A Complete List Of Joni Mitchell Albums In Order

List of Joni Mitchell albums in order include Song to a Seagull, Clouds, Ladies of the Canyon, and more. She has released nineteen studio albums.

That said, the following is the list of her album;

• Song to a Seagull
• Clouds
• Ladies of the Canyon
• Blue
• For the Roses
• Court and Spark
• The Hissing of Summer Lawns
• Hejira
• Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
• Mingus
• Wild Things Run Fast
• Dog Eat Dog
• Chalk Mark in a RainStorm
• Night Ride Home
• Turbulent Indigo
• Taming the Tiger
• Both Sides Now
• Travelogue
• Shine

Clouds

Clouds is the artist’s second studio album which was released in 1969, it peaked at 22nd position on the Canadian chart and was certified BPI and RIAA Gold.

Blue

Blue is her best-selling album which was released in 1971. The album charted at 9th position in Canada and third position in the UK. It was certified ARIA Gold along with BPI and RIAA Platinum. 

Court and Spark

Court and Spark is another RIAA platinum-certified album that charted at the number one position in Canada and 2nd position in the UK. It went Gold in Britain (BPI). 

What was Joni’s debut album?

Joni’s debut album is “Song to a Seagull” which was released in 1968 by the Reprise label.

The singer signed with the label after providing her songwriting services to another folk artist that established her reputation. 

The album only consists of four songs which include Night in the City, Marcie, Dawntreader, and Michale From the Mountains. In her first album songs, the artist remained true to folk ballad music.

She even drew inspiration from singer Leonard Cohen in her song “Marcie.”

Famous Joni Mitchell’s songs include 1. Big Yellow Taxi2. River3. All I Want. Mitchell is a prolific artist within the folk genre. 

Joni Mitchell Song Shine 

Mitchell’s song Shine is a figurative interpretation of both materialistic and aesthetic happiness in American citizens.

Its lyrics go like this:

Oh, let your little light shine

Shine on Vegas and Wall Street.

Shine is the title song from the 2007 pop-rock album “Shine” It received positive positive ratings from critics and audiences.

In its debut week, the album sold around 60,000 copies worldwide. It was one of the popular albums which led the artist to achieve multiple awards during the course of her career. 

Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi 

Big Yellow Taxi tells a story of a taxi and its environment of daily activities with a tragic twist of romance.

Its lyrics go like this:

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot

The song reached the position of number 67 and number 24 in 1997. It helped Mitchell gain mainstream attention in the folk and pop genres. 

According to the artist, she wrote “Big Yellow Taxi” during her trip to Hawaii. After looking at the beautiful nature and landscape she was inspired to write the song.

The song is still covered by multiple singers and artists showing that Mitchell’s legacy is alive. 

Joni Mitchell River 

River from Blue gives the vibe of a romantic Christmas where the singer remembers her nostalgia.

The lyrics go like this:

It’s coming on Christmas:

They’re cutting down trees, and they’re putting up reindeer

Joni stated in an interview that the song is about a recent breakup from a romantic relationship where the narrator remembers her past during the festivities time of the year.

Likewise, the song was certified gold in Canada and reached the peak 41 positions on Canada AC (Billboard) charts. It single helped attract music audiences towards the folk genre and put Mitchell on the pedestal of global success. 

Joni Mitchell A Case Of You 

Joni Mitchell A Case of You addresses the recollection of the artist’s affection toward her partner. 

The lyrics go like this:

Just before our love got lost you said

I am as constant as a northern star.” 

Joni was voted number one female artist in 2011 for this song. It was also considered the no. 1 female song according to BBC Radio R’s Desert Island Discs.

The folk song has multiple cover versions by singers and the original artist also performed the song on her regular tour. 

Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now lyrics meaning and inspiration come from Saul Bellow’s novel “Henderson the Rain King” 

The artist was influenced to write the song as she was traveling in the plane which was also the context of the novel.

The song is a slow folk ballad, and its lyrics go like this:

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say, “I love you” right out loud.

The words describes the passionate love of the narrator for their partner.

It is a love song that narrates the feelings of the singer who seeks a true partner in her life despite the distractions and illusions clouding her judgment. 

Even though she has a fairy tale imagination about love, she understands that it might be nothing but an illusion. 

Similarly, the song sung by Judy Collins led her to win Grammy awards for Best Folk Performance in 1969 but the song was disliked by Joni, despite the fame it brought Judy.

The song was ranked 170th position in Rolling Stone’s (2004) rank of The 500 Greatest Songs.