Gave this one a spin as my morning wake-up call today. WHAT an amazing record! Joni's songwriting is so incredibly strong here. It's chock full of amazing songs and amazing performances. I only own three Joni Mitchell records, the others being Clouds and Court and Spark. All three of them are very good, but Ladies of The Canyon (1970) is easily my favorite. And by the way, the sound on the remaster is just unbelievable..........it sure doesn't sound like a record that was recorded in 1970. FYI, "Willy" was written for Joni's lover at the time, Graham Nash ("Willy is my child, he is my Father. I would be his lady all my life"). The record ends stunningly with three tunes which are nothing short of classics: Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock, The Circle Game.

This record reminds me of the recent Vanity Fair article which Yankeefan01 posted. It's about the Laurel Canyon L.A. music scene in the late 60's early 70's. Let me quote from it:

CHRIS HILLMAN: I think the West Coast was more open to ladies in the business. I mean, what Joni Mitchell did was way far and above what most of the guys, myself included, could do as a songwriter or guitar player.

DAVID CROSBY: When I was with Joni, I'd write a song like “Guinnevere”—probably the best song I ever wrote—I'd play it for her, and she'd say, “That's wonderful, David, here, listen to these ones.” Then she'd sing me four that were that good. It was a humbling experience for a writer.

JONI MITCHELL: As a girl, I was kind of allowed to be one of the boys. I was told that boys were able to be themselves around me. Somehow I was, in my youth, trusted by men. And I was able to be a catalyst in bringing interesting men together.

LADIES OF THE CANYON (1970)

1. Morning Morgantown
2. For Free
3. Conversation
4. Ladies of The Canyon
5. Willy
6. The Arrangement
7. Rainy Night House
8. The Priest
9. Blue Boy
10. Big Yellow Taxi
11. Woodstock
12. The Circle Game

Produced by Joni Mitchell. Engineered and advised by Henry Lewy.

[Edited on 4/11/2015 by robslob]