Music Appreciation

Mousetoescamper

(4,941 posts) Tue Sep 3, 2024, 09:42 PM Sep 3

Joni Mitchell w/Pat Metheny & Jaco Pastorius - Free Man In Paris (Live 1979)

Last edited Tue Sep 3, 2024, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, September 9, 1979.

Joni Mitchell: Vocals, Guitar
Pat Metheny: Guitar
Michael Brecker: Tenor Saxophone
Jaco Pastorius: Bass
Don Alias: Drums, Percussion
Lyle Mays: Keyboards

Mitchell wrote “Free Man in Paris” about her close friend, David Geffen. She told the Los Angeles Times about a time in Paris with Geffen, The Band’s Robbie Robertson, and his then-wife, Dominique. Geffen lamented the stress of the music business and said he felt most “alive” in Paris, away from the office.
-American Songwriter

Free Man In Paris
The way I see it, he said
You just can't win it
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You can't please 'em all
There's always somebody calling you down
I do my best
And I do good business
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favors
And no one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song
I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
I'd just walk out those doors
And wander
Down the Champs Elysees
Going cafe to cabaret
Thinking how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song

Songwriter: Joni Mitchell

8 replies

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Highlight:

Joni Mitchell w/Pat Metheny & Jaco Pastorius - Free Man In Paris (Live 1979) (Original Post) Mousetoescamper Sep 3 OP

My favorite song off my favorite album of hers. Great music and clever lyrics surfered Sep 3 #1

There's a splendid group of musicians on this recording Mousetoescamper Sep 3 #2

That was fun to see and hear Inkey Sep 3 #3

You're welcome! Mousetoescamper Sep 3 #4

Caught this line-up the same year at the Red Rocks amphitheater al bupp Sep 3 #5

Great Version ProfessorGAC Sep 4 #6

Joni Mitchell is a member of an ensemble of peers during this performance. Mousetoescamper Sep 5 #7

That's A Good Point ProfessorGAC Sep 5 #8

surfered

(2,667 posts)

1. My favorite song off my favorite album of hers. Great music and clever lyrics

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Tue Sep 3, 2024, 09:56 PM

Sep 3

Thank you.

Mousetoescamper

(4,941 posts)

2. There's a splendid group of musicians on this recording

Reply to surfered (Reply #1)

Tue Sep 3, 2024, 10:03 PM

Sep 3

You're welcome!

Inkey

(317 posts)

3. That was fun to see and hear

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Tue Sep 3, 2024, 10:07 PM

Sep 3

Thanks for sharing this!

Mousetoescamper

(4,941 posts)

4. You're welcome!

Reply to Inkey (Reply #3)

Tue Sep 3, 2024, 10:15 PM

Sep 3

al bupp

(2,338 posts)

5. Caught this line-up the same year at the Red Rocks amphitheater

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Tue Sep 3, 2024, 10:27 PM

Sep 3

What a show. What a venue.

ProfessorGAC

(69,553 posts)

6. Great Version

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Wed Sep 4, 2024, 05:40 PM

Sep 4

Wow, Don Alias is good. Everyone is a top notch player, but Don is killing it on drums!
This is probably my favorite JM song.
My wife is a gigantic fan of Joni. Has been since well before I met her.

Mousetoescamper

(4,941 posts)

7. Joni Mitchell is a member of an ensemble of peers during this performance.

Reply to ProfessorGAC (Reply #6)

Thu Sep 5, 2024, 08:11 AM

Sep 5

I don't see a star and her backup band. That's what makes this so extraordinary.

And then there's the little matter of her writing this splendid song.

ProfessorGAC

(69,553 posts)

8. That's A Good Point

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Reply #7)

Thu Sep 5, 2024, 09:02 AM

Sep 5

It looks like Joni is playing a George Benson Ibanez. My best electric is a high end Ibanez so I get the attraction. That GB model is really nice, and expensive for an Ibanez. At least $3,500 new.

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