#133 Joni Mitchell, 'Hejira' (1976)

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“No regrets Coyote/We just come from such different sets of circumstance,” what a perfect way to start an album. ‘Coyote’ was written about Sam Shepard, a member of Bob Dylan’s entourage from the Rolling Thunder Review with whom Mitchell had a brief relationship. Mitchell joined the tour for a few shows in 1975. She picked up a relationship and a cocaine habit. The song is all about sex, drugs and Folk Rock ‘n Roll. The album in itself is a road trip album. It was written mostly in the car while Mitchell was road tripping solo following ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’ tour (#258). ‘Hejira’ is an Arabic word meaning “journey,” and that’s just what this record is. Mitchell later said “I suppose a lot of people could have written a lot of my other songs, but I feel the songs on ‘Hejira’ could only have come from me.”

At the height of her fame and success, Mitchell donned a red wig, sunglasses and told people along the way that her name was either Charlene Latimer or Joan Black. Mitchell had grown increasingly frustrated with session Rock musicians and started to look towards the Jazz world. It was on this record that she formed a musical connection with arguably the greatest bassist of all time, Jaco Pastorius and his fretless bass coupled with her guitar and vocals dominate the sound of this record. The songs are unique and different to her previous recordings in that there’s no real distinct chorus and verses. It’s mostly a flow of consciousness from Mitchell. Her lyrics are beautiful, as are the songs. Best enjoyed on the open road.

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