Album of the Day

Joni Mitchell chose the title HEJIRA for her eighth studio set to describe “running away with honor,” and the 1976 Asylum collection reflects nearly a year criss-crossing the country, including a stint with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. The album also reflects Mitchell’s growing love of jazz, with instrumental support from players including guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer John Guerin and most famously, fretless bassist Jaco Pastorius. Her break-up with Guerin inspired a couple of songs here; the nine originals are among the most personal of Joni’s career, with such highlights as “Coyote,” “Amelia,” and the title track. One of the singer-songwriter’s most rewarding works, the Gold-certified HEJIRA was named by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest albums of all time.