Court and Spark
Release date: January 17, 1974
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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 the album from the Library:
- Joni - A Leader Once Again: Sounds Magazine, December 22, 1973
- Joni's Songs Are For Everyone: New York Times, January 6, 1974
- Joni Mitchell Album, Tour: Record World, January 19, 1974
- Court and Spark: Melody Maker, January 20, 1974
- Joni for the charts: Record & Radio Mirror, January 26, 1974
- Pop Picks: Cashbox, January 26, 1974
- Joni’s quest grows intense: Michigan Daily, January 30, 1974
- Dylan, Mitchell create new moods: Vidette (Illinois State University), January 31, 1974
- Joni Mitchell: beautiful as singer and songwriter: Chicago Daily Herald, February 1, 1974
- Court and Spark: Sounds Magazine, February 2, 1974
- Insights from Inside Joni Mitchell: Los Angeles Times, February 3, 1974
- Joni Mitchell - is sweet white wine: Journal News (Hamilton, OH), February 3, 1974
- Wrecord Wrap: The Yell (UNLV), February 3, 1974
- Joni Mitchell up to snuff: University Daily (Texas Tech), February 5, 1974
- Stereoscopes: San Diego Door, February 7, 1974
- Growing old - and maudlin - in the folk world: Toronto Globe and Mail, February 9, 1974
- Joni Mitchell breaks from the mold: Daily Illini, February 9, 1974
- New Albums: Joni Mitchell, Lightfoot, Slick: Cincinnati Enquirer, February 10, 1974
- Joni Mitchell’s latest album conveys ‘convincing emotions’: News Record, University of Cincinnati, February 12, 1974
- Joni Mitchell Reveals Her Soul In Fresh Fashion: Camden Courier-Post, February 13, 1974
- Mitchell’s new album ‘sparks’ surprise: Daily Nebraskan, February 14, 1974
- male groopie wanted: Berkeley Barb, February 22, 1974
- Joni Mitchell- perpetual motion machine: Brown Daily Herald, February 23, 1974
- Falling in love with Joni: Daily Princetonian, February 25, 1974
- A Delicate Balance: Rolling Stone, February 28, 1974
- Ellpees might just please: Crimson White (U Alabama), February 28, 1974
- Album Review: Joni Mitchell: ‘Court and Spark’: Marin Women’s News Journal, March 1, 1974
- Court and Spark: Spectrum (Buffalo University), March 1, 1974
- Joni Mitchell courts and sparks: Griffin (Buffalo NY), March 1, 1974
- Joni Sells Out, But Still Sounds Blue: Oakland Tribune, March 1, 1974
- love’s continuing saga: Great Speckled Bird, March 4, 1974
- Joni Mitchell Is Music: New Mexico Daily Lobo, March 5, 1974
- Joni Mitchell on love: Saskatoon StarPhoenix, March 8, 1974
- Joni’s masterpiece: Record Mirror, March 9, 1974
- Court and Spark: Manitoban, March 11, 1974
- Court and Spark: Zoo World, March 14, 1974
- Joni Mitchell tries change of pace: Rice Thresher (Houston), March 14, 1974
- Contemporaries cut ‘great’ albums: Daily Kent Stater, March 15, 1974
- Joni Mitchell’s talents shine: Colgate News (Colgate U), March 15, 1974
- From All Sides: Syracuse Post-Standard, March 16, 1974
- JONI MITCHELL'S 'COURT AND SPARK' on record: Guardian, March 22, 1974
- 33 1/3: Court and Spark: Houston Daily Cougar, March 28, 1974
- Aftermath: Mankato State Daily Reporter, March 28, 1974
- Red Roses for a Blue Canyon Lady: Crawdaddy, April 1974
- Joni Mitchell's Music Described as 'Beautiful': Baton Rouge State Times, April 3, 1974
- Court and Spark: Los Angeles Free Press, April 16, 1974
- Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark: Choragos (Mount Holyoke College), April 18, 1974
- The Perceptive Joni Mitchell: Canberra Times (Australia), April 22, 1974
- Mitchell and Lightfoot: The He and The She of it: Stereo Review, May 1974
- Joni Mitchell's Search for Satisfaction: Circus RAVES (Magazine), June 1974
- Top 20: The Times, They Are A-Middlin': Rolling Stone, June 6, 1974
- New found sounds: Chanticleer (Jacksonville State University), July 22, 1974
- Women in Music: Branching Out (Edmonton), August 1974
- The Court and Spark 180 gram LP: Tracking Angle, April 1998
- Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark: Crawdaddy, December 20, 2006
- Court and Spark and Superbear: TheFatherLife.com, June 19, 2009
- The Record That Changed My Life: Elle.com, June 28, 2009
- Court and Spark Revisited: Analog Planet, November 1, 2010
- Court and Spark: Blog, May 19, 2011
- The Cyclic Nature of Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark: Canadian Journal of Music, January 2014
- Counterbalance No. 159: Joni Mitchell's 'Court and Spark': PopMatters, January 17, 2014
- Sheila Weller on Joni Mitchell and the 40th anniversary of “Court and Spark”: Midlife at the Oasis, January 18, 2014
- Classic Tracks: Los Angeles Edition: MIX - The Recording Industry Magazine, October 1, 2014
- Joni Mitchell’s intriguing jazz period began 41 years ago: ‘An incredible legacy in music’ : Something Else! (Website), January 2, 2015
- Free, Open Spaces: Brian Eno's Favourite Records: Quietus, April 13, 2016
- How 'Girls' Helped Me Rediscover Joni Mitchell: Culture Sonar, March 7, 2017
- Joni Mitchell’s ‘Court and Spark’: A Significant Pivot: BestClassicBands.com, November 16, 2017
- Maria Doyle Kennedy: Joni Mitchell taught me not to feel sorry for myself: Irish Times, December 1, 2017
- Belted out by my mom in a VW Beetle: a young boy’s perfect Joni Mitchell moment: Salon.com, March 24, 2018
- listening to joni: #6: court and spark: We Move To Canada, August 1, 2018
Transcriptions of songs from the album:
Court And Spark Lyrics & More
Comments on Court and Spark
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Toonful on :
I can't seem to find the extra players on "Down to You", specifically French horn and bassoon. Surely this information exists, and I know it's not Tom Scott playing. As a professional musician myself, I think it's a shame when sidemen aren't credited. So . . . ?
Ian Welland on :
I have to agree with Randyvent. 'Court and Spark' is a great listen. 'Free Man in Paris' is one of Joni's greatest tracks - brilliant lyrics with superb music and production throughout. I can so relate to 'People's Parties' when I was a teenager; but for me, 'Down To You' is outstanding - the lyrics are so memorable and I can recall word for word; the music is a dream (a section is not too dissimilar to Captain and Tennile's 'Wedding Song') - 'Down To You' is the perfect Joni mid-70s song that has stood the test of time.
JuanM on :
11/12/2015 tonite Im playing the hdcd on my laptop with headphones, and yes, sounds amazing.
Randyvent on :
Free Man in Paris alone makes this album a masterpiece. But, seriously....People's Parties, Down To You, Trouble Child, Help Me, Twisted, etc....Court and Spark is a great listen.
salinasman on :
So I am old enough to remember when this album was released. I was a high school senior listening to rock music of the times...KMET, a now defunct FM station out of Los Angeles played this whole album on the air on a Sunday night. I was blown away by the music, the lyrics, the voice. It was music that I fell in love with. This ablum has seen me thru good times and bad times. It is a timeless piece that ranks as one of the greatest musical works of the 20th century. A very humble person thanks you for this album Joni Mitchell.
brentholcomb84 on :
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 :
much agreed with kenny!
this record moved and continues to move me when listening.
LKay09 on :
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 :
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.
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