Court and Spark - Mitchell, Joni (CD 2000)

The only thing (and I'm sure most young people too) knew about Joni Mitchell was "Big Yellow Taxi" and how Blue was such a classic album. These past few months curiosity got the best of me after reading about her career and her transition from folk to jazz-rock. I decided to start with her most famous album Court And Spark. This is the album that gave her (a very short lived) fame. This is also her first album that she ventures into jazz-rock.

My first opinion was that it was too 70s for me and that her voice was too deep. Yes, in this album she mostly sings in alto. From the song I heard from her, her voice was very high and in soprano. But I read she got tired of singing that way and wanted to use her voice in a deeper way. After many listens I find out that the 70s ness didn't matter, the musicianship is tight and her voice is smooth. Not to mention, she writes great lyrics and is a great guitarist/pianist.

The album starts with the title track (Court And Spark if you don't get it). It begins with a soulful, jazzy piano and Joni singing in a deep, rich alto. The subject matter is about a guy who wants to be with her and she likes him too, but can't sacrifice her career for him. The music slowly progresses with soothing flutes, quietly wailing electric guitar, and standard drums. The song doesn't stand out as much as the other songs, but it's still lovely. Just for the last minute it's worth it with a Spanish guitar paired with these lyrics: His eyes were the color of the sand and the sea/ The more he talk to me/ The more he reach me/ But I couldn't let go of L.A./ City of the fallen angels. Now that's poetry. It leads into her most famous song Help Me. The acoustic guitar is strumming like it'll be a rock song, but instead it's a jazz-rock song. The song is so catchy with the (once again) soothing flutes, electric piano, and catchy drums. Joni has fallen in love with this guy, but she doesn't want to because You love your lovin/ But not like you love your freedom. Her voice switches from alto to soprano and back through the song & it fits. The main reason why this song is one of my favorites is all because of that bridge. As soon as Joni hits that note, the horns are blaring, the electric guitar is outstanding and so is the electric piano, and...the musicianship is great. That's what makes the song.

Free Man In Paris abruptly enters with some impressive acoustic guitar, loud flutes, and solid drums. Joni gives some of her best vocal performance I heard yet in this song. She sings in first person, but it's not about her. It's about David Geffen dealing with the music industry. The chorus is so catchy and her vocal phrasing is excellent. After the chorus, the electric guitars create a very sunny feeling like you're in L.A. This is just another excellent song on this album. People's Parties is another one of those songs that don't jump out at you, but you appreciate it a lot. Musically, it would've fit better on her previous album For The Roses with the strumming acoustic guitar, atmospheric and soft electric guitar, and mild percussion, but it's just fine here. Once again, her vocal phrasing is excellent. The subject matter is about her being at famous people's parties and not really feeling the shallow and pretentious vibe. The last 30 seconds are awesome with her layered vocals singing Laughing it all away and other layered vocals adding a choral flavor, it's outstanding.

Those layered vocals lead into Same Situation that begins with a nice, but short piano intro. It leads into Joni's soothing soprano and beautiful piano. The subject matter speaks of her trying to find love with this guy and not really knowing where she stands. The music progresses in a soft way with the soothing flutes and electric piano, quietly wailing electric guitar, and drums playing in 3/4 (or waltz for those who don't understand the fractions). Everything about this song is emotional: her delivery, those words (You've had lots of lovely women/ Now you turn your gaze to me/ Weighing the beauty and the imperfection/ To see if I'm worthy/ Like the church/ Like a cop/ Like a mother/ You want me to be truthful/ Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though/ And I need your approval), and the strings at the end of the song. Blaring horns start off my favorite song Car On A Hill. Like "Help Me" and "Free Man In Paris", it's all about musicianship. It's a great jazz-rock song with some nice piano, beautiful flutes, wah-wah guitars, and drums. This song twist and turn when you don't expect it. In the middle of the song, Joni adds a choral flavor with her layered vocals and so much is going on. The lyrics are great as she describes waiting for her boyfriend and she's slowly losing hope. The song is so catchy and should've been a single.

Down To You won Joni a Grammy, even though it wasn't a single. She won it for "Best Arrangement" and listening to this song, she deserves that Grammy. It begins with a nice piano intro and leads into Joni's emotional voice. She describes a relationship and how your decisions is really up to you, but you can't tell if the relationship is beginning or ending. Soon strings enter and a dulcimer (I think?) is plucking adding a complex arrangement to it. In the middle of the song, it's nothing but instrumental with the horns blaring, flutes and clarinets soothing you, and the strings adding a classical vibe to it. Not to mention, Joni's piano work is outstanding. Combining the arrangements with Joni's voice and lyrics makes a great result. Just Like This Train took the longest to grow on me, but when it did, it really did. It has country vibe though the jazz influences are still there. The acoustic guitar work is outstanding and joining with the wailing electric guitar, melodic electric piano, and quiet flutes makes great musicianship. Joni sings of breaking up and how very lonely she is. As the song progresses, the music gets more up-tempo, but still has a depressing atmosphere. The bridge makes the song with layered Joni voices singing What are you going to do now/ You've got no one/ To give your love too. It's a grower, but one day it'll hit you and you'll see it's greatness.

Raised On Robbery is the most up-tempo and throws you back into the 1950s with the big band paired with heavy rock style. Everything about this song screams 1950s from the electric guitars to the horns blaring to the drums. It makes you wanna jump around and dance. The subject matter speaks of a prostitute trying to seduce a guy. The lyrics are very witty and can be funny too: I'm a pretty good cook/ I'm sitting on my groceries/ Come up to my kitchen/ I'll show you my best recipe. It's light-hearted and fun. Trouble Child is a great jazzy song with the bluesy electric guitars, soulful electric pianos, and muted trumpets. The subject matter is different as it speaks of a person in a mental hospital and how it's feeling lost in their world. The atmosphere is very depressing and dark & the musicianship is tight (just listen to that trumpet at the end of the song). Twisted ends the album in a light-hearted note. The music is sparse with just muted trumpets, bass, and drums creating a very jazzy song that you would've heard in the 1940s. This isn't Joni's song, but she owns it because the song describes her and she has great vocal phrasing in this song.

This is a great introduction to Joni, even though I'm sure many people think I should've start off with Blue. It's very accessible with great musicianship, Joni's poetic lyrics and great vocals, and it has a nostalgic feeling being that it was released from the 1970s.