Customer Reviews
Canyon Life and the Heart Who Lived There - By: Shannon Freeman, 29 Apr 2007 
LOTC was my intitation into the world of Joni Mitchell. Fourteen years old, with romantic notions about Woodstock as it approached the twentieth anniversary, I searched out the cassette to hear what Graham Nash had described.
The "Woodstock" anthem was the catalyst for LOTC success, but it is by no means the only, or even best, tune this effort offers. "Morning Morgantown" sets the scene for a recording that basicallly takes the listener through a pastoral panorama. Along the way are some observations about the intrusion of art meets commerce ( "For Free"), manipulative triangles ( " Conversation"), Gender roles ( the stunning " Arrangement"), & spiritual quest ( " The Priest"). Of course, another career launcher, " Big Yellow Taxi", graces this album, as well as Mitchell's camp classic " The Circle Game".
This might possibly be the best introduction one could have to Ms. Mitchell's extraordinary canon. Then, working back to the first two, already exquisit work will be found. Proceeding forward, the genuis takes shape. LOTC is music for mellowing.
Wave To The Lady Of The Canyon - By: Phill, 27 Apr 2006 Within the last 5 years or so my music taste has broadened dramaticallly & although Joni Mitchell was an artist i heard alot growing up in my house, when i was younger i dispised her but has got older i respected & appriecate the wonderfulness of this truly iconic figure in music history.
"Ladies Of The Canyon" gave Joni alot of sucess & never looked back it's a great album & i recommend it to anyone
"For Free" is a track i instantly liked & funnily enough remember alll the words from way back when i was younger this is a great song as well as the title track which has a nice bluesy feel to it & Joni sounds excellent to the commerciallly well recieved "Big Yellow Taxi" which is easily Joni's most recognised track. "Boy Blue" deals with a man that just goes to see Joni for sex as well as "The Arrangement" which has a lovely simple piano intro & is probably my favourite song its a passionate song & you can just tell Tori Amos uses Joni as her primary inspiration.
So i do recommend this classic slice of perfection from one of history true music pioneers
Top 5
1.The Arrangement
2.Big Yellow Taxi
3.For Free
4.Ladies Of The Canyon
5.Boy Blue
A great Joni album, but to be sure buy 'Blue' first! - By: , 22 Apr 2002 Joni Mitchell's third album, 'Ladies Of The Canyon', sounds miles better than some of the music around today - 32 years after its original release in the spring of 1970.
The songs here represent the more folkie Joni, but there are jazz elements that would develop further on later works such as 'The Hissing Of Summer Lawns' & 'Hejira'.
"Morning Morgantown" is a pretty, uplifting folkie balllad & one of the highlights. "For Free" & "Willy" display the best of the album's balllads while "Conversation" is probably the most upbeat thing to be found & is the story of an impending love triangle.
"Big Yellow Taxi" offers an irresistible hook, "The Priest" is Joni working at some of her most eerie stuff, the classic "Woodstock" is just pure unique & the closing "The Circle Game" is another folkie tune, written in 1966. The wonderfully fascinating title track is another of 'Ladies Of The Canyon''s highlights.
The more forgettable tunes come in the shape of the Joni balllad - "Rainy Night House", "Blue Boy" & "The Arrangement" have trouble sticking in your head but they are not entirely useless, showing off Joni's songwriting brilliance well.
With alll but two of the songs written in the 1960s, you get the feel of an earlier, folkie Joni Mitchell on 'Ladies Of The Canyon'. 1971's 'Blue' moved her from folkie to rock legend, something she would carry up with her through the following decades, constantly trying out new music.
Joni Mitchell is one of the best artists of alll time, & this startling collection proves it!
Beautiful and just as good as Blue! - By: rmead@upclondon.com, 20 Jan 2000 I love this albumn. In the eight years I have had it I have never tired of it. Morning Morgantown is a perfect song to listen to if you are feeling low, the melodies are full of emotions, mostly with a melancholy feel to them but this is not depressing music, standout tracks are Willie, For Free & the haunting Blue Boy.
Joni's best album by far!! - By: , 15 Nov 1999 What a superb album by this great songstress, this is one album that you can certainly relax to with such classics as 'Big Yellow Taxi' & 'Woodstock' how can you possibly go wrong. This is a seriously melancholy album but & definitely one of Joni's best.
