Blue (Joni Mitchell album)

Lore & Background

Blue was created in the aftermath of Mitchell's breakup with Graham Nash and during an intense relationship with James Taylor. The album's songs were largely written on the Appalachian dulcimer, an instrument Mitchell discovered at the 1969 Big Sur Folk Festival. Recording took place in near-seclusion at A&M Studios, with contributions from James Taylor, Stephen Stills, and drummer Russ Kunkel. The album's first single, 'Carey,' was Mitchell's first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reader's Guide

Upon release, Blue was a critical and commercial success, reaching the top 10 in the UK and Canada and the top 15 in the US. Retrospectively, it is regarded as Mitchell's masterpiece, with Rolling Stone ranking it number three on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album has been noted for its influence on the singer-songwriter movement and has been covered by a wide range of artists. Mitchell rejected the 'confessional' label many critics imposed on her in the wake of the album.

Did You Know?

• The album's title track includes the lyric 'Acid booze and ass / Needles, guns and grass.'
• Mitchell recorded Blue in Studio C at A&M Studios, which contained a coveted red Steinway piano.
• The song 'Little Green' dates back to 1966 and is about Mitchell's daughter, whom she gave up for adoption.
• An early track listing for the album opened with 'Carey' and closed with 'River,' but was changed at Mitchell's insistence.