"Hejira" is the eighth studio album by Joni Mitchell, released in 1976 on Asylum Records. The album reflects Mitchell's experiences during a period of extensive travel in late 1975 and early 1976. It is known for its lyrically dense and sprawling songs, backed by a lineup of jazz-oriented instrumentalists.
The album features notable musicians such as Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass, Larry Carlton on guitar, and John Guerin on drums, among others. These musicians contributed to the album's distinctive sound, blending Mitchell's folk and jazz influences with intricate musical arrangements.
The lead track, "Coyote," was released as a single and stands out as one of the album's highlights, showcasing Mitchell's storytelling prowess and the album's thematic exploration of freedom, movement, and introspection.
Commercially, "Hejira" performed moderately well, peaking at No. 22 in Canada, No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States (earning a gold certification from the RIAA), and No. 11 in the UK (achieving a silver certification). Despite not reaching the commercial heights of some of Mitchell's earlier albums, "Hejira" received positive reviews from critics and has since been recognized as one of the highlights of her extensive career, praised for its innovative musical approach and introspective lyrics.
