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Mingus
Studio album by Joni Mitchell
Released	June 13, 1979
Recorded	1978–1979
Studio	A&M (Hollywood) and Electric Lady (New York)
Genre	Jazz fusion
Length	37:20
Label	Asylum
Producer	Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell chronology
Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977) Mingus (1979) Shadows and Light (1980)
Singles from Mingus
"The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" Released: July 1979

Mingus is the tenth studio album by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell. It was released on June 13, 1979, and was her last studio album for Asylum Records. The album is a collaboration between Mitchell and Charles Mingus. It was recorded in the months before and after Mingus' death in January 1979 and is wholly dedicated to him. The album is one of Mitchell's most experimental and jazz-centric works. Mingus originally wrote six compositions ("Joni I-VI") for Mitchell to write lyrics for, and three of these were included on the album. Two other tracks written exclusively by Mitchell are included, alongside a new version of Mingus' standard "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", featuring lyrics written by Mitchell. In addition to these, five spoken word tracks (denoted as "raps") are dispersed throughout the album.

Mitchell is backed on the album by Jaco Pastorius (who had also contributed to Mitchell's two previous albums) on fretless bass, Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Herbie Hancock on electric piano, Peter Erskine on drums and Don Alias on percussion. Mingus received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 17 in the US. "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" was released as a single to promote the album, but did not chart. Mitchell would tour to promote the album through 1979–80; performances from these concerts would be documented on the live album Shadows and Light (1980).

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	C+
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Pitchfork	5.5/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the melodies have a little wider range and a more legitimate jazz feeling to them than Mitchell could compose, but given Mitchell's peculiar vocal talent, what started out Mingus ended up sounding just like Joni Mitchell, moving forward once again into new territory."

Track listing

Personnel

Sources:

Musicians

Prior to recording the album, Mitchell had several "experimental sessions" with New York musicians who had worked with Mingus. These musicians included:

• Eddie Gómez – bass
• John Guerin – drums
• Phil Woods – alto saxophone
• Gerry Mulligan – baritone saxophone
• Dannie Richmond – narration
• Tony Williams – drums
• John McLaughlin – guitar
• Jan Hammer – mini Moog
• Stanley Clarke – bass

The recordings of the "experimental sessions", rumored to have been lost, destroyed, or otherwise made unavailable, have become available as bootleg tapes.

The personnel on the actual album were:

• Joni Mitchell – guitar, vocals
• Jaco Pastorius – bass; horn arrangement on "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
• Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
• Herbie Hancock – electric piano
• Peter Erskine – drums
• Don Alias – congas
• Emil Richards – percussion
• Wolves – howling on "The Wolf That Lives in Lindsay"

Technical

Mixed by Joni Mitchell, Henry Lewy and Steve Katz
Mastered by Bernie Grundman
Personal Management: Elliot Roberts
Paintings by Joni Mitchell
Art direction: Glen Christensen

Recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood by Henry Lewy and Steve Katz
Additional recordings at Electric Lady Studios, New York by Henry Lewy and Jerry Solomon

Charts

See also

• River: The Joni Letters

References

1. ^ Planer, Lindsay. "Mingus – Joni Mitchell : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
2. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
4. "Joni Mitchell: The Studio Albums 1968–1979". Pitchfork. November 9, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
5. The Rolling Stone Album Guide – Joni Mitchell
6. McGrath, Paul (May 19, 1979). "Mingus pushes Joni to dip her toe in the lake of jazz". The Globe and Mail. p. P35.
7. "Mingus". JoniMitchell.com. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
9. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4398a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
10. "Charts.nz – Joni Mitchell – Mingus". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Joni Mitchell – Mingus". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
13. "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
14. "Cash Box Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. August 11, 1979. p. 69. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
15. "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 37. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved September 18, 2024.

v t e Joni Mitchell
Discography
Studio albums	Song to a Seagull (1968) Clouds (1969) Ladies of the Canyon (1970) Blue (1971) For the Roses (1972) Court and Spark (1974) The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) Hejira (1976) Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977) Mingus (1979) Wild Things Run Fast (1982) Dog Eat Dog (1985) Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm (1988) Night Ride Home (1991) Turbulent Indigo (1994) Taming the Tiger (1998) Both Sides Now (2000) Travelogue (2002) Shine (2007)
Live albums	Miles of Aisles Shadows and Light Amchitka, The 1970 Concert That Launched Greenpeace Joni Mitchell at Newport
Compilation albums	Hits Misses The Beginning of Survival Dreamland Songs of a Prairie Girl Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, a Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced
Archives series	Box sets Volume 1: The Early Years (1963–1967) The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971) The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) Volume 3: The Asylum Years (1972–1975) The Asylum Albums (1976–1980) Auxiliary releases Early Joni – 1963 Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes) Live albums Live at Canterbury House – 1967 Live at Carnegie Hall – 1969
Singles	"Chelsea Morning" "Big Yellow Taxi" "Carey" "California" "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" "Raised on Robbery" "Help Me" "Free Man in Paris" "In France They Kiss on Main Street" "Coyote" "My Secret Place"
Notable songs	"Both Sides, Now" "The Fiddle and the Drum" "Woodstock" "The Circle Game" "Little Green" "Blue" "This Flight Tonight" "River" "A Case of You" "The Last Time I Saw Richard" "Down to You" "Twisted" "Two Grey Rooms"
Tribute albums	River: The Joni Letters A Tribute to Joni Mitchell
Related articles	L.A. Express Blackface controversy
Category

• 1979 albums
• Joni Mitchell albums
• Asylum Records albums
• Charles Mingus
• Albums recorded at A&M Studios
• Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios
• Albums with cover art by Joni Mitchell
• Charles Mingus tribute albums