Another round of the 'essential folk albums' slot............
As I'm sure most of you kind readers know, I am one of those 'finger in the ear', 'dyed-in-the-wool' type of folk fan...Traditional or be done etc. Now when it comes to playing (a VERY loose term), I am. If it's not tuned GDAE I'm lost but enjoy it just as much. In fact I can clear a room faster than the 'rozzers' in a Marijiwanna farm! And that's QUICK! But when it comes to my 'listenables' I have quite an eclectic mix. I would like to point out at this early stage that I know one of the co presenters of a famous Internet folk radio show is a closet 'Metal-Head' (he's the one heard eating bats in the background). So I make no excuses for taking a trip to the U.S of A for this helping of what I think is an 'essential' for your CD collection.
It's Joni Mitchell and to be honest she is not American. Born in Canada, 'Roberta Joan Anderson' in Nov of 1943 she moved to the USA in 1965, as that was where it was all 'happening'! If you are trying to second guess me at this point I bet your saying "it's going to be a review about 'Blue'". Well it's not. 'Miles of Aisles' is what my suggestion is today. Before we get onto that.....Dinner party trivia, 'Blue' is often given the title of 'Best Album Ever Made' by the American press!
Quite a few regard Miles of Aisles (MoA) as a 'Greatest Hits' album. But it's not! Yes, all the material had appeared on previous recordings and some had hit the 'mainstream' charts as singles but this is a 'live' album. If you want a Joni, Gt Hits, album from that period then 'Hits 1' (1996) would fit the bill. MoA is an out and out 'live' album that suffers from the technical difficulties of the time. Let me explain..... In the days prior to the invention of the Mp3 file that we now all know and love. And the advantages (or disadvantages!) of the ability to fit 50/60/70 tracks on the one disk. We had 74 mins of recording time available. That is why their is an abundance of both the 'double album' and 'double CD'. So why does MoA suffer? Well it's not in the song content or it would not be in this blog. It's the other 'bits'! I want to feel as I am at the concert with all the "Hello New York", whistles and "Hows about, Last time I Saw Richard" etc, etc. But it's not here and you miss it. To get a flavour of what 'could have been', the introduction to 'Circle Game' has been left in and just shows what even MORE of a cracker this album could be! Someone, somewhere, will have the complete tapes so lets hope they 'hear' the light of day.
The content of this album stands on it's own two feet and hardly needs any introduction. My favourites (for what it's worth) are 'Jerico', Carey (of Blue fame), 'Circle Game' (a great story), 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' and it goes without saying, 'Big Yellow Taxi'.
And yes. it's from over the water and no 'finger in the ear' singing. Still one of the best!!! What next? Maybe James Taylor. I hope you enjoy it?
ps. Just had a search around the usual outlets and it's under a tenner!!
Contact, Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com. Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Call: 07526 504285.
LATE NEWS
As I'm sure most of you kind readers know, I am one of those 'finger in the ear', 'dyed-in-the-wool' type of folk fan...Traditional or be done etc. Now when it comes to playing (a VERY loose term), I am. If it's not tuned GDAE I'm lost but enjoy it just as much. In fact I can clear a room faster than the 'rozzers' in a Marijiwanna farm! And that's QUICK! But when it comes to my 'listenables' I have quite an eclectic mix. I would like to point out at this early stage that I know one of the co presenters of a famous Internet folk radio show is a closet 'Metal-Head' (he's the one heard eating bats in the background). So I make no excuses for taking a trip to the U.S of A for this helping of what I think is an 'essential' for your CD collection.
It's Joni Mitchell and to be honest she is not American. Born in Canada, 'Roberta Joan Anderson' in Nov of 1943 she moved to the USA in 1965, as that was where it was all 'happening'! If you are trying to second guess me at this point I bet your saying "it's going to be a review about 'Blue'". Well it's not. 'Miles of Aisles' is what my suggestion is today. Before we get onto that.....Dinner party trivia, 'Blue' is often given the title of 'Best Album Ever Made' by the American press!
Quite a few regard Miles of Aisles (MoA) as a 'Greatest Hits' album. But it's not! Yes, all the material had appeared on previous recordings and some had hit the 'mainstream' charts as singles but this is a 'live' album. If you want a Joni, Gt Hits, album from that period then 'Hits 1' (1996) would fit the bill. MoA is an out and out 'live' album that suffers from the technical difficulties of the time. Let me explain..... In the days prior to the invention of the Mp3 file that we now all know and love. And the advantages (or disadvantages!) of the ability to fit 50/60/70 tracks on the one disk. We had 74 mins of recording time available. That is why their is an abundance of both the 'double album' and 'double CD'. So why does MoA suffer? Well it's not in the song content or it would not be in this blog. It's the other 'bits'! I want to feel as I am at the concert with all the "Hello New York", whistles and "Hows about, Last time I Saw Richard" etc, etc. But it's not here and you miss it. To get a flavour of what 'could have been', the introduction to 'Circle Game' has been left in and just shows what even MORE of a cracker this album could be! Someone, somewhere, will have the complete tapes so lets hope they 'hear' the light of day.
The content of this album stands on it's own two feet and hardly needs any introduction. My favourites (for what it's worth) are 'Jerico', Carey (of Blue fame), 'Circle Game' (a great story), 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' and it goes without saying, 'Big Yellow Taxi'.
And yes. it's from over the water and no 'finger in the ear' singing. Still one of the best!!! What next? Maybe James Taylor. I hope you enjoy it?
ps. Just had a search around the usual outlets and it's under a tenner!!
Contact, Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com. Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Call: 07526 504285.
LATE NEWS
It's Louise Hamilton and those 'Flaming Junes' again!! Just a quick promo for a charity concert down in the Cambs area so get yersens along.
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