Joni Mitchell - Hejira

After the expanded instrumental scale and sonic experimentation of Court & Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Joni Mitchell reverses that flow for the more intimate, interior music on Hejira, which retracts the arranging style to focus on Mitchell's distinctive acoustic guitar and piano, and the brilliant, lyrical bass fantasias of fretless bass innovator Jaco Pastorius. Known for his furious, sometimes rococo figures beneath the music of Weather Report, Pastorius is tamed by Mitchell's cooler, more deliberate ballads: these meditations coax a far gentler, subdued lyricism from Pastorius, whose intricate bass counterpoints Mitchell's coolly elegant singing, especially on the sublime "Amelia," which transforms the mystery of Amelia Earheart into a parable of both feminism and romantic self-discovery. This isn't Mitchell at her most obviously ambitious, yet the depth of feeling, poetic reach, and musical confidence make this among the finest works in a very fine canon. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com essential recording

'I'm like a black crow flying in a blue sky.'

"The whole Hejira album was really inspired . . . I wrote the album while traveling cross-country by myself and there is this restless feeling throughout it . . . The sweet loneliness of solitary travel."--Joni Mitchell.

Hejira ranks among my three favorite Joni Mitchell albums (the other two being Court and Spark and Blue), and it is one of Joni Mitchell's best albums, considered by many critics as the "high-water mark" of Mitchell's career. Blending folk, rock and jazz, and driven by Mitchell's riveting guitar and Jaco Pastorius's fretless bass, it was a success both critically and commercially upon its 1976 release. Mitchell wrote most of the beautiful songs on the album while driving cross country, infusing her definitive folk-rock sound with intimately poetic, confessional lyrics. Hejira features a perfect arrangement of meticulously-crafted songs and Mitchell classics ("Coyote," "Amelia," "Hejira," and "Song For Sharon"). The album also features an impressive list of backing musicians: Larry Carlton on acoustic & electric guitars, Neil Young on harmonica, Tom Scott on horns, and Jaco Pastorius on bass. The complete album tracklist includes:

1. Coyote 5:01
2. Amelia 6:01
3. Furry Sings The Blues 5:06
4. A Strange Boy 4:19
5. Hejira 6:42
6. Song For Sharon 8:37
7. Black Crow 4:22
8. Blue Motel Room 5:04
9. Refuge Of The Roads 6:42

G. Merritt June 18, 2008

Great music!!

There's something about the music of Joni Mitchell that is completely absorbing and mesmerizing!! After hearing the re-working by Herbie Hancock of her material, I'll still opt for the real thing!! March 21, 2008

This and Joni's others should be put to SACD or DVD-Audio!

There's enough years gone by and enough great reviews here to tell you what to expect if you haven't yet heard this album so I won't drag this out - only to say this is, without a doubt, my favorite lyrical album of all time! And while the remastered HDCD layer sounds fine on my OPPO 980 HDCD/SACD/DVD-A player, I really would like to see Joni and some caring souls go into a studio and put this masterpiece into a 5.1 perspective as well as everything else she's recorded, especially in the 1970's. Elton has done it, Clapton has done it, Carole has done it, Dylan has done it, Joni's turn is due! March 18, 2008

Rarified finery

The Herbie Hancock album "River: The Joni Letters" caused me to look back into Hejira, and I'm stunned by what I rediscovered. This IS one of the finest albums ever made. I admired and enjoyed it very much back then, but I'm even more impressed now. It sounds like it was recorded yesterday -- or tomorrow. Jaco Pastorius' bass playing is sublime, as is the muted guitar accompaniment (Larry Carlton and I presume Joni herself), a sound I cannot recall hearing elsewhere. Really, drummer John Guerin, other bassist Max Bennett and all the musicians on this album can take pride in having contributed to the making of something extraordinary and quite lasting. I really appreciate this album!

Of course, Joni is a gifted composer: lyrics, melodies, arrangements, all wow. And I think she may regard Hejira as her favorite album. In the universe of albums I'm reluctant to declare a single favorite, but Hejira certainly belongs on a short list for me.
February 16, 2008

One of her best

For some reason I had not bought this album in the past. After watching a Joni Mitchell DVD I decided to add it to my collection. Not the best in her offerings but up there with Blue and Ladies - almost. December 14, 2007

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