In 1974 Joni Mitchell released her sixth studio album, "Court And Spark." It became her most successful album to date, peaking at No.2 in America and spending four weeks in that position. In total it spent 64 weeks on the chart and was nominated for Album of the Year. Joni was now not only a massive critical success, but also a commercial smash. In terms of respect at the time, only Dylan and Stevie Wonder received more. The album itself is a bit of a departure from what we were used to hearing from Mitchell up until this point. Traces of jazz begin to silently creep in, and the piano is a less prominent instrument on the album as a whole. Musically, it is a superb achievement - I adore every single song, it just flows, a cohesive whole, taking you on a journey through the mind of a woman observing life, love and herself.

The album opens with "Court And Spark," the title track. It's a wonderful piano-led piece that opens instantly with nothing but piano. Note how the aim here was to perhaps trick veteran fans into thinking this was going to be just another piano-laced album. Not this time, folks! The lyrics are beautiful about a man looking for a woman to 'court and spark'. Ambiguity has always been one of Joni's strongest points and this song is no exception. "Help Me" is Joni's biggest hit single. Ever. Peaking at No.7 on the Billboard 100 where it spent 19 weeks on the chart, this song is a very beautiful and idyllic mid-tempo number. "And we love our loving, but not like we love our freedom," are classic Joni lyrics that resonated with millions of young Americans. The composition is brilliant and the guitar is simple as it is complex, they seem to balance each other out. "Free Man In Paris" is an excellent song with some amazing lyrics that seem to come so naturally and fit perfectly into Joni's unique arrangement. In the song Joni fantasises about being a singer without all the hassle of the media and celebrity. She wants to 'stoke the star-maker machinery behind the popular song.' The music itself is beautiful and I love the verses, so melodic.

"People's Parties" is one of my favourite songs and sees Joni observing people's actions and behaviour patterns at a party, then comparing this to her own insecurities and seeing how they weigh up. The lyrics come pretty fast in this song and she gets a lot out in just over two minutes. The song ends on a beautiful high note as Joni chirps, "Laughing it all away!" over and over. "Same Situation" is another brilliant song but a bit below par in comparison to most of the other songs here. It has some great lyrics but the melody isn't as strong as on the previous four songs. "Car On A Hill" is a superb song that opens with a very funky electric guitar that just sends shivers through my entire body. The lyrics are amazing and the ascent in Joni's voice just after the first minute is just incredible. I assume it's supposed to represent a car driving up a hill. If it is then it's done very well. "Down To You" is the longest song on the album at almost six minutes, and is probably the most vivid and picturesque song on the whole album. I can just imagine listening to this while driving down a country road. There are some wonderful instrumental sections in the song and the last thirty seconds has this superb piano riff that will just stay in your head forever!

"Just Like This Train" is another incredible song that has a beautiful riff that chugs along like a train. The lyrics are amazing, my favourites being, "Dreaming of the pleasure I'm going to have, watching your hair line recede, my vain darling!" The verses are also brilliant, can't say any more really. "Raised On Robbery" was the first single to be taken from the album in late 1973, and was a mild hit. It's definitely the most fast-paced song on the album and has a country tinge to it that comes out in the crazy instruments used. The song tells the story of Joni meeting a man in a bar and then going on crazy adventures with him. Great, memorable song. "Trouble Child" is the first of two more jazz-orientated songs on this album. It's quite slow and seems to drag out the verses which gives it that bluesy effect. The verses have this deep guitar bass rolling behind it, and the chorus is very melodic and light-hearted. "Twisted" is maybe the most memorable song on the whole album, it's just amazing. It's quite short at just over two minutes long but it makes one heck of an impression! Joni tells the story about her nutty personality, and how her doctor told her she was right out of her head. She won't take any of this though, because in her eyes, there's nothing wrong with her! Even if this does mean she won't ride on double decker buses because there's no driver on the top! Indeed, it's very random but the way the verses are arranged is just incredible.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

This was the second Joni Mitchell album I bought after "Blue," and I adored it so much. The love still stands, maybe even more so than when I first bought it nearly a month ago. I've listened to it literally hundreds of times and I think it's one of those keepers for life! I thought Joni's music couldn't get any better, but in my opinion, albums such as "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" and "Hejira" are FAR superior, and I will be gushing about them in their respective reviews at some later point. I wanted to review all Joni's albums in order as it is my aim to buy them all at some point over the next year. However, with more than 20 albums to her name, it would take me ages to buy them all and I just can't wait to express how much love I feel for the ones I already have. All I can say is that if you're curious about Joni's music, just take the plunge because you will never turn back.

"Court & Spark" is Joni's most popular & well known album, with smash classics such as "Raised On Robbery", "Help Me", & "Free Man In Paris". But it's so much more than that. This album touches the soul & makes you want to dance & sing along in joy. With beautiful jazz tinges on songs like "Car on a Hill" & "Twisted", to down & dirty '70s rock & roll soul on "Trouble Child" & "Just Like This Train". This album is as much a historical achivement as it is a simple record of great songs. The annihilating "The Same Situation" is one of the most well written songs ever. With impossibly brilliant lyrics such as:

"Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around."

I can't begin to describe the genious of this record. It will complete your collection perfectly. HIGHLY recommended.

I had bought this record 3 years ago or so, and I still haven't decided which song is the best among: Court and spark, help me and free man in Paris.
Joni shows up in this album that Woodstock days were gone, it was time to join a rock n' roll band, or to fit better with the album mood, join a pop rock jazz fusion band. Simply a guitar a piano and a mic wasn't good enough anymore.
the ambum is much more complex than the previous. "For the roses" didn't give us a clue of what was yet to come.
Court and Spark has the magic touch. Further works would have some failures and extrapolations.
Court and Spark has a soft mood, with charming arrangements, a good sort of musicians, and nothing whimsical, and that includes "Down to you", simply magnificient. This song won a cover from Airey's Colloseum II in 1977, but it did't come close, not even with Gary Moore playing smashing guitar.
The key about the abum is experimenting without exagerations.
Although there are some drawbacks like Raised on robbery, which is very silly, and twisted, also disposable. But, overall a masterpiece, even sounding dated. madonna once declaired that Court and Spark used to be her favourite album during 70's.
Joni was founding new tons for her voice and instruments, and she hits.