Joni Mitchell - Studio interview, Face Lift & Train (1996)

In-studio interview and performances of "Happiness Is The Best Face Lift" & "Just Like This Train" from This Morning (1/6/1996) | Face Lift written & produced by Joni Mitchell from the album Taming The Tiger (1998) | Just Like This Train written & produced by Joni Mitchell from the album Court & Spark (1974)

[@johncarter579]

Apart from the obvious talent, this woman has an amazing mind

[@earthangel8730]

GENIUS ! No doubt about it.

[@joleneloveland2942]

She blurs the line between song, poetry and painting in a most talented and enchanting way.

[@edwardharley9]

One thing people forget about Ms. Mitchell is her brilliant intellect. She is no ordinary human being... sensitive to the core... that is a heavy weight to carry... oh boy do I know.....Love her... The literary and musical muse of the 20th century and beyond....

[@debrasimms6821]

Edward Harley My first thoughts while listening to this were exactly That , Profound intelligence! Joni is a prescious gem ,not just in the World of Music , she is a gift to entire World WAKE UP WORLD🎶🌎🌍

[@bethsherdell2413]

Very well said!

[@lenahughes7867]

Sensitivity is wholesome

[@moonharp]

@Oona Craig What does that even mean?

[@chrisclermont456]

A genius of the 1st order!!

[@astreagirl1]

She is amazing. She blows most other artists away. And she transcends commercialism, which is fantastic.

[@poipu96756]

She's not just a superb artist, She's a National Treasure from Canada. Thank you Saskatchewan. And thank you sonicboy ❤

[@johnlittle3430]

Joni's obsession with Just Like This Train in the '90s was a thing of pure astonishment. It's by far my favourite of her songs, and I think it made the jump to solo (or, in this case, mostly solo) incredibly well.

[@sassulusmagnus]

I've admired her skill as a writer and guitarist for many years, but lately I've been paying attention to her skill as a vocalist. No auto-tune on this lady. She is pitch perfect live, and so expressive. A master vocalist.

[@KatieDarden]

Saw her live in 1974. Was totally blown away at how she uses her voice as an instrument. It was even more pronounced during the concert - especially when she was playing solo at the piano. Will never forget it. My favorite singer-songwriter of all time.

[@janeybusiness6601]

@@KatieDarden I saw Joni in 1982, poplar creek, Wild Things Run Fast. You can't capture that voice on an album, so much better live. High point was when she sat down with that dulcimer on her lap, stuffed a lot cigarette into the fret board, strummed & belted out "Case of You", as you say, pitch perfect. Joni chain smoked on stage & you just end up thinking, "How does she do that, smoke so much & sing so finely?" She was in her 40s at the time & so lovely. People put roses on her stage during the encore. That was my first concert as a teenager.

[@debbieschmidling8158]

@@janeybusiness6601 ❤❤❤

[@parsnipmcgee329]

The double entendre of losing one's heart just hit me. There certainly is more than one way to lose heart.

[@harveyneedleman817]

Even after all these years , that I've been listening to Joni , she still moves me to tears like no one else can.

[@jimrebr]

Joni Mitchell is the soundtrack of my life, her songs, her poetry, her paintings, her gutsy life, has been so important and influential, since I was 11, 12. Her bright mind has led me every step, as much as a human can. I love her beyond measure, it was funny to see all those men still lusting for her.I feel extremely connected to Joan & she’s so right, happiness is the best facelift!! I was so thrilled to see her singing and playing guitar at the Newport Folk Festival, last month. When she stood and played Just Like This Train on guitar, I had tears of joy running down my cheeks. You can’t stop a force as strong as Joan Anderson Mitchell.❤️👏🎸🌟

[@taf44tt8io]

"the soundtrack of my life," That's my life too, same since my teen age. It was springtime, warm and excited nights, listening a radio broadcast about rock and pop music new recordings. Three days after, I realize that each previous evening, I felt asleep listening a clear and wonderful voice. Since then, that voice still sings ! And I am a FREE MAN IN PARIS 🙂

[@Thadmotor1044]

She shouldn't have smoked cigarettes'

[@harveyneedleman817]

Thadmotor , I agree with you, however her 2000 album both sides now wouldn't feel right without the smoky voice

[@missyounorm33]

Listen to the tone of that guitar. What a remarkable and unique alternate tuning it must be in. Perfect

[@gerrylavelle8433]

I met Joni Mitchell in a natural foods store in Boulder Colorado in the spring of 1976 when she was on her Hejira journey. I mean I didn't know she was on a journey to get inspiration for that recording -- I figured that out later. She was in town visiting Robben Ford on her way back to LA. -- I found that out later. Anyway, I was standing in an aisle in the store looking at the label of some product and someone said "Hello." I looked over and I just about fainted. It was Joni Mitchell right off the cover of 'Clouds." She said "You look like someone I know." I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. She was very friendly and flirtatious towards me and I was absolutely paralyzed. She tried to make some small talk. I was speechless. When I tried to talk my voice croaked. I was a mess. Finally, she just smiled and lasered beamed me with those heartbreakingly blue eyes and said "Well, that's just too bad then" She gave up on me. I followed her out of the store at a safe distance and watched her walk on down Broadway Avenue. She was so beautiful and friendly -- and I will never forget that fleeting moment.

[@grousiest]

Wow, how fabulous

[@cinnamongirl7877]

Thanks for sharing this. I would’ve been starstruck too. Same thing happened to me on an elevator in a hotel in Atlanta Ga. I was riding up to my room on the 4th floor when the door opened on the 2nd floor and who walked on? Roger Daltrey. Suddenly I could not speak. Lol

[@cinnamongirl7877]

Those were the days my friend~~~we thought they’d never end.

[@debbieschmidling8158]

@@cinnamongirl7877 ❤️

[@debbieschmidling8158]

Wow….just wow!! That is so awesome! I can’t even imagine the privilege of running into Joni Mitchell face-to-face! I would have absolutely been starstruck… paralyzed! I’ve been a long time fan for many decades… I remember hearing her song “Clouds“ when I was about 10 years old. Just wow! ❤️❤️

[@debbieswanson6057]

Joni has stated that she had an English teacher who taught her how to paint with words! Combined with his teaching and her talents she has produced some fantastic gems!!! She is an icon!

[@richardcoughlin8931]

In 1996 she’s talking about why she hasn’t had any hits. Fast forward to 2022 and Blue is number one on the charts. What an amazing talent.

[@fiddlestix3025]

Joni Mitchell, a woman of such grace, gentleness and beauty, but also outspokenness, honesty and sincerity. To me, how she speaks is how she paints, sings and forges her poetry and music~. It’s something that touches all of us, I feel, and has such an important place in todays idol-worshipping, quick soundbite-consuming society… Thanks for posting this 🙏

[@tomgardner8825]

she is one.of.my favorite musicians i grew up thru high school and college on albums, the radio and live and mstured as her sound matured. i met her briefly outside thewhisky a go go for a bob marley concert where the crowd started to notice her outside and she got nervous so i stepped behind her and held back the crowd. as she ascended the stsirs to the privste entrance she turned to thank me aerviewnd i said " please play more jazz". shortly after her album "goodbye pork pie hat" and a tribute to Mingus came out. she is also a great int

[@islandbirdw]

When she plays and sings it’s just mesmerizing. Thank you Joni You are always a truth teller and the epitome of authenticity.

[@d3a1990]

I lost my heart. I want to give Joni a hug. Her songs are like lullabies to adult tantrums of melancholy.

[@ytcarol]

Excellently put... 'Lullabies to adult tantrums of melancholy"... just brilliantly insightful.

[@nursebridgie]

Soooooo perfectly expressed

[@URAUNTSANDI]

not enough appreciation for this woman....she is ....She IS.

[@tedhaas8440]

She is a league or her own. Only those who seek more than just the noise you here on there airwaves these days, will find it, and her, in her music and poetry. She never conformed to the world, nor the music industry, but stay true to her views on life, love and the pursuit of peace, fulfillment and happiness, which came through in her music. I grew up years beyond her most iconic songs that gave her recognition and fame. But here now, decades later, I've stumbled across them to find the songs, the passion and the artist that have traversed way beyond her highlighted years, that will continue to light up the world of generations to come. Well done Joni. You are , in fact, a legend.

[@bethsherdell2413]

Beautifully said!

[@wildrosecece]

I hope she reads this

[@markthompson4804]

Her music and Art is pure genius the world is lucky to have her

[@br8071]

My God she is such a beautiful woman. What a gift her music and art has been. No wonder Graham Nash loved her.

[@edwardharley9]

And me. I love her too.

[@MrDanSchulte]

Edward Harley we all love her

[@moonharp]

@ Would that twere...

[@fedsmith4970]

She melts my heart and moves tears in the way no one else can

[@RaysTrack]

Credit to the drummer too. Perfection for nuanced guitar.

[@BlackWhirlies]

It's Brian Blade.

[@jerrymammoser9857]

@@BlackWhirlies ...it certainly is. Just try to find the fucking 1/4 note here. Saw her (and he) open for Dylan in Rochester in the 90s. Could NOT tap my diseased foot...and I’m a drummer. The guy is sick. I actually went to the Dylan concert to hear her. First time I saw her was in 1983 at Poplar Creek in Chicago and Vinnie was her drummer.

[@BlackWhirlies]

@@jerrymammoser9857 All good stuff! I have only seen Brian when he played for Emmylou, early 2000's in London.

[@THXx1138]

My mother's voice and Joni's are so very similar. Both smokers, incredible artists, classy and unique. I miss mom so much.

[@cinnamongirl7877]

Interesting you said this. She’s STILL smoking. She said she would never give up her cigarettes!! I wonder how she’s maintained her beautiful voice!! Love her so much.

[@gordoncheyne5567]

I could listen to her speak all day. Which is something, considering what a talented vocalist she is.

[@cynthiasimpson9754]

She sets the bar high!

[@wayneeverett8357]

At 13:oo , I can't watch Joni Mitchell without giggling with JOY at her performance ! That giggle that You know something Special is happening that gives you Goose Bumps !

[@The333Wanderer]

Female interviewer: "You were dealing with sexuality." Shut up. You have nothing to say to this artist icon. Just shut up and learn. Joni is a gift to us all.

[@dadduorp]

InvisibleWanderer She was referring to Geffen, who at the time was a closeted gay and the subject of [being a] Free Man In Paris. Joni adeptly sidestepped the question as she did not want to publicly acknowledge his sexuality.

[@Stewbular]

Blonde talking head couldn’t have ever listened to “Free Man in Paris”

[@fortunatoofamontillado1059]

waaay .. out of line

[@adelinecursio1695]

@@dadduorp Joni is class act. Brilliant!

[@MR-ki8ud]

Thank you. She SO missed the mark with that comment. 🤦‍♀️

[@islandbirdw]

Watching her at the Newport Jazz Festival after 20 years back on stage. Love her guitar playing it’s so unique.

[@pocahon8460]

I remember WAITING, JUST WAITING!!! for the next record. Her music highlighted my maturing life with Joni as the narrator.. Thank you for everything you have given me which you will never know

[@moonharp]

Yes, exactly.

[@parsnipmcgee329]

Me too. I remember saving my money to buy Blue. To this day whenever I play it I get a little frisson when I put on the CD

[@sallygalfriday]

boy those interviewers are sure outclassed

[@moonharp]

We all are... We're just deer in the headlights.

[@michaelmattice4986]

What a treat! Thanks so much for sharing!...And how 'bout some love for Mr. Brian Blade on the drums:)

[@masterstrauss]

What a flashback. I was at this taping. Sitting second row center next to Murray Lerner, the director of the excellent "Message To Love" about the 1970 Isle Of Wight music festival, which at the time of this taping had not been released. Joni was amazing. I remember those hands playing the guitar as though I have my own close up camera in my head. She gave us the option on her second tune of "something new" (which is what we chose) or "Big Yellow Taxi". Afterwards, much to my delight, I got to have lunch with her. I asked about her video work (her Shadows & Light concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl & Refuge of the Roads) and it was the first time I'd heard her speak about "the beast" in reference to the audience at The Isle of Wight. A truly memorable morning.

[@debbieschmidling8158]

❤️❤️❤️

[@ytcarol]

This was a lovely and unexpected find tonight. My spirit completely responds to her.

[@mariekazazian8019]

Blown into the stratosphere once again Joni, thank you.

[@lprks60]

I just find it amazing she remembers all the words to her story songs. 💕

[@jamesdohnalek2052]

She is the best of all time singer/songwriters and the best that will EVER BE. I am a fan of hers since 1974.

[@carolbell8008]

Love Joni, and this song.She is a true music legend.

[@maggiethecat1538]

Joni is a Sun in Scorpio with moon in Pisces. Cancer rising. Such a Beautiful and Gifted Soul. 💖🙏

[@thelmalandon6940]

I love her guitar sounds

[@janicejohnson6438]

Love,love love Joni. I couldn't believe when right before a commercial the words "Take Another Look at Plastic" came on. Could anything have been any less "Joni?"

[@samcoffeymusic]

I know, RIGHT?!!! Ah the subtle irony of life!

[@moonharp]

Same. *Facepalm*

[@marialane1805]

Eloquent and truly an enlightened soul!

[@gerfitzg]

There's this myth that she's an angry person - I don't believe she is. Just very clear in what she has to say - what a top class Human Being 👏👏👏

[@debbieschmidling8158]

I agree! ❤❤❤

[@ashleighwilson211]

@@debbieschmidling8158 b in com n v BB b Mlmv bnk m my nm ngmll.n Uck ok kji

[@cbotten106]

Oh, I wouldn't want to cross her. But an "angry person", nah. Joni doesn't seem like she'd suffer fools gladly either.

[@shirleymalone527]

JONI HAS A BEAUTIFUL WAY OF SONG WRITING, SINGING AND ETC... EXCELLENT.

[@jdsheets58]

I love Joni Mitchell!!!!!

[@rovanli1]

Me too! God bless

[@carminerizzo7231]

Saw her in Toronto , early seventies , will always love her, an angel for real

[@hjd832]

A very good interview, her independence & strength come across…I’ll be saving this …😊

[@sandrakrey7509]

Always so true, " If you can't find your goodness cause you've lost your heart.."

[@PeterOzanne]

Actually, I think this is a really nice, friendly, relaxed interview. And the version of "Train" is just perfect. What a song, it's like a gem of a short story with perfect music. Great drumming too!

[@cindyballard9471]

I can only dream of being something like this wonderfully creative woman.

[@edgreen8140]

She is a class act!

[@ZergRushJohnny]

18:15 The confidence to instead ask Joni Mitchell about what she likes to cook is great. That was a great exchange.

[@eecornetta]

Happy Birthday Joni I am overjoyed to find & listen to this today, thank you. Happiness IS the best Face Lift!

[@bettylazebnik9891]

EXTRAORDINARY true artist...original, touching...the greatest!

[@rory8585]

Single-most, best description of Joni and why her work is so vital I've ever heard. Bravo! You got it! All true! Hands-down most authentical artist of the 20th century (and the 21st too!)

[@DeborahGee]

She is always amazing. What a wonderful interview and audience as well. I love her poetry, songs and art.

[@debrasimms6821]

I like to think " bad things are good things in disguise" I do not know if having endured polio made Joni a more intense intelligent person but she is a one of a kind Genius and that's a very good thing🌎🚴🎶

[@laconja1]

Happy Birthday Joni 75 today Nov. 7th 2018 Many Blessings to you ❤️❤️❤️

[@youkyouk7471]

Thank you ❤️ interviews of Joni are so rare ! ( and priceless 🙏 )

[@garypeatling7927]

Best interview I've ever seen of her

[@phenomenalfemale524]

Profound emotional gems. Something always seems missing in her soul. You sense this woman has known pain and perhaps that pain is the well she repeatedly draws from.

[@debbieschmidling8158]

I agree! I have loved Joni’s music for many decades! ❤️

[@margaretfoley6593]

Always interesting! Love her green guitar.

[@RXbee2]

"You can't find your goodness bc you've lost your heart. " swooning at her poetic genius...

[@harveyneedleman817]

I remember where i was when i first really noticed Joni Mitchell. Id probably heard her before on the radio when Both sides now and big yellow taxi were popular but i was too young. Anyway , i was in a hi-fi shop to buy a Thorens turntable , which i still hsve , and the music piped through the shop was Miles of Aisles. I heard Rainy night house from that album and i was smitten. Been listening to her ever since.

[@bei1016]

Thank You. This was Wonderful.

[@krollpeter]

She could talk for hours and everything is interesting. I noticed the same with some others of the world's best composers, such as Paul Simon or Paul McCartney.

[@blackawana]

Thank you! ❤

[@johntatum8088]

I agree with Joni,,,, "Happiness is the Best Face Lift"

[@teddicruise4733]

Cannes film festival, is in the South of France. I've gone there once, stayed in the Hôtel Majestic. No joy coughing up phlegm in a room for $500 plus, courtesy of my precious sister. After too many nights, it was plain I'd never see the sights from inside a room. Turns out I'd had pneumonia. All the while, in Paris and then Cannes, Joni Mitchell's entire "Dog Eat Dog" album was my soundtrack. If not on the headphones, then in my head.

[@jerrymammoser9857]

So sorry to hear your phlegmish tale.

[@carminerizzo7231]

I Love You Joan.

[@carminerizzo7231]

I loveYou Joan

[@tammyholbrook6712]

Oh sour grapes, cause I lost my heart. I love you Joni

[@sashapushman8883]

She is my Queen

[@dmatzo]

Awesome. Joni has used a guitar synth for years. Anyone care to discuss? I guess one of the main reasons was to accommodate her unusual tunings so she did not have to physically do them on guitars.

[@sbove]

+dmatzo Speaking here as guitarist who plays lots of non-standard tunings: When Joni plays with the guitar synth, her fingers do the same thing as when she plays an alt-tuned guitar (she is playing chord shapes). But she has used over 60 different tunings across her 400+ songs. It became almost impossible to carry enough guitars to cover the span of a show, and retuning guitars esp on some of her more extreme tunings, is very tricky in a live environment (sometimes it takes days for a guitar to settle into a stable alt-tuning, guitar techs can make errors, strings break when cranking them up beyond their normal tension). So someone invented a way for her to use a guitar synth to take input from a more-or-less normally tuned guitar (I don't know the base tuning(s) she used to feed the synth) and transpose the inbound signals from each string up/down for a given tuning. This is obviously a HUGE compromise in terms of what she feels through her fingers and hears coming directly off the instrument (wrong frequencies, wrong resonance of chord, esp wrong sympathetic resonances of open strings in wide suspended chords). It is also a huge compromise for the audience, because while the synth may try it cannot ever generate all the beautiful overtones of the actual notes in an alt-tuning resonating against each in a real physical instrument. But, for most peeps, it was an OK compromise and apparently enabled Joni to play a much more broad selection from her vast repertoire in any given show.

[@eecornetta]

Two things: 1. It was her post-polio weakness that led her to use alt tunings so she could find all those really new & jazzy sounds that she imagined, mixed blessing turned into amazing sounds. 2. Re-tuning is quite hard work (especially my 12 string), so my challenge has been finding a close interpretation on standard tuning, also fun & leading to alternate harmonies, etc, ...

[@ytcarol]

@@sbove Wow, your knowledge is impressive and appreciated.

[@masterstrauss]

This was actually broadcast Jan, 3rd of '96, not Jan 6th. The 6th was a Saturday. The performance itself was taped on December 8th of '95 for later broadcast.

[@jimalice1]

A true Renaissance women

[@juandominguez9167]

La mujer perfecta por excelencia

[@teddicruise4733]

Joni Mitchell was beside me, her music inside me during a deadly trip. "Dog Eat Dog" was the only tape I wanted to hear. In Paris, with only my Walkman tape cassette player keeping me company, I wasted costly days and nights, endlessly hacking and coughing. On one of two times outside my room, I managed to see La Tour Eiffel or Eiffel Tower from inside the taxicab to a doctor's office on the Champs Elysses. Dozens of codeine tablets did little to help. So, I returned to LAX, leaving my sister and nephews to continue to Italy.

[@missyounorm33]

He kissed her on the mouth. That's an incredible intimate greeting from a TV host, no?

[@carminerizzo7231]

IloveHer

[@pommelhorsepommelhorse8731]

bless us, don't let us lose the drift....

[@thinkerly1]

Citizen Mitchell is an artistic polymath.

[@dsofnj5933]

Damn she is so beautiful!!

[@oddjobs3025]

Oh, sour grapes. I really can't think of anyone else who most inspires me.

[@marco.a13]

Does anybody know where I can find the live performance of Refuge Of The Roads that appears in the beggining?

[@WLBarton4466]

Kris Kristofferson said Joni Mitchell's Fears was better than smoking grass on the song Of You Din' t like Hank Williams. She was the subject of a lyric by the musicians who got together after a Johnny Cashs show in 1969. "Joni Mitchell sang on Both Sides Now."

[@WLBarton4466]

The song was If You Don't Like Hank Williams.

[@laurapeltier158]

Does anyone remember the beautiful black man who is the other interviewer, what is his name? I haven't seen him forever and he is such a kind man and I always loved him.

[@marcustuuhetoka1340]

Which Kardashian sister are you. ☻ Bryant Gumbel

[@jamesyavorcik4930]

MarkMcEwen

[@jrw344]

Poor Joan, I can almost sense the stifled yawns, just as Morrisey sensed them when she had to endure boring interviews.

[@sime52]

+John White maybe John, but I have not found any other interview yet where she speaks this freely about the sharing of her emotions and her exposure through her lyrics; I liked this; often she is more guarded in her replies, sometimes to the extent in more recent years where she repeats the same responses over and over, which is understandable. best, Simon

[@sime52]

+John White Oh OK I see what you mean; some of the audience questions are the pits!

[@eecornetta]

i asked the one about food. was that the best question or the worst? just curious, he he he

[@sime52]

Ha. What d'you think?! 😉

[@eecornetta]

i thought Joni might enjoy mixing it up.

[@cosmicflowstudio]

I have that shirt!

[@PlanetC64]

12:00 Joni imitates John Lennon

[@br8071]

See You Sometime from For The Roses.

[@kermit3421]

joni

[@taf44tt8io]

No questions on her jazz period and partnership with giants as Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Jaco, Pat Metheny and many others, but a guy that asked her to marry him and another one about her favorite home dish ??

[@51tomtomtom]

Rick Wertz: you're saying it !

[@redclover3]

Is that Rita Houston from WFUV, asking about the boxed set?

[@danieldusentrieb4839]

It seems quite surprising that Joni would throw herself before a crowd like this who seem to have absolutely no idea how to handle her and her artistry. Yet she keeps a positive face to all this stupidity. That is so sweet of her.

[@skippy9659]

Ummm, is that Rita Huston asking her a question?? 🤯

[@jakemcclintock8696]

The usual establishment perspective on Joni -- ignore her early work, make sure all the big hits are included, suck up to the more recent efforts, don't know what you're talking about.

[@pocahon8460]

All dignity regardless..

[@hansemannluchter643]

The Nobel-committee needs to wake up, before it's to late...