For The Roses
	no production credits
	Released on November 1972
	US CHART POSITION #11 . . . GOLD RECORD (12/22/72)
	Find it at GEMM
SD 5057 cover [high resolution photo]

A good album sandwiched between two great ones. For The Roses is a slightly more musical affair than Blue, including horn arrangements and even electic guitar in spots. In these instances, the album is a harbinger of Court And Spark (“Electricity,” “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire,” “You Turn Me On I’m A Radio”). However, defining the album in terms of its neighbors seems like a lazy occupation, so we’ll talk about what Roses is. Poetry, of course (“Banquet,” “Judgement of the Moon And Stars”). A flawless mirror sometimes (“For The Roses”). An open diary into a love affair with a rock star (“See You Sometime,” “Blonde In The Bleachers”). Intimidating always in terms of Joni’s genius. There are some dry patches that prevent Roses from joining her best work, but the fertile stretches when fleshed-out arrangements amble on stage take your breath away. Blue clearly gave her the confidence to test her wings, and she flys on For The Roses. The connection she has to her music is unvarnished; the inspiration flows easy. As she sings: “You know the times you impress me most / Are the times when you don’t try.” There’s a natural genius at work here that shows Blue wasn’t an anamolous indigo mood. Joni is plugged into a musical spring that even Ponce de Leon might envy. The butterfly celerity of her singing voice, the high-minded arrangements show a ready access to all musical avenues. For The Roses may lack a timeless hit but its virtues are immortal. Given the experimental nature of her later albums, fans of Court and Blue would do best to buy Roses first.

SD 5057 lyric gatefold	SD 5057 back cover

TRACK LISTING

1. BANQUET    3:00
2. COLD BLUE STEEL AND SWEET FIRE    4:17
3. BARANGRILL    2:53
4. LESSON IN SURVIVAL    3:10
5. LET THE WIND CARRY ME    3:55
6. FOR THE ROSES    3:46
7. SEE YOU SOMETIME    2:58
8. ELECTRICITY    3:00
9. YOU TURN ME ON I'M A RADIO    2:40
10. BLONDE IN THE BLEACHERS    2:40
11. WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND    2:36
12. JUDGEMENT OF THE MOON AND STARS (LUDWIG'S TUNE)    5:25
    
    All songs composed by Joni Mitchell

CREDITS

JONI MITCHELL -- vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, painting
James Burton -- electric guitar (1)
Wilton Felder -- bass
Bobbye Hall -- percussion
Russ Kunkel -- drums
Graham Nash -- harmonica
Bobby Notkoff -- strings Tommy Scott -- woodwinds and reeds
Stephen Stills -- rock 'n' roll band (10)
Henry Lewy -- sound and guidance
Anthony Hudson -- art direction/design
Joel Bernstein -- photography

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