"In France They Kiss on Main Street" Released: January 1976
The Hissing of Summer Lawns is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in November 1975 on Asylum Records. It continues the jazz-influenced sound of Mitchell's previous album, Court and Spark, with more unconventional and experimental material. It features sampling, synthesizers such as the Moog and ARP, and contributions from acts including the jazz-rock groups the L.A. Express and the Jazz Crusaders and James Taylor, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.
The lyrics focus on women's experiences such as standing up to patriarchal norms ("Don't Interrupt the Sorrow") or frustrations with suburban life (the title track, "Harry's House"). As with many of her albums, Mitchell created the cover art. It depicts a painting depicting a group of men carrying a large snake superimposed over the Beverly Hills suburbs; Mitchell's house is shaded in blue.
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.
^The following sources label the album 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.
^The following sources label the album 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.
and 20 Related for: The Hissing of Summer Lawns information
TheHissingofSummerLawns is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in November 1975 on Asylum Records...
received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the album TheHissingofSummerLawns, though the 1976 Grammy for that...
Mitchell from the album TheHissingofSummerLawns. It was released as a single in 1976 and reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the title referring...
Mitchell's "accidental yacht rock" song "TheHissingofSummerLawns" (1975), which described the "tarnished love" of "a woman trapped in a big house and a...
between the release of her fifth studio album, For the Roses (1972) and her seventh studio album, TheHissingofSummerLawns (1975). The first volume of album...
successful period was the early-mid 1970s, which included 1970's Ladies ofthe Canyon, 1971's Blue and 1974's Court and Spark, all three of which reached Platinum...
Molly Johnson "The Beat of Black Wings" – Andy Stochansky "Shades of Scarlett Conquering" – Martha and the Muffins "TheHissingofSummerLawns" – Funky Bummer...
Mitchell at 70: bolt from the Blue". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2022. Ankeny, Jason (2011). "TheHissingofSummerLawns – Joni Mitchell | AllMusic"...
Bros., 1980) With Joni Mitchell For the Roses (Asylum, 1972) Court and Spark (Asylum, 1974) TheHissingofSummerLawns (Asylum, 1975) With B.B. King Midnight...
Mitchell TheHissingofSummerLawns (Asylum Records, 1975) With The Beach Boys That's Why God Made the Radio (Capitol Records, 2012) Speed of Heat (2022...
support ofthe Court and Spark album with her backing band for the tour, the L.A. Express. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and became one of her biggest-selling...
homage to the album's title. Upon announcing Harry's House, Joni Mitchell, whose 1975 album TheHissingofSummerLawns featured a track ofthe same name...
inspired to make the recording after hearing Mitchell's 1975 album TheHissingofSummerLawns. The Fallout Club disbanded toward the end of 1981. Dolby played...
vocals (1974), TheHissingofSummerLawns - Vocals (1975) Jefferson Airplane: Crown of Creation (1968), Volunteers (1969), Blows Against the Empire (1970)...