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The Hissing of Summer Lawns Joni Mitchell (1975) Asylum Records
“In France They Kiss on Main Street”, “The Jungle Line”, “Edith and the Kingpin”, “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow”, “Shades of Scarlett Conquering”, “The Hissing of Summer Lawns”, “The Boho Dance”, “Harry’s House/Centerpiece”, “Sweet Bird”, “Shadows and Light”
Graham Nash, David Crosby and James Taylor all contribute background vocals. Taylor, Robben Ford, Jeff Baxter, Larry Carlton on guitar. Victor Feldman, Joe Sample on keyboard. Max Bennett and Wilton Felder, bass. Chuck Findley and Bud Shank, horns. Plus the Warrior Drums of Burundi on “The Jungle Line”. Fun fact: the Burundi drums on this track were sampled on the Beastie Boys ‘B-boy Bouillabaisse’ from Paul’s Boutique
The follow up to Court and Spark, Joni’s most commercially successful album, Summer Lawns saw her risking new-found success with an edgier, experimental and adventurous album (and perhaps rock’s first dabbling in World Music?) Critically scorned at the time, its now much loved as one of Joni’s most brilliant, personal artistic statements.
(37 votes, average: 3.51 out of 5)
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October 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
This album is one of my longtime favorites. In 1975 I was 13, and I didn’t care what the critics said; I don’t think I even knew what they had to say. I had unusual taste in music for a 13-year-old boy; I got this for christmas, along with a Sarah Vaughan album and a George Harrison album. Out of the three, I think I played this one the most.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Sounds like me too.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
i am roughly the same age as dwasifer and i am not entirely certain when i got the joni mitchel virus. i remember LOVING free man in paris at the right time (contemporaneously) but it might’ve took a few more years after that to have got every last record of hers… usually out of the cut out bins… but the second i heard this LP i was ASTOUNDED. has she made a more audacious LP than this? i know what i’d do with harry’s house and harry’s take-home pay! and i don’t even know anyone named harold!!! my fave joni mitchell song is “talk to me”
December 14th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Joni also did the cover illustration