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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 jazz musician Charles Mingus. It was recorded in the months before and after Mingus’ death in January 1979 and is wholly dedicated to him.

Reception

DownBeat gave the album 5 stars. Neil Tesser called the album “a wonderful piece of work”. He pointed out that, “On four of the songs, the late bassist supplied the music and Joni wrote the lyrics; her words for the improvisatory, often nonstrophic melodies make this the first real advance in the jazz art of vocalese since Lambert, Hendricks & Ross”. He remarked, “Joni Mitchell can perform as a credible, and here excellent, jazz singer”. He called “Porkpie Hat” a masterpiece, “Joni’s lyrics, quite frankly, are profound: in the first five words, she manages to weave the song’s original subject (Lester Young) and its composer into an epic framework of great emotional power”.

Track listing
All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.

Side one
1. “Happy Birthday 1975” (Rap) — Mildred J. Hill 0:57
2. “God Must Be a Boogie Man” 4:35
3. “Funeral” (Rap) —  1:07
4. “A Chair in the Sky” Charles Mingus 6:42
5. “The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey” 6:35
Side two
1. “I’s a Muggin'” (Rap) Stuff Smith Smith 0:07
2. “Sweet Sucker Dance” Mingus 8:04
3. “Coin in the Pocket” (Rap) —  0:11
4. “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines” Mingus 3:21
5. “Lucky” (Rap) —  0:03
6. “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” Mingus 5:37

Personnel

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”

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Released: June 13, 1979
Recorded: 1978–1979
Studios:
A&M (Hollywood)
Electric Lady (New York City)
Length: 37:20
Label: Asylum
Producer: Joni Mitchell