Joni Mitchell reportedly viewed her 1982 album Wild Things Run Fast as a potential artistic farewell, describing it as a summary of what she wanted to say about love. The article argues that the record reflected her continuing move beyond folk and pop conventions towards a broader, jazz-influenced sound, and mattered because it captured a point when she felt creatively fulfilled enough to leave music for painting.

Wild Things Run Fast featured a varied group of musicians, including guest vocals from Lionel Richie, and followed Mitchell’s experimental albums Hejira and Mingus. Mitchell said she considered herself “a painter first and a musician second” and initially intended the album to be her last for Elektra, although contractual commitments led to further releases; the article notes that her subsequent work included the less well-received Dog Eat Dog and later albums such as Both Sides Now.