Album of the Day

Joni Mitchell's second live album (and final collection for Asylum) was 1980’s SHADOWS AND LIGHT. Recorded the preceding year at the Santa Barbara Bowl, the double LP reflects the singer-songwriter’s love of jazz, with recent albums like HEIJIRA and MINGUS supplying much of the material. Accordingly, she’s assembled a backing band of fusion greats including guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Jaco Pastorius and keyboardist Lyle Mays (plus vocal group The Persuasions on two tracks). Mitchell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this day in 1997, and the adventurous spirit heard on SHADOWS AND LIGHT helped put her there.