Court And Spark

I love how softly she sings

Joni is pretty damn sublime. I had never previously listened to this album, but it's as good as I had hoped it would be.

I never really gave joni mitchell the time of time. Major miss on my part. This was wonderful and dreamlike. I can't wait to listen to more.

Good for concentration at work!

First Joni Mitchell album

help me is an earworm and it's very romantic. vinyl in collection. Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: I'd pick Blue over this one 4.3

Joni Mitchell's voice is great, she makes everything seem effortless and there's a slightly aloof quality to her voice, in a good way. Like she could sing like this all day with ease This takes a few nice creative turns. Her vocal melodies are sometimes a bit unusual but I liked that, it's kept me on my toes and engaged with the album. The end of Car on a Hill really reminded me of early King Crimson, I immediately enjoyed it because of that Twisted has that classic pop sound and whilst it's a good song it's a bit of a weird choice as a closer because it doesn't feel very climactic or cathartic, it just kind of stops. That's probably my biggest complaint with the album though Classic stuff like this that I've never gotten around to is partly why I enjoy doing this so much Highlights: Car on a Hill, Help Me

I've had 3 Joni bums and this was by far and my favourite of them The cover of Twisted at the end of was great.

Amazing artist. Good album, probs not my fave of hers but really enjoyed it. So many imitators who don't even come close.

Really liked this album- turns out I’m a bit of a fan 8/10

I did not use a private spotify session for this one. I enjoyed the more than I thought I would. I like Joni's voice, the piano was nice, but over stated, and lots of acoustic guitar. Good album for the morning while enjoying your third or fourth cup of coffee. This album is very much of it's time, so it won't be going into steady rotation.

How can something so dense remain so light? Guitar chords thick with extensions, but airy as folk. Arrangements full of instruments, but generally lively: the L.A. Express does a lot of work, probably too much, that flute is certainly grating on Just Like This Train. The lyrics are a lot, the subject matter heavy, the scansion often tumbling, but Mitchell's melodic writing and preternatural voice often turns that tumbling into dancing, that heaviness into profundity, and a lot into everything. Not every time here, but she can do it when she wants to. For all that praise, this is not my favourite Joni record, not by a long chalk. But, as with kidneys, the margin between favourites is slight and the best living is done with the full complement that nature has granted. You'll be happy you have it. 3.5 The six studio albums from Ladies of the Canyon to Hejira is one of the best runs in pop music. In my opinion Court and Spark is the least of them, which is no great criticism by itself. The songs are terrific but the arrangements are overwrought and the production queasily slick. Same Situation doesn’t need the chimes and the oozing pedal steel guitar (almost nothing ever does but here it is on most of these tracks) and the string section. Troubled Child doesn’t need the chorus of muted horns. Down to You is the worst offender - a great song and I wish it was just Joni and a piano. Strings and horns is the least of it; clarinet, cor anglais, flute, and a harp all pop up adding some extraneous line - all luxury window-dressing. This is the Mitchell album for the people that kept an additional clean copy of Dark Side for testing new Hi-Fi components. And all those celebrity guest spots. Decadence. Utter 70s Decadence. In terms of lyrics Court and Spark might also be Mitchell at her most self-obsessed, not necessarily a deal-breaker (Blue is probably taking silver) but then the album ends with Twisted. I have never liked this track - there is something unpalatable about Joni Mitchell trying to ironise thinking you are a genius when she is, demonstrably, a genius. ‘Cheech and Chong’ not being geniuses doesn’t make it funny. 3.5/5

This album rips. I didn't pay attention to individual songs too much, but I enjoyed the entire run. It's a great length and all the songs are at least fun to listen to. My favorite songs were "Car on a Hill", "Free Man In Paris", "Raised on Robbery", and "Twisted". 8/10

Great album - didn't realize the diverse musicians on this - Tom Scott, Robbie Robertson, some of the Wrecking Crew, David Crosby, Graham Nash and even José Feliciano and Cheech and Chong! Standouts are "Raised on Robbery" and "Court and Spark" and to a lesser extent for me "Help Me"

норм

Enjoyed it Standout songs: Court and Spark The Same Situation Twisted

Songwriting on this album is prolly its strong suit amazing instrumentals though i think this album is just great, like its genuine piece of art probably will have to listen more and come back to it.

Joni Mitchell's voice is incredible, I really enjoyed listening to this one. The cover of Twisted felt a little stapled on to the end rather than a cohesive part of the album but it was still a pleasant surprise for me.

not my favorite by her but still good

I didn't get enough time for this to sink in - the songs grow with repeat plays. It may bebetter than I first thought.

I've yet to be blown away by the Joni Mitchell albums that have appeared so far (there have been a few) and it's been hard to convince me those albums are essential. "Court And Spark" contains at least three songs I'm very familiar with, along with a set of songs that are quite good. Hearing this record is warming me up to Mitchell's music, easy to listen to with less pretension and experimentation and more of the sound I was hoping to hear. Probably my favourite, or at least. enjoyable Joni Mitchell album on the list.

Joni Mitchell is a national treasure

Not my favorite work of hers musically, but lyrics are as poignant (and depressing!) as always! Even though they don’t always land I appreciate the broadening of the styles. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Down to You, The Same Situation, Raised on Robbery

I always enjoy Joni Mitchell in the moment more than I remember. This is a good album. Not as good as Blue, but I can get into this.

Clearly very good, unfortunately got distracted by work so didn't appreciate it as much as I could have

Joni Mitchell takes an experimental new direction. I enjoyed listening to it, although I think the earlier stuff suits her voice better.

Albumi #148, 15.02.2025 Joni Mitchellin kuudes studioalbumi vuodelta 1974 on yksi legendaarisen laulaja-lauluntekijän parhaita. Aiemmista albumeista tutuksi tullut folk-pop on saanut rinnalleen vaikutteita jazzista. Todella hyvä levy.

Good chill album. 4 stars

This album was a bit of a slow burn for me. Joni’s voice is still top notch. My two favorite songs were held until the last three tracks (Raised On Robbery and Twisted).

Lovely Album

pretty different from what i expected. more soul and jazz-oriented than the stripped back acoustic sound on blue. some great choruses, surprisingly acute pop sensibility. of course, its joni mitchell, so the writing is really at the core of the appeal for me. thematically, its more-so a loose connection of vignettes than a cohesive concept. the lyrics are as fantastic as you'd expect—wit, earnestness, sentimentality. the depth of frank introspection gives the songs a diary feel. her diction when delivering those lyrics is also impressively dense; occasionally manages to fit in an absurd amount of syllables in each line, with considerable melodic complexity. sonically, almost sounds like a proto-fiona apple, which i can't really complain about. the elaborate compositions generally work, especially on the opening three track stretch. not without its failures though. occasionally the instrumental extravagance buries the raw expression underneath. the rhythmically rowdy "raised on robbery" felt especially out of place. jazz fusion is a fragile balancing act between kitsch and sophistication–one that this album almost always succeeds at.

I listened to the first song and thought to myself, arman and adi would have a field day with this album. decided to stick with it and was thoroughly surprised. The album was dynamic, sonically pleasing, personal, and different. Had never heard any of her previous works but was really surprised, I enjoyed it quite a lot. A bit poppy at times but the storytelling and lyricism made up for it. Will have to listen to the rest of her stuff and this again. Solid 4/4.5.

ive grown to really like joni mitchell this past year. although i prefer blue, i enjoyed to this album too

I rarely ever voluntarily listen to folk, but I really like how instrumentally varied this album is. I hope that I eventually start seeking this stuff.

I’ve got a big ol’ Joni Mitchell-sized hole in my listening background and I d really enjoyed the opportunity to start to fill it in with some of these albums. These songs are a little corny, but utterly musical and extremely well crafted. I certainly see why she is wildly adored.

Joni.

7.5/10. The music is very lovely. The vocals are really soothing. The lyrics are nice. It makes sense why Joni Mitchell is such a beloved figure in the world of folk music. :)

Love Joni ❤️

Randy Newman once said he fell off a bit with Joni when she started singing about rich people. I get that, although "Free Man in Paris" is probably the best song here. As a Blue fan, I'm generally less excited about her forays into the jazzier side of things, but this one works well overall.

She’s done it again

By far the best Joni Mitchell album we’ve gotten, imo. Enjoyed this, her voice intonation is kindve not easy on my ears but I feel like there was less of that than blue or Hejira. High 4

This album is incredible

Enjoyed it. Forgot about her as an artist but after listening remember her way more than I had realized. Very 70s folk.

7/10 Voce incredibile, jazz/funk album interessante, sarebbe da approfondire i testi e gli argomenti trattati

MI’m re swing that the albums mom listened to, but still beautiful

i havent heard this type of music before

lovely

4/5 We enjoyed this one. It was quality.

Great album: Mitchell's voice warbles and dances through the expertly crafted tunes, though her cover of Twisted doesn't do a lot for me (Annie Ross's original is sublime).

Джони Митчелл — это Тейлор Свифт 70-х. Она, как твоя старая подруга из колледжа, которая сидела на ступеньках общаги с гитарой, но вместо того, чтобы выносить мозг своими страданиями, умудрялась рассказывать о них так, что ты действительно слушал. Альбом «Court and Spark» звучит так, будто эта подруга наконец-то заработала на приличные джинсы, немного утонула в радиопопсе, но всё ещё остаётся той же задорной и остроумной девчонкой. Это лёгкий фолк, который не пытается навязчиво цеплять тебя за душу, как какой-нибудь уличный проповедник — он просто существует рядом. Митчелл ловко смешивает джаз и поп, как будто делает коктейль, где джаз — это крепкий алкоголь, а поп — вкусная газировка. Всего в меру, ничего лишнего. И это удивительно, потому что обычно, когда фолк-исполнители заигрывают с жанрами, результат напоминает салат из того, что завалялось в холодильнике. Но Джони, судя по всему, знает рецепт. «Court and Spark» — это саундтрек к жизни, где ты не супергерой, а просто человек, застрявший в пробке или кружащий с тележкой по супермаркету в поисках нормального авокадо. Это музыка для тех, кто уже понял, что мир не изменится, но всё ещё хочет, чтобы он хотя бы звучал приятно.

Lyrical queen. I liked it.

stellar! never heard a joni mitchell album in full before, and really glad this was my introduction.

Beautiful album

Groovy, simplistic lyricism, gentle, beautiful instrumentals, introspective

Easy listening

Quite like this

This is nice :)

A very pleasant listen!

Classic folkish music that I really enjoyed listening to. She is really a legend now. Sort of haunting vibe, very chilled out. I'm sure I will listen to this again.

HERE COMES JONIII court and spark hani zwar schön aber nüt speziells gfunde, au wenn ichs klavier liebeee sie singt sooo unglaublich free man in paris aaaah hmm finds sehr schön und sehr cool wied lieder innenadflüssed aber s ischmer viles chli z langsam? down to you isch na spannend aber at denn ide bridge chli z lang findi zu raised on robbery chammer ricjtig s tanzbei schwinge grundsätzlich gege endi sehr viilsitig!! twisted megaaa

I really enjoyed each of these songs, something about her voice just feels magical.

Help Me is one of the greatest songs of all the twentieth century

For albums I know nothing about I'm doing thoughts before and after I listen: Before: I know Joni Mitchell is a singer and she is well known and an influential artist, I could not name one of her songs off the top of my head. Did she do the paved paradise and put up a parking lot one? I expect to hear 70's folksy/contemporary music. I expect I'll recognize one or two songs. After: Recognized Help Me. She did do Paved Paradise, but it's not on this album. Definitely 70's singer/songwriter music à la Carly Simon or James Taylor, but leans more folk to my ear. I think it's a good album, but not my normal cup of tea.

Dug this considerably. Some cool hippydelic groovy grooves tossed in and some super cool session work from the guitarists, and other instrumentalists. The documentary really added to my appreciation of Joni and the rest of the Laurelite's (my nickname I came up with 30 seconds ago).

Not my favorite Joni Mitchell album, but it’s still really good because, well, it’s Joni. Songs are catchy, the album flows well, and I love her guitar playing. It’s no Blue, but still a great record.

Great!

Beautiful album, as everything she does! In the same vibe as Blue but with more instruments!

Classic Joni Mitchell, i really like Raised on Robbery as it brings the pace, sadly Twisted was kinda meh, but her vocals and interesting melodies help her a lot

"Court and Spark", "Free Man in Paris", "Help Me" are the highlights here. Joni Mitchell can be a little hit or miss for me, but this album is firmly in the "hit" column.

Amazing

почитала про эту легендарную женщину и рада что слушала первым именно этот альбом потому что джаз мне куда интереснее фолк рока очень приятный голос и действительно крутые тексты (за что её и любят) не скажу что весь альбом зашел потому что мне местами было скучновато но опыт однозначно приятный и много образов вызвал (как и было эээ обещано) отдельно отмечу песни help me и raised on robbery!

прикольно, но не эпохально

Chad Joni

Wow so much better than Blue

Uniquely beautiful. Her voice is truly amazing and her cadence is just wonderful. “Free Man in Paris” is a great song. 4/5 Will listen again

really good, very rich with swelling guitars and great vocals, paired with great lyricism and storytelling. amazing folk pop. blah blah blah music nerd shit SHUT UP

Lovely folk rock goodness, Joni Mitchell knows how to write songs

This is proto bedroom pop and it's cool how great it still sounds. This was a good time and I'll probably listen to more of Joni because I do love Big Yellow Taxi

I was a bit apprehensive about this one, I've had a copy of "Blue" for years and never got into it, even though that is supposed to be THE Joni Mitchell album. For my taste was way more enjoyable!

A gorgeous album. Poetry woven by an angelic voice. Songs of hope and loss

Aw, Joni Mitchell. This is very much the kind of thing I was listening to in high school - nostalgia vibes.

One of the greats of my younger years along with BJ Thomas. Great lyrics, great voice and so pleasant to listen to. It also engender so many good memories.

There's a distinct possibility that if I'd heard this album before the other Joni album on the list, I would have reacted much differently to that one. I had no idea she had this kind of range.

Nice easy listening. I wasn't a big fan of her stream of consciousness lyrics sometimes. I really dig that '70s folk Pop style.

I can’t get enough Mitchell. So much sweetness in the stories. Heaven.

Nice change after AC/DC. Pleasantly melodic. But the age is felt. Jazzy, but not overly so. Fun, quick album. I enjoyed it.

Lemppari: Court And Spark Vähiten lemppari: Raised on Robbery

I really liked this. Definitely Laurel Canyon-y with some Jazz thrown in for good measure.

Albüm kapağı hoşuma gitti. Joni Mitchelldan umutluyum. Lyriclerini çok sevdim. Benim için bi tık down tempo ama sıkılmadım. Böyle fikri hür, vicdanı hür folkçulara can kurban.

Really good album, ruined by Twisted. The hell was she thinking, man....

Twisted is great! Never been much of a Joni Mitchell fan with very few exceptions, but this album changed my mind.

A great album. Some tracks don’t seem to fit but overall it’s great. Free Man in Paris and Help Me obviously shine but it’s still a great album.

A wonderful album. Superbly arranged music & vocals.

I didn't like Joni Mitchell before starting this journey, but now I've discovered that my dislike was based on only hearing her "hits" and that her albums have all been superb. I enjoyed this enough for 4 stars, but it didn't quite hit me as being worthy of a full 5 star rating. It was very easy listening, maybe too easy?

Very internal to her

Pretty good.

Raised on Robbery made for a movie

Hadn't listened to Joni Mitchell before, but I like this quite a lot!

I like this one

This was very good. I love the instrumental work in this one. Catchy tunes all around, 9 out of 10!

Generally enjoyable! Not quite my type of tunes, but nice enough.

It blends elements of folk, rock, and jazz to create a unique sound that resonates with listeners. The album encapsulates themes of love, freedom, fame, and the complexities of relationships. It soothed me at the end of a long work week. Favorite Song: "Help Me"

Surprised I liked this one. Not something I’d break out to put on in the background, but felt like I back riding in the back of my Mom’s 1975 Ford Maverick. This transported me back to the 70’s in the best way

This one pleasantly surprised me. Not that I'm completely unfamiliar with Joni Mitchell, but a lot of folk artists from this era tend to be TOO low key and one-note. This album was somehow both equal parts lively and equal parts mellow. The songwriting was strong for the most part, allowing each track to flow along thanks to the jazz flourish that accompanies this record. A fairly easy and fun listen that clocks in at less than 40 min. Fav tracks: Help Me, Down to You

I enjoyed this a lot. I think it could have been 5* if more of the songs had choruses. Whenever the songs give hints of a chorus or a 'hook' they take a 90 degree turn and go back to more verse. Which is a shame. But very listenable to. I can imagine after 10 listens or so I could really get into the songs and really follow the lyrics.

I liked it very Mitchell

Highlights: Help Me A Free Man in Paris Twisted Beautiful

Absolutely beautiful album. Joni Mitchell continues to impress, as expected of course.

pretty and poetic enough that i accept i'm out of my element

Such a unique album. Great songwriting and wonderful instrumentation.

I like the different instrumentation. Definitely needs a second listen to really listen to the lyrics. Probably great for a road trip.

I enjoyed the album, it was a pleasant musicality, and beautiful vocals. The scatting in Twisted was uncomfortable and unpleasant.

Nice mix in of jazz and folk background.

Beautifully sang

3.5 stars. This was decent but I prefer her more pure folk, stripped down music than this jazz-infused soft rock. Still a pleasant listen because of her beautiful voice and some good lyricism, just not my favorite. Standouts are "Free Man in Paris" and "Raised on Robbery".

Wonderfully interesting. Joni Mitchell has a beautiful voice and there's some very unique compositions here.

Good album. Joni Mitchell’s voice is obviously stunning, and her songwriting and style of singing and song-making is next-level. I found myself frequently wondering “how did she come up with this instrumental bit in between verses?” or “why did she choose this kind of instrumental if the song has this many lyrics?” I do think that the album as a whole is overshadowed by “Help Me,” a masterpiece of a song, and the other songs I enjoyed, “Car on a Hill” and “Just Like This Train.” The rest of it kind of blended together. Overall though, it’s lush and beautiful, and I’m interested in checking out more of her material.

Amazing voice - definitely a trip back in time - nice to hear those 70's vibes again.

Yeah, I know this one because my sisters listened the shit out if this when I was a kid. Superior to "Blue" IMO. Won me over a little in spite of myself.

Joni and jazz is a great combination. I imagine this will become a 5 star album with future listens. Painting your own album cover is so bad ass as well. 4.5/5

Good.

Joni Mitchell never lies.

I really liked this - the jazz influence was subtle but kept the songs a bit more cohesive and listenable than some of the stuff on Blue. California is just so lovely!

I’ve never really gotten into Joni Mitchell though I felt like I SHOULD. She’s arty and jazzy and I like things in those categories. But her voice never really gelled with me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this. I’m not sure I could hum you a tune from it afterwards but it passed the time pleasantly. After my surprise enjoyment of Steely Dan yesterday, I wonder if 1001 is expanding my musical taste. Maybe there will be room for Joni eventually, or rather, there’ll be a better understanding on my part. Or maybe I can form new “moods” where I can spend some time liking types of music I didn’t before. Whilst I’m musing on that, I think I see why you get certain similar albums in sequence on #1001 now. It must be to get you into certain moods and more receptive to certain types of music. This obviously favours the subsequent albums but I suppose it helps. E.g. We seem to be in Jazz Rock mode at the moment.

Music for not doing things to

Pretty solid album with jazz influences.

Another iconic artist, voice, and album from the 70’s.

Joni es una capa, pero tndria que escucharlo leyendo bien las letras porque me pierdo cosas sino.

Some really good songs on here. Not my favorite of Mitchell's but still really really good.

A few great songs on this one.

Good album, but not really something I'll expect I'll listen to again.

FIRE. Joni Mitchell is pure poetry bro folk music is the shit

Liked this a lot

Beautiful light and almost jazzy pop with a silky smooth vocal.

This album was super pleasant. Joni's vocals, the warm guitar tones and the jazzy composition really made it for me. Will probably revisit in the future.

Loves me the singer songwriter genre and Joni Mitchell is S tier for this. One of her better albums, but it's no Ladies of the Canyon...

Definitely the best of the singer-songwriter albums I've listened to so far. Very peaceful feel. I dig her style.

++: Car on a Hill, Twisted +: Court and Spark, Help Me, Free Man in Paris, People's Parties, The Same Situation, Down to You, Just Like This Train, Raised on Robbery, Trouble Child 8,1/10

I could imagine this being 100% better when you're stoned.

Ooh, this is nice!! 4.

Really liked it. Kind of a concept album. Some parts of some songs threw me off a bit and overall the experience varied from 3 to 5 stars, but the parts I liked I really really liked. Definitely going to listen to again, I bet this slaps in the U-Bahn. Does not however work very well in the shower, the background instrumentals are too important for the music. The voice reminds me of Tracy Chapman a bit.

For this I was bouncing back and forth between really good and just alright. Joni's cadence and songwriting are so unique for this time, you can see how she's become as influential as she is.

Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark is an album that, while newer to me compared to her acclaimed Blue, has proven to be a deeply enriching experience. When listening to it with my daughter just the other day she said to me “she has such a beautiful voice, how does she sing like that?” I could only agree and guess at the years of practice that contributed to her ability to deliver such honest and emotive performances. As a fan of Blue, I initially approached Court and Spark with a sense of familiarity but found the more complex songwriting style to be a fresh challenge. In my younger years, I struggled with the seemingly rambling nature of singer-songwriter lyrics, feeling they sometimes took a circuitous route to their points. However, as I've grown older, I've come to appreciate and even revel in the poetry and nuance of Mitchell's writing. The album's instrumentation, particularly the orchestral elements, adds a rich layer to the listening experience. Tracks like "Down To You" stand out with their lush arrangements, demonstrating Mitchell's ability to blend intricate music with her profound lyrics seamlessly. Overall, Court and Spark is a testament to Joni Mitchell's extraordinary talent and evolution as an artist. Its sophisticated artistry and emotional depth make it a compelling listen that continues to reveal its layers with each spin.

This one really took me by surprise. Believe it or not, I, Miss Where-Are-The-Female-Artists-On-This-List, have never actively listened to Joni Mitchell. I've gleaned bits of knowledge of her over the years, understanding that she was an important and influential artist. I had brushed up against a handful of her songs, namely Big Yellow Taxi, and through that, I thought I had an idea about who she was as an artist. But listening to this made me realize that there's a lot more to her than I was expecting. There's one song on here, "Down to You" that pretty well exemplifies what I was expecting to hear. More of a stripped down "girl and piano" or "girl and guitar" kind of sound. Maybe there was more of that in her early career, more folk influence and coffeehouse vibes, and that's what I had come to associate her with. I just didn't know there were other sides to her. Apparently this album was a step in a new direction for her, and I really like it! Some of the production sounded so delightfully 70s to me, and there were lots of unexpected interesting musical things happening on many of the tracks. I'm still thinking about some of the songs a day later, which is a sign that I will probably return to this album for subsequent listens. Also, she released music into the 2000s, so there is a lot of material for me to explore, should I make the time. She has a clear, beautiful voice, and she was able to do lots of more challenging runs, even getting into some jazz phrasing, seemingly without effort. As interesting as the music was on this album, I always gathered that one of the main strengths of Joni Mitchell was her lyrics. She paved the way for scores of other female singer-songwriters to bring their perspectives to the music industry, and that is evident here with lyrics that are vividly personal and introspective, exploring emotions and human relationships. This album is at least a four for me, but I could imagine it being a five if I had more time to get acquainted with it.

So....I own a Joni Mitchell album and have had it for years, but never really listened to it. I'll have to go back now and give it a listen. Though this is not exactly my type of music,. I was really impressed with it. On songs 2 and 3 I thought to myself, 'I didn't know Joni got down like this'....I mean some of this stuff really jammed. Also, the entire album sounds like a ton of thought and planning was put into it. With this album charting high when it came out, it reminded of some of the more dumbed down contemporary music that is high on the charts today. Some of the songs sound like music theory nerds were involved in the instrument arrangements. I mean when is the last time you heard an Oboe feature prominently on a song? Or French horn for that matter? Joni's voice is very clear and she seems to hit notes very effortlessly and cleanly. The jazz song was kind of a curve ball for me, I had no idea that she could be a jazz singer. I feel like Joni must have been an influence on Tracy Chapman and Alanis Morrisette.

Gran joni mitchell, aunque no es el mejor de sus discos.

I'm torn here. I'm giving it a 4 for first impressions, but I suspect it may grow to a 5 on repeated listens. Lyrically brilliant, playful, and distinct.

My favourite of her work so far. Those last few songs were spunky!

Love Joniiii

More Joni Mitchell music is good music. Nice vocals and instrument arrangement

joni does it again. i like the production on this one more than blue (which i gave a 5 because i fat-fingered my phone and submitted it without realising)

An original. Lyrics and music that last. The muse of the late 60s, 70s. Not even her best album. Very good. Great backing musicians from Robbie to Cheech & Chong. Tom Scott paints a colorful musical accompaniment. Joni deserves all the accolades.

Favorite track: Car on a hill other picks: court and spark, help me, down to you

i’m starting to change my mind on Joni Mitchell. my introduction with her was Blue and i maintain that i hate that album. she sings in falsetto the whole time and it’s slow and boring and terrible. but since then i have listened to Mingus and was pleasantly surprised and now i am listening to Court and Spark and it’s undeniably hitting. also Both Sides Now is a genuinely amazing song that i really liked even when i was anti-mitchell

Entspannter Pop 4/5

Мне нравится Джони Митчел. И мне нравится, как горят от нее пердаки у всяких фанов А Цэ Дэ Цэ, Джудас Прист и проч. Лучшая песня - Help Me.

love it

Love me some Joni.

Great album

A very good album. Released a year after I graduated high school, and I was all about Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and locally the Tubes. So I didn't pay much attention to Laurel Canyon music unless it was on the radio. But surprise, I enjoyed it very much

Muy relajante, la verdad que no me ha parecido tener nada de especial reseñable, pero muy agradable su sonido y tranquilo, perfecto álbum para tener puesto de fondo como relax.

Not wonderful but enjoyable.

Hadn't listened to much Joni before other than the very well known ones. Pretty nice, and I can see why she's had so much influence across the industry.

Love Joni Mitchell’s voice.

beautiful！

I like this better than Blue. It’s diverse but solidly Joni. Big fan.

Not my favorite Joni album, but her effortless and lighthearted style elevates anything she does. 3.5/5

very nice

Some very pleasant and easy to digest songs. I really like her voice as well as the lyrics of *most* songs. The last one on the album was a terrible closer, but the rest of the album was varied and enjoyable.

Oh, this Joni Mitchell album is beautiful. I'm obsessed with the incorporation of jazz to her usual sound. Jazz is a perfect companion to her soft, sincere sound and personal lyrics. Her music is even smoother than her other albums because of the jazz, and oh my gosh what a pleasant listen this album was. The jazz even gives Mitchell more of a bounce than what's typically found in her music. And I know I'm not making this up: Mitchell absolutely uses funk at least once, specifically on "Raised on Robbery." This makes sense for the time of 1974 when Black musicians' funk was becoming popular. It doesn't hit you over the head but it sure makes the album all the more vibrant.

Another solid Joni Mitchell album! I couldn't help but compare this album to "Blue"; "Court and Spark" was written not long after "Blue", and the project is giving me this album not long after I got "Blue". This is maybe the most lively I have heard her, as she leans more than usual into jazz rock, folk rock, and heavier pop sounds. It is still incredibly poetically written and expressively sung, but it somehow feels less introspective than "Blue". It's still a bit sad in its own way -- I think that's just how Joni Mitchell sounds -- but there is a tint of happiness and hopefulness to this particular album that seems a bit absent in "Blue". No matter what, there is just always something special to pick up on on Joni Mitchell albums. At this point, I have listened to all of her albums found on this project, and after being unable to help myself in comparing it so closely to "Blue", I still found this one landing as a nice close second favorite to "Blue". "Court and Spark" somehow feels like light as "Blue" is to dark. "Blue" is the moon, "Court and Spark" is the sun. Anyway, it was a nice way to wrap up touring Joni's presence on this project. She is a musician who won't easily be replicated and could never be replaced.

What a great listen!

ive never been the biggest joni mitchell fan unfortunately. this is enjoyable but doesnt blow me away. 7/10

It's taken me a long time to get my head around Joni Mitchell. I'm only now in my 50s beginning to "get" her. Court and Spark is a great example of her high standards for everything that goes into her recordings. Highlights are "Help Me", "Raised On Robbery", and "Free Man in Paris".

Crying and laughing, both the same release

Love me some Joni Mitchell and this album is absolutely a class act. Still holds up some 40 years later without question. Standout Tracks: Help Me, Car on a Hill, Raised on Robbery

Really interesting and fun, she explores other genres a bit with that same spectacular voice!

Court and Spark // Help Me // Down To You // 3.5-4/5

What a great album that's totally out of my wheelhouse. There were a few songs that had chord progressions that reminded me of Steely Dan. Sure enough, once the album was done, Spotify played Midnight Cruiser from the first Dan album. Another coincidence was that Larry Carlton has played guitar for both Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan. Liked songs added: - Help Me - Down To You - Raised On Roberry - Twisted

If Taylor Swift was as good as her fans claim.

The first half of this was fantastic. The 2nd half stumbles a bit imo, but still a great album.

really like this, quite a eclectic mix of genres from auld joni. great voice

This is one of Joni's best albums

Already loving it! You can tell this has influenced many artist. Like the folk feel to it. Loved that intro.

6/24/24. Joni Mitchell does the folk/pop sound really well, and all the songs are written with excellence. Enjoyed this one.

Tu sais que quand un « Johnny » ou dérivé sort de quoi, ça va être de la qualité (ne s’applique pas à Johnny Test)

That was really good! gonna make less notes, kinda ruins the experience. Would listen again. What a voice. Everything's so warm. 4

Very good, but not her best. Feels kinda country-rock-fusion.

This is not one's favorite Joni (one rates Hissing and Hejira a bit higher), but it's solid throughout, alternately sharp and sweet, dreamy and bouncy.

its kinda cute

Rly good

- Hat mich kalt erwischt und richtig umgehauen - Kannte nur Blue von Joni Mitchell und das gefällt riesig gut! - So eine tolle Stimmung, die die Frau erzeugt. Super komponiert, total gefühlvoll und textlich mega authentisch - Zum Ende hin wirds etwas experimenteller aber meiner Meinung nach auch etwas schwächer 4,25/5

okay on second listen its so enjoyable and cohesive like

I want to bottle her voice up and keep it for days which I feel bad. It’s so unique and cutting, too me, almost a perfectly delicate singing voice, that’s passionate and soothing. I’ve always been privy more to how a song sounds, vs. its lyrics and meaning, but this album strikes both so well. Her other album, Blue, is also terrific which I’ve listened too. 3.7

Nice tunes here

Joni Mitchell is a talented musician, singer and songwriter. Her ability to intertwine her unique blend of musical stylings and meaningful lyrics stand the test of time.

Quality.

never listened to joni mitchell before this. glad that i finally am cause this was great

Overall pretty good! I like Joni Mitchell. I like that there were a variety of musical styles on display. Help Me and Car on a Hill I listened to twice. I felt like a lot of the vocals were talk-singing which sits in a weird space for me. Sometimes I'm interested and receptive, and other times I feel like I'm not listening to music. Nothing here came close to Big Yellow Taxi for me.

Great voice, good songwriting, not quite my style but I get it

For some reason I don't like it as much as Blue or Hissing of Summer Lawns but it IMHO has some bangers, in particular "Help Me".

Great album, enjoyed that one.

This album is mostly calming and pleasant, with piano on some songs that I really enjoy. Some songs are less calm, but still enjoyable.

Help Me Free Man in Paris Car on a Hill

This is GOLD that will never be matched. Her voice was so pure and solid. Truly spiritual. 4 stars easy.

yes I love listening to Joni Mitchell's unique voice. Timeless.

Josiah - 5 Elen - 3 4

Quite enjoyed this. Sounds far more modern than the release date. Very good

Muchos temaikenes

Hermoso disco. Muy buen sonido, grabación, talento y complejidad. Sin embargo, le falta algo de "feeling", la sensación es que no queda nada memorizable. De todas formas, la complejidad de las armonías y las estructuras hacen que cada vez guste más, y sólo lo oí 3 veces.

listened to under a big moon i do get the genius effect, but a lot of joni mitchell voice is a lot. but still rlly liked! 3.75

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Solid 4. I've never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan, but I enjoyed this. Maybe doesn't hit the peaks of Blue but very enjoyable. Highlights for me: Help Me, Raised on Robbery, Twisted. Really enjoy the variety the last two provide.

Soft spoken, beautiful, and well written. Joni hits it out of the ballpark. Blues still better though..

Jazzy Joni is the best Joni

3.5

Das dürfte das kommerziellste Album all ihrer Alben sein. Das ist nicht negativ gemeint, sondern mir hat die durchaus positive Stimmung sehr gut gefallen. Abwechslungsreiche Songs, frisch und lebendig produziert, garniert mit Jazz, Soul, Folk, Pop... Das hätte ich nie von Joni Mitchell gedacht. Danke.

Joni has an amazing voice. Solid folk rock.

Joni Mitchell is pretty great. While I love Ladies of the Canyon and Blue, this record feels like it sits somewhere in between and not quite as appealing to me as either of those. But still… pretty great.

Maybe not as good as Blue. Still pretty great.

It's really good. I enjoyed listening to this, but would probably put Blue on if I wanted to listen to her.

This album was on Rick Beato's 40 greatest sounding albums of all time list, and I can see why. It is subtle, insightful, and beautifully recorded. It's flawless, just not my thing. Four stars for the genius though.

Been waiting for a Joni Mitchell album. I knew very little if anything about her music but I know how beloved she is. I can see why. The songwriting here is absolutely top notch. I could quote multiple lines here but I’m writing this as I leave for work and don’t have the time. The music…is alright. Sometimes it borders on schmaltzy but it usually doesn’t cross the line. I loved the incorporation of jazz and orchestral elements on multiple songs, especially on “Down to You.” And some of the vocal harmonies are just excellent Overall this was great. 4 stars because of the songwriting and in spite of the sometimes corny musical arrangements. Standout tracks: Court and Spark, Free Man in Paris, Car on a Hill, Down to You, Raised on Robbery

Very cool, nice voice and tune. Great discovery

I found this whole album to be rather calming. Relaxing. And she has such a beautiful. Worth listening to again. 4

Objectively probably a 5 but kinda not my thing

This is one of those songwriter names that several of my singing friends have spoken of in reverent tones. It's good listening.

This was a pretty good album. I thought it was a lot more accessible than Blue, which I'm still trying to get into. I sort of wish she would do more choruses, but I enjoy the stream of consciousness narrative style. Her voice is really beautiful and there's some good variety musically on this album — everything from simple folk to uptempo almost psychedelic rock to jazz. Highlights: “Free Man in Paris”; “Raised on Robbery”; “Help Me” A couple of the jazzier songs weren't really my cup of tea, though they weren't awful. "Twisted" reminds me of the theme song to The Nanny. 4/5

I have such a soft spot for Joni Mitchell I've noticed. Musically and lyrically. This album as well, with its wide range of styles, from folk to pop to jazzy and we're even rocking on some songs. This might not be as perfect as Blue or Hejira but it's close.

Interesting folk songs without much structure to them, but pleasant to listen to as an album. Stand-out: Car on a Hill

Great album. Court And Spark is not as put together as Blue, but it is still worth listening to.

Rock jazzeado

A good singer songwriter album.

This was a good listen. She has a great voice and the songs have some good energy. Free Man in Paris is great.

Great voice, some haunting tunes, but still sounds amazing today. 4/5

While not my favorite, it is undeniably a poetic masterpiece with incredible musicality. Super folky jazz, I’m v into the back half of the album, raised on robbery goes so hard

I really liked this. I couldn't listen to it every day though

I liked the instrumentals and I enjoyed her voice a lot, but a little too discordant to be something I'd come back to often. Still a lit of fun though, went by fast.

Fun listening. I want to listen again to better digest the lyrics.

Joni really nailed the balance of Folk, rock and jazz here, that's not easy. The lyrics are sweetly personal and delivered by a wonderful vocal. There's some quite experimental moments. While not all of them work, the ones that do really elevate the album into a floaty jazzy cloud of a place. Honestly this is just the project where Joni goes full Steely Dan mode and I couldn't be happier for it. There's a good mix of soft piano moments that let the vocals come through and huge rocky moments that explode through the tracklist. Raised on Robbery is an especially huge track, bluesy and fun. I was impressed overall by the instrumentation and respect Joni for pushing her sounds into bigger places like this.

4.5 stars. Beautiful album. Elements of folk and pop. Tracks like "Just like This Train" and "Raised on Robbery" sound full and upbeat. I really enjoy the use of harmonies on various songs. A great sounding album

I like how she came back to Spotify just in time for us to listen.

I only recently started listening to Joni Mitchell, and have discovered that I really like her work. The band is outstanding, although I prefer the later lineup with the amazing Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Pat Matheny and Larry Carlton trading off on guitar.

Great 3 album this week of Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell. Really enjoyed this one, although not as much as blue

the last joni mitchell album that i got i did not enjoy that much so this was a pleasant surprise i am really enjoying this album its a vibe especially while working really good timing as well now that her music is back on spotify like literally today 4.4/5

алкоальбом: кислый коктейль на игристом с джином

Good, but not my fav Joni album. V springy

really enjoyed the horn parts - twisted is pretty twisted but very funny lyrics, walking electric bass and shuffle groove very of the moment

Not bad

I have never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan, mostly because I have not been exposed to her music. I knew more of these songs than I thought that I had heard. I had some other Joni Mitchell in this project, so I am happy to have a chance to listen to another album. I prefer this album to the other ones I have heard and would recommend this to others. This album leads me to want to at least hear Mitchell's greatest hits to see if there are other songs I know but didn't know I know. Of course, I can't do that on Spotify, which is a bit frustrating.

Very unique blend of folk and jazz. Lots of excellent musicianship on display. Really missing some memorable vocal hooks/choruses. The vocals just sorta ramble and the melody feels like it’s being made up on the spot.

I hate to say it but I loved this album. Even though I had to listen to like 7 YouTube ads this was probably the best joni mitchell/non-spotify 1001 albums experience I've had. It was a lot more upbeat and catchy than other albums I've gotten from Joni and it's made me want to go back and give blue another try since I remember being bored by it. It's a bummer I can't add all the songs I liked from this (help me, free man in paris, raised on robbery) onto my spotify playlist and this is the closest I've come to giving a YouTube album a 5.

This was actually pretty good. That last album I listened to from her was decent but I couldn’t get around the sound of her voice. As for this one, the music aspect was really good, and I also enjoyed the sound of her voice better on this one as well.

pretty cool voice

My favorite Joni album, defiantly more upbeat, even a little swing in there. Free Man in Paris is a jam, go listen to it again.

Wow what a beautiful record. This was so enjoyable to listen to. I loved the melodies and the instrumentation was so good. Lots of different instruments adding flavor to each song. Just weaving in and out. Loved the harmonies and the songs were just written in interesting ways. I love that it's a poppier album but has folk and jazz influence. It makes it easy listening but also interesting.

What a gem. Joni is such a phenomenal song writer. Not only are her songs full of soul, meaning and introspect, but her voice always matches the character of the song. Sometimes she's playful and having fun, and other times she's in a deep place right there with you. I really love Blue, but I love the direction she took with this record. A lot of instruments. It feels more like a singer songwriter rock album than an acoustic folk album.

A nice surprise, great song writing, & an enjoyable listen.

Consistently great folk rock album. It hits a lull in the middle of the track list but picks right back up with the jazz trifecta at the end.

Really enjoyable. I know it's because she's principled and a true artist but I can't help but wish it was on Spotify so I'd ever listen to it again 🥲

this was nice. good vibes and pleasant music. idk what else to say favorites: court and spark, help me, down to you, twisted

the lyrics are so good but i think the melodies in some of the starting songs are just okay. the folk vibes are kinda fun though. in some songs there is some beautiful piano. car on a hill is so good. even the production on this and the background instrumentals are so goood. her voice is like another instrument. down to you - another good, different song in this album. she tells so many stories in these songs. the second i thought was better than the first.

I’m not familiar with any of Joni Mitchell’s music, so I only had a vague idea of what to expect with this album (I imagined it would be somewhat similar to Carole King’s Tapestry). I thought this album was really beautiful, and I enjoyed listening to it. Joni Mitchell’s voice and lyrics are fantastic, and she created some really great piano and guitar arrangements to create a great overall sound. I enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first half, and “Raised on Robbery” was my favorite track on the album. I loved that “Raised on Robbery” was the most fun song, and I loved that it was a little bit different than the other songs, but it still relied on the elements that made the album as a whole successful: great guitar playing, great lyrics, and beautiful vocals with some sweet harmonies. The saxophone playing was what really elevated this song for me, and I thought it complimented the other elements in the song really well. “Down To You” was a close second for me; I really loved the opening piano melody, and the woodwind arrangements were incredible. Overall, this was a really good album, and I’m looking forward to getting to review more of Joni Mitchell’s work.

Already pre-programmed to like anything she does. The album is a little all over the place but I never minded

Only bangers. Had no idea what to expect going in but really liked it. 4 probably isn’t generous enough but 5 is too generous.

Wild and free, Laurel Canyon really did an umber on its' main inhabitants. A level of self-expression and confidence to change the norm that is as mesmerizing as the songs on the album. Truly came into her own on this one

pretty dope. 3.7

Some classic tunes

Really loved this album. The voice, the production, and the lyrics. Except that last song stinks. I actually turned up my nose at it. 4.5/5

Solid music and great singing, kinda boring though. Nothing specifically great or terrible 4

top gal with a top voice

Tremendous

I liked this better than I expected. Pretty good!

What a gorgeous album. Lovely music and very thoughtful lyrics; I’ve never appreciated what a wonderful songwriter Joni Mitchell is. Cool to see she’s getting traction and visibility in 2024, well into her elder years. A fun mixture of James Taylor-esque melancholy, more upbeat excitement, and introspective songwriting that made me think of Bobbie Gentry and other trailblazing women songwriters of the 60s/70s. A shame this isn’t more accessible by being on Spotify, but just a wonderful, memorable album. An easy four stars with potential for more.

Like this more than hejira. Less spoken word poetry, more fun country sound. Love it

Strong 4

Excellent album packed with great details in the lyrics and lots of fun twists and turns in the music. Sometimes Joni Mitchell's lyrics feel like diary entries. She has a way of writing in a very emotionally direct way but she still sneaks in clever turns of phrase and metaphors. Dan, the other day you were talking about how Fiona Apple jams a bunch of words into a song and bends the song to fit her lyrics. Joni Mitchell definitely does that too. I love how she speeds up sometimes to fit a long phrase into a line that wouldn't fit otherwise. It gives the songs personality. It's one of my favorite things about her style. "Car on the Hill" is a great song! The jazzy chorus with the backup singers is fantastic. And the section from 0:50 to 1:30 when the music swirls and builds and you're not sure where it's going next but then the flutes bring it right back to the main melody! Really cool. I've heard that Joni Mitchell liked Steely Dan and I can hear that connection in this song. "Twisted" is a great last song. It's a surprising change in style and the lyrics are really funny, how she thought she was a genius at 3 years old and chugged a bottle of vodka and had visions. This song stopped me in my tracks and I just had to give all my attention to it.

What great timing for Joni Mitchell to appear on this list (2nd time on our group's go-through), as she just performed at the Grammy's for the FIRST time in her 80 years on this planet. This album has all of the elements of a great album in this style. Evocative vocals, amazing instrumentation that really dances in and out with her voice, and her usual incredible lyrics. I love the structures in this album, they are often unconventional and keep me on my feet. This list / project has gotten me to listen to Joni Mitchell more and I'm very thankful! This was really an enjoyable listen. Beautiful album cover.

Folk Rock vom Feinsten, Musikerin mit einer einzigartigen Stimme, bereits mit der ersten Songzeile erkennt man, wer diesen Song performed...

This wasn’t available on Spotify so only listened to a couple of songs on YouTube.

Lightweight jazzy music. Great voice. I like this album.

Somehow this is the first full Joni Mitchell album I've ever listened to, and I was surprised. The singles that always get played don't really capture all the different styles she has going on, at least in this album. I'm a fan!

I love Joni Mitchell, she was a recent deep dive for me. She has a lot stronger of an output than her other Folk contemporaries at her time. There are a decent amount of albums of hers I prefer from around this time; Hejira, Blue, For The Roses. But if someone said this was their favorite, I wouldn’t be surprised. Except, they can not excuse Twister.

Ik weet het, sommige mensen vinden dit niks. Maar ik vind het wel ontspannende singersongwritermuziek met af en toe een gek uithaaltje. Al viel naar verluidt Bob Dylan erbij in slaap (zie Wikipedia)...

I almost didn’t listen because I was so sure I “got” Joni Mitchell. I was wrong! This was great, not what I was expecting at all, and I’m so glad I didn’t skip it. Learning lessons all over the place.

I love Joni, this one is not quite Blue but it’s pretty great

A decent listen, she has a great voice but it isn't very different to her other album on here

On Friday morning I was in an incredibly bad mood and this made me feel a lot better so thank you Joni Mitchell. Though I think YouTube started autoplaying another album by her afterwards that I liked more

Classic Joni - some really good tracks, but a bit slow at times

I like this album more than Hejira. 4/5

Court and Speak - 8/10 Help Me - 7/10 Free Man in Paris - 7.5/10 People's Parties - 7/10 The Same situation - 7.5/10 Car On a Hill - 7/10 Down to You - 7/10 Just Like This Train - 7/10 Raised on Robbery - 7/10 Trouble Child - 7/10 Twisted - 7/10 TOTAL - 89/110

I like the more piano/rock songs on the album, I feel like it slowly morphs to blues/Jazz/beat nick and didn’t like that.

There is a reason that Joni is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Her poetic beauty is relatable to so many.

Not necessarily my type of music but listening to this it's just so noticeably how good it is and how great a story teller Joni is. I very much enjoyed the bass in this too

beautiful. voice annoyed me at first, like "there's got to be a morning after" high pitch South Park, but grew on me. Lyrics poetic, lovely storytelling. Theme of internal conflict between freedom (man in paris) and looking for love/connection. The confidence in her sexiness exudes. Twisted final track "my analyst told me"- therapist must listen We love our lovin' But not like we love our freedom

Moody music Worth a second listen

Hill Topanga Canyon lyricist. One of her albums before it got a little too poppy. Great piano and rhythm of lyrics that breaks the spell of background music monotony.

Buiten dat ze een prachtige naam heeft, al is die verkeerd gespeld, heb ik nog nooit muziek van haar geluisterd. Ten eerste: Verdomme, waarom staat dit niet op Spotify? Daarnaast, ik vind dit mooie muziek. Ik kan er niet echt iets anders over zeggen eigenlijk. Het is een soort folk/pop achtige muziek, veel piano, veel gitaar. Het is muzikaal heel minimalistisch maar dat word dan weer goed gemaakt door de zang van Joni. De muziek is gewoon een beetje lief ofzo, ik ga hier best wel lekker op. Nogmaals, had graag gezien dat dit op Spotify stond, maar helaas. Twisted is helemaal fantastisch, een soort jazzy plaat midden in dit folk pop album. Verdomme, waarom heb ik niet eerder naar Joni geluisterd?(Omdat ze niet op Spotify staat) FAVO: Down to you, Just like this train, Twisted

Some great songs and interesting arrangements

Me encantoooo. Las letras de esta mujer, por dios la amo