Joni Mitchell: Down To You

Continuing my list of the Top 20 albums of 1974, coming in at #2 is Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell. As I said in my last post, Van Morrison’s Veedon Fleece was #1 on this list for decades. It has moved down this list for two reasons. One of those reasons will be explained when I discuss #1. The other reason is that I finally realized, after decades of ignorance, that Joni Mitchell is a songwriting genius and one of the greatest pop vocalists of all time. There are many Mitchell albums that people recognize as her best, especially Blue, but her 1974 album is my favorite. Side one is a perfect album side, from the opening title track to the back-to-back singles “Help Me” and “Free Man In Paris” to the combined “People’s Parties” and “The Same Situation.” Side two is more adventurous musically, and introduces the new jazz/folk mix that will define Mitchell’s career moving forward with the tunes “Car On A Hill,” “Just Like This Train,” “Trouble Child,” and the cover of “Twisted” by jazz vocal legends Lamberts, Hendricks, and Ross. As if all of that isn’t enough, the tune “Raised on Robbery” is a perfect slice of ‘7os rock and roll, with Robbie Robertson (of The Band) dropping a perfect guitar line and solo on top of Joe Sample’s funky electric piano. Then, to top it all off, the second song on the side is “Down To You.” This song is one of the highlights of her career. Starting with a simple piano line, the song quickly builds into a gorgeous Tom Scott arrangement that won a Grammy Award. Lyrically and melodically, it is one of Mitchell’s best. It is a perfectly crafted pop song that is hidden away on side two, track two, but makes the album a timeless classic. Court and Spark is unique in that it was a commercial and critical success at the time of its release, is still considered one of the greatest pop albums of all time, and is Mitchell’s best selling album. It is rare for a record to exist as an example of the highest quality of pop music from the moment it is released, never lose that acclaim after fifty years, and remain the artist’s best-seller. That is a short list that includes albums by artists such as The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, and other icons of rock, pop, and soul, and Court and Spark has stood the test of time as one of the best on it.

To learn more about Joni Mitchell, check out her website.

To check out all of the old Faux Show Best of the Year Shows, visit The Year In Review Series page.

To listen to all of the songs of the day, check out the Radio Faux Show Song of the Day playlist.

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