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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)
 

» 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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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.