Mingus (Joni Mitchell album)

1979 studio album by Joni Mitchell

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

1. "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
Released: July 1979

"God Must Be a Boogie Man"

from Mingus by Joni Mitchell, Asylum Records, 1979. Sample from Mingus Asylum Records/Elektra Entertainment Group, 1979

* * *

Problems playing this file? See media help.

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.[1] 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

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| C+[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [2]
Pitchfork| 5.5/10[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [5]

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."[6]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Happy Birthday 1975" (Rap)| —| Mildred J. Hill| 0:57
2.| "God Must Be a Boogie Man"| Joni Mitchell| Mitchell| 4:35
3.| "Funeral" (Rap)| —| —| 1:07
4.| "A Chair in the Sky"| Mitchell| Charles Mingus| 6:42
5.| "The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey"| Mitchell| Mitchell| 6:35

Side twoNo.| Title| Lyrics| Music| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "I's a Muggin'" (Rap)| Stuff Smith| Smith| 0:07
2.| "Sweet Sucker Dance"| Mitchell| Mingus| 8:04
3.| "Coin in the Pocket" (Rap)| —| —| 0:11
4.| "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"| Mitchell| Mingus| 3:21
5.| "Lucky" (Rap)| —| —| 0:03
6.| "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"| Mitchell| Mingus| 5:37

## Personnel

[edit]

Sources:[7][1]

### Musicians

[edit]

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.[citation needed]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Chart performance for Mingus Chart (1979)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] | 44
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9] | 37
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] | 27
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] | 48
UK Albums (OCC)[12] | 24
US Billboard 200[13] | 17
US Cash Box Top 100 Albums[14] | 19
Chart (2024)  | Peak
position

|

Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[15] | 28

## See also

[edit]

* River: The Joni Letters

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c 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
* Joni's Jazz

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)
* Volume 4: The Asylum Years (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

* v
* t
* e

Charles Mingus

Discography

Studio
albums|

* The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus
* Jazz Composers Workshop
* Pithecanthropus Erectus
* The Clown
* East Coasting
* Mingus Three
* A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
* Mingus Ah Um
* Blues & Roots
* Mingus Dynasty
* Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus
* Pre-Bird
* Mingus
* Oh Yeah
* Tijuana Moods
* Money Jungle
* The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
* Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
* Tonight at Noon
* Mingus Plays Piano
* Blue Bird
* Pithycanthropus Erectus
* Let My Children Hear Music
* Mingus Moves
* Changes One
* Changes Two
* Three or Four Shades of Blues
* His Final Work
* Cumbia & Jazz Fusion
* Something Like a Bird
* Charles Mingus with Orchestra
* Reincarnation of a Lovebird

Live
albums|

* Mingus at the Bohemia (1956)
* Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland (1959)
* The Complete Town Hall Concert (1962)
* The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach (1963)
* Astral Weeks (1964)
* Town Hall Concert (1964)
* Revenge! (1964)
* The Great Concert of Charles Mingus (1964)
* Mingus in Europe Volume I (1964)
* Mingus in Europe Volume II (1964)
* Right Now: Live at the Jazz Workshop (1964)
* Mingus at Monterey (1964)
* My Favorite Quintet (1965)
* Music Written for Monterey 1965 (1965)
* Charles Mingus Sextet In Berlin (1970)
* Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert (1972)
* Mingus at Antibes (1974)
* Mingus at Carnegie Hall (1974)
* Cornell 1964 (2007)

Books|

* Beneath the Underdog (1971 autobiography)

Related|

* Mingus Big Band
* Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard
* Mingus Dynasty
* Sue Mingus
* Jazz at Massey Hall (1953)
* Weary Blues (1958)
* Newport Rebels (1960)
* Pepper Adams Plays the Compositions of Charlie Mingus (1964)
* Mingus (1979)
* Epitaph (1990)
* Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968
* Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog (1998 documentary)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template