Court And Spark

Asylum, 1974

Mitchell’s sixth album reflected her burgeoning fascination with jazz, roping in Tom Scott and LA Express as her backing band and, in the process, broadening her musical palette. Cue woodwinds, reeds and trumpets as she and a raft of other helpers create an intoxicating blend of sun-blushed sophisti-pop. The relatively carefree music belies the nature of her often troubled lyrics, which range from rigorous selfexamination to deep meditations on celebrity, romantic love and what it means to be free.

Help Me gave Mitchell her first (and only) US Top 10 hit, and she truly excels on Free Man In Paris and Down To You.