Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark [Rhino 180g LP (2009)] 24-bit/96kHz and CD-compatible format

Court and Spark is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Released in January 1974, the album saw Mitchell infusing her folk-rock style, which she developed throughout her previous five albums, with jazz inflections. A very accessible and commercially-appealing album, Court and Spark was Mitchell's commercial and popular triumph — it wasn't only praised by critics (as were all of her albums of the 1970s) but was also received very warmly by the public, becoming her most successful album. It reached #2 in the United States and #1 in Canada and eventually received a Double Platinum certification by the RIAA, the highest during Mitchell's career. In 2003 it was listed at #111 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

History

1973 was the first year during Mitchell's contract with Reprise Records that she didn't release a new album. Her previous offering, For the Roses was released in November 1972 with critical and commercial success, and Mitchell decided to spend the whole next year writing and recording a new album that revealed her growing interest in new sounds — particularly jazz. During 1973, her stage appearances were less than in previous years. She performed in April in a benefit concert at the Sir George Williams University Auditorium and then appeared live again in August twice at The Corral Club, accompanied by Neil Young. She spent most of the year in the recording studio, creating Court and Spark. Finally, in December, Reprise released a new single, her first in over a year, "Raised on Robbery". The public was surprised as Mitchell had released a rock'n'roll number in the old-fashioned style of the 1950s. Maybe because of this unexpected artistic move, the single only reached #65 on the Billboard Singles Charts.

Court and Spark was released in January 1974. Critics and the public embraced the album kindly, and its success was reaffirmed when the follow-up single, "Help Me", was released in March, receiving heavy radio airplay, and becoming Mitchell's first and only Top 10 single in the Billboard charts — it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the first week of June, and also reached #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. Court and Spark went on to be a big-seller that year, peaking at #2 on the Billboard album charts and staying there for four weeks. The album became the pinnacle of Mitchell's commercial success. The album was kept from the top spot by three #1 albums — in order Bob Dylan's Planet Waves, Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were and John Denver's Greatest Hits.

Honors

February 27, 1974 Court and Spark certified Gold.
In 1974, Court and Spark was voted the 'Best Album of the Year' in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll
In 2003, Court and Spark was ranked #111 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time'.
In 2006, Court and Spark was included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Professional reviews:

Allmusic.com rating: 5 out ot Stars (link)
Robert Christgau (A) (link)
Rolling Stone: 5 out of 5 Stars (link)

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Joni Mitchell; except where indicated.

Side A

"Court and Spark" – 2:46
"Help Me" – 3:22
"Free Man in Paris" – 3:02
"People's Parties" – 2:15
"Same Situation" – 2:57

Side B

"Car on a Hill" – 3:02
"Down to You" – 5:38
"Just Like this Train" – 4:24
"Raised on Robbery" – 3:06
"Trouble Child" – 4:00
"Twisted" – 2:21 (Originally performed by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross)

Personnel

Joni Mitchell - Vocals, including background; acoustic guitar; piano; clavinet on "Down to You"
John Guerin - Drums and percussion
Wilton Felder - Bass
Max Bennett - Bass on "Trouble Child"
Jim Hughart - Bass on "People's Parties" and "Free Man in Paris"
Milt Holland - Chimes on "Court and Spark"
Tom Scott - Woodwinds and reeds
Chuck Findley - Trumpet on "Twisted" and "Trouble Child"
Joe Sample - Electric piano, clavinet on "Raised on Robbery".
David Crosby - Background vocals on "Free Man in Paris" and "Down to You"
Graham Nash - Background vocals on "Free Man in Paris"
Susan Webb - Background vocals on "Down to You"
Larry Carlton - Electric guitar
Wayne Perkins - Electric guitar on "Car on a Hill"
Dennis Budimir - Electric guitar on "Trouble Child"
Robbie Robertson - Electric guitar on "Raised on Robbery"
José Feliciano - Electric guitar on "Free Man in Paris"
Cheech Marin - Background voice on "Twisted"
Tommy Chong - Background voice on "Twisted"

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