Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark

by Sean Nelson

Overview

Court and Spark is Joni Mitchell's most overt attempt at making a hit record, full of glossy production, catchy choruses, and even guest stars from every stratum of rock culture, high (Robbie Robertson) and low (Cheech and Chong). The record was a smash, reaching number two on the charts in March of 1974, spawning three hit singles; Help Me, Free Man in Paris and Raised on Robbery and cementing Mitchell's position as a commercial as well as an artistic force. Sean Nelson, a well known musician himself (Harvey Danger, the Long Winters), is particularly well equipped to understand all the elements that went into the making of this classic album, and he does so with clarity and wit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826417732
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/18/2006
Series:	33 1/3 Series , #40
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	126
Sales rank:	629,260
Product dimensions:	4.80(w) x 6.45(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Sean Nelson is a writer and musician in Seattle, and is a partner in independent label Barsuk Records.

Table of Contents

Prologue
The Struggle for Higher Achievement
Two Heads Are Better Than One
A Broader Sensibility
Paint a Starry Night Again, Man