Joni Mitchell Miles Of Aisles 1974

I have a weakness for Joni Mitchell.

She’s part of my Sunday morning playlist when I want something mellow to listen to.

It’s therefore no surprise that I like Joni Mitchell’s live albums, Miles of Aisles & Shadow & Light and both were recorded in the greatest decade for music, the 70s.

Joni Mitchell Miles Of Aisles

This album comes from the Court & Spark album in March and August 1974 and captures her at her commercial peak.

Set List Rating – 9/10

1. You Turn Me On I’m A Radio – 4:09 (from the studio album For The Roses)
2. Big Yellow Taxi – 3:09 (Ladies Of The Canyon)
3. Rainy Night House – 4:04 (Ladies Of The Canyon)
4. Woodstock – 4:30 (Ladies Of The Canyon)
5. Cactus Tree – 5:01 (Songs To A Seagul)
6. Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire – 5:23 (For The Roses)
7. Woman Of Heart And Mind – 3:40 (For The Roses)
8. A Case Of You – 4:42 (Blue)
9. Blue – 2:49 (Blue)
10. Circle Game – 6:28 (Ladies Of The Canyon)
11. People’s Parties – 2:42 (Court & Spark)
12. All I Want – 3:21 (Blue)
13. Real Good For Free – 4:27 (Ladies Of The Canyon)
14. Both Sides Now – 4:14 (Clouds)
15. Carey – 3:30 (Blue)
16. The Last Time I Saw Richard – 3:35 (Blue)
17. Jericho – 3:26 (studio version to later appear on Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter)
18. Love Or Money – 4:50 (no studio version)

If you got excited about the idea of a live Joni Mitchell album from the Court & Spark tour, then you’re probably in shock when you look at the set list. No Help me or Free Man In Paris, just People’s Parties. Instead, we’ve got five songs from Blue, five from Ladies Of The Canyon and three from For The Roses.

It may seem crazy but it works beautifully although I’m left with a longing to have the full concert released because I can’t believe that she only played one song from her latest album.

The rating for the set list is docked one point, leaving a very solid 9/10.

Performance

This tour sees Joni Mitchell take her singer songwriter, folk-rock style and add jazz influences.

It’s beautiful.

If you’ve read some of my other reviews, you’ll know that I have an addiction to saxophone and songs are coloured by Tom Scott.

The band was:

• Joni Mitchell – vocals, guitar, dulcimer, piano
• Robben Ford – electric guitar
• Tom Scott – reeds, winds
• Larry Nash – piano
• Max Bennett – bass
• John Guerin – drums, percussion

Here is a live video of Joni Mitchell performing Help Me live in 1974. It’s not on the album.

And Rainy Night House which is on Miles of Aisles.

Miles Of Aisles vs A Joni Mitchell Compilation vs Various Joni Mitchell Studio Albums

This is where my live album bias comes through in trying to help people who want one of two Joni Mitchell live albums find the best choices.

Both Miles Of Ailes and Shadows & Light, her two prime period live albums are very atmospheric, have a good choice of songs and are sufficiently different to make a strong case for buying both.

The is a compilation called Hits, an ironical title, which is also very good.

Plenty of people also rave about her studio albums in the 1970s:

1970: Ladies of the Canyon
1971: Blue
1972: For the Roses
1974: Court and Spark
1975: The Hissing of Summer Lawns
1976: Hejira
1977: Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter

Blue and Court and Spark are probably the picks if you have to narrow it down to two. I have both but when I want to listen to Joni Michell, I turn to her live albums first.

What Other People Say

Miles Of Aisles has featured in a number of the best live albums ever lists:

NME    14
Slate Readers Poll    23
Vox    Best 70

There are plenty of very positive reviews at Amazon as well.

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Buying This Album

To help you to find the album quickly and easily, I’ve given you the following links:

• Amazon.com as a CD or mp3
• Amazon.co.uk as a CD or mp3
• iTunes as a digital download
• eBay as a CD

What Do You Think About Miles Of Aisles?

I like this album a lot.

What do you think? I’ve read that some people don’t think that Joni Mitchell comes over well live but I don’t agree.

What Are The Best Live Albums Of All Time?

Please help me find the best live albums by voting in the readers poll to find the best live album by singer songwriters