> 1974: The album "Court and Spark" was released Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday, Court & Spaaaaaaaaark, Happy Birthday to you!!!!
Almost 30, yet with the playfulness of youth and the wisdom of age. I was 'aware' of Joni Mitchell prior to C&S, but it wasn't until I heard "Help Me", "Raised On Robbery", "Free Man In Paris" on the FM radio (and played repeatedly in my High School cafeteria on our own radio station WSHS) that I knew that there SOMETHING more to this singer/songwriter named Joni Mitchell. So I bought the LP, and holy cow!! The best stuff wasn't even getting played on the radio!...the run from "People's Parties" to "Down To You" just blew my 16 year-old mind. I didn't understand it, but knew that I wanted to. I DID know, however, that sonically this record was a pure work of art. We can all probably recite them by HEART in order, but let's look at the tracklisting: Court And Spark Help Me Free Man In Paris People's Parties The Same Situation Car On A Hill Down To You Just Like This Train Raised On Robbery Trouble Child Twisted There's not a false nanosecond on this record! And it was one where Joni's tastes and the record-buying public's tastes were perfectly aligned. Anyway, thanks to Joni for this 'birthday present'...and to this community where I can write this sort of stuff and be understood. Bob, flashing back to Chris O'Neill's basement where we would play C&S over & over... NP: Kevin Gilbert, "Tea For One" (live)
