Just a Vibe... Joni Mitchell - Edith and the Kingpin (First Reaction!!)
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Joni remains, in my opinion, the greatest songwriter and artist of our generation. She is GOAT
Yeah man - you're starting one of the most rewarding musical journeys there is!! Joni is an unsurpassed musician, singer, songwriter, player, artist. She belongs in any conversation about the best of the best. You're going to keep falling deeper and deeper for this extraordinary woman!
Her singing ‘Coyote’ live from the movie ‘The Last Waltz’ is impeccable.
"The Last Waltz" was one of the shows played over and over on our pirated ON TV in the late 70s. It remains one of my favorite concert films and a treasured part of my DVD collection. RIP Robbie Roberson. As for Joni and her music, Jaco Pastorious added so much depth. They had a smooth vibe that was greater than it's sum.
@@KlingonPrincess it was a tremendous concert/movie, I think it was in my early 20s when I first saw it on TV or VHS. Stand-outs for me were Joni Mitchell and (the late) wonderful Dr John. I had heard neither of them before as the performance was much before my time, but they were captivating!
I’m more partial to the Shadows and Light Coyote with Jaco on bass. Phenomenal 👍👍🙏
I wrote an analysis on the song, "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" for a class in college. It remains, one of my favorite songs. She blessed us with her music and painting
Absolutely agree. "Coyote" is a very fine performance.
A thing about Joni Mitchell is that she was legitmately subversive. (In the same way Frank Ocean was subversive when Channel Orange came out.) When she was writing and performing this music, women were not allowed to buy houses or have their own bank accounts. She's the same age as my mom, and my mom was required to wear skirts to class in college, no pants. Women could be teachers or nurses, and they married the guy (only the guy) who chose them, and then quit working and stayed home with the kids. So for this beautiful, sweet-sounding woman to be writing songs about women's feelings and agency and sexual desire and longing, that was subversive and a big deal. And she wasn't part of a duo with a man, or part of a group. She was her, alone, enough. It was world-changing for the women who are currently ages 60-90ish, who never knew they had a choice, about anything, until the needle hit the record and Joni sang to them that their feelings and desires meant something.
Well said.
You are right, I never thought that way but at the same time I turned 18 and moved to Germany, didn't go over well with the Leave it to Beaver family and the oldest.I am 70
Beautifully put. Read my comment to Polo.
Beautiful words
Wow, beautifully said.
Her album Blue is a classic, it scared her peers as basically Joni opens her heart for all to see with poetic lyrics and fantastic musicians. She’s up there with Dylan, Young, Cohen and as a woman she paid her dues and sacrificed a lot for her ambition and her art.
Blue is also my favorite album by her: "Carey" is a great upbeat number, sadder but soulful are "A Case of You" and "River", and "California" is somewhere in between. Love the whole album tho...
I love BLUE in its entirety. FOR THE ROSES, as well. Yes, she's sacrificed much, but she is more highly respected by musicians than most other contemporary artists.
Maybe catch her live with Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, and more playing AMELIA.
Or a cappella with The Persuasions singing SHADOWS AND LIGHT.
You're gonna fall in love.
She’s actually not just up there with the artists you mentioned, but she’s even far above them. And that’s facts. ❤
Uh no it isnt. I agree Mitchell is the best but saying "far" and "facts" make you seem delusional.@@alyrivas5430
Herbie Hancock's tribute album The Joni Letters has Tina Turner singing this song. Amazing. The meanings of her songs wont appear immediately because of her poetic writing style but careful reading of lyric and several listens are rewarding. These are 2 strong characters in a scenario unique in popular music. Just give weight to every word - Joni, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, they dont have extraneous words. What is the hand gripping so tight? what is the spoon? Who's lipstick is glistening? The setting and characters are revealed - Her writing rewards careful listeners. This is a dark song, low self esteem leading to dependence and captivity but both are victims. The sound you liked in the background was Joni vocalizing. Keep going Polo, you are great.
Agree. Especially your mention of the 3 essential songwriters, Joni, Dylan & Steely Dan. All 3 are my top favs.
Joni (and Bonnie Raitt) spoiled me for female vocalists. And not only can Joni write and sing and play multiple instruments, she’s an amazing arranger and fine artist.
She was muse and mentor to many other musicians over the years.
Listen to the Jungle Line, Judgment of the Moon and Stars, River, Blue, For Free, A Case of You, Fiddle and the Drum (also covered gorgeously by A Perfect Circle). She’ll break your heart.
A case of you! ❤
I'm so happy you've discovered the incomparable Joni Mitchell. She's a mood, and nobody else moves me like she can. My favorite is Furry Sings the Blues, mostly because my ex and I use to fall asleep listening to the album. But you can't go wrong with anything by her really!
So true,fond of her beginnings,they are her soul self.
When Stephen Colbert does his _Colbert Questionnert,_ one of the questions is “You can have only one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Mine would be _Rainy Night House,_ “Miles of Aisles” edition.
Yes. You are 100% correct that sometimes the better music isn’t the most popular.
Ah hell, let’s admit it - the best music is almost ALWAYS overlooked by popularity.
Great music rewards better ears and deeper souls, and those are fewer and further between.
Nobody else does lyrics like Joni. So much talent.
I’m a hopeless romantic and Joni Mitchell is the love of my life, ha. She opened my heart for all of us to dream, and be true to ourselves. Thanks to Joni, we express our deepest feelings. She’s a gift, and I too am so glad that we found her. Now, my number one song of hers, is Harry’s House! DO play it, please.
The live version of "Amelia" by Joni Mitchell from her Shadows and Lights tour-- is utterly mind-blowing.
Find the full version with the guitar solo at the end...
Yes! This performance is haunting!
Amelia live made me weep! Joni's vocal duet w Pat Metheny's elec guitar solo cuts thru the listener's soul. The one and only time I got experience Joni in concert was that Mingus tour (shadows & light).
Agree. Must watch that concert.
Greatest singer-songwriter of my life. Hejira is my favourite album. Her voice in the 60s is very light and pure, by the 80s it had developed so much character. This is a wonderful track. Prince was a big fan of this one. George Michael does a wonderful cover of it too.
You can't go wrong getting into Jonie Mitchell. The more you listen the more you will love her lyrics and music. A real treasure. So glad you have discovered her. 💜💜💜
Joni Mitchell is a legend and very respected among us musicians. I know a few who consider "both sides now" one of the best songs ever written
lol and she’s written far better… ❤
Nice to see you vibing on Joni. I can hardly wait until you discover the music she made while collaborating with the incomparable Jaco Pastorius. He’s the greatest fusion bass player of all time.
I'm a huge Joni Mitchell fan and am happy to see that you listened to something by her other than her hits. My favorite live album of all time is Shadows and Light. I suggest that you listen to the song "Amelia" from that and also the title track from Court and Spark is another one to check out. She is an incredible talent, songwriter and guitarist and an influence on multiple generations of artists.
Couldn't agree more! Stellar album, and I could watch her sing Amelia from that concert over and over and over... it's other worldly!
This is such a great album - totally agree, ‘later’ stuff is fantastic
This song is so haunting, and then when you read the lyrics and understand what it’s really about, it’s even shocking. One of my favorites by her. I’ve played it on repeat many times.
Ahhh, one of my favorites, from my favorite Joni album (Hissing of Summer Lawns). So many great Joni albums!
Love Joni Mitchell. Her voice is just so beautiful.
Look for any live videos from the Shadows and Light tour. Her backing band are some of the greatest musicians to ever touch down on this earth 👍👍🙏🙏
Joni Mitchell has an extensive catalog of great music! Check out Free Man in Paris, Amelia, Big Yellow Taxi, A Case of You...the list goes on and on.
A Case of You is a must. Wait til he hears that one run she does… you know what I mean.
Not for nothing, POLO... but for what's it worth - Joni Mitchell is Chaka Khan's (yes, "her" lol) favorite artist, lyricist, and one of her greatest influences! Go figure, right lol? (They happen to be great friends... but be assured, they share mutual admiration and respect).
You gotta check out "Case of You". If you do, please listen to the audio only. (I've seen more than one reactor literally brought to tears just from the sheer beauty of her singing and the song) It's probably the top rated song from her "Blue" album. Note: There is live version but it is not very good. It just doesn't have the same impact as the audio version from the album. And we want you to get the best initial impression first time hearing the song so, please, please, I cannot stress enough to only listen to the audio version! 🙂. Thanks!
Man you just found one of the biggest and best rabbit holes. Have a great trip.
The BEST song about addiction ever - "Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire" - the LIVE version
So many wonderful songs! Circle Game, People’s Parties, A Case of You, Carrie, California, In France They Kiss On Main Street, Sex Kills, All I Want, River, Last Time I Saw Richard, … and that’s a short list!!
My favorite! I've been listening to her music all of my adult life. This is my favorite. ❤
Joni Mitchell is brilliant. Most of the great songwriters of the 70s/80’s acknowledge her as the best songwriter by far. I recommend All I Want from the album Blue, but there’s just so much wonderful stuff in her catalogue.
Jonis music touches your soul and is supremely addictive.
The title track of The Hissing of Summer Lawns was written about Jose Feliciano, according to Chaka Khan. and was the first album Prince loved from start to finish. If you've time, listen to Tina Turner's cover of this song. It's fire. ruclips.net/video/BaRx52OD8IY/видео.html It's on the album of the year The Joni Letters by Herbie Hancock. The first jazz album to win the Best Album award in fifty years. Notice who the Uber fan artists who paid tribute to Joni on that album. Joni is developing her personal vocal style more and more during this phase, evidenced by the backing vocals. This particular album was her first real step toward looking outward, rather than inward. She is more focused on observation and creating pictures in the listener's head. You will discover that Joni resonates deeper and deeper as you discover her catalog. The breath of an expansive catalog of different styles makes her one of the most respected artists alive today. You could have asked Tina, Wayne Shorter, Prince, and a plethora of other greats who the queen of popular music really is. She came up with David Geffen and was fundamental to his success. Joni is the bomb and everyone who's anyone in music knows this. She's never sought fame, and that's why your generation knows little about her. She has very little interest in hype and jive and relies on talent as a composer, player, and painter. All I can tell you is congratulations, and if you decide to continue your discovery then good on you. Jon Baptiste hosted the Grammy Person of the Year Award ceremonies two years ago. Guess who that person was? Check out the Uber fans who performed for Joni at that event for a clearer reference to her stature. Seal said, "I worship the ground Joni walks on"......ruclips.net/video/57Ykv1D0qEE/видео.html
Heijera [Joni Mitchell] and Songs from the Beehive [David Sylvian] - two PERFECT albums - Listen from Go to Woah to hear them at their best…
Keep listening. You will fall in love. Like we all have. This one is my favorite. Her music is simply enchanting. Been listening since 1975. ❤
Jaco Pastorious, greatest bassist ever
Jaco isn't on this album. They hadn't been introduced. This might be Max Bennett but I could be wrong. (yep I was wrong. It's Wilton Felder.)
I would suggest "A Case of You" or "River"!
River, from "Blue"
You should listen to her song, Woodstock. The live in studio 1970 version.
About Edith and the Kingpin: It's from the album "The Hissing of Summer Lawns," which is pretty much about women's experience in (white) suburbia in the 50's and 60's, which she's a devastating critic of. In one of the other songs on the album, she describes the husband putting "just a little blood of his own" on the points of their property's fence. In "Edith," Joni said that Edith referred to Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer, and the Kingpin was based on a Vancouver pimp. They're vying for power, and I'm not sure who wins.
Joni's songs were very meaningful to me as a white suburban girl in the 60's! After the counterculture and rock'n'roll took hold, women were still being minimized and stereotyped by these supercool, supersexy rockstar males, and it left a bad taste. Joni was one of the first to address this, and not just in one or two songs but often.
I'd love to hear your reaction to Big Yellow Taxi and Amelia. And Clouds and Both Sides Now. And if you want a "blue Christmas" song, "I Want a River."
Many of Joni's albums, especially the early ones, feature her own artwork on the cover. She has said she thinks of herself as a painter who plays musician rather than a musician who paints.
I believe the song is about a drug lord who comes to town and Edith falls for him and gets sucked into spending her days stoned.
That line, his left hand holds his right, what does that hand desire, that he grips it so tight, always gets me, I don't know why exactly.
Because it’s an achingly beautiful description of physical touch with someone you’ve yearned for for so long… At least, that’s how it strikes me.
One of my all time favorite songs!
Joni was one of the true greats.
She’s still alive!
@@maryrosekent8223 I'm glad to hear it.
Also the MUSICIANS she would round up and honoured to play with her,Pat Metheny,Jaco Pastorus to name a few..all Ace's on their instruments
Stick with Joni. The whole catalogue is amazing.
Listen to “a case of you” all time fav
@@lauraleasuess1121
My favorite is _Rainy Night House_ … the Miles of Aisles version!
Joni is one of the great singer'songwriters. She is a very intelligent artist. Her early music is more like folk rock then it became more jazzy (like this song). She performed with some of the best jazz artists of the day. She is extremely talented and bright and still alive.
In 1978, before World Music was a thing, Joni introduced her audience to it with the release of the Don Juan's Reckless Daughter album. At the time, improvisation was a big thing, with Keith Jarrett's "Koln Concert" as an example. A free-form sound was ushering in a new jazz-fusion popularity with bands like The Police and Weather Report. Joni had already put Jaco Pastorious front and center on her prior album, but she was expanding her catalog, determined not to follow a formula. A formula her record company wished she had done with the success of "Court and Spark." Joni threw in "The Tenth World."
Further, she threw her middle finger up when Charles Mingus asked her to collaborate on his final album when he heard "Paprika Plains" and then wrote six songs specifically for this. He called them Joni 1-6. When Joni's album "Mingus" was released, she lost all radio play, and both the jazz and rock establishments considered her a heretic. It was a sacrifice. she was willing to make as a creative, authentic to her muse, not wanting to be pigeon-holed and expressing her freedom. The album "Shadows and Light" followed with Jaco and newcomer Pat Metheny playing live. If you want to know more about genuine, hard-won artistic integrity, continue to explore her art. She's considered an artist's artist because of it.
One of my favorite Joni songs. The original demo that Joni made at home alone of this song in the 70’s, along with some others, were just released a year or so ago, iirc, and they are stunning and beautiful.
This song in particularly, for me, with just her guitar, her vocals and her tonal backing vocals laid out that you hear in this song, the backing vocals that sound almost like a horn, or a reed instrument, or a synthesizer, are all her own unadorned voice on the demo. Perfect pitch…chills…genius. IMO
You know Polo I love how you describe the music of every artist every genre. You give me a different view on every song and I learn something. Oh yes the iconic Joni Mitchell her music takes me to that special place.
She was doing great work on that album, which also has one of my favorite Joni songs “Harry’s House”.
Song for Sharon is one of the greatest songs ever written. As is Harry’s House. The ending of Edith and the Kingpin never fails to give me chills.
A Case of You is one of her best!
Joni is a treasure. SO many great songs in her catalogue. And her sound was constantly evolving. Treat yourself to a few of her cd's. You will love them. 🙂
You really cannot go wrong with Joni. Her lyrics are amazing and musically they are fabulous.
Joni could write songs that could make a horse weep.....every great musician you could name would bleed to play with her... glad you discovered her. good luck with your channel.
Look into the history of Laurel Canyon. You will be amazed at the amount of talented people that were living there all at the same time. Including Joni. In life timing is everything
Joni sings a beautiful song called “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire”
Joni Mitchell is almost peerless. She does her own thing...always has...true artist!!
My JM earworm is "Carey". Fun, simple song with a great story and vocals.
My favorite Joni Mitchell song
This song by far is my favorite of all her songs. Had this on repeat for a month ❤
Now that you have discovered this, go search out the Herbie Hanconk arrangement sung by Tina Turner. Off of Herbie's album "RIVER, THE JONI LETTERS",
The album was a tribute to Joni featuring various artists and won the Grammy album of the year in 2008
Joni Mitchell is now 79 years old. In 2015 she suffered a stroke and was subsequently unable to walk or talk. However with a lot of therapy and hard work she is performing again. In 2022 she performed at the Newport Folk Festival (you can see many videos of her performance on youtube.). The Library of Congress honored Joni Mitchell with the Gershwin Prize on March 1, 2023 for her lifetime contribution to popular music. PBS will show the award ceremony again soon. It will be shown THIS Friday on my PBS station. Check your local PBS tv station for the times. It is also on their website.
Some suggestions of hers that I like are 'Songs to aging children come', 'Songs to a Seagull', 'River', 'Michael from mountains.'
This is from my very favourite Joni Mitchell album, The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Stylish, beautiful and substantive. Joni at her best.
I've been following for a little bit, and I'm glad you landed on this artist. I've been following her for some years now. I especially like when she turn to more jazzy stiyes. The hissing of summer lawns is one of my favorites, as well as Harry's House / CenterPiece. The later part centerpiece is from a late 50's jazz piece.
A poetic genius, fine artist, musician, insanely good vocalist, and stellar songwriter.
The album this track is from is brilliant, its the Hissing of summer lawns and it is still one of my favourites.Not a bad song on it. Joni is special fantastic singer songwriter
During this era, she had Jaco Pastorius on bass! He gave a new demension to her music. In the 70s, she was more folky. She got more jazzy in the 80s.
Joni is the soundtrack of my life. She is perfection. . . Her voice, her storytelling, her understanding of love and passion and longing. Joni is everything to me.
I TOLD YOU WHAT SHE WOULD DO TO YOU POLO, CHILLS AND ALLLLLL KINDS OF GREAT THINGS!💯😊THIS IS FROM HER 75 ALBUM ( HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS ) WHERE SHE STARTED TO GET MORE ON THE JAZZ SIDE. CONTINUE TO HER IN, SHE'LL BE ( 80 ) IN NOV. 😊 GOD BLESSSS HER BEAUTIFUL SOUL!
I’ve had this eerie, magical album around me since I was a kid, and have never failed to be swept away on its enigmatic poetry and gorgeous sound.
Thanks for the great reaction to Joni Mitchell. She has such a fantastic catalog. For me, I love Both Sides Now and Big Yellow Taxi. Her voice is magical. 👏👏❤️🇨🇦
Beautiful Song
When I first discovered Joni, I was listening to her songs totally randomly, but then I decided to buy her albums and listen to them in chronological order, which to me totally makes sense to this day, as she developed her songwriting style from album to album.
My favourite album of all time is Hejira, and my favourite song is the title track. My second favourite, which sometimes becomes my favourite depending on my mood, is For The Roses, probably her most criminally underrated album, squished between two monumental ones, in terms of popularity, Blue and Court and Spark.
I mean come on, Lesson In Survival, Let The Wind Carry Me, Woman Of Heart And Mind and Blonde In The Bleachers are all masterpieces.
My favourite era in Joni's discography spans from For The Roses to Shadows and Light. Anyone who can write four albums in a row like For The Roses, Court and Spark, Hissing Of Summer Lawns and Hejira (peak of songwriting, imo) is nothing but a genius.
Thank you, excellent reaction. Joni fan since the 1960s. If you like poetry check out her song 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter'. Just this one song shows she shoulda had the Pulitzer way before Mr Bob Zimmerman (Dylan). You will find much variety with Joni, she followed her muse solely. Yea Polo!
I believe this is from The Hissing of Summer Lawns. The whole album is incredible. Way ahead of its time. I discovered it on vinyl at a flea market in Florida as a teenager and played it over and over all summer. Years later got it on cd. Nowadays listen to it on RUclips.
Ooh. This is a good deep cut. I was serious last time when I said you could drop the needle on any song in the catalog.
Old black and white of her at a piano singing "for free". Everyone should experience it at least once imho
I've always loved "Carey" off her Blue album, but you can't go wrongvwith anything she has done.
A great upbeat choice!
I learned to love Joni Mitchell as a kid because my mom was always playing her ❤felt lucky enough to see her live in my 20s and still appreciate her Today and I'm almost 50😮
Joni has some great albums & many tunes worth listening to. "Blue" remains one of my top 5 albums of all time. The lyrics are poetry at it's best & the way Joni weaves them around guitar, piano or dulcimer is sheer beauty. I can never get enough Joni Mitchell.
You'll love her albums, be they from her earlier folk or later Jazzy periods. Amazing songwriting and performance. Mingus is the classic Jazzo album she did with some of the greats.
Immense talent.
Sensitive and intellegent reaction.
Joni forever.
Yes, she is unique in this world.
"Hissing of Summer Lawns", "The Jungle Line", "A Case of You", "Coyote"...
There's a self-referential line toward the end of "Amelia" that deserves listening first to a much earlier song of hers called "Cactus Tree". A common theme throughout her music is the tension between her need for intimacy and her requirement for solitude and freedom. She will create almost a merging closeness with someone until the moment that person places the expectation of permanence on the relationship, then she will immediately vacate the involvement almost out of panic of being trapped. This theme recurs in her music, in the lyrics and the melodies, but there is revelation and new knowledge in every appearance of this theme. She is an anthropologist of love, passion, and motive as much as she is a shaman of the human heart.
"A Case of You" is written about her and Leonard Cohen. Neil Young wrote "Sugar Mountain", which Joni had issue with; so, she wrote "The Circle Game" as a response to it. "Coyote" is about her brief affair with writer Sam Shepard. "Car On A Hill" was about being stood up by Jackson Browne. "Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire" concerns James Taylor when his heroin addiction was active. "Blue Motel Room was about having a romantic competitor for her drummer and lover John Guerin. When Joni broke up with Graham Nash he wrote "Our House"; Joni responded with "Willy", giving her feelings about Graham. There are other very personal songs, like "California: and "River" and "Big Yellow Taxi" and "I Had A King"; her lyrics are like diary entries. Joni counts herself a painter first and a musician second and once said, "I sing my sorrow, and I paint my joy."
My favorite songwriter ever. The diamond standard. Been adoring her since the mid-70s.
The live version is really good.
I’m 68, so my relationship with Ms Mitchell goes back to her first album “Song to a Seagull” ( a pure folk vibe). You’ve listened to “Edith and the Kingpin” from her album “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” (Joni’s foray further into her love of jazz).. it’s one of my favorites from her extensive catalog. The title track (as Joni tells it) is her experience of being invited to the home of singer Jose’ Feliciano - shortly after his marriage to a young woman…whose experience of being married to his wealth and fame - is a painful metaphor for his life with physical blindness.
Peace to you. You are so sweet and calm and intelligent. Joni plays a big part in the the part of me that makes me Canadian. LIsten to all of 'Song for the Roses' or Heijira. You are very sweet and sweetly calm.
Joni’s album ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ was gifted to me in 1975, when I was 17 - many decades later the vinyl album is still with me and I play it often on our vintage record player. Such a pleasure to watch your reaction ❤ Her lyrics are deep and still so meaningful today. Really, I do think you’ll love this whole album. Maybe ‘Harry’s House/Centerpiece’ next…xB
You get to know every scratch and pop on a beloved vinyl rekkid. I miss that.
That is Jaco Pastorius on bass.We was an outstanding technically amazing musician in the 70's and 80' s who did 4 albums with Joni. There's a famous video of him playing Teen Town on fretless bass with Weather Report. A tragic figure who managed to make some some great art while struggling with mental health and drug issues. He died in 1987 after someone beat him up outside a club in Floridia.
Joni does all her back up and her choice in back up band is impeccable. Her writing is artistic. Song is about the Kingpin (drugs) maybe a pimp. (he tilts their tired faces to the spoon.
Again, Big Yellow Taxi is a must . The live version is great.
She's so cute. And talented. My mom's favorite song by her is coyote, and mine is Woodstock.
You got to listen to Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
Also popularised by Judy Collins. “Both sides Now”.
Her contemporary delivery of Both Sides Now - as an older soul, is superb. I recommend listening to both. I think [memory a bit hazy here] - she has commented something along those lines ... the song has matured.
To answer the question what is my favorite Joni song, it's the one I'm listening to at the moment, only Van Morrison has that same visceral reaction to me. Both Joni and Van are often stream of consciousness writers and singers.
From The Hissing of Summer Lawns, breathtaking!
I love how _The Hissing of Summer Lawns_ starts with suburban stress and then slides into the “Harry’s House” dream/fugue state and then she seems to notice that she’s suddenly running behind and she needs to get with the program, as it were.
When I was in college I had every one of her albums. I played them so much my roommate threatened to throw them out the window. You said it exactly right! Her sound is magical.
Absolutely perfect song, from a *stunningly* great album, The Hissing Of Summer Lawns. My favourite song on the album is Shades Of Scarlett Conquering, which is light years ahead of everyone else. The mind-boggling thing is it's not even Joni's best album! For me, Hejira is the pick of her 70s Imperial Period, followed by Blue.
Excellent reaction to a great song & lyric & performance. At the heart of this one is a beautiful but very young woman who is taken up by an intimidating man who has more than one illegal business going. He is taken by her beauty, she by his dangerous strength. They charm each other, but they don't trust each other (they dare not look away). In that strange background vocal I've always heard Mitchell imitating a police siren, something the Kingpin always has to be listening for. Is his phone tapped (the wires in the walls are humming)? Will he grind Edith down like the other women he has "taken?" Mitchell can really bring it with her stories, so rich in suggestive detail. She has said she chose the name Edith in honor of the great French singer Edith Piaf who started off very young in the seedier parts of Paris.