The Steel Guitar Forum

Does anyone know who played pedal steel on Joni Mitchell's 1976 album, "Hejira"? I've been listening to it a lot, and there's some very original textural playing on it. I understand that Greg Leisz has been backing her up recently, but was he playing for her back then too?

Thanks,

Tim Tweedale

I don't believe there's any steel on Hejira.

1. Joni Mitchell: vocals, acoustic & electric guitars
2. Larry Carlton: acoustic & electric guitars
3. Abe Most: clarinet on "Hejira"
4. Neil Young: harmonica on "Furry Sings the Blues"
5. Chuck Findley: horns on "Refuge of the Roads"
6. Tom Scott: horns on "Refuge of the Roads"
7. Victor Feldman: vibraphone on "Amelia"
8. Jaco Pastorius: bass on "Refuge of the Roads", "Black Crow", "Hejira" and "Coyote"
9. Max Bennett: bass on "Song for Sharon", "Furry Sings the Blues"
10. Chuck Domanico: bass on "Blue Motel Room"
11. John Guerin: drums
12. Bobbye Hall: percussion

I concur with Steve.
Larry Carlton is a master at getting those textural sounds from a guitar. Listen to the title track of 'Court and Spark' for a really convincing pedal steel sound.
Hejira is a great album.

There are a few songs on "Hejira" where Larry Carlton does volume pedal swells that are a little "steel like". And on "Amelia" he does some beautiful harmonics and bends along with the "whammy" bar that could be mistaken for steel. I'd heard years ago that he was inspired to use the volume pedal while doing sessions with Buddy Emmons while Buddy was living in L.A.; that's not hard to believe. I personally believe it came full circle and that the style of playing Carlton did on this album (and others) influenced more than a few steel players later on, I know it did me. I really recommend anybody at least checking out "Ameila" on itunes or somewhere if they like "atmospheric" playing.

And of course many people consider this album to be some of the best playing Jaco Pastorious ever did, which is saying something...

Hejira still gives me goosebumps! It's funny to me that the era that Hejira came out of showed such artistic promise that somehow de-evolved into the elevator music that is now smooth jazz.

At any rate, Hejira (and Court and Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns etc.) really inspired me to play the pedal steel.

At least Larry was using a Sho-Bud volume pedal for the steel-like sounds.

Rick Schmidt wrote:At any rate, Hejira (and Court and Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns etc.) really inspired me to play the pedal steel.

Definitely.

Wow! That is extremely impressive work with just a volume pedal and string bending.

Good comment on it coming "full circle" too.

-Tim

Wow. I was convinced at the time that I was, for sure, the only PSG player who was into this music .....
Small world.

I have too many CD's so a lot of 'em get ignored. I just dug out "Hejira" for a listen... haven't heard it in at least a couple of years... it's easy to understand why Tim thought there was steel on it.

The only thing I hear on this are a doubled finger-picking part, chorussed, and several tracks of Jaco's fretless bass, plus some clarinet fills in the middle. Am I missing something? (just listening on my laptop speakers tho).

Dean, it sounds like you're listening to the title song from the album, which doesn't have Larry Carlton. The tracks from the album that to me most fit what's being talked about are "Ameila" and "A Strange Boy". Hope that helps...

Maybe Jaco was doing the pedal steel guitar licks.

Thanks Pete, now I get it. "Amelia" does sound like a few tracks of Larry.

I always marvel at musicians who stretch the boundaries of their instruments by listening and adapting the styles of other instruments. Like Joaquin Murphey, who listened to a lot of jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman and jazz pianist George Shearing to inform his steel playing.

Larry Carlton's playing clearly illustrates that he's listened to a lot of steel guitar! For those who haven't heard the clip in question, here it is. This is from Joni Mitchell's song "Amelia" from her album, Hejira.

click here to hear!

-Tim

I just wanted to bump this thread from 6 years back, because I thought it was so cool how a non-steel player playing steel-like sounds inspired many curious musicians to pick up the steel!

Jerry Erickson wrote:At least Larry was using a Sho-Bud volume pedal for the steel-like sounds.

I think I read somewhere that Howard Dumble shoehorned some electronics in that pedal. Maybe a preamp?

Joni Mitchell said that the Jaco albums were the only time she felt like she was a backup singer to a bass.

Tim,

Thanks for the bump. I enjoy Joni Mitchell, and a listen to her music is always a nice change of pace. Joni is brilliant and has played with so many amazing musicians. Plenty to learn by paying attention.

Dan

Coyote!!!

since this thread started years ago, I've done a few gigs with a great group of jazzers who do a lot of Joni's tunes....here's one off of Hejira

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NmbhPvn6n8

Charlie McDonald wrote:I concur with Steve.
Larry Carlton is a master at getting those textural sounds from a guitar. Listen to the title track of 'Court and Spark' for a really convincing pedal steel sound.
Hejira is a great album.

Thanks guys, I landed here in a search for the mystery pedal steel player on Amelia. Was impressed by the civility of tone here compared to other forums. AND was surprised (but happy) to hear that it was Larry Carlton on electric. Wow.

Those albums were important to me at the time - thanks for reminding me of great music I should listen to again

There is a lot of that same work on the Crusaders albums that Larry played on and was a member of for quite a few years. Check them out. especially the early 70's to later 70's.

As long as we're talking Joni Mitchell, Sneaky Pete did some nice steel on her Blue LP.

Hey Rick,

Beautiful solo over such an inspiring chord progression and song. That must have felt so amazing.

Very Cool!