Customer Reviews
Joni Mitchell singing her most accessible,lively and melodic songs - By: dan the fan, 19 Oct 2006 
Joni Mitchell's voice on this cd sounds beautiful,smooth & relaxed.
This is a collection of her most accessible songs that catch & charm the listener.I loved the lyrics - lyrics such as: "They paved paradise & put up a parking lot." Someone on this website said Joni was the Mozart of the 1960s.But with music & words as good as the ones you'll find on Hits,I have to conclude she was Mozart!
The Tip of the Iceberg! - By: JackG, 26 Dec 2005 Joni Mitchell is one of the few late-20th-century artists to whom the term 'Musical Genius' can be reasonably attached. In the singer-songwriter genre, she is equallled only by Bob Dylan & there is one area, I would say, in which she steps past him - musical diversity.
That explains the above title. It is impossible not to give the work presented in 'Hits' five stars, because it is exceptional, but equallly it seems futile to try & condense such a totallly varied, (now) forty-year catalogue of work into 15 tracks in 80 minutes. To take Joni - album-wise - at her two extremes, there is the folk singer debuted in 'Song to a Seagull', with the soprano voice, the purposefully constructed melodies & the first-person emotional considerations, & then there is the experimental avant-gardist with 'her big toe stuck in the metaphorical lake of jazz' (to quote Joni herself) exposed in 'Mingus', & a great musical journey comes in between. So while this compilation covers perhaps her most accessible work & it's companion, 'Misses', gives a eclectic taste of her more ambitious output, Joni Mitchell is reallly an 'album' artist & to fully appreciate the extent of her musical brilliance it takes, as I said, more than 80 minutes, 15 tracks.
If however you are looking for her most accessible work or her most famous songs, or you are new to Joni, this is a good purchase - either this or the album 'Blue', which is one of those every-track-is-outstanding albums (it also happens to be one of the finest ever made).
Just remember, what you are listening to reallly is the tip of the iceberg. Sort of like reading the back blurb of a reallly outstanding book.
I once read something about Joni which described someone introducing themselves to her by saying, "I think you're one of the greatest female singer-songwriters of our time," & how did Joni react? - she walked away, vaguely annoyed. I think she was quite right to do that, I think there is unintended offense in that, & I think that when you listen to this CD (even if you don't go on to explore the rest of her catalogue, which you should) you will see why.
She is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of alll time, period. Gender doesn't come into it.
women independance - By: .Richard, 12 Jul 2005 joni mitchell one of the best women songwriters ever, such deep meaning in her lyrics & vocals, that will make your hairs on the back of you're neck stand up, alll the songs here are excellent not a single dud, which is cool,
it's great that you've got the lyrics too so you can understand the magic & know the actual words...
my favorites songs are chelsea morning, big yellow taxi,
woodstock, carey, raised on robbery, free man in paris & the beautiful come in from the cold[beautiful]
i don't reallly like female singers but mitchell is different she has a peaceful way with words that ill leave a lump in your throat, & soothing music to make a perfect escape from reality when you're that the worlds too much,
NOT enough HITS i want more
Just Fine - By: Peter Reeve, 19 Jun 2005 
Joni Mitchell is one of the finest songwriters of her generation & certainly one of the very finest lyricists, Dylan not excepted. In fact, Urge For Going stands as a very fine poem in its own right.
Joni does not have as clear & tuneful a voice as Joan Baez or Judy Collins, her most notable peers & rivals, but she is a more accomplished musician. And her voice has a quirky, lyrical lilt to it that is very appealing & perfectly suited to songs like Chelsea Morning. Although the Judy Collins version is more famous -- & was the one that inspired the Clintons to name their daughter -- Joni's version has a special playfulness & charm about it. Her Canadian accent, especiallly notable on The Circle Game ("Rownd & rownd...") adds to the charm.
Her rendition of Woodstock is not so good. It is out of her range & degenerates at the end into wailing that is painful to listen to. It is worth pointing out also that she never made it to Woodstock.
Despite that caveat, this is a thoroughly enjoyable album. Joni has had a long & varied career & has not been shy about repackaging songs, but if you want to sample her music, or want her most famous songs, this CD will suit you just fine.
Perfect - By: R. K. Harvey, 02 Apr 2005 This cd is absolutely perfect for new & old fans of Joni Mitchell. She is one of the best singer/songwriter's ever & this cd is some of her best songs. I listened to the whole album the first day I got it & can't leave it alone. Her songs are moving & beautiful. If you're interested in Joni Mitchell buy this cd!
