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

[Mousetoescamper]

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

[surfered]

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

Thank you.

[Mousetoescamper]

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

You're welcome!

[Inkey]

3. That was fun to see and hear

Thanks for sharing this!

[Mousetoescamper]

4. You're welcome!

[al bupp]

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

What a show. What a venue.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Great Version

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]

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

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]

8. That's A Good Point

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.