Joni Mitchell - Songs Chosen by Her Friends & Fellow Musicians

All Music Guide

While the majority of Starbucks/Hear Music's compilations have been trite and predictable, credit must be given to the retailer's Joni Mitchell retrospectiveopting against a standard greatest hits package (which makes sense, given Mitchell's limited commercial impact), Songs Chosen by Her Friends and Fellow Musicians compiles 13 recordings selected by some of the most legendary figures in pop music history, resulting in an eclectic yet complete portrait of the singer/songwriter spanning the entirety of her storied career. Alternating between selections from contemporaries (Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson) and acolytes (Prince, kd lang), the disc cherrypicks material from Mitchell's early singer/songwriter records like the landmark Blue to fusion efforts like Hejira to her lateperiod orchestral albums like Both Sides Nowsome inclusions are obvious ("Free Man in Paris," "For Free") and some are obscure ("Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire," "God Must Be a Boogie Man") but the composite should pl...ease fans because it was chosen by fans, albeit fans who just happen to include some of the most significant figures in rock and roll. - Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide Read more Less