Mitchell followed up Blue with the underrated For the Roses,
a set of harmonically and lyrically complex songs. Court and Spark is,
in comparison, smoother and more straight-ahead; it became the biggest
record of her career, hitting Number Two. Working with saxophonist Tom
Scott's fusion group L.A. Express, Mitchell settles into a folk-pop-jazz
groove that remains a landmark of breezy sophistication, particularly
on the Top Ten single "Help Me." Strange but true: A cover of
"Twisted" by the scat-jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and
Ross closes the album -- with stoner comics Cheech and Chong singing backup.
(Rolling Stone)
Total album sales: 2 million / Peak chart position: 2
|