Abby look I know this isn't my favorite joni song but I just wanna tell you that I sed 101 Vinyl Mondays in the playlist and you have a 100th special, I'm a lil confused so if you would explain Iit to me I would gladly appreciate It. Sorry if I bothered you
Yooo. I mean I like Rick Beato, but I watch your channel way more. There is no reason for your channel to not be taken seriously. Your writing is incredible, and your passion is contagious. Your humor and whimsy are part of what separates you. Stay the course, your channel is fantastic
Never let the world tell you that your enthusiasm for the things you love is childish. Never let them steal that from you. The people who try to shut you down are the ones who are too numb and jaded to feel that excitement anymore. There's always going to be people who don't take you seriously, whether you're authentic or faking it. So just be excited. And tell them to shove it up their asses when they complain.
Joni's first 4 albums should be required listening for all budding songwriters. Loved your Christgau roast. Joni deserves all respect. Great episode, thanks!
What you bring to the world of music appreciation is singular and invaluable. If you change things about the channel, it should be because it's what you want, not because nothingpeople turn their nose up at personal artistic expression. Your ability to articulate the feelings music elicits in you is what makes you and your reviews so unique and good.
Abby, wishing you a happy birthday later this week. Your insightful, humorous, unique, and sometimes winged take on records that we all love (or have been introduced to love) have made this a most enjoyable experience. Thoughts and appreciation go with you. Happy Birthday
Robert Christgau, like Anthony Fantano, has become the embodiment of Hemingway's quote about critics being nothing more than men who sit and watch a battle from a high place, then come down to shoot the survivors.
There’s worse out there. A lot of critics and editors are failed musicians and writers respectively, and they’re often the last people you’d want your be stuck in an elevator with
I pray every night because my vision of hell is being stuck in a room with a rock critic being lectured to death and being forced to listen to their album collection for eternity. That’s fear on a level unknown to man
The song I best recall from this album is "The Fiddle and the Drum" about government warmongering during the Vietnam War. I was in high school at the time. The death toll was detailed each night on network news. But raw statistics made it seem distant and impersonal. I grew up in a SoCal Marine-based city, and remember a tree being planted while in 5th grade for the father of two fellow classmates (Bill and Jim L.) who was killed in that conflict. By war’s end, there were many such commemorative plantings throughout our community. But what made this all too real to me, was a ’69 graduate from high school named Paul R. who was drafted shortly after finishing school, sent to Vietnam, and after 5 weeks in country, died when he was torn apart by a Chinese-made Claymore mine on his third patrol mission, two months shy of his 19th birthday. Paul wasn’t the first nor the last from our school to lose his life there, but he was the first I’d known personally. We were on track team together - him varsity, me freshman JV. He was the kid on the bus to away meets who told jokes and led us in inspirational songs. He taught me how to stretch before races. To us, he wasn’t a statistic; he was our classmate, and I think of as a friend. His life and future were cut short in support of a war whose purpose no one could reasonably explain to us. To some, the antiwar songs of the sixties and early 70’s are historical artifacts. But I credit them in part for helping to end the draft and wind down the war by the time I graduated in ’73. That music was part of the inspiration for that shift. Who knows, if not for Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, and the like, I too might have come home from a now nearly forgotten war in a body bag like several of my prior classmates. To anyone who says that music is merely transitory entertainment, I profoundly beg to differ. It holds deep meaning and power.
I waited by Joni's limo after her Austin concert in 1974. We spoke briefly 'n she gave me a yellow rose which I still have. The lyrics "I have a black limousine 'n two gentlemen escortin' me to the halls" from her song For Free flashed through my mind as she slipped into the back seat with a gentleman on each side 'n they drove away.
CZcams is full of unique, quirky, whimsical, insert other adjectives here reviewers that have more than 100 times as many followers as you have right now. I was following some of them when they were at the level you are now. I'm sure most if not all of them had similar doubts at some point of their journey. There's a reason thousands of people are watching your work and listening to what you have to say about things you love and love to share. There'll be many more. You are amazing at what you do and it's been delightful to watch, listen and learn about albums I've loved, liked, skipped, never heard of before and even one or two albums that I've hated. I'm sure you'll reach those heights and goals only by doing what you love, the way you love doing it. Because you are so good at it.
I actually respect Crosby for being honest about feelings of inadequacy. I mean, who wouldn't feel intimidated by Joni's talent?! I've seen him reference her in a number of interviews and he never ever puts her down, or shows anything other than admiration and awe for her talent. I don't know that Joni doesn't get the credit she deserves - she's widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time, and has tons of other musicians citing her as an influence (Crosby said she was the most talented of the Laurel Canyon set). Dylan's music was literally the soundtrack to - and part of - the changing of America. When Joni came to prominence it was very much as part of a larger movement socially and musically. Dylan was there to basically kickstart the movement as a whole. Even people like Paul Simon - who was already moving away from the folk bandwagon he'd jumped on when S&G made it big, was there early enough to be an 'influence' rather than a part of the whole flower power East Coast movement. Actually, thinking about it, Joni and Paul Simon is a much better comparison (to me) than Joni and Dylan.
There aren't many people out there who can write as well as you. Professionally, you need not compare yourself to anybody on the CZcamss - do it however you want. My 2 cents.
Among the many, many... many disadvantages of streaming music exclusively is that I miss how great album art can be. I never realized how gorgeous "Clouds" album art is.
A lot of us who grew up with records were ticked when CDs arrived because they shrank down the album art and ended all the great extras, like the poster and two books that came in Elton John's "Captain Fantastic" LP. Then streaming arrived, and we didn't even get the shrunk-down versions. I'm glad the youts are rediscovering albums and finding out that there's more to the experience than just the music.
Stay true to who you are; it's you ultimately that has us captivated. Time is what blossoms your career to full potential - speed it up and it will dissolve far too soon. Continuous passion into your craft will make it last. Love as it is.
Happy birthday! Your content is always smart and creative, and you have turned Monday into a day to look forward to. Thank you for that. I hope that you're doing great!
I've always admired Joni Mitchell. Back in the old days, when electricity had just been invented, 1969, there weren't that many "girl singers", or I should say I was not aware of many. There was Janis, Grace, and of course Joan Baez, and a few others, so when I became aware of Ms. Mitchell, I was instantly enchanted. I can't really say why in so many words other than her lyrics were meaningful to me and her music was perfect. So, thank you Abby for your thoughts on Clouds: another wonderful, insightful video.
You give the best birthday presents to yourself. Pulling out all the stops on a sublime lp like clouds is so you. Don't know how you keep improving, but just please never burn out. Thanks for such fine content & thoughtful critique. Namaste.
Speaking as a Canadian who lived in Saskatoon as a kid from 1968-75, I have to say your pronunciation of "Saskatchewan" is pretty darn close; better than most! Nice to see the Bessborough again; pretty close to the view I had from a childhood home.
Well, Abby, I for one, take you very seriously. You are incredibly smart, intuitive, musically aware and knowledgeable far beyond your years. Those are talents to be thankful for, treasured and used. Your videos are very entertaining, informative, and inspirational. You've encouraged me to seek out many of the bands featured here, all of whom I know somewhat, but not all deeply. I have an great curiosity for all genres of music, dating back to the early 70's when I was just a kid. So - I love what you do, and you do it so well. It has great value to thousands of people, and I encourage you to keep your spirits up and keep on doing what you love..!! Cheers, Jesse
Happy birthday Abby 🎂 side 3 track 1 of the white album will be playing in your honor on every vinyl Monday nation turntable. Best wishes, light another candle,turn the volume up to 10, and KICK OUT THE JAMS!! 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎶
Joni Mitchell was a mystery to me back i' the day. My sister, who'd introduced me to so much music, loved this and Blue. I was (for my age) a seasoned classical fanatic but found it hard to navigate Joni's long melodic phrases and rapid switches from chest voice to falsetto. I found it troubling. Now and then I'd find myself trying it again and at a rate of something like one song per album I started to get it. This vid is a good reason to give the whole album a spin. Thanks for another, smart, performative, well researched, entertaining, witty and welcoming celebration of a classic. If some people are so boring that they can't take that seriously, then that's not your problem. Happy birthday and keep 'em coming.
This album blew my world wide open when I first picked it up on a holiday break from college (this would have been around 2003). It was my first Joni album and, with the exception of the towering masterpiece that is Hejira, remains my favorite. I Don't Know Where I Stand was a giant "I feel seen" moment for a hopeless romantic dork like myself.
Happy (early) Birthday, Abby! Glad to see Joni making her Vinyl Monday debut; "Chelsea Morning" is such a great song (especially love Fairport Convention's cover of it). I also listened to the first "The Dolls" podcast last week; keep up the great work and can't wait to see who you cover next!! 😃
Joni's music for me gained a insight when I learned about her putting her daughter up for adoption. I hear an underlying sadness in her songs. Fortunately they were reunited I think in 1997. Also stay young in your heart and head and whoever doesn't like it can blank themselves!
the amount of work you put into this channel is incredible and i'm glad you have a viewer base that understands when you need a break and wants you to be at your best :)
such a great deep dive that makes my anticipation shoot even higher for when you'll discuss the colossal Hejira. it's imo one of the best pieces of music ever created and i'd love to hear your analysis! this vinyl monday means a lot to me as a joni superfan, can't wait for next week :)
Your keen attention to art work and lyrics is unique in its depth, passion and delivery. It and usually your choice of subject matter makes me look forward to your youthful analysis of some of the best examples of recorded music. This video was equally entertaining as it was informative. Thank you!
Happy 25th Abby!🎉🎈🎁🎈🎊🎇🎆🎉🎈You make a pretty convincing Joni! In the year 2061 you'll be as old as I am now, so you're basically still a baby. I wish I could give you a hug for a good, long life, even though you bug me sometimes. Christgau has a bad habit of forgetting he stored his used chewing gum in his ears, which explains the lion's share of his reviews. I wanna thank you in advance for giving us all Head next week 🗣
As far as Joni - well, she is a National Treasure for sure. I absolutely love her music. I well remember her early hits on AM radio when I was a kid in the late 60's - early 70's. They easily stood out from the pack of other radio hits of the day. I especially love the first 5 or 6 albums, and my fave song might just be "Urge for Going". Along with Dylan, McCartney, Paul Simon, and a very few others, she is one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.
"Allowing" you to take a break is a bit of an overstatement. More like suffering through it. Welcome back! I think the gatefold art collage is partially from a Hieronymus Bosch painting with Monarch butterfly wings added.
Happy Birthday! Absolutely on point. Clouds is incredible, especially when you are in the space to meet it. I have grown with it and yeah, the a capella always throws me too.
Joni is a GODDESS. The QUEEN of alternate tunings. Hejira is one of the greatest albums of all time. As a Canadian I consider Joni one of the 4 pillars of great Canadian songwriters. The other 3 are Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen.
I'm shocked to say that 2 months after this video came out, it made me take a closer listen to the CD. As a dedicated BLUE fanatic, I have to admit that CLOUDS is better. Heresy, I know.
I love early Joni Mitchell. Clouds is a superb album. Her first six albums are favorites of mine as well as the archival recordings. Songs to a Seagull is my favorite album by Joni and one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for mentioning favorite albums by Judy Collins, Tom Rush, and Fairport Convention. 😊
What do you do? You revel in the fact that you’re not taken seriously as you make serious contributions to criticism. Love your childness and believe in the spirit of joy and terror that comes with it. Experiences as both an adult and child give you the duality that everyone wishes they could embody forever and most give up for only the former. You already live a live of contrasts, so why give up the happy and playful for the practical and mundane. Especially if you find a way to be you and get paid for it enough that it can continue. We believe in you Abigail, and wish for you only the best road for yourself and your soul.
Favorite Joni song? Both Sides Now - I don't even have to think about it. Back in the day, I mistakenly thought that it was a Judy Collins song, since her version came out first. Joni's version took me to the highest level of appreciation for just about any song. It's perfect. Goosebumps every time, even now at age 70.
Now you've done it! I've pulled my copy that I've had for over 50 years. We both know where this leads. Now, I'll have to spend the next few days going through all my Joni albums. I hope you're happy with what you've done!
Abby - Never change. You are the most perfect Abigail Devoe there could ever be. To quote the great Joel: "I love you just the way you are", that's why you have 36,ooo subscribers and followers of your words and podcasts. Many Happy Returns for Friday, babe. Fave of this album? Chelsea Morning.
I fell in love with Court & Spark and haven’t been able to move on. I’m afraid that no other Joni could match its perfection. Not Blue. Not Hejiera. Help me, Abbie. Help help me, Abbie.
Happy (early) birthday to you 🥳 Glad that I became a regular viewer because each Vinyl Monday is always brings something different with each album covered from all bands and genres with a whimsical,unhinged at times,insightful,and bright twist especially when you cover bands you love like the MC5 😌
Page and Plant from Led Zeppelin were huge Joni fans, but she ignored them for the longest time. Led Zeppelin were considered thugs by a lot of American musicians in the 1970's. Another brilliant review 👍Hopefully Joni can overcome some of her recent health problems ❤
I really only got into Joni in a serious way this past winter while in a kind of exile in the middle of nowhere in Poland. Then again a few months later while having a hella hard time in Morocco. "Rose's Blue" really stood out to me on this album b/c Rose reminded me of people I used to know in Berkeley CA, which is or was a hotbed of 'alternative spiritualities', most of them steeped in occultism of one kind or another. A lot of them went to places like Rose did (as I see it): they thought they had magical powers, but also...unbalanced...entered a place full of shadows and believed themselves a witch, a priestess of some ancient chthonic deity, a shaman, and that they could influence or foretell the fates of those around them. Like their friends, who had little idea what to do about their friend sinking into an occultish miasma in front of their eyes. It gives me the creeps, remembering those days, but I love that song. She sings so clearly of a side of things that very few others sing about, and I feel I relate to in a lived way, and I appreciate how well she expresses it all. It feels good to feel acknowledged in my perception of a part of reality whose trade is phantasias, shadows, and tricks of the light and can really mess with your sense of what is real, but she sees it too.
Random comments! Happy birthday- you deserve a big break! I met Joni at a Canadian SOCAN music awards show (when you were probably 2yrs old) she was smoking a long cig Your holding a Monkees Head album! - my fave - As we go along - is my jam
Happy Birthday!!! oh and Court & Spark is thee best Joni Mitchell LP EVER! "Free Man in Paris" "Just Like This Train" "Trouble Child AND "Twisted" I mean...Come on!
Wow! Great review, Abby. I grew up in the late 1960s and the 1970s, and was your age in 1980. I've watched many documentaries of Laurel Canyon, and learned a few tidbits about Joni from your review that I hadn't known. As a photographer, I'm a huge fan of Henry Diltz and his work in Laurel Canyon. My twins Jay and Trevor are your age plus a few months. I wish they were as into music as you are or I am. Joni Mitchell is one of the great writers of folk rock, whose works will endure. She had phenomenal insight into relationships and her own reactions to them. Are you aware of the early works of Mexican power rock trio, The Warning? They are three bi-lingual sisters a little younger than you, who will release their fourth album on June 28. They rock, and they can make you think while ripping your heart out so you can examine it. Go check out *Queen of the Murder Scene* if you haven't heard it. The LP artwork is a trip. It is a rock novel concept album written by teenagers and a pre-teen. I found it as amazing as *Tommy, Quadrophenia,* and *The Wall,* in its own right. It's that good. They performed it live, in character, at Lunario, November, 2018. It's on The Warning channel here.
Happy birthday, Abby! "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 42" is my favorite Swift joke to make since I turn 42 in a few months. Your "Both Sides Now" rant resonated with me, as a weird whimsical femme who never figured out how to grow up. I was never taken seriously at work and in life until fairly recently. The levels of misogyny that we have to deal with as ersatz woodland creatures (at least, that's how I frequently get treated) is gross. I hope you have an easier journey than I did. Your work is incredible and you will find your audience, I promise. 💜
I had to listen b4 I watched your review. Never had Clouds on vinyl, just knew a couple of songs. It truly is a masterpiece among many! Both Sides Now makes me cry every time I hear it and it did the same thing today..At work! Oh well!. Thanks for the review, it was as personal as the lyrics are. And now I have another Joni album to treasure among the ones I know by heart!
Sweetie, You are "cool and interesting", too. (Add adorable while we're at it.) I am Very happy about this video. Joni is the pride of both Canada AND the U.S., one of the best of all time. She was immeasurably wiser than her years when she wrote Both Sides Now.
Happy Birthday! The whimsical girlish side of your personality does not detract from your serious analysis of these albums, they enhance them. I think you are taken seriously in here, even when you’re having goofy fun. If people “IRL” don’t take you seriously, they’re missing what you can do! 👍
17:28 I am looking at that woman and she’s looking beautiful, and not that far off Disney princess territory. The photographer probably just missed the birds 😂
Stumbled on CLOUDS when I was lookin for something to spin while I cooked curry dinner, knowing it was the subject of your video today. I actually don't think I've played it more than once but was surprised how many songs I knew from her TV performances in the UK (the Pink Dress concert) and Dick Cavett shows around that year. It's a great album. I gotta pay attention to the lyrics on that song about 60s new religious movements, since that's been my hobby horse (and college major) for almost 50 years now. By the way, the best concept album about this topic of tarot, Voyage of the Acolyte, is Steve Hackett's debut solo album from 1975. Someone just recently posted a video about its creation. Stunning, and drenched in mystique. Also one of the best painted album covers of all time, by Kim Poor. I always loved "The Gallery" from those TV shows I mentioned, and it may be my favorite lyrics on the album. I too had an affair with an older man in the arts and could relate to your feelings about that. And then I had a relationship with an even older man which turned out to be a 8 year relationship. Fortunately, both were from the 60s scene so they could understand my late-in-the-day hippie spirituality.
i know it's great to see joni return on this channel but every artist we love every album we play to death deserves it's place on the brilliant vinyl monday. it's a long queue of expectant music. all is well abby has returned. clouds is a beautiful, haunting, creation and if you really want to know life at all it's necessary to listen to joni mitchell.
At age 58 I've learned so much from your channel about the music I grew up listening to, and heap which I'd heard of but never heard. (For example, I had heard of the MC5, but for some reason I thought it was a nickname for the Jackson 5. I don't know how I got that idea into my head.)
Happy Birthday Abby. Joni Mitchel is nothing short of a complete legend. She's that good. When you were listing artists and covers of her songs one that jumped out at me was the song Woodstock. Covered by CSNY. The CSNY version and her version are very different and both enjoyable. It was also a year or so after the songs you referred to. For some reason another favourite of her songs for me is Chinese Cafe'. It's a bit later in her career, and I can't explain why I like it so much. Great work as always, and don't let the existential dread get you down. Enjoy being young and whimsical while you still are both of those things. Plenty of time to be an old cynical sourpuss like me later on. Tbh I like you just fine as you are, and really enjoy your reviews.
I believe it was in Vanity Fair, there was an interesting oral history on Laurel Canyon, and one person interviewed said by the mid seventies the music would never be that good again because the war finally ended and you’d never get music that good with a volunteer army
After long begotten and all encompassing consideration it’s been determined that you are one of the very most delightful persons who have ever walked this earth ❤
5:29 Lol- she was " connected" to CSNY. Crosby produced her debut Lp. Graham Nash dated her and wrote beautiful songs for her. Of course there is " Woodstock". Beautiful singer/ songwriter/ guitarist/artist all around great American Girl. Just saw a biography book - " Travelling On the Path of Joni Mitchell"- Ann Powers (Dey Street)
![Joni Mitchell - Clouds (Full Album) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/J48BpiPLHtA/mqdefault.jpg)
what’s your favorite joni song? comment below!
The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey :D
"River" it's one of my favorite Christmas songs.
Abby look I know this isn't my favorite joni song but I just wanna tell you that I sed 101 Vinyl Mondays in the playlist and you have a 100th special, I'm a lil confused so if you would explain Iit to me I would gladly appreciate It. Sorry if I bothered you
On this album, "that song about the midway"
@@LiGht-CZcams-0309 boygenius was part 2 of the CSN episode and AM wasn’t technically part of season 2, it was just a freebie vid
Yooo. I mean I like Rick Beato, but I watch your channel way more. There is no reason for your channel to not be taken seriously. Your writing is incredible, and your passion is contagious. Your humor and whimsy are part of what separates you. Stay the course, your channel is fantastic
This is an "I click like before it starts" channel.
Never let the world tell you that your enthusiasm for the things you love is childish. Never let them steal that from you. The people who try to shut you down are the ones who are too numb and jaded to feel that excitement anymore. There's always going to be people who don't take you seriously, whether you're authentic or faking it. So just be excited. And tell them to shove it up their asses when they complain.
Monkees Head! Woohoo! So looking forward to that one! 'Porpoise Song' is one of the most majestic songs ever.
Joni's first 4 albums should be required listening for all budding songwriters. Loved your Christgau roast. Joni deserves all respect. Great episode, thanks!
Agree with all of that. Especially about the Christgau roast, since as I wrote in my own comment, I never liked the guy’s work.
Ditto!
Christgau was an ass.
Great cover? Check
Great backstory? Check
Great lyrics? Check
Great ability to invoke emotion? Check
In that regard, Clouds is the complete package
What you bring to the world of music appreciation is singular and invaluable. If you change things about the channel, it should be because it's what you want, not because nothingpeople turn their nose up at personal artistic expression. Your ability to articulate the feelings music elicits in you is what makes you and your reviews so unique and good.
Abby, wishing you a happy birthday later this week. Your insightful, humorous, unique, and sometimes winged take on records that we all love (or have been introduced to love) have made this a most enjoyable experience. Thoughts and appreciation go with you.
Happy Birthday
Robert Christgau, like Anthony Fantano, has become the embodiment of Hemingway's quote about critics being nothing more than men who sit and watch a battle from a high place, then come down to shoot the survivors.
There’s worse out there. A lot of critics and editors are failed musicians and writers respectively, and they’re often the last people you’d want your be stuck in an elevator with
I pray every night because my vision of hell is being stuck in a room with a rock critic being lectured to death and being forced to listen to their album collection for eternity. That’s fear on a level unknown to man
Abigail, it’s a delight to spend 30 minutes or so in your exceptional company for a video that is full of fun, fact and flimsy. Just wonderful
Believe in yourself, Abby. You might make mistakes, but those are *your* mistakes. Don't let anyone else own your failures or successes.
The song I best recall from this album is "The Fiddle and the Drum" about government warmongering during the Vietnam War. I was in high school at the time. The death toll was detailed each night on network news. But raw statistics made it seem distant and impersonal.
I grew up in a SoCal Marine-based city, and remember a tree being planted while in 5th grade for the father of two fellow classmates (Bill and Jim L.) who was killed in that conflict. By war’s end, there were many such commemorative plantings throughout our community.
But what made this all too real to me, was a ’69 graduate from high school named Paul R. who was drafted shortly after finishing school, sent to Vietnam, and after 5 weeks in country, died when he was torn apart by a Chinese-made Claymore mine on his third patrol mission, two months shy of his 19th birthday.
Paul wasn’t the first nor the last from our school to lose his life there, but he was the first I’d known personally. We were on track team together - him varsity, me freshman JV. He was the kid on the bus to away meets who told jokes and led us in inspirational songs. He taught me how to stretch before races. To us, he wasn’t a statistic; he was our classmate, and I think of as a friend. His life and future were cut short in support of a war whose purpose no one could reasonably explain to us.
To some, the antiwar songs of the sixties and early 70’s are historical artifacts. But I credit them in part for helping to end the draft and wind down the war by the time I graduated in ’73. That music was part of the inspiration for that shift. Who knows, if not for Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, and the like, I too might have come home from a now nearly forgotten war in a body bag like several of my prior classmates.
To anyone who says that music is merely transitory entertainment, I profoundly beg to differ. It holds deep meaning and power.
A Powerfull Human Story to be Told
Thank You
I am gratfull you shared it
I waited by Joni's limo after her Austin concert in 1974. We spoke briefly 'n she gave me a yellow rose which I still have. The lyrics "I have a black limousine 'n two gentlemen escortin' me to the halls" from her song For Free flashed through my mind as she slipped into the back seat with a gentleman on each side 'n they drove away.
CZcams is full of unique, quirky, whimsical, insert other adjectives here reviewers that have more than 100 times as many followers as you have right now. I was following some of them when they were at the level you are now. I'm sure most if not all of them had similar doubts at some point of their journey.
There's a reason thousands of people are watching your work and listening to what you have to say about things you love and love to share. There'll be many more. You are amazing at what you do and it's been delightful to watch, listen and learn about albums I've loved, liked, skipped, never heard of before and even one or two albums that I've hated.
I'm sure you'll reach those heights and goals only by doing what you love, the way you love doing it. Because you are so good at it.
Happy Birthday Abigail. I'll be 67 near the end of this month and wishing I would be turning just 25 years of age. Thanks for you work.
I’ll catch up to you a few weeks later 😊
@@pauldaniels2019 Me, too.
I actually respect Crosby for being honest about feelings of inadequacy. I mean, who wouldn't feel intimidated by Joni's talent?! I've seen him reference her in a number of interviews and he never ever puts her down, or shows anything other than admiration and awe for her talent.
I don't know that Joni doesn't get the credit she deserves - she's widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time, and has tons of other musicians citing her as an influence (Crosby said she was the most talented of the Laurel Canyon set). Dylan's music was literally the soundtrack to - and part of - the changing of America. When Joni came to prominence it was very much as part of a larger movement socially and musically. Dylan was there to basically kickstart the movement as a whole. Even people like Paul Simon - who was already moving away from the folk bandwagon he'd jumped on when S&G made it big, was there early enough to be an 'influence' rather than a part of the whole flower power East Coast movement. Actually, thinking about it, Joni and Paul Simon is a much better comparison (to me) than Joni and Dylan.
There aren't many people out there who can write as well as you. Professionally, you need not compare yourself to anybody on the CZcamss - do it however you want. My 2 cents.
Among the many, many... many disadvantages of streaming music exclusively is that I miss how great album art can be. I never realized how gorgeous "Clouds" album art is.
A lot of us who grew up with records were ticked when CDs arrived because they shrank down the album art and ended all the great extras, like the poster and two books that came in Elton John's "Captain Fantastic" LP. Then streaming arrived, and we didn't even get the shrunk-down versions. I'm glad the youts are rediscovering albums and finding out that there's more to the experience than just the music.
"Where are the dancing cats?" .... good work here. Joni lighting up the Croz in song...priceless.
Joni, another legend. The perfect artist for her time. And what a time that was!
It was cool how much you looked like the cover in the this one 😊
I'm an "older subscriber": Joni was my 1st musical love, and I love her dearly to this day. Loving your work, and especially this episode!
Stay true to who you are; it's you ultimately that has us captivated. Time is what blossoms your career to full potential - speed it up and it will dissolve far too soon. Continuous passion into your craft will make it last.
Love as it is.
Happy birthday! Your content is always smart and creative, and you have turned Monday into a day to look forward to. Thank you for that. I hope that you're doing great!
I've always admired Joni Mitchell. Back in the old days, when electricity had just been invented, 1969, there weren't that many "girl singers", or I should say I was not aware of many. There was Janis, Grace, and of course Joan Baez, and a few others, so when I became aware of Ms. Mitchell, I was instantly enchanted. I can't really say why in so many words other than her lyrics were meaningful to me and her music was perfect. So, thank you Abby for your thoughts on Clouds: another wonderful, insightful video.
I'm recalling a brief interview with Robert Plant & John Bonham when they were asked about their fav songwriters. The both spoke highly of JM. 🏵
going to california was in part written for her! plantie had a big fat crush on her at the time
You give the best birthday presents to yourself. Pulling out all the stops on a sublime lp like clouds is so you. Don't know how you keep improving, but just please never burn out. Thanks for such fine content & thoughtful critique.
Namaste.
Speaking as a Canadian who lived in Saskatoon as a kid from 1968-75, I have to say your pronunciation of "Saskatchewan" is pretty darn close; better than most!
Nice to see the Bessborough again; pretty close to the view I had from a childhood home.
Abigail. Rudderless times are growth spurts in disguise. I was Joni's neighbour (see For The Roses cover) during one of those times. ✌️
Henry Diltz lives in my neighborhood, used to see him around at the local TGIFridays, great photographer
Well, Abby, I for one, take you very seriously. You are incredibly smart, intuitive, musically aware and knowledgeable far beyond your years. Those are talents to be thankful for, treasured and used. Your videos are very entertaining, informative, and inspirational. You've encouraged me to seek out many of the bands featured here, all of whom I know somewhat, but not all deeply. I have an great curiosity for all genres of music, dating back to the early 70's when I was just a kid. So - I love what you do, and you do it so well. It has great value to thousands of people, and I encourage you to keep your spirits up and keep on doing what you love..!! Cheers, Jesse
Happy birthday Abby 🎂 side 3 track 1 of the white album will be playing in your honor on every vinyl Monday nation turntable. Best wishes, light another candle,turn the volume up to 10, and KICK OUT THE JAMS!! 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎶
Thank you, Abby, for your heartfelt, insightful review of this beautiful album.
Joni Mitchell was a mystery to me back i' the day. My sister, who'd introduced me to so much music, loved this and Blue. I was (for my age) a seasoned classical fanatic but found it hard to navigate Joni's long melodic phrases and rapid switches from chest voice to falsetto. I found it troubling. Now and then I'd find myself trying it again and at a rate of something like one song per album I started to get it. This vid is a good reason to give the whole album a spin. Thanks for another, smart, performative, well researched, entertaining, witty and welcoming celebration of a classic. If some people are so boring that they can't take that seriously, then that's not your problem. Happy birthday and keep 'em coming.
This album blew my world wide open when I first picked it up on a holiday break from college (this would have been around 2003). It was my first Joni album and, with the exception of the towering masterpiece that is Hejira, remains my favorite. I Don't Know Where I Stand was a giant "I feel seen" moment for a hopeless romantic dork like myself.
The inside collage images are from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch.
Happy (early) Birthday, Abby! Glad to see Joni making her Vinyl Monday debut; "Chelsea Morning" is such a great song (especially love Fairport Convention's cover of it). I also listened to the first "The Dolls" podcast last week; keep up the great work and can't wait to see who you cover next!! 😃
Joni's music for me gained a insight when I learned about her putting her daughter up for adoption. I hear an underlying sadness in her songs. Fortunately they were reunited I think in 1997. Also stay young in your heart and head and whoever doesn't like it can blank themselves!
the amount of work you put into this channel is incredible and i'm glad you have a viewer base that understands when you need a break and wants you to be at your best :)
such a great deep dive that makes my anticipation shoot even higher for when you'll discuss the colossal Hejira. it's imo one of the best pieces of music ever created and i'd love to hear your analysis! this vinyl monday means a lot to me as a joni superfan, can't wait for next week :)
Your keen attention to art work and lyrics is unique in its depth, passion and delivery. It and usually your choice of subject matter makes me look forward to your youthful analysis of some of the best examples of recorded music. This video was equally entertaining as it was informative. Thank you!
Happy 25th Abby!🎉🎈🎁🎈🎊🎇🎆🎉🎈You make a pretty convincing Joni! In the year 2061 you'll be as old as I am now, so you're basically still a baby. I wish I could give you a hug for a good, long life, even though you bug me sometimes.
Christgau has a bad habit of forgetting he stored his used chewing gum in his ears, which explains the lion's share of his reviews.
I wanna thank you in advance for giving us all Head next week 🗣
As far as Joni - well, she is a National Treasure for sure. I absolutely love her music. I well remember her early hits on AM radio when I was a kid in the late 60's - early 70's. They easily stood out from the pack of other radio hits of the day. I especially love the first 5 or 6 albums, and my fave song might just be "Urge for Going". Along with Dylan, McCartney, Paul Simon, and a very few others, she is one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.
You look stunning. My favorite Joni song has always been Help Me. A very happy birthday to you Abigail!
This episode was so GOOOOOOOOOODDD
"Allowing" you to take a break is a bit of an overstatement. More like suffering through it. Welcome back!
I think the gatefold art collage is partially from a Hieronymus Bosch painting with Monarch butterfly wings added.
I wish to one day have a morning as happy as Joni's Chelsea Morning
Happy Birthday!
Absolutely on point. Clouds is incredible, especially when you are in the space to meet it. I have grown with it and yeah, the a capella always throws me too.
Joni is a GODDESS. The QUEEN of alternate tunings. Hejira is one of the greatest albums of all time. As a Canadian I consider Joni one of the 4 pillars of great Canadian songwriters. The other 3 are Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen.
I'm shocked to say that 2 months after this video came out, it made me take a closer listen to the CD. As a dedicated BLUE fanatic, I have to admit that CLOUDS is better. Heresy, I know.
Happy Birthday Abigail. Your channel is brilliant; educational, entertaining and wonderfully delightful. Thank You
I love early Joni Mitchell. Clouds is a superb album. Her first six albums are favorites of mine as well as the archival recordings. Songs to a Seagull is my favorite album by Joni and one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for mentioning favorite albums by Judy Collins, Tom Rush, and Fairport Convention. 😊
What do you do? You revel in the fact that you’re not taken seriously as you make serious contributions to criticism. Love your childness and believe in the spirit of joy and terror that comes with it. Experiences as both an adult and child give you the duality that everyone wishes they could embody forever and most give up for only the former. You already live a live of contrasts, so why give up the happy and playful for the practical and mundane. Especially if you find a way to be you and get paid for it enough that it can continue. We believe in you Abigail, and wish for you only the best road for yourself and your soul.
Hey happy birthday kid. Keep killin it.
Favorite Joni song? Both Sides Now - I don't even have to think about it. Back in the day, I mistakenly thought that it was a Judy Collins song, since her version came out first. Joni's version took me to the highest level of appreciation for just about any song. It's perfect. Goosebumps every time, even now at age 70.
P.S. Happy birthday on 6/14! Love your channel since I first found it and the way you do it!
Now you've done it! I've pulled my copy that I've had for over 50 years. We both know where this leads. Now, I'll have to spend the next few days going through all my Joni albums. I hope you're happy with what you've done!
Abby - Never change. You are the most perfect Abigail Devoe there could ever be. To quote the great Joel: "I love you just the way you are", that's why you have 36,ooo subscribers and followers of your words and podcasts. Many Happy Returns for Friday, babe. Fave of this album? Chelsea Morning.
Happy b-day and a VERY good choice this week for the 25th.
Both sides now is a fantastic song to listen while on a long flight above the clouds
I fell in love with Court & Spark and haven’t been able to move on. I’m afraid that no other Joni could match its perfection. Not Blue. Not Hejiera. Help me, Abbie. Help help me, Abbie.
A lot of artists peak early, and every career has ups and downs and sideways. Most rock careers are supernovas
Court & Spark.....Yes!!
Happy (early) birthday to you 🥳
Glad that I became a regular viewer because each Vinyl Monday is always brings something different with each album covered from all bands and genres with a whimsical,unhinged at times,insightful,and bright twist especially when you cover bands you love like the MC5 😌
Her performance on the Celebration at Big Sur dvd is amazing
When I listened to "Rose's Blue", I always felt like it's a song about my mother. She was a schizzophrenic who refused to get diagnosed all her life.
Thank you Abby!🌹✨🕯️
Happy birthday Abby 🎂🎁🥂 much love to you and yours from the pacific time zone
This is Vinyl Friday !!! ( i,m alittle slow ) LOL 🤗🤗Wishing you a Happy Birthday Abby !! 🥂
Page and Plant from Led Zeppelin were huge Joni fans, but she ignored them for the longest time. Led Zeppelin were considered thugs by a lot of American musicians in the 1970's. Another brilliant review 👍Hopefully Joni can overcome some of her recent health problems ❤
I really only got into Joni in a serious way this past winter while in a kind of exile in the middle of nowhere in Poland. Then again a few months later while having a hella hard time in Morocco. "Rose's Blue" really stood out to me on this album b/c Rose reminded me of people I used to know in Berkeley CA, which is or was a hotbed of 'alternative spiritualities', most of them steeped in occultism of one kind or another. A lot of them went to places like Rose did (as I see it): they thought they had magical powers, but also...unbalanced...entered a place full of shadows and believed themselves a witch, a priestess of some ancient chthonic deity, a shaman, and that they could influence or foretell the fates of those around them. Like their friends, who had little idea what to do about their friend sinking into an occultish miasma in front of their eyes. It gives me the creeps, remembering those days, but I love that song. She sings so clearly of a side of things that very few others sing about, and I feel I relate to in a lived way, and I appreciate how well she expresses it all. It feels good to feel acknowledged in my perception of a part of reality whose trade is phantasias, shadows, and tricks of the light and can really mess with your sense of what is real, but she sees it too.
My little sister’s Bday is on Flag Day as well!! Happy Bday early Abby🇺🇸🇺🇸
Random comments!
Happy birthday- you deserve a big break!
I met Joni at a Canadian SOCAN music awards show (when you were probably 2yrs old) she was smoking a long cig
Your holding a Monkees Head album! - my fave - As we go along - is my jam
Happy Birthday!!! oh and Court & Spark is thee best Joni Mitchell LP EVER! "Free Man in Paris" "Just Like This Train" "Trouble Child AND "Twisted" I mean...Come on!
Wow! Great review, Abby. I grew up in the late 1960s and the 1970s, and was your age in 1980. I've watched many documentaries of Laurel Canyon, and learned a few tidbits about Joni from your review that I hadn't known. As a photographer, I'm a huge fan of Henry Diltz and his work in Laurel Canyon. My twins Jay and Trevor are your age plus a few months. I wish they were as into music as you are or I am. Joni Mitchell is one of the great writers of folk rock, whose works will endure. She had phenomenal insight into relationships and her own reactions to them. Are you aware of the early works of Mexican power rock trio, The Warning? They are three bi-lingual sisters a little younger than you, who will release their fourth album on June 28. They rock, and they can make you think while ripping your heart out so you can examine it. Go check out *Queen of the Murder Scene* if you haven't heard it. The LP artwork is a trip. It is a rock novel concept album written by teenagers and a pre-teen. I found it as amazing as *Tommy, Quadrophenia,* and *The Wall,* in its own right. It's that good. They performed it live, in character, at Lunario, November, 2018. It's on The Warning channel here.
Happy birthday, Abby! "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 42" is my favorite Swift joke to make since I turn 42 in a few months.
Your "Both Sides Now" rant resonated with me, as a weird whimsical femme who never figured out how to grow up. I was never taken seriously at work and in life until fairly recently. The levels of misogyny that we have to deal with as ersatz woodland creatures (at least, that's how I frequently get treated) is gross. I hope you have an easier journey than I did. Your work is incredible and you will find your audience, I promise. 💜
Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez
Happy birthday !🎂great video as always, love joni!
What a video. Congratulations, this is definitely one of your best
Please do a Bringing It All Back Home video. I’m very curious to hear your thoughts on that album
I love the packaging of Clouds by Joni !
she's a wonderful artist! she's done many of her own album covers
Hi Abby------Thanks for the episode--Great Albums !!! -I love Joni ---Brian Birch
I had to listen b4 I watched your review. Never had Clouds on vinyl, just knew a couple of songs. It truly is a masterpiece among many! Both Sides Now makes me cry every time I hear it and it did the same thing today..At work! Oh well!. Thanks for the review, it was as personal as the lyrics are. And now I have another Joni album to treasure among the ones I know by heart!
Sweetie, You are "cool and interesting", too. (Add adorable while we're at it.)
I am Very happy about this video.
Joni is the pride of both Canada AND the U.S., one of the best of all time.
She was immeasurably wiser than her years when she wrote Both Sides Now.
Happy Birthday! The whimsical girlish side of your personality does not detract from your serious analysis of these albums, they enhance them. I think you are taken seriously in here, even when you’re having goofy fun. If people “IRL” don’t take you seriously, they’re missing what you can do! 👍
17:28 I am looking at that woman and she’s looking beautiful, and not that far off Disney princess territory. The photographer probably just missed the birds 😂
I hope there isn't a test after this. My head is spinning. but I could say that for most of your reviews! Excellent.
Stumbled on CLOUDS when I was lookin for something to spin while I cooked curry dinner, knowing it was the subject of your video today. I actually don't think I've played it more than once but was surprised how many songs I knew from her TV performances in the UK (the Pink Dress concert) and Dick Cavett shows around that year. It's a great album. I gotta pay attention to the lyrics on that song about 60s new religious movements, since that's been my hobby horse (and college major) for almost 50 years now. By the way, the best concept album about this topic of tarot, Voyage of the Acolyte, is Steve Hackett's debut solo album from 1975. Someone just recently posted a video about its creation. Stunning, and drenched in mystique. Also one of the best painted album covers of all time, by Kim Poor.
I always loved "The Gallery" from those TV shows I mentioned, and it may be my favorite lyrics on the album. I too had an affair with an older man in the arts and could relate to your feelings about that. And then I had a relationship with an even older man which turned out to be a 8 year relationship. Fortunately, both were from the 60s scene so they could understand my late-in-the-day hippie spirituality.
i know it's great to see joni return on this channel but every artist we love every album we play to death deserves it's place on the brilliant vinyl monday. it's a long queue of expectant music. all is well abby has returned.
clouds is a beautiful, haunting, creation and if you really want to know life at all it's necessary to listen to joni mitchell.
Another great episode!!!
At age 58 I've learned so much from your channel about the music I grew up listening to, and heap which I'd heard of but never heard. (For example, I had heard of the MC5, but for some reason I thought it was a nickname for the Jackson 5. I don't know how I got that idea into my head.)
You’re doing just fine, even if it may not seem like it sometimes. Happy 25th birthday this Friday - one day after my own daughter’s 19th birthday!
Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 happy 25 sweetheart 💓
I don't believe in coincidence. Your hair is perfect, Abby, that's synchronicity.
Happy Birthday Abby. Joni Mitchel is nothing short of a complete legend. She's that good. When you were listing artists and covers of her songs one that jumped out at me was the song Woodstock. Covered by CSNY. The CSNY version and her version are very different and both enjoyable. It was also a year or so after the songs you referred to.
For some reason another favourite of her songs for me is Chinese Cafe'. It's a bit later in her career, and I can't explain why I like it so much.
Great work as always, and don't let the existential dread get you down. Enjoy being young and whimsical while you still are both of those things. Plenty of time to be an old cynical sourpuss like me later on. Tbh I like you just fine as you are, and really enjoy your reviews.
Case of you , to me a masterpiece. Peace 🎉
The gatefold art is from The Garden of Earthly Delights from Hiermonyous Bosch.
I believe it was in Vanity Fair, there was an interesting oral history on Laurel Canyon, and one person interviewed said by the mid seventies the music would never be that good again because the war finally ended and you’d never get music that good with a volunteer army
After long begotten and all encompassing consideration it’s been determined that you are one of the very most delightful persons who have ever walked this earth ❤
5:29 Lol- she was " connected" to CSNY. Crosby produced her debut Lp. Graham Nash dated her and wrote beautiful songs for her. Of course there is " Woodstock". Beautiful singer/ songwriter/ guitarist/artist all around great American Girl. Just saw a biography book - " Travelling On the Path of Joni Mitchell"- Ann Powers (Dey Street)
Great video abby i gotta track down joni Mitchell's firt 4 albums and happy birthday keep it up ❤❤❤
Happy birthday (: