{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = Taming the Tiger | type = studio | artist = [[Joni Mitchell]] | cover = Joni Tiger.jpg | alt = | released = September 29, 1998 | studio = | genre = * [[Alternative rock|Adult alternative]] * [[jazz]]<ref name="RSAlbum">{{cite book |chapter=Joni Mitchell |chapter-url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/joni-mitchell/albumguide|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/547 547] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |year=2004 |publisher=Fireside |location=London |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |ref=RSAlbum |title-link=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |archive-date=July 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731021221/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/joni-mitchell/albumguide |url-status=dead }}</ref> | length = 43:17 | label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]] | producer = [[Joni Mitchell]] | prev_title = [[Misses (Joni Mitchell album)|Misses]] | prev_year = 1996 | next_title = [[Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell album)|Both Sides Now]] | next_year = 2000 }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r374853 |title=Taming the Tiger – Joni Mitchell | AllMusic |first=J. |last=Chrispell |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |accessdate=July 19, 2011}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'' | rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=Mitchell, Joni|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|location=London|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|edition=5th concise|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev3score = A−<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,63735,00.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120731162858/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,63735,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 31, 2012 |title=Taming the Tiger Review | Music Reviews and News |first=Ken |last=Tucker |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |year=2011 |access-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=248 |title=JoniMitchell.com Library: Still Hard: Q, October 1998 |first=Stuart |last=Maconie |work=jonimitchell.com |year=2011 |accessdate=July 19, 2011}}</ref> | rev5 = [[Robert Christgau]] | rev5score = [[Image:Rating-Christgau-choice-cut.png|16px|(choice cut)]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=joni+mitchell |title=Robert Christgau: CG: joni mitchell |first=R. |last=Christgau |work=robertchristgau.com |year=2011 |accessdate=July 19, 2011}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/joni-mitchell The Rolling Stone Album Guide – Joni Mitchell]</ref> }} '''''Taming the Tiger''''' is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian musician [[Joni Mitchell]]. Released on September 29, 1998, through [[Reprise Records]], it is the follow-up to the successful ''[[Turbulent Indigo]]'' (1994). The album was, at the time, widely believed to be her last of completely original material; this would be disproved with the release of ''[[Shine (Joni Mitchell album)|Shine]]'' in 2007.
Contributors to ''Taming the Tiger'' include [[Larry Klein]] on bass and [[Wayne Shorter]] on saxophone. The album combines the jazz stylings of much of her work with a textured, [[ambient music|ambient]]-esque sound, indebted to her use of the Roland VG-8 virtual guitar system.
''Taming the Tiger'' did not achieve the same level of success as its predecessor, peaking at number 86 in Mitchell's native Canada and number 75 in the US. However, it received positive reviews from critics and was considered a continuation of a return to form which started with ''[[Night Ride Home]]'' (1991).
==Background== ''Taming the Tiger'' features prominent use of the Roland VG-8 virtual guitar system. This setup allowed Mitchell to switch between different alternate tunings with the press of a button rather than having to retune the guitar between each song – the frustration of which was a main factor in her decision to give up touring after 1983.<ref name="Uncut">{{cite web |url=https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=5054 |website=jonimitchell.com |title=Lost cats, rediscovered daughters and the love of a new synth guitar. The end - perhaps... |date=19 May 2017 |access-date=1 March 2023 |last=Lewis |first=John}}</ref> While the guitar remained in standard tuning, its sound would be processed to create the sound of the alternative tuning she had chosen. The unique sound of the guitar, described by [[David Yaffe (music critic)|David Yaffe]] in ''Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell'' as "a computerized approximation of a guitar with a head cold", created a more atmospheric, ambient sound which is prevalent throughout the album.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/joni-mitchell-taming-the-tiger-album-8477480/ |magazine=Billboard |title=Joni Mitchell's 'Taming the Tiger' Turns 20: Why the Spaced-Out Album Deserves More Applause |last=Enos |first=Morgan |date=29 September 2018 |access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref>
==Notable covers== "Man from Mars" was covered by [[Kristen Vigard]] in the 1996 film, ''[[Grace of My Heart]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends who Changed Music Forever |first1=Scott |last1=Schinder |first2=Andy |last2=Schwartz |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2008 |isbn=9780313338472 |page=429}}</ref> "Man from Mars" was also covered by [[Chaka Khan]] in 2000 for her live concert DVD ''The Jazz Channel Presents Chaka Khan''.
==Track listing== All tracks composed and arranged by Joni Mitchell; except where indicated
#"Harlem in Havana" – 4:25 #"Man from Mars" – 4:09 #"Love Puts on a New Face" – 3:46 #"Lead Balloon" – 3:38 #"No Apologies" – 4:17 #"Taming the Tiger" – 4:18 #"The Crazy Cries of Love" (music: Joni Mitchell; lyrics: [[Don Freed]]) – 3:54 #"Stay in Touch" – 2:59 #"Face Lift" – 4:41 #"My Best to You" (Gene Willadsen, [[Isham Jones]]) – 2:52 #"Tiger Bones" – 4:18
== Personnel == '''Musicians''' * Joni Mitchell – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion; bass (tracks 2, 5, 10)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jonimitchell.com/paintings/view.cfm?id=233|title=Joni Mitchell - Taming the Tiger - paintings}}</ref> * Femi Jiya – spoken vocals (barker) on "Harlem in Havana" * [[Michael Landau]] – low lead guitar on "Lead Balloon" * [[Greg Leisz]] – [[pedal steel guitar]] * [[Wayne Shorter]] – saxophone * [[Larry Klein]] – bass * [[Brian Blade]] – drums * [[Mark Isham]] – trumpet (track 8)
'''Production''' * Dan Marnien, Tony Phillips, Femi Jiya – engineer * Joni Mitchell, Dan Marnien – mixing * Joni Mitchell, Robbie Cavolina – art direction
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance for ''Taming the Tiger'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1998) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Canada|86|chartid=7035|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|79|id=28702|artist=Joni Mitchell|album=Taming the Tiger|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Norway|25|artist=Joni Mitchell|album=Taming the Tiger|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|57|date=19981004|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|75|artist=Joni Mitchell|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|90|date=19981004|rowheader=true|access-date=28 April 2024}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Joni Mitchell}}
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[[Category:Joni Mitchell albums]] [[Category:1998 albums]] [[Category:Reprise Records albums]] [[Category:Albums with cover art by Joni Mitchell]] [[Category:Albums produced by Joni Mitchell]]