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COURT AND SPARK completed Joni Mitchell's transition from folk-singer to sophisticated rock auteur. In addition to her meticulously crafted melodies and evocative, image-rich lyrics, the songs here are breezy and immediately appealing. This is in part due to Tom Scott's L.A. Express, a sinuous jazz-based combo, but also to Mitchell's knack for pop hooks, which abound on COURT AND SPARK. The album's accessibility made it Mitchell's most commercially successful, yet the personal intensity and insight of her songwriting never wavers.
"Help Me" was a hit single, as was "Free Man in Paris," an expansive pop frolic that is reputedly a dig at industry mogul David Geffen. Mitchell returns to the terrain of piano balladry on "The Same Situation" and "Down to You"; yet even on these, as on the excellent social satire "People's Parties," one can hear the influence of jazz on her vocal phrasing and intonations. The rock-&-roll romp "Raised on Robbery" and the bluesy, comic swing of "Twisted" mix things up a bit, showing the artist's increasing ability to master and manipulate any form. COURT AND SPARK is one of Mitchell's finest albums, confirming her standing as one of the most important and subtle talents of the rock era.
All songs written by Joni Mitchell except "Twisted" (Ross/Grey).
Live Recording
Composer: Joni Mitchell.
Personnel: Joni Mitchell (vocals, guitar, piano, Clavinet, keyboards, background vocals); Joni Mitchell; Cheech & Chong (vocals, background vocals); Dennis Dudimir (electric guitar); Victor Feldman (keyboards, percussion); Jim Hughart, Max Bennett, Wilton Felder (bass instrument); Chong, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin (background vocals); Graham Nash (vocals, harmonica, background vocals); David Crosby, Susan Webb (vocals, background vocals); Dennis Budimir, José Feliciano, Larry Carlton, Robbie Robertson, Wayne Perkins (guitar, electric guitar); Tom Scott (reeds, woodwinds, wind); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Joe Sample (electric piano, keyboards); John Guerin (drums, percussion); Milt Holland (percussion, chimes).
Photographer: Norman Seeff.
Arrangers: Joni Mitchell; Tom Scott.
Personnel: Joni Mitchell (vocals, piano, Clavinet); Larry Carlton, Dennis Budimir, Robbie Robertson, Jose Feliciano (guitar); Tom Scott (woodwinds, reeds); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Joe Sample (electric piano); Max Bennett, Jim Hughart, Wilton Felder (bass); John Guerin (drums, percussion); Milt Holland (chimes); David Crosby, Graham Nash, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Susan Webb (background vocals).
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.120) - Ranked #111 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "Mitchell settles into a folk-pop-jazz groove that remains a landmark of breezy sophistication..." Rolling Stone (6/22/00, p.134) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...An album that not only represents the culmination of Mitchell's folk-rock period but also signals the many musical experiments in her future....[It] was - and still is - [her] most commercially successful album..."
Mitchell was great way back then -and still is If you want to start to build up a Joni Mitchell CD collection, maybe this is the place to begin. The influence from jazz is felt very strongly on several tracks, but she was still very much the folkie that she had been for several years. Her singing and her lyrics are woderful and note the extraordiary crisp sounds coming from the late John Guerin whose drumming is sorely missed today. What a trip this is! Submitted by sm.and (Hvidovre, Denmark) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 2 found this helpful.
Joni's Dressed Up & Thats Good! I got aquainted with Joni through 'For The Roses' and being a radio programmer, 'You Turn Me On' from that lp turned my head and made me check out the rest of the music on the album. Remembering Big Yellow Taxi's writer as this artist I didn't expect much. But soon, I began adding tracks to the playlist from 'For The Roses' and listeners responded. Court & Spark turned out to be the exception rather than the rule that a poor album follows a good one. Her lyrics on C&S hit home in a lot of ways. The hit stuff was great, but songs like 'Trouble Child', 'Down To You', 'Car On A Hill' were standards to some of us who felt she was touching deep inside to reveal herself in these intonations of soul. The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter & Others followed. I think even Joni will admit they don't touch the revealing beauty of Court & Spark and some of it's songs. Submitted by Mikel J (Capitol District, NY State) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Best Album of 1974 This album is not only the best of Joni's career (to date) but was the best by anyone in the year 1974. It took the template of the excellent 'Blue' and 'For the Roses' and expanded it to an album that plays like a single continuous piece of brilliant music; the tunes fit together like movements in a symphony of folk, pop, rock, and jazz. The production by Larry Carlton was flawless, and the radio success of the singles didn't detract from the superb cuts not heard by those who didn't buy the album, notably 'Car on a Hill', 'People's Parties', 'Raised on Robbery' and others. This was a gem that was the culmination of her run of six great albums at the outset of her career; her next two are aquired tastes for core Joni fans and though very good (especially 'Hejira') do not match the excellence she showed here. This beat out Bob Dylan's 'Blood on the Tracks' as the best track for track disc in 1974. I am a music reviewer with an extensive music collection and I placed this album in the top twenty all time in 2000. A must have for anyone who enjoys good music of any genre. Submitted by Frank (San Diego, CA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The Greatness Of Joni The greatness of Joni is shown in this magnifciant album.
the music is refreshing and innovative.
the sophisticated lyrics come from the heart wrapped in an amazing way with the charming jazz like music.
I think it's more mature than "Blue" and starts the beggining of cooporation with great Jazz legends (the wonderful shadows and light). Submitted by Lior (Tel Aviv. Israel) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A true Masterpiece for all ages..... Just one of many Joni Mitchell masterpieces, but this one was special
as her voice, music and lyrics just
all came together to give the world
one of the finest collections of songs
in the pop/rock era. I was a 16 year
old back in 1974 and rock music was
really coming into its own, the artists & studio technology
were putting out some great stuff and
along comes this brillant sonic jem, it
blew me away. It stood out along side
the best of Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac,
Steely Dan to list a few. Court & Spark is still mentioned
by all the great artists to this day
who put music out during the 70's-80's-90's right through today, from beginning
to end a musical blockbuster. Submitted by littlebibs (Kingston, NH USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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