Canis Firebrand

So, I've never really given Joni Mitchell a listen, outside of Big Yellow Taxi as it was a radio staple growing up and to a lesser degree the song Blue.

I recently introduced a friend to Alabama Shakes and she recommended me to listen to Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.

So, this inspired me to seek out some Joni Mitchell. Not knowing where to start, my local library had one cd that I found, Hits. I'm listening to that now and its pretty good and I'm enjoying it.

For reference, the songs on Hits are:

1. Urge For Going
2. Chelsea Morning
3. Big Yellow Taxi
4. Woodstock
5. The Circle Game
6. Carey
7. California
8. You Turn Me On I'm A Radio
9. Raised On Robbery
10. Help Me
11. Free Man In Paris
12. River
13. Chinese Cafè/Unchained Melody
14. Come In From The Cold
15. Both Sides, Now

With that, my question to the more versed musical members here. What next?
What cds or songs should I seek out to give me a better picture of her work and more of an overall appreciation. I know that greatest hits cds are typically not a good representation of an artist as they are usually songs that gained popularity and/or were big radio hits. They don't really give you the deep cuts that mainly fans of the artist would know.

Also some suggestions on a starting point for Janis Joplin.

Thanks in advance.

Hiro11

I love Joni Mitchell and she's ripe for reappraisal. You can't really go wrong with anything she did in the seventies. "Court and Spark" is both her most famous album and my favorite. Start with that one, it's easily one of the best albums of the early seventies. From there, I'd get "Blue" and then "Ladies of the Canyons". Then I'd get "Travelogue", her 2002 double discer.

Not a particular fan of Janis Joplin. Hugely overrated blooze belter, IMO. Alabama Shakes is likewise nothing special if you ask me.

If you like Joni Mitchell, check out Emmylou Harris' "Pieces of the Sky" and Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road". Both are masterpieces.

Nick Danger

Joplin only did four albums. The most popular one is Pearl. It's the only one I have.

Nick Danger

Hiro made me think about Janis Joplin's contribution to music. Janis Joplin took a Black musical form and made it safe for a white middle-class audience. Her songs are good, but Koko Taylor was releasing records at the same time which had a lot more energy (and a lot less sales).

Supermallet

In my opinion, the three best Joni Mitchell albums are Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, and Hejira. Blue is her most famous.

auto

Go for broke!

At $6 per album you can't go wrong.

Heat

I was never a big fan of Janis Joplin, but love Joni Mitchell.

Also give Carol King, Carly Simon, and Joan Baez a listen.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down was written by The Band in '69, but Joan Baez had a very popular cover in '71 of it. Here she is on The Midnight Special in '73:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2CDli4k8y6k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and Carole King from '71:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E5TxpJVKKQ8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Carly Simon:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mQZmCJUSC6g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Supermallet

Any mention of Joan Baez demands that I post this awesome cover of her song Diamonds and Rust, done by Judas Priest(?!):

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vLDazyvMMGw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Canis Firebrand

Thanks for the replies. I stopped by my local library to look for some cds to listen to before I decided to dive in and buy any. I picked up Joni Mitchell - Hits (which I mentioned above). Also picked up Janis Joplin - 18 Essential Hits and Carole King - Tapestry to listen to.

Once I get through those, I'll dive into some of the other artists mentioned as that is what I was also hoping happened in this thread (suggestions of similar artists).

Thanks again everyone.