Court And Spark
Court And Spark
Even after thirty-five years, Court and Spark (1974) stands as a hallmark
of excellence in Joni Mitchell's remarkable career as a recording artist. It's
obvious that a lot of effort went into this project, and the sound is colorful,
modern and sophisticated. Some of Joni's fans refuse to praise this album
even though (or because) it is her most commercially successful. Some felt
that Joni had betrayed them by moving on with her career and expanding
her horizons. The introspective hippie-girl folksinger had suddenly become
a worldly urban/California woman who was playing music with the big
boys.
Tom Scott and The L.A. Express jazz ensemble were recruited to back the
Canadian singer/songwriter on the album. Jose Feliciano and The Band's
Robbie Robertson play guitar on some tracks while David Crosby and
Graham Nash provide some of the backing vocals. Cheech & Chong even
make a cameo appearance in the amusing Twisted.
In some places on the album, Joni displays a suave confidence as she
ventures into new-found freedoms and responsibilities while role-playing.
Free Man In Paris:
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine
Raised On Robbery:
Hey honey - You've got lots of cash
Bring us round a bottle
And we'll have some laughs
In other places, her vulnerabilities are still evident.
Help Me:
I think I'm falling
In love too fast
It's got me hoping for the future
And worrying about the past
Car On A Hill:
He makes friends easy
He's not like me
I watch for judgement anxiously
Now where in the city can that boy be
Even though a lot of men contributed to Court and Spark, the sound and
mood are very Joni and very feminine. The title track opens the album, and
with it's stark piano/acoustic guitar arrangement, sounds a lot like the Joni
of Blue. Elsewhere on the album, jazzy pop orchestration and sweet
female backing vocals accompany Joni as she boldly strums her acoustic
guitar, tactfully plays piano and beautifully interprets her songs of life, love
and relationships.
Court and Spark is a great album, one of Joni Mitchell's best ever, and
always a pleasure to listen to. The exquisite craftmanship and jazzy
arrangements might be distracting to some, but I actually find those
qualities quite enjoyable when listening to this album. Joni works well in
this fluid setting, and her thought-provoking songs benefit from the smart
production details. A classic!
Another dream over the dam
And you're lying in some room
Feeling like your right to be human
Is going over too
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