15 Comments
May 20, 2022Liked by David Yaffe

Probably my favorite album of hers. I was at a very difficult time in my life when it came out. In the Fall of 1972 I was 17, living in a psychiatric halfway house in DC, and my first love broke up with me right after we listened to it. And yet, in the depths of depression, it somehow uplifted me.

Expand full comment
May 19, 2022Liked by David Yaffe

Thank you for the beautiful memories - both yours, Joni's, and mine.

Expand full comment
author

See Yaffe, David. Reckless Daughter. My study of the most subtle changes in Joni’s voice is microtonal.

Expand full comment

Woman of Heart and Mind has always been, for me, the most emotionally honest song I've ever heard. The kicker is "All this talk about holiness now, must be the start of the latest style ..." what a great bullshit radar she has. :-)

Expand full comment

Still have my vinyl copy of this one from when it was first released. One of my favorites. It NEVER made me feel depressed.....contemplative, pensive, but never depressed. Too wonderful, which is always affirmative. Her voice definitely changed "after James." I'm not just going by recordings. I heard her in concert numerous times (and also have a bootleg vinyl or two). Her voice (still wonderful.... darker, more husky) on COURT AND SPARK sounds very different.

Expand full comment

The comment about cigarettes and her voice is ridiculous. A few years? Seriously? Has the author of this piece never heard her next several albums, including Mingus and Wild Things Run Fast?

Expand full comment