Shadows and Light [Japan]

• Artist: Joni Mitchell
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1980 09
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

Shadows and Light is Joni Mitchell's second live album, and it serves as a good retrospective of her jazzy period from 1975-1979. As expected, she assembles a group of all-star musicians including Pat Metheny (guitar), Jaco Pastorius (bass), Lyle Mays (keyboards), and Michael Brecker (saxophone) who give these compositions more energy than on the studio recordings. The musicians are given room to jam, and they sound terrific on uptempo songs such as "Coyote" and "In France They Kiss on Main Street." If there is a general theme of these songs, it's about growing older and maturing after the failed idealism of the late '60s (the album opens with audio clips from the movie Rebel Without a Cause). Although this album is pleasing, the live arrangements are not different enough from the studio versions to warrant higher marks. In fact, Mitchell has always been an album artist who recorded studio albums that had a sound and feel all their own. While Shadows and Light provides a nice summary of her experimental period for casual fans, interested listeners should start with Hejira or The Hissing of Summer Lawns. ~ Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Introduction	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(1:54)
In France They Kiss on Main Street	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(4:10)
Edith and the Kingpin	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(4:09)
Coyote	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(4:56)
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat	Charles Mingus	Joni Mitchell	(6:01)
The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines	Joni Mitchell, Charles Mingus	Joni Mitchell	(4:33)
Amelia	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(6:40)
Pat's Solo	Pat Metheny	Joni Mitchell	(3:05)
Hejira	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(7:52)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Black Crow	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(3:52)
Don's Solo	Don Alias	Joni Mitchell	(3:55)
Dreamland	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(4:49)
Free Man in Paris	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(3:22)
Band Introduction	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(:49)
Furry Sings the Blues	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(5:35)
Why Do Fools Fall in Love?	Frankie Lymon, Morris Levy	Joni Mitchell	(2:26)
Shadows and Light	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(5:26)
God Must Be a Boogie Man	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(5:03)
Woodstock	Joni Mitchell	Joni Mitchell	(5:10)

Credits

Joni Mitchell (Guitar), Joni Mitchell (Piano), Joni Mitchell (Keyboards), Joni Mitchell (Vocals), Joni Mitchell (Main Performer), Joni Mitchell (Mixing), Michael Brecker (Saxophone), Jaco Pastorius (Bass), Don Alias (Drums), Joel Bernstein (Photography), Skip Cottrell (Mixing), Andy Johns (Engineer), Henry Lewy (Engineer), Henry Lewy (Mixing), Lyle Mays (Keyboards), Elliot Roberts (Personal Manager), Ed Wynne (Mixing), Glen Christensen (Art Direction), Glen Christensen (Photography)