On this day (August 19) in 1969, Joni Mitchell made her first U.S. TV appearance on The Dick Cavett Show. The memorable episode also featured some of Mitchell’s musical friends and contemporaries, the Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s David Crosby and Stephen Stills, who had just performed at the historic Woodstock festival during the previous couple of days.
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Mitchell herself was supposed to play Woodstock on Sunday, August 17, but her agent, David Geffen, canceled her performance because he was worried about getting her from the chaotic festival site to her scheduled appearance on the Cavett Show on time.
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The program featured a lively round-table conversation in which host Dick Cavett chatted with the musicians about their experiences at the festival, the then-current political and social climate in the U.S., and more. The show also boasted excellent performances by Mitchell, the Jefferson Airplane, and Stills.
Mitchell, who was at the peak of her vocal prowess, offered up renditions of four of her songs. Among them were pristine versions of a pair of as-yet-unreleased tunes, “Willy” and “For Free.” Both would appear on the Canadian singer/songwriter’s next studio album, Ladies of the Canyon, which was released in 1970.
Mitchell’s Performance of “Willy” and “For Free”
For her performances of “Willy” and “For Free,” Mitchell got up from a raised circular stage area where Cavett was interviewing the musicians, and sat at an upright piano.
Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick and a couple of her bandmates leapt to their feet and gave Joni a big ovation, as the crowd joined in.
Mitchell introduced “Willy” as “a song for my man and a song for the moon.” Joni wrote the tune for her then-boyfriend, CSNY’s Graham Nash, whose nickname was Willy. In the song, Mitchell sings of her deep affection for Graham, while acknowledging his apprehension about getting married.
Mitchell’s beautifully sung and played version of “Willy” was followed by an equally impressive and emotional rendition of “For Free.” As she explains in her introduction, Joni was inspired to write “For Free” by a street musician she saw playing in New York City on the corner of 6th Avenue and 8th Street.
In the song, Joni watches the musicians playing excellent music for free on the street as people pass him by without paying any attention to him. She contrasts this with her own privileged life as a music star, getting paid lots of money to sing for people.
Mitchell and the Aftermath of Woodstock
Although Mithcell didn’t perform at Woodstock, her impressions of the event, from watching it on TV and talking to her friends who took part in the festival, inspired her to write the most famous song about the counterculture gathering. “Woodstock” also appeared on Ladies of the Canyon. It also was famously covered by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young for their 1970 debut album Déjà Vu. The quartet’s rocking rendition also played over the credit of the classic 1970 Woodstock documentary/concert film.
Mitchell’s Upcoming Concert Plans
Mitchell has two special “Joni Jam” performances scheduled for this year. The concert will take place on October 19 and 20 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
As with previous “Joni Jam” events that have taken place over the past couple of years, the Hollywood Bowl shows will feature Mitchell performing alongside her friend Brandi Carlile and various guest singers and musicians.
Tickets for Mitchell’s concerts are available via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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