Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter

Asylum, 1977

Generally dismissed by critics on release, this sprawling double album of fusionist jazz continues to polarise fans. Detractors claim that’s it’s overlong and unfocused, but it’s actually a joyous survey of music’s transportive powers, Mitchell untethering herself from expectations and flying far and free. Some of it is deliciously abstract, while bongos, cowbell and coffee cans add to the invigorating sense of release.

On a lyrical level, fun-time

Joni hits a peak on the title track and the irrepressible Talk To Me: ‘I didn’t know I drank such a lot, till I pissed a tequila anaconda the full length of the parking lot.’