The Hissing of Summer Lawns
The Hissing of Summer Lawns | ||||
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A&M (Hollywood) | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:34 | |||
Label | Asylum | |||
Producer | Joni Mitchell | |||
Joni Mitchell chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Hissing of Summer Lawns | ||||
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The Hissing of Summer Lawns is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter
.The lyrics focus on women's experiences such as standing up to
While it did not spawn a major hit single like its predecessor, The Hissing of Summer Lawns reached number 4 in the US and remains Mitchell's last top-10 album. "In France They Kiss on Main Street", the only single, reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Hissing of Summer Lawns initially received negative reviews, with critics finding the jazz stylings a disservice to Mitchell's lyrics and comparing it negatively to Court and Spark. However, it later became one of her most acclaimed works. It appeared at number 258 in Rolling Stone's 2020 edition of its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and at number 217 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums in 2000.
Background
The slick
On "The Jungle Line", Mitchell is credited with the first commercially released song to include a
Songs
This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2023) |
The first track, "In France They Kiss on Main Street", is a jazz-rock song about coming of age in a small town in the 1950s
"Edith and the Kingpin" marks a return to jazz in a story of a gangster's new
The second side begins with the title track, "The Hissing of Summer Lawns", which is about a woman who chooses to stay in a marriage where she is treated as part of her husband's portfolio. "The Boho Dance" comments on people who feel that artists betray their artistic integrity for commercial success, with an ironic glance at those who said this of Mitchell herself and parallels
The African theme of "The Jungle Line" also features on the album sleeve, with an image of dark-skinned people carrying a large snake (both were embossed on the original vinyl album cover). Both men and snake are superimposed on the
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B[11] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [12] |
MusicHound | [13] |
Pitchfork | 10/10[14] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed)[10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [15] |
Sounds | [16] |
Martin C. Strong | 8/10[citation needed] |
Uncut | 9/10[17] |
The album initially received harsh criticism. In Rolling Stone,
The record's reputation has grown in stature over the years. Music writer Howard Sounes has called The Hissing of Summer Lawns Mitchell's masterpiece, "an LP to stand alongside Blood on the Tracks".[18] Prince, a lifelong fan of Mitchell, praised it in interviews;[19] he reportedly called it "the last album I loved all the way through."[20] Critic Jessica Hopper of Pitchfork noted that the album was originally felt as a betrayal by some listeners, but stated that while "it doesn't have the rhapsodic rep as Blue, it's unquestionably one of Mitchell's finest albums, and it is certainly her most timeless."[14]
Accolades
In 1977, at the
It was voted number 217 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).[21] The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[22] in 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 258 in the 2020 edition of its 500 greatest albums of all time.[23]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "In France They Kiss on Main Street" | 3:19 |
2. | "The Jungle Line" | 4:25 |
3. | "Edith and the Kingpin" | 3:38 |
4. | "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow" | 4:05 |
5. | "Shades of Scarlett Conquering" | 4:59 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" | Joni Mitchell, John Guerin | 3:01 |
2. | "The Boho Dance" | 3:48 | |
3. | "Harry's House" / "Centerpiece" | Joni Mitchell; Jon Hendricks, Harry Edison | 6:48 |
4. | "Sweet Bird" | 4:12 | |
5. | "Shadows and Light" | 4:19 |
Personnel
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
- Joni Mitchell – vocals, acoustic guitar (tracks 1–4, 9), Moog (2), piano (5, 9), keyboards (7), ARP and Farfisa (10)
- Victor Feldman – electric piano (1, 5), congas (4), vibes (5), keyboards and percussion (6)
- Joe Sample – electric piano (3), keyboards (8)
- Larry Carlton – electric guitar (3–5, 9)
- Robben Ford – electric guitar (1), Dobro (4), guitar (8)
- Jeff Baxter – electric guitar (1)
- James Taylor – background vocals (1), guitar (6)
- David Crosby and Graham Nash – background vocals (1)
- Max Bennett – bass (1, 5–8)
- Wilton Felder – bass (3, 4)
- John Guerin – drums (except 2), Moog and arrangement (6)
- The Warrior Drums of Burundi (2)
- Chuck Findley – horn (3), trumpet (6, 8), flugelhorn (7)
- Bud Shank – saxophone and flute (3, 6), bass flute (7)
- Dale Oehler – string arrangement (5)
Technical
- Joni Mitchell – producer, cover design, illustration
- Henry Lewy – engineer, mix with Mitchell
- Ellis Sorkin – assistant engineer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Joe Gastwirt – re-mastered at Ocean View Digital Mastering in W. Los Angeles for 1997 HDCD release [24]
- Norman Seeff – photography
Charts
Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[25] | 62 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[26] | 7 |
UK Albums (OCC)[27] | 14 |
US Billboard 200[28] | 4 |
References
- jazz-pop:
- Corcoran, Michael. "Fifteen nails in the coffin". Dallas Observer. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Hurt, Edd (March 7, 2013). "Brian Blade and his Fellowship Band live where jazz meets pop". Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- folk-jazz:
- Himes, Geoffrey (April 25, 2019). "Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell: Music & Lyrics". Jazz Times. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Connors, Bruce (January 30, 1976). "Joni 'jazzes' folk style in recent album Print-ready version" (PDF). The Bona Venture. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Gill, Andy (May 9, 2015). "The academics have got pop wrong - here are the years when music really changed things". The Independent. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ The following sources label the album avant-pop:
- Hermes, Will. "Joni Mitchell Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Grimstad, Paul (September 4, 2007). "What is Avant-Pop?". Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Ankeny, Jason (2011). "The Hissing of Summer Lawns – Joni Mitchell | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ Macpherson, Alex (January 14, 1996). "Joni Mitchell at 70: bolt from the Blue". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ISBN 9780826417732.
- ^ "Joni Mitchell Library - Joni Mitchell is a Nervy Broad: Musician Magazine, January 1983". jonimitchell.com.
- ^ Mitchell, Joni. "Boho Dance – lyrics". Joni Mitchell. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c Holden, Stephen (2011). "Joni Mitchell: The Hissing Of Summer Lawns : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ISBN 978-0195313734.
- ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- ^ a b "Joni Mitchell: The Studio Albums 1968–1979 | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. November 9, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved September 8, 2009. Portions posted at "Joni Mitchell > Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the originalon July 31, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- ^ Lewis, Alan (December 13, 1975). "Joni: poet of the human jungle" (PDF). Sounds. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "Buyer's Guide: The Asylum Years, 1972–1975". Uncut. No. 305. October 2022. p. 93.
- ISBN 0743268598.
- ^ Errett, Joshua (April 22, 2016). "Prince loved Toronto and these 5 Toronto women". CBC News. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ Hermes, Will. "Joni Mitchell Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
- ISBN 978-1844037353.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 284–213". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ^ "Joni Mitchell - News Item".
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4078a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2021.