Mingus (1979)

By Joni Mitchell

Words set to jazz: Mitchell writes lyrics for six compositions handed to her by bassist Charles Mingus, who was dying of ALS and could not play on the sessions, and adds her own version of his standard "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," with spoken word "raps" between songs. Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock back her. It reached number 17 in the US in 1979.

Released
1979
Tracks
11

Track list

  1. Happy Birthday 1975 (rap)
  2. God Must Be a Boogie Man
  3. Funeral (rap)
  4. A Chair in the Sky
  5. The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey
  6. I’s a Muggin’ (rap)
  7. Sweet Sucker Dance
  8. Coin in the Pocket (rap)
  9. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
  10. Lucky (rap)
  11. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat