Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell...Episode #13

About this episode

Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez go to Joni Mitchell’s 1974 album Court and Spark and determine which songs earn their gold, silver and bronze medals. Medal Winners ⁠Raised On Robbery⁠ ⁠Just Like This Train⁠ ⁠Free Man In Paris⁠ ⁠Twisted⁠  By the release of Court and Spark, Joni was already widely regarded as one of the most important voices of her generation. As a solo artist, she had released a remarkable run of albums—Song to a Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and the groundbreaking Blue (1971)—that earned her both critical praise and a devoted audience. Songs like “Both Sides Now,” (which Judy Collins took to #8) “Chelsea Morning,” and “The Circle Game” had also become hits for other artists, establishing her not only as a powerful performer, but as one of the most influential songwriters of the era.    After years of writing deeply personal, introspective acoustic songs, with Court and Spark Joni felt herself drawn toward richer arrangements, new textures, and a wider emotional palette. To realize that vision, she collaborated with members of the