Week #20: Blue and The Blue Album (May 29)

Blue and The Blue Album

Week #20 – May 29

Blue
by Joni Mitchell

Little know facts

After a breakup with Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell traveled through Europe, including time spent on the island of Crete. This journey inspired songs like “Carey” and “California,” infusing the album with a sense of wanderlust and emotional vulnerability.

The hauntingly beautiful “Little Green” is about the daughter Mitchell gave up for adoption in 1965. The song remained a deeply personal secret until its release on Blue, and it wasn’t until decades later that Mitchell reunited with her daughter.

While romantically involved with Joni Mitchell, James Taylor contributed guitar work to several tracks, including “A Case of You” and “California.” His presence added a layer of intimacy and musical chemistry to the album.

Learn more

The Blue Album
by Weezer

Little know facts

Rivers Cuomo once admitted that “Undone – The Sweater Song” was “almost a complete rip-off” of Metallica’s “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” though the final product took on a much more ironic and poppy tone.

Out of all ten tracks, only “No One Else” is in standard tuning. The rest of the album is played in a half-step-down tuning (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb), which became a signature sound for early Weezer.

The minimalist blue background and band lineup photo were a deliberate homage to a budget Beach Boys compilation album. Producer Ric Ocasek loved the idea and helped bring it to life.

Learn more