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