The Hissing of Summer Lawns

In France They Kiss On Main Street
Background voices - G. Nash, D. Crosby, J. Taylor, and Joni Mitchell
Electric guitar - Robben Ford and Jeff Baxter
Acoustic guitar - Joni Mitchell
Electric piano - Victor Feldman
Drums - John Guerin
Bass - Max Bennett

The Jungle Line
Moog and acoustic guitar - Joni Mitchell
and the warrior drums of Burundi

Edith And The Kingpin
Electric piano - Joe Sample
Electric guitar - Larry Carlton
Acoustic guitar - Joni Mitchell
Bass - Wilton Felder
Drums - John Guerin
Horn - Chuck Findley
Sax and flute - Bud Shank

Don't Interrupt The Sorrow
Acoustic guitars - Joni Mitchell
Electric guitars - Larry Carlton
Dobro - Robben Ford
Bass - Wilton Felder
Drums - John Guerin
Congas - Victor Feldman

Shades Of Scarlet Conquering
Piano - Joni Mitchell
Electric piano and vibes - Victor Feldman
Electric guitar - Larry Carlton
Bass - Max Bennett
Drums - John Guerin
String arrangement - Dale Oehler

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Keyboard and percussion - Victor Feldman
Trumpet - Chuck Findley
Sax and Flute - Bud Shank
Guitar - James Taylor
Bass - Max Benett
Arrangement - drums - Moog - John Guerin

The Boho Dance
Keyboards - Joni Mitchell
Bass - Max Bennett
Drums - John Guerin
Flugle horn - Chuck Findley
Bass flute - Bud Shank

Harry's House - Centerpiece
Keyboards - Joe Sample
Guitar - Robben Ford
Trumpets - Chuck Findley
Drums - John Guerin
Bass - Max Bennett

Sweet Bird
Piano and acoustic guitars - Joni Mitchell
Electric guitars - Larry Carlton

Shadows And Light
Arp-Farfisa and voices - Joni Mitchell

This record is a total work conceived graphically, musically, lyrically and accidentally - as a whole. The performances were guided by the given compositional structures and the audibly inspired beauty of every player. The whole unfolded like a mystery. It is not my intention to unravel that mystery for anyone, but rather to offer some additional clues:

"Centerpiece" is a Johnny Mandel-Jon Hendricks tune. John Guerin and I collaborated on "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns." "The Boho Dance" is a Tom Wolfe-ism from the book, "The Painted Word." The poem, "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow" was born around 4 a.m. in a New York loft. Larry Poons seeded it and Bobby Neuwirth was midwife here, but the child filtered thru Genesis at Jackson Lake, Saskatchewan, is rebellious and mystical and insists that its conception was immaculate.

Henry - more than an engineer - Lewy and his assistant Ellis Sorkin, piloted these tapes to their destination; Henry and I mixed them; and Bernie Grundman mastered them at A&M studios in Hollywood.

I drew the cover and designed the package with research help and guidance from Glen Christensen, Electra/Asylum Art Director. The photo is Norman Seeff's.

I would especially like to thank Myrt and Bill Anderson, North Battleford, New York, Saskatoon, Bel-Air, Burbank, Burundi, Orange County, the deep, deep heart of Dixie, Blue, National Geographic Magazine, Helpful Henry The Housewife's Delight - and John Guerin for showing me the root of the chordand where 1 was.

She could see the blue pools in the sqinting sun and hear the hissing of summer lawns...

All songs written and composed by Joni Mitchell copyright 1975 by Crazy Crow Music BMI, except "Centerpiece," written and composed by Johnny Mandel and Jon Hendricks and published by Caphryl Music ASCAP copyright 1958 and "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns," written and composed by John Guerin and Joni Mitchell and published by Crazy Crow Music BMI and Man Man's Drum Music ASCAP. All Lyrics reprinted with permission of the publishers. All Rights reserved.

Max Bennett, Robben Ford, Victor Feldman and John Guerin - Courtesy of The L.A. Express - Caribou Records. Larry Carlton, Wilton Felder and Joe Sample - Courtesy of the Jazz Crusaders-ABC-Blue Thumb Records. Graham Nash, Dave Crosby - Courtesy of ABC Records. James Taylor - Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records.

 » ‘Smug’ Joni, ‘Upbeat’ Neil sing of California’s People (Detroit News)
 » Joni’s new recipe for success (Leicester Mercury)
 » Mitchell, Young and the Decade of Despair (Los Angeles Times)
 » The Pop Life (New York Times)
 » A Summer Garden of Verses (Rolling Stone)
 » More Than a Sprinkling of Symbolism in Joni Mitchell's "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" (Stereo Review)
 » Capturing California's Essence (Washington Post)
 

 » Don't Interrupt The Sorrow (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » Don't Interrupt The Sorrow (Guitar chords by Howard Wright)
 » Edith And The Kingpin (Lead sheet by Lucas Pickford)
 » Edith And The Kingpin (Guitar chords by Howard Wright) - Rated 8.00
 » Harry's House - Centerpiece (Guitar chords by Dylan Rush)
 » Harry's House - Centerpiece (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » In France They Kiss On Main Street (Guitar chords by Marian Russell and Sue McNamara)
 » In France They Kiss On Main Street (Guitar chords by Sue McNamara)
 » In France They Kiss On Main Street (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » Shades Of Scarlett Conquering (Guitar chords by Robin Waite)
 » Shadows And Light (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » Shadows And Light (Guitar chords by Mark Domyancich)
 » Sweet Bird (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » The Jungle Line (Guitar chords by Sue McNamara)
 » The Jungle Line (Guitar chords by Marian Russell)
 » The Jungle Line (Guitar chords by Howard Wright)
 

 » Shadows and Light (by Dave Blackburn)