As we continue to focus on favorite songs from the mid-70s, today’s classic song of the day is Joni Mitchell’s “Coyote.” This was the lead track from her 1976 album Hejira; it was released as a single in February of 1977 and, while it didn’t chart in the U.S., did reach #79 on Canada’s RPM Top Singles chart.
“Coyote” was one of the first songs written for Hejira, in late 1975. The song, like many of Ms. Mitchell’s tunes, is somewhat autobiographical, inspired by events that transpired during Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Joni performed as part of the revue and actor Sam Shepard had been hired to write a script for a movie based on the events on the tour. That movie never transpired but allegedly Mitchell and Shepard had a brief relationship during the tour; “Coyote” documents that.
While she was still developing the song, Ms. Mitchell told the audience at a November 13, 1975, Rolling Thunder Revue concert what they were about to hear:
“I came to this tour in Hew Haven and I just hitched along to the rest of the distance. Its kind of like running away from home to join a circus. I’ve got this tune that has been growing, started off with two verses. A couple of nights later I added another one and last night I got a fourth one.”
On the track, Ms. Mitchell plays both acoustic and electric guitars and is accompanied by the amazing Jaco Pastorius on bass and Miss Bobbye Hall on percussion. It’s certainly a unique sound, full of odd chords and shimmering harmonics, but it fits this very unique almost stream-of-consciousness song.
While Court and Spark is regarded by many as Ms. Mitchell’s high water mark, I actually liked Hejira a little better. The songs were more free flowing, the accompaniment (thanks in no small part to Mr. Pastorius’ fretless bass work) a little jazzier. There weren’t any real hits from the album, certainly not like Court and Sparks’ “Help Me” and “Free Man in Paris,” but the songs tended to resonate more. In addition to “Coyote,” the highlights were “Amelia” (about Amelia Earhart), “Furry Sings the Blues,” “Black Crow,” and the title track. It’s a mesmerizing album by a constantly evolving artist, easily one of her best and among the best of the decade.
And here’s a final treat for you. Here’s footage of Joni Mitchell performing an early version of “Coyote” at Gordon Lightfoot’s house, accompanied by Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn, sometime in late 1975. Man, what a scene.
