Miles Of Aisles

Sound DNA

• Rock
• Folk Rock

• warm
• wistful
• confessional

About

Rather than just offer her hits in a live setting, Joni Mitchell used <i>Miles Of Aisles</i> (1974) to reconsider her earlier folk-rooted songs within the jazz-pop context of her mid-‘70s period. Recorded at a series of California dates, the album finds Joni spurred on by the L.A. Express, and akin in sound to her commercial breakthrough <i>Court And Spark</i>, the ensemble playing here is smooth and sleek, defined by Tom Scott’s versatile sax work. Upbeat tunes like “Carey” and “Big Yellow Taxi” work best with this approach; moodier material like “Woodstock” is less successful. Still, it’s a hoot to hear Mitchell clowning around with the lyrics to “The Last Time I Saw Richard” and engaging the audience to sing with her on “Both Sides Now.” Memories of her former shyness as a stage performer vanish with confident readings of “Blue,” ”Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire” and “Cactus Tree.” Rounding out the album are studio recordings of “Jericho” and “Love Or Money,” a pair of jazz-pop tunes prefiguring the songs on her next several releases. <i>Miles Of Aisles</i> is a generally pleasing set of postcards from the road, the work of an artist in transit — both literally and creatively.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits