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Court and Spark

Released: January 17, 1974

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Song Lyrics


 Court And Spark
 Help Me
 Free Man In Paris
 People's Parties
 The Same Situation
 Car On A Hill
 Down To You
 Just Like This Train
 Raised On Robbery
 Trouble Child
 Twisted
 

Additional information:

» Album Notes

Drums and percussion - John Guerin
Bass - Max Bennett (on Trouble Child), Jim Hughart (on People's Parties and Free Man In Paris), Wilton Felder
Chimes (on Court and Spark) - Milt Holland
Woodwinds & reeds - Tom Scott
Trumpet (on Twisted and Trouble Child) - Chuck Findley
Piano - Joni Mitchell
Electric Piano - Joe Sample
Clavinet (on Down To You) - Joni Mitchell
Background voices - Joni Mitchell, David Crosby and Graham Nash (on Free Man In Paris), Susan Webb and David Crosby (on Down To You), Cheech and Chong (on Twisted)
Electric Guitar - Wayne Perkins (on Car On A Hill), Dennis Budimir (on Trouble Child); Robbie Robertson (on Raised on Robbery), Jose Feliciano and Larry Carlton (on Free Man in Paris), Larry Carlton on all others

Joe Sample appears courtesy of The Crusaders and Chisa/Blue Thumb Records Inc.
Larry Carlton appears courtesy of Chisa/Blue Thumb Records Inc.
Jose Feliciano appears courtesy of RCA Records
Cheech & Chong appear courtesy of Ode Records
Robbie Robertson appears courtesy of Capitol Records.

The strings on the 'Same Situation' were arranged by Tom Scott; 'Down To You" arranged by Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott; 'Car On A Hill' arranged by Joni Mitchell

Sound Engineer - Henry Lewy
Mastering Engineer - Bernie Grundman

All songs composed by Joni Mitchell, © 1973 Crazy Crow Music/BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Except 'Twisted,' written by Ross and Grey, © 1965 Prestige Music/BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission

Art Direction / Design - Anthony Hudson
Photography - Norman Seeff
Cover Painting - Joni Mitchell

© 1974 Asylum Records. Mfg. by Elektra / Asylum / Nonesuch Records, a division of Warner Communications Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10023. Printed USA

» Reviews of Court and Spark from the Library

 » Red Roses for a Blue Canyon Lady (Crawdaddy)
 » Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (Crawdaddy)
 » The Record That Changed My Life (Elle.com)
 » JONI MITCHELL'S 'COURT AND SPARK' on record (Guardian)
 » Joni Mitchell - is sweet white wine (Hamilton Journal-News)
 » Insights from Inside Joni Mitchell (Los Angeles Times)
 » Court and Spark (Melody Maker)
 » Joni's Songs Are For Everyone (New York Times)
 » Joni Sells Out, But Still Sounds Blue (Oakland Tribune)
 » A Delicate Balance (Rolling Stone)
 » Top 20: The Times, They Are A-Middlin' (Rolling Stone)
 » Joni Mitchell on love (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
 » Joni - A Leader Once Again (Sounds)
 » Mitchell and Lightfoot: The He and The She of it (Stereo Review)
 » From All Sides (Syracuse Post-Standard)
 » Court and Spark and Superbear (TheFatherLife.com)
 » The Court and Spark 180 gram LP (Tracking Angle)
 » Court and Spark (Zoo World)
 

» Guitar Transcriptions

 » Court And Spark (Guitar tablature by Mark Domyancich)
 » Free Man In Paris (Guitar chords by Mark Domyancich)
 » Free Man In Paris (Guitar chords by Julie P. Wilks)
 » Free Man In Paris (Guitar tablature by Howard Wright) - Rated 7.00
 » Help Me (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » Help Me (Guitar chords by John V. Verkuilen)
 » Help Me (Guitar chords by Hits songbook)
 » Just Like This Train (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » People's Parties (Guitar tablature by Howard Wright) - Rated 9.00
 » Raised On Robbery (Guitar chords by Hits songbook)
 » Trouble Child (Guitar chords by Marian Russell) - Rated 8.00
 

» Piano Transcriptions

 » Down to You (by Dave Blackburn) - Rated 10.00
 » The Same Situation (by Dave Blackburn) - Rated 10.00
 » The Same Situation (piano only) (by Dave Blackburn)
 

Comments on this album

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brentholcomb84 on 2010-Mar-03 at 02:31:53 GMT-5:
So groovy, so jazzy, so reflective. The piano chords are astonishingly hip and plaintive at the same time. Trouble Child is such a gem: "Why does it come as such a shock to know that you really have no one?" Joni, I may not have a man, but I have your music, worth more than any coyote. Thank you for creating this masterpiece. You've blown my mind so many times with this record. With love, Brent Holcomb
sweet.bird on 2009-Nov-05 at 11:56:54 GMT-5:
much agreed with kenny!
this record moved and continues to move me when listening.
LKay09 on 2009-Jul-22 at 13:09:52 GMT-5:
I'm conflicted in my opinion of this album... OF COURSE I purchased it because by now I was completely obsessed with Joni Mitchell... but for me, this album came from 'left field'. It was very different from her earlier work and wasn't sure if I was feeling it.

One memory from this album I will always treasure is while living overseas with my Aunt (while attending school) who didn't speak much English. But she LOVED the song, "Help Me" -- she understood that, and thought it was a hoot! :-D  [ed.]
KennyB on 2009-Mar-11 at 14:13:18 GMT-5:
Following her previous five albums, this collection best epitomizes Joni's arrival at a new plateau. Filled with intelligent, reflective and creative songwriting; often complex arrangements; and masterful, tasteful instrumentals, this album best represents Joni's music as far as I'm concerned.