Night Ride Home & Number One

Dick Driver, host of TVNZ music show RADIO WITH PICTURES, interviews Joni at Avalon Studios in New Zealand. Despite a cold, Joni performed acoustic versions of "Night Ride Home" (2½ years before its release in 1991) and "Number One". July 31, 1988.

[@paco5503]

Can u imagine being the interviewer & Joni singing for you? I can`t.

[@donalquist6845]

Lol... I was thinking the same thing on another show a few minutes ago. Joni playing and singing, occasionally glancing at the interviewer, must have given his heart a flutter.

[@annode]

I notice they cut away when she finishes each song...maybe he did have a powerful reaction. He does seem to keep himself together for the interview though. When she started singing "Night Ride Home" (one of my fave Joni tunes) I just fell out.

[@bernlin2000]

Pulls out a simple acoustic guitar and quietly rolls out another masterpiece.

[@damienruud9742]

This version of "Number One" is simply compelling and stunning! Her guitar rhythm is hypnotic and really post-modern.

[@alex_pearl]

YES! It's very much different from the album version, but it's perfect. Pure, and emotionally resonant.

[@annode]

@@alex_pearl It seems she wrote the rhythmic right hand strumming/picking/tapping on acoustic then dished it out to other percussive devices on the album. It is incredible to see her keeping that timing going while singing over it straight time.

[@SteveCournane]

beautiful recording of Joni Mitchell singing Night Ride Home, sometimes you hear a song so perfect... it can restore your faith in humanity..

[@zinahoule1875]

Steve Cournane u

[@adamminter599]

Just watch her right hand on 'Night Ride Home.' Nobody in the history of the guitar has ever played like that. And I'm not sure anybody can truly emulate it. Genius.

[@sharonconstable8146]

Bruce Cockburn coined the term "hand dancing". I think it applies here.

[@afrophonic]

And her right hand on Number One too! The rhythm is insane! Genius!

[@mysteryjesus]

C'mon its not hard gimmie a break.

[@scottclute7443]

She is truly uni aww unique!!

[@billdillon9760]

In person while recording and hanging out it was amazing watching her play

[@janettedewar6617]

Ever young. Incredible. Gypsy, sultry and intimate. A wonderful spirit. God bless her.

[@bigmamared1]

God blessed us for having lived in her time. Such genius.

[@noobstardust5970]

God this interviewer is so lucky! Imagine Joni and just her guitar singing to you!!

[@peterdavino4408]

It's always a pleasure to experience the way Joni tosses around these devastating truths in an almost offhanded nonchalant manner. She drops bombs the way most of us place flowers into a vase. There's a fearless quality and a universality that never ages.

[@teaberrywmn]

Every cell in her body oozes art. Joni's insight into the evolution of music in her time is not explored so much. She weighs in on how music has changed through her years so truly and how the industry loves or doesn't love good looks, talent and often, both or not. Rare is her unfathomable talent. So privileged are we to experience such an artist. She leaves us just speechless with none in comparison.

[@emersonwells839]

I think why so many people had issues with her dabbling into other music is because when you pull back all the layers, nothing sounds quite as good as hearing this woman alone with one instrument and her thoughts. I love all the incarnations of her music but there is something so pure about the simplicity in versions like these and for an artist to captivate an audience with such sparseness to their music is truly a gift.

[@dmatzo]

Well said. I only ever heard the album versions of those songs...first I mean and to hear these stripped down like this is truly revealing (pun intended) as to how well they hold up with just guitar and voice. Such a charmer that Joni.

[@pommelhorsepommelhorse8731]

watching this the night after her Grammy appearance. they showered her with flowers thank god.

[@xy3536]

What a sound.... Mystical..... Joni your voice And guitarre Enough to send me to mars..... 🙏☀️

[@rockman4699]

God I love this woman. What a talent. Greatness on this earth is Joni

[@bernlin2000]

This woman exudes "cool" like it's oxygen. 3:23 Always excited to hear more "retirement music" 💗

[@alexgreen5064]

The interviewer is in heaven.

[@LynneGoodman-dz1nu]

This may be the 80s but hearing her always takes me back to the wonderful 60s and early 70s. Priceless Joni!❤

[@camsantavicca7332]

Honestly one of the best vocal performances of Joni’s mid career, right in between Shine and Songs to a Seagull. You can hear the din of the past and the roar of her future in her voice. Amazing

[@debbieschmidling8158]

❤️❤️❤️

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

Joni is smiling at the interviewer alot. Epic.

[@BreaktheTrend]

This lady's music is my lifeblood. Night Ride Home here is so plainly gorgeous. I love her vocals and tone at this stage of her life too. Her guitar work is so beautiful. I must admit though, my muscle memory from the album release had me wanting summer crickets :)

[@fearlessstudios1]

Such an iconic legend..and her fashion style is so amazing..her melodies are infectious..

[@Alji3dom]

Amazing talent. Been a fan since the 80s.

[@alwinvanderlinde5913]

What an immense artist and personality she is, absolutely unique. She unites sophistication, talent, beauty and truth. I like her observation of "minimum talent, maximum good looks" musical periods. it seems we're still stuck with that.. but we have Joni's music

[@DaveWatts_ejectamenta]

'Number one', bass, lead and percussion all on an acoustic guitar.

[@elainavalzania4664]

This is one of my favorite Joni songs, she exudes peace, contentment and calm. It makes me know that she was truly at peace when she wrote Night Ride Home.

[@stjames3540]

Joni's Acoustic playing is Genius . . .

[@samlewis7878]

What has this genius gone through to become as beautiful as this? Joni---------What gem.....how many artists are there like this?

[@andreareinhardt6834]

Through a lot..... diamonds are created like this.

[@davexxx5175]

How can anyone put the thumb down? I know everyone has his/her taste but this woman is one the greatest composer in the modern music and this is undeniable...amazing Joni! ps: this video has a very good sound to be recorded in a living room or something like this..... my compliments to the sound engineer.

[@Siquomb1]

Dave, thank you for your comment. 👍 I want to believe that their finger accidently grazed that while going for the thumb up. It's happened to me numerous times. I don't realize I've hit the wrong thumb until I've done it. Sometimes I revisit a comment and realize I hit like initially when in fact I didn't like. I just ignore things I don't like so I guess sometimes when I'm scrolling up or down my finger lands on the thumbs accidently. 😬

[@davexxx5175]

@@Siquomb1 - Thank to you too @Siquomb1👍 Yes, probably, they accidentally clicked their thumb down .. it can happen .. it has happened also to me a few times .. by mistake. So, in any case, don't worry we all know who is Joni Mitchell. You know..there will always be someone put the thumb down also to most beautiful song in the world.🤔😉

[@Siquomb1]

@@davexxx5175 So, true! We know she is queen undisputedly of mind beauty. 💚

[@davexxx5175]

@@Siquomb1 - With no doubt! 💚

[@brianberthiaume7930]

Jesus , its just amazing , her voice with just guitar in some highly reflective green room , its just next level

[@sweetjane5033]

joni’s never ceases to get inside me. “ there comes a night like this”

[@marcozoncu3893]

THIS IS PURE GOLD

[@michaelhaydn9504]

Joni is, snappin' 'n poppin' the strings here with her RH!!

[@candacewilliams9073]

She's my favorite singer. I can relate to the things she sings about.

[@suzannelawson9215]

Will always love the pure simplicity of just Joni and an acoustic guitar the best. I understand an artist to venture into other styles adding a band, and other music genres. But......for me, just the acoustic guitar, voice and folk genre will always be my favorite.

[@haroldwhitaker4558]

One of my favorites. Cool to see Joni in a early solo performance of Night Ride Home. Sounds great too! 👏🏼💙🙏🏼

[@liamfarris5360]

I remember seeing this interview on "Radio With Pictures" back in '88 & thinking that she must have liked Mr Driver because she was very open & engaging - i gather that she doesn't think much of most of the media. & to have her play a new song - what a coup. I was very struck by this song & waited to hear it come out - had to be patient because she didn't release it till '91. Nice to see this video up - it took me back to my formative budding guitarist roots, i remember watching her hands & trying to figure out the tuning.

[@1edarnold]

Fantastic document of an uncompromised artist close to my heart. Thank you so much!

[@cockeyedoptimista]

Perfectly said! Thank you.

[@8ball66]

Hissing of summer lawns still my favourite and first joni album

[@mandysikorsky6975]

Mine too and no one ever mentions it. :(

[@chrisnolan5607]

Hejira is my favorite.

[@houseofguelph8825]

Ladies

[@Zepster77]

She’s such a darling dear one beautifully & simply communicating, yet so hip & smart & stylish!!

[@Zepster77]

Ok perhaps not so “simply” communicating - I meant “clearly” that any one can fully understand where she is coming from.

[@michealcurrie8272]

Thank you, Join Mitchell You're the stars in "Starry night"

[@billdillon9760]

I'm the lucky goof that recorded Night Ride Home with her

[@Zepster77]

Please elaborate

[@billdillon9760]

@@Zepster77 I'm a session player and did that album with her and Larry

[@BreaktheTrend]

Man you have some great credits - what an amazing journey including Gord too: God rest his soul.

[@danielkearney8799]

Thank you Joni for this stunning performance that's otherworldly and deeply human at the same time.

[@samlewis7878]

How can you not love this woman?. They don't make them like this too often.

[@garypeatling7927]

Superb sound love guitar work

[@laurentdubois2268]

Suppose I was the interviewer in front of Joni, just imagine that ... I would burst into tears ... But she is so generous, so humble and so fragile that I could probably manage to control myself

[@andikerl2486]

What a great rendition of "Night Ride Home"!

[@debbieschmidling8158]

❤

[@GordyInMA]

One of my favorites! 🙀😍

[@mitchpera4355]

I can't do better than what I saw below and I quote "Her voice and songs can stop a war." So flawlessly said I can't improve on that comment and wouldn't even try to do so.

[@donalquist6845]

"her voice and songs can stop a war" right on! I bet they could.

[@vidtrax662]

Her voice and songs can stop a war 😊

[@debbieschmidling8158]

❤❤❤

[@guilhermeviegas6139]

no

[@Powerneck]

❤️ GENIUS

[@bb1111116]

The questions lead to more insightful answers from Joni than in usual interviews. She's able to tell her story more naturally and put her music in the context of where popular music has been going since the 50s. On top of that, these acoustic performances are great.

[@mrkennethj7232]

LOVE this acoustic version of Number One!

[@colinandersson-hamill5676]

Firstly, I'm like a child with a thrilling new toy. I just had to click on the thing in the bottom of the video and it appeared on the tv and the sound came out my hi fi. I loved the first, NRH, an all time fave. I was very surprised to find I really liked Number One like this, not so much the album version. I also thought Joni was less prickly in this. Thank you Mark.

[@ironcurtainsteve]

mindblowingly great!

[@jasonmarcel4823]

"Number One" has grown on me over the years. She has such a unique way with shifting time signatures and creating interesting rhythms. Just get up and try moving around to this song (or any number of her uptempo songs, really). Nobody can make me move around like that.

[@4Stix4]

agreed

[@annode]

I was surprised hearing her say she programs drum machines. That might explain the "Number One" rhythmic timings.

[@jg8678]

Fantastic - awesome when you can see both her hands dancing - thx for posting

[@jmiller05]

This was one of my favourite Joni vocal periods.

[@rickalvarez7855]

Number One ! wow amazing acoustic version

[@ger5856]

Sublime , Many thanks for posting this gem.

[@bas2135]

Genius...

[@catlady6463]

Absolutely beautiful

[@shea086]

I love the great Joni Mitchell....

[@steveharris5008]

Had the luck of catching this live and recorded to VHS; never thought I could get to see it better than I recorded as my tape slowly fades away, never mind that the recorder got chucked ages ago; beautiful beautiful ...

[@laurentdubois2268]

So emotional, that voice is great and brings tears to my eyes

[@denbones1234]

An absolute sublime performance ..even for her ,great studio sound.wow!

[@samsonwilkinson8090]

Fantastic.

[@alexvelazquez7906]

Nostalgic

[@55flameon]

Number One is just fascinating. The rhythm is a little dark and haunting. Her strutting looks tricky and yet she can sing along, no problem. Quite a creation!

[@roohari]

Unbeliveably amazing

[@brendagrinston7402]

I love the way Joni makes me feel inside. Kinda like I just took an amazing warm spring shower outside in the rain,,,

[@michaelhaydn9504]

this is, of course, brilliant!!!, and, the word Gothic! came to m' mind, a moment ago!!

[@alvinbourque1622]

Love this . Always admired Joni !

[@kevinbwillson4161]

She is the Best

[@dknytodd]

brilliance.

[@mwj5368]

Wow! I love her unusual chords and percussion of strings percussion of voice that twists and turns! It's so unique and intriguing like it's musically literary. I'm no music theorist but the kind of juxtaposing of dissonance and other far fetched leaps that she makes come together into a whole that works! Does anyone know what open tuning she's playing in! Thanks for this video!

[@losierbuko3272]

mwj5368 tuning CGDEGC

[@lilredscout]

just so much so. brilliant. simple. larry. Joni 22.

[@PaulTaggart-acoustic]

jesus pull my pants over my head christ,, that voiceeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there could only be one

[@richardwilson1234]

superb.

[@terrykelly8820]

Lovley romantic tune

[@alex_pearl]

Number One feels more relevant than ever in the America of today. Constant striving, social media flexing, anxiety, desperation, and massive income inequality.

[@michelleashine]

Wow!

[@leapsplashafrog]

Wow

[@isabalallen2411]

love it Joni class

[@bukhbatsoodoi7361]

Great

[@sharonconstable8146]

My favourite 4th of July song is by a Canadian. Go figure.

[@jonathangems]

The amped-up way she talks, and her frequent smiles and short laughs, are trauma symptoms. I've known several people who were abused as children and later became dependent on drugs, with the same mannerisms. (Luckily, the super-intelligent Joni has only allowed herself an addiction to nicotine). Another characteristic of the abused child is constant vigilance, which comes from living in a dangerous environment. Joni has this in spades. She's hyper-alert. Always on the edge of a fight or flight response. Loquacity is another defense mechanism. You protect yourself with a wall of words. Charm is another defense tactic. So is defiance. From time to time, she bares her claws and hisses. Or she expands like a bull-frog to threaten you. Her apparent open-ness is another defense tactic. " See? I'm honest and open. I have no secrets you can hurt me with." (Of course she has many secrets). Her preference for living alone, with a few pets, further confirms her traumatised condition. She only feels safe when she's alone. Other people are experienced as potential abusers. The main reason so many men and women fell in love with Joni Mitchell is the same reason they fell in love with Marilyn Monroe (another abused child): her visibly vibrating vulnerability. But she was born with an artistic gift and enormous strength of character. Character is more important than talent. Joni Mitchell is, without question, a great artist, like Georges Sand, Colette, Edith Wharton, Georgia O'Keefe, Emily Dickinson or Piaf. She can perform wonders.

[@8ball66]

How did they record this so well? Sounds like a big room,..ok,just realised it’s a studio,so good sound engineer.

[@thelostarcade1111]

8ball it’s incredible! I was thinking the same thing

[@drewbeck1000]

There’s a lot of processing on it too

[@mya5980]

"WHAT DOES A JONI MITCHELL ALBUM SOUND LIKE I mean REALLY⁉️" ☺Great answer‼️ with raised brows 🤨

[@jrw344]

"Crikes mate, she's singing just for me!"

[@antonmedvedev1128]

Oh, I would have definitely, sort of, requested "another" Dog Eat Dog album!!! Why did many hate it at the time? Or was it because she was telling uncomfortable truths rather than comforting lies??? I bet that is the case.

[@GrandWagJeep]

Dog Eat Dog remains a severely underrated album in my opinion. I listen to it regularly. I think many people didn't take to it since it doesn't sound like what they were expecting. It's still every bit a classic Joni Mitchell album with incomparable lyrics and structure.

[@neilpenwell5122]

The first song I really "heard" from Joni Mitchell was a song from the Dog Eat Dog album. I don't remember which one, but it was playing on the radio and it made me stop whatever I was doing to listen to it. I fell in love with her music on the spot!

[@michaelglennwilliams6278]

It's strange to watch her knee rising and falling. It's got a secret rhythm aside from the beat of the music. Gorgeous chords she's using at this time.

[@eyejin]

💚

[@mr.mephistopheles2497]

There is the figure out about the words of the woman..Joni spins the a moment, if not the benefit to be earned.

[@34hedgehog]

God, or someone, bless KZbin.

[@jhondrinkwater7506]

I love you

[@sfdungeon]

R I G H T O N !

[@rocknrolldiktator]

5:44 Night Ride Home (Song)

[@nativewaiter]

Strange. She starts performing and all of a sudden this layer of reverb unexpectedly appears!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

a Joni album sounds like Jaco......RIP.

[@richardhornbostel3958]

What is a Joni Mitchell album? Perfect response

[@MacaulayFergusson]

i love how she is ALWAYS smoking

[@snacklofter]

Superb,thanks.Wonder what guitar tuning was used on these two?