Today’s selection of songs with animals in their titles is a bit more subdued, but no less fascinating. Let’s start with Joni Mitchell and a song from her 1976 album Hijeira, in which she set her brief relationship with the playwright Sam Shepard to music. She clearly moves away from the folk influences of previous years and turns increasingly towards jazz. This has done the song a world of good, for Jaco Pastorius has rarely played the bass better.
A year later, Steely Dan released their jazz-rock masterpiece Aja, one of the albums that truly pushed musical boundaries. Magnificent melodies and understated funk came together to create something truly special.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 1976 was the Year of the Fire Dragon, yet Al Stewart enjoyed worldwide success with the title track from his album The Year of the Cat. He was certainly talented, but unfortunately the crowds no longer wanted to hear his songs, sung in that gentle voice.
