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Josh Friedberg: Music Historian's Corner writesRediscovering Our Record Collections: “Blue” by Joni Mitchell
Today's "Rediscovering Our Record Collections" entry looks at Joni Mitchell's 1971 album Blue. Joni, often considered an icon of women in music and of introspective singer-songwriters, gained a million-selling album with Blue's confessional songs about love, loss, and travel with minimal musical accompaniment from the likes of James Taylor and Stephen Stills. Despite containing classics like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "The Circle Game," her previous work was considered a small step compared to Blue's powerful, moving lyrics and vocals.
Prior to releasing her first album in 1968, Joni was an art student whose songs were getting covered by the likes of folksingers Judy Collins and Tom Rush, but she quickly emerged as a formidable singer-songwriter and guitarist in her own right. Blue is often considered her greatest masterpiece, noted for its famously confessional and deeply personal lyrics, and yet it has also been called "universal" by a number of critics. I first heard Blue around 1999, and my initial reaction was one of some disappointment.
Mike Bennett writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: Mike Bennett
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from DJ and CHIRP Radio Vice President Mike Bennett.
I listened to at least 120 albums this year, and probably closer to 140. Another fine year for music, making the decisions quite tough. Here's how it shook out for me:
Rubbed in Dirt, Dipped in Sugar writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: John Lombardo
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from DJ and Music Director John Lombardo.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—R.I.P. Larry Lujack Edition
Born in Iowa and raised in Arkansas, Larry Blankenburg dreamed of going into wildlife conservation when he entered the University of Idaho. He got a job at a local radio station just to pick up some cash. His original dreams were put on hold as he worked his way up the ladder to become perhaps the biggest rock 'n' roll DJ in Chicago history. Along the way, he changed his last name to Lujack, after the star Notre Dame football player. Nine years after he got his start in radio, he made it to Chicago, ending up on both sides of the dominant rock stations of the late '60s and early '70s, WCFL and WLS. He started at CFL, quickly moved to WLS (both during 1967), and then jumped back to WCFL, where he was their afternoon drive time star. By the fall of 1976, he was back at WLS and became a morning star, and eventually created his popular Animal Stories feature. What made Larry Lujack great? In an era of fast talking, jiving DJs and nice guys, he dispensed with all apparent artifice. His style was relaxed yet commanding, as he'd praise songs he loved or go off on tangents about things bothering him. He mastered the skill of making it seem like he was talking one-on-one with the listener. This conversational approach became very influential and arguably paved the way for shock jocks, though Larry was merely irreverent. Larry Lujack passed away last night after a long bout with cancer and I went back and listened to some airchecks. Back in the day, he wasn't my go to DJ, but listening now I remembered how great he really was. Let's pay tribute to this Chicago radio legend by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
CHIRP DJ writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: JimK
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from DJ JimK.