Joni Mitchell deep dive. Joni Mitchell is one of the most important and best artists we’ve ever had. I made the argument that this album is one of the best albums of all time, and I will always stand ten toes down on that statement.
Great video! Subscribed!
Hi Lola!
Thank you for your kind words about this video! It is my favorite Joni Mitchell album, and I thought it important enough to be in this category. I'd love to see your commentary - I recently came across a video on this - perhaps it was yours? It sounds like it might have been. It was definitely a deep dive. I'll doublecheck and find your video and be sure to comment and subscribe!
Great to hear from you!
@@ThePressingMatters I love that this is your favorite album. I can’t go a day without listening to this album. I listen to it at least once a day. I talk much more about it on my commentary!
I can’t wait to check out more of your videos! I see lots that have peaked my interest. Thank you for taking time to produce such lovely content!
Thanks for checking out the other content! Feel free to comment on any video. I 'd love to have a discussion with you!
@@ThePressingMatters I would love to have a full on discussion about Joni with you! Whenever you’re down. ❤️
Joni isn’t on Spotify, so I’ll have to bust out my cd. I have this on vinyl, but I’m between set-ups at the moment. Thank you for the background and I really appreciate your descriptions of individual songs.
Hejira is not only a great album but in my top 10 of lp covers.
Absolutely! You are going to hear me gush about the artwork, specifically the photograph that graces this jacket. Gorgeous!
Really well done review Scott. I've never listened to much Joni but recently picked up a used copy of Song to a Seagull which I was very impressed by though the album was warped. Think I'll look for a better pressing, perhaps a Grundman remaster from Rhino. Last year we saw Diana Krall live in concert and she played Amelia which intrigues me partly due to the infusion of great jazz players on Hejira. As always, thanks for the review!
Awesome! A word about Song to a Seagull. You can watch my Joni reprise box set review for more info on it. The only exception to the excellence of the box set was that they remixed Song to a Seagull. I think a clean flat original might be preferred. After hearing the box set version, I streamed the original mix and preferred it. The rest of the box and the individual releases are recommended.
It's an old video so forgive my awkward presentation, lol.
th-cam.com/video/Mml4bJYhdn0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=WY2xGvGyVliF9RJ8
@@ThePressingMatters Great, I'll watch it! I bought this from a reputable reseller but it was too warped and skipped. Couldn't play the first song on either side. Don't believe a record weight would help much since the warp is on the edge. If or when I upgrade my turntable I'll be looking at a VPI Prime with an edge weight which might help with some of these original pressings. Haven't heard any good methods to flatten warped vinyl yet.....suggestions always considered!
@brianbillings6815 Well it would be an upgrade, nice clean vinyl etc. it was a bit controversial. I think you can stream the remix. Maybe try that. Make sure it's 2022 or something.
During that decade, 71-80, no one, in the popular music realm at least, bettered Mitchell. I throughly still enjoy Mingus’ recordings, including the European ones. The only “fault,” or perhaps shortcoming is a more accurate word, of the Mingus album is that it was premature, it was not gestated long enough. Mingus the composer is a lot for even a gifted musician to take in. Unfortunately, Hejira was the last unequivocal commercial success. That it was also great musically and sonically makes it a record to live for.
Hi Amos!
Agree with all you've said here. The album Mingus is an interesting one for sure. I happen to like it but I do see its shortcomings and agree that perhaps more time to fashion it would have helped it. I'm currently spending more time with Mingus' albums and it's not something I got right away. Some more accessible than others but never less than fascinating. I can see why Mitchell was drawn to him in particular. An uncompromising artist like Joni herself.
I just listened to Joni’s Blue on MoFi One Step which was a great listen. They hit it out of the park. I will definitely be getting the other Joni One Steps when they come out. I believe this is scheduled for April release?
Todd,
Thank you so much for letting us know your experience with Blue. Sounds promising! Were you comparing or hearing it in isolation? Any high frequency emphasis or pretty natural in the top end?
I compared the MoFi to my NM first US press. Joni’s voice is very natural without any hint of sibilance. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to hear how Hejira and Court and Spark sound.
@@toddbromgard5211 Fantastic! This is good news indeed! As you know it's a real balancing act to get this record right, and some versions fail on her voice. I'll be following this very carefully! Thanks!
@@toddbromgard5211 Would you be so kind to describe your analog playback chain please? So turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and phono stage. Heck, you might as well throw in amp and speakers, because, why not? 😆 Thanks.
Hi Oz,
Yes that would be helpful for sure. I was wondering if you'll be getting this release. I'd love to do a shootout with you on it.
BLUE MOTEL ROOM is the crown jewel of the album. It s about .. harmony in everything existential, personal and universal, finally finding it, as if inadvertently - in the anonymity of an impersonal roadside facility. And the walls of which happen to be, semi-metaphorically, BLUE - her previous keynote album. A mini-nirvana, a self-realization, a leg, in a moment - an end in itself in her life has ..occured; miraculously the quest has found its basically unnecessary, unintended purpose. A whim of superior force or just a personal moment in perception s everyday memory and vocabulary is here, has been actualized, reached, received - even succumbed to. Joy and delight have Entered.
The composition s tranquility reflects an inner vision in interplanetary terms, not just an earthly reality, as conveyed & delivered by a desert sunset thru a motel window ... to caress a weary sojourner unto sleep s soothing sobriety. The blue hue streams like poetry it is in itself. So is life if you can look at it that same way. She could and can.
"Shadows And Light" could be deciphered similarly. Moral philosophy is measurelessness being incarnated. Binary opposites define all mean7ng in conceptual thinking. The Blue Notes will deliver what ll remain in between. Exactness is always a folly. . .
I ve listened the cut probably closer to 500 x since 1982 when I purchased the lp. It is a perfection, by all means. 🇫🇮
What an amazing analysis of the song! You definitely gave me a deeper appreciation of the meaning behind the lyric.
@@ThePressingMatters YEAH. It is about mysticism in everyday, zen-style, probably. Not an expert in zen, and I don t meditate. I m a carnal soul. JDM s urban existentialism could be linked to the concept as well. Feel free to link my mini-analysis to her offcial Yt ch where the tune is "advertized" or her personal official ws. I won t do it, once, a few yrs back tried and did link sth similar. Silence was all I got in return. Divas can be / are 2 bee-zy, no matter their age. Abbey Lincoln I did interview f-to-f, in 1993. We got along more than fine.
Wasn’t the Rhino mastered by Chris Bellman? Great record and wonderful review!
Yes, I made a correction statement in the video description. I could have sworn remembering it to be Kevin's!
It was too late to reshoot it. Good catch! Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@ThePressingMatters Nevertheless an amazing album… Thanks so much for what you do and sharing your enthusiasm for the music!
I appreciate that!
Outstanding album. People might be interested in my review of Joni's career that I uploaded to YT only a couple of days ago. It's on my channel (obviously).
As an aside, while the Shadows and Light concert might have been great, it was a bit disappointing from the standpoint of the musicians. From the music they had heard from Joni, they were expecting the ability to musically explore, as jazz musicians would want to do. But it turned out to be very rigid, and that left some of them disappointed overall.
Ah, that's interesting, I'd not heard that before. They seem to be enjoying playing within the structure in the film, but I could imagine musicians like these used to stretching out a bit more. I suppose it was a balancing act to keep the songs recognizable and accessible to her audience while still having the new sound she was pursuing.
My biggest gripe with that film are the dated cut ins that destroy the continuity. That film could use a cleanup and edit imo.
@@ThePressingMatters I'll add that it's not something I read, but rather talking at length with one of the famous name musicians just after he returned from the tour.