Released in 1970 a year before her most critical success the introspective and deeply personal Blue, Ladies Of The Canyon perhaps paved the way as its popularity enabled Roberta Joan Anderson - stage name Joni Mitchell to stop touring for a year to spend time writing and painting (the painting you can see above on the record sleeve is one of several Joni did for her LP sleeves).
Back to Ladies Of The Canyon. The canyon in question was Laurel Canyon in California. In the 1960's it housed the cream of counterculture west coast American singers with residents including Frank Zappa, The Byrds, Neil Young and Love. This fertile breeding ground inspired a generation fed up with the mass produced pop of the late 60's and Joni's close association with Crosby (Crosby brought Joni to California after being amazed by her talent after walking into a bar in Florida), Stills, Nash (one of Joni's lovers) and Young greatly influenced her sound slightly away from her earlier folk period and before the more introspective and experimental jazz sound that formed her later output. They also provided background vocals on this record and Graham Nash wrote "Our House" at this time as an ode to Joni.
The album spawned a number of hits most notably "Woodstock" and "Big Yellow Taxi" but the track i want you to hear is the title track "Ladies of the Canyon". If its lush harmonies and beautiful imagery don't make you smile and remind you of glorious summer day then i suppose nothing will. Wrap up warm!
