Had the record since it first came out in 1977 but had gone off my listening radar for a number of years. Until really the past two weeks, and oh what a glorious recording. From the opening 'Overture - Cotton Avenue' with what some say is the greatest opening bass guitar note, yes its not bad, right through to 'The Silky Veils of Ardor' (probably my least favourite). For me there are five outstanding tracks "Talk to Me" , "Jericho", "Dreamland", "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" and "Off Night Backstreet" . "Paprika Plains" would be up there if the long free piano in the middle was cut down to two minutes long.
We all acept that Joni can write a song, thats a cast iron given, she is peerless but what really elevates the recording into the stratosphere is Jaco Pastorius's bass playing. It just makes you weep to think he went of the rails, and was knifed to death outside a Miami nightclub. Just listen to the recording, put the bass up if you wish, and follow the bass line. This is easy, as apart from Joni's guitar, there is not much more to obscure your listening pleasure. There is, but its very much secondary. A must for any music lover's collection.
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