Record basics

• Album name: Miles of Aisles
• Group name: Joni Mitchell and the L.A. Express
• Year: 1974
• Number of discs: two
• Label: Asylum Records
• Collection: Selman
• Distinguishing characteristics: “PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT FOR SALE” sticker on front, “PROMOTIONAL COPY FOR BROADCAST & REVIEW / NOT FOR SALE” sticker on back
• Buy it:
  • Amazon (Vinyl): $13.95
  • Amazon (CD): $17.99

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I’ve heard a lot of Joni Mitchell’s music over the years, but never had a strong opinion about her either way.

What I expected

Acoustic folk rock with intense vocals.

What it was actually like

This was a live record that was significantly jazzier than I thought (with a little bit of funk). I was surprised at how little of the material I recognized!

I did learn from this record that the famous (and somewhat annoying) Joni Mitchell song about paving paradise and putting up a parking lot is actually called Big Yellow Taxi, and the live version I heard on this record was better than the studio version that I hear all the time. The Circle Game was a bit weaker, though.

Ultimately I didn’t really like this record for the same reason that I don’t usually listen to Joni Mitchell: boring songs that exist to showcase a singer’s amazing vocal ability are… still boring songs.

Grade

3/5: interesting, but not for me