It's a three way tie: the album cover and inside, even the inner sleeve are deep dark blue with the faintest photo in front; one of the songs is called "Blue", and the whole mood of the album is a wistful sadness, lightened with an occasionally pleasant memory (such as "Carey") that never quite dispels the melancholy.

Blue, as Circular readers might recall, was originally titled River. When it was River it featured two songs, "Urge for Going" and "Hunter," neither of which found their way to Blue. Instead Joni entered "All I Want" and "The Last Time I Saw Richard." The world has yet to receive Joni's version of "Urge for Going," a song she wrote a while ago that has since been recorded by those too numerous. Blue's musical accompaniment is provided by Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Sneaky Pete and Russ Kunkel. "Working with other musicians seems to have loosened her up a bit," noted friend Peter Asher. "Blue is definitely her best yet."

Joni wrote it, produced it (though no production credit appears on the album), sang it, played it, lived it. "It's a very personal album," understated Mitchell manager Elliott Roberts.

"It'll be a very successful album," understated WB Sales Mogul Ed Rosenblatt.