Today’s classic song of the day is “Free Man in Paris” by Joni Mitchell. Released as a single in July of 1974, this track reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, #23 on the Cash Box 100, and #2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
Joni Mitchell wrote “Free Man in Paris” about her friend, music industry mogul David Geffen. It details how he took a trip to Paris, along with the Band’s guitarist, Robbie Robertson, to get away from the pressures of the music business. Ms. Mitchell relates what he said to her about the trip:
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
That “star maker machinery behind the popular song” line is just so good. I find myself quoting it all the time.
Like of all Joni’s songs of the period, “Free Man in Paris” is harmonically interesting. The chords in the verse go A – D7sus4/G – G – C, then repeat. That’s sort of in the key of A , although not really; the tonal center shifts all over the place. Then there’s the chorus, which goes Csus4 – G – C – A6—pretty much in the key of C, except for that final A6 chord. Joni basically let the words and the melody dictate the chords and the result is fresh and inventive.
There’s some unexpected rhythmic complexity here, as well. In addition to Joni’s typical syncopated melody lines that flow from the pace of the lyrics, she throws in a measure of 3/8 after the three-bar instrumental intro/interlude. Casual listeners might not notice it, but it’s a tricky little thing.
Ms. Mitchell enlisted an all-star ensemble to back her on this one. Joni played guitar, of course, and the other musicians included Tom Scott on flute and sax, José Feliciano on acoustic guitar, Larry Carlton on electric guitar, Wilton Felder on bass, and John Guerin on drums. David Crosby and Graham Nash provided backing vocals.
“Free Man in Paris” was the third track on side one of Ms. Mitchell’s genre-defying album, Court and Spark. This album, perhaps her best, also spawned the top ten single, “Help Me.” Every track on the disc became an instant classic and the album itself was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year. (It lost to Stevie Wonder’s Fulfillingness’ First Finale, which is nothing to be ashamed of.)
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Joni Mitchell and band playing “Free Man in Paris” live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl on September 9, 1979. It’s a hell of a band, too: Pat Metheny on electric guitar, Michael Brecker on sax, Lyle Mays on keyboards, Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Don Alias on drums. They really cook!
