Joni Mitchell 3: Ladies Of The Canyon

Ladies Of The Canyon displays our heroine fully entrenched in her new life on the West Coast, complete with a new persona upon which her fans would hang: Joni on piano. She’s evolving, just like her fans; happy to be living a carefree life, there are still pressures to conform, and concerns about the world outside the cozy canyon.

“Morning Morgantown” is an older song, fitting well with the tradition of “Chelsea Morning” and “Sisotowbell Lane”. If only every morning could be as peaceful as this. “For Free” celebrates the street musician who gives his all for the moment, much like Joni did once before she found herself in the position of playing for the masses. “Conversation” and the title track go back to celebrating life in the canyon, where likeminded people have likeminded feelings. “Willy” is a pretty blatant tribute to her paramour Graham Nash; it was here where her confessional style threatened to pigeonhole her as just another hippie’s old lady. The imagery doesn’t always stick, just as her falsetto strains for some of those high notes. “The Arrangement” is an unsettling portrait of a big business man, perhaps a record label head or just another suit; whatever the source, it’s a minor key transition to side two.

The piano and melody perfectly capture the feeling of a “Rainy Night House”, and the entrances of the Sunday choir are fascinating. (We think Journey heard this and used it for “Winds Of March”.) “The Priest” and “Blue Boy” offer character sketches as compelling as they are mysterious, before the trilogy of “hits” that end the album. First is “Big Yellow Taxi”, perhaps her most playful song, despite the ecological lament. “Woodstock” is performed slowly on the electric piano, in stark contrast to the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young version that became the hit. (Interesting how the most vivid image of the festival came from someone who wasn’t there.) “The Circle Game” was one of the songs that put her on the map as a writer; her version here is gentle and caring.

Ladies Of The Canyon was her third album in the space of three years. Its mood is as bright and white as the cover. And her best work was still to come.

Joni Mitchell Ladies Of The Canyon (1970)—4