Furry Sings The Blues & Hejira - Joni Mitchell & Herbie Hancock video free download

August 29, 1987 - Joni is a guest on the premiere of Showtime Coast to Coast for a jam super session with host Herbie Hancock (piano), as well as Bobby McFerrin (vocals), Wayne Shorter (soprano saxophone), David Sanborn (alto saxophone), and Larry Klein (bass guitar). In this clip, Joni leads the discussion about Furry Sings The Blues then the jam begins followed by Hejira. Cable TV's Showtime Coast To Coast was a unique performance magazine series of in-concert performances, interviews and collaborations hosted by Herbie Hancock.

"There were no rehearsals," recalls program producer/director Ken Ehrlich. "Just one day together running some tunes with no cameras present - the idea was simply to bring these people into a room and let them do something. On Wednesday, it didn't exist. On Saturday, it was a show. Just two cameras to catch the entire creative process: 'Here's the studio, here's some food, have a good time.' They totally forgot the cameras were there. It was very exciting. It was magic."

VHS transfer by Siquomb1.

Old Beale Street is coming down

Sweeties' Snack Bar boarded up now

And Egles the Tailor and the Shine Boy's gone

Faded out with ragtime blues

Handy's cast in bronze

And he's standing in a little park

With a trumpet in his hand

Like he's listening back to the good old bands

And the click of high heeled shoes

Old Furry sings the blues

Propped up in his bed

With his dentures and his leg removed

And Ginny's there

For her kindness and Furry's beer

She's the old man's angel overseer

Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps

In the grey decay

They chew the last few dollars off

Old Beale Street's carcass

Carrion and mercy

Blue and silver sparkling drums

Cheap guitars eye shades and guns

Aimed at the hot blood of being no one

Down and out in Memphis Tennessee

Old Furry sings the blues

You bring him smoke and drink and he'll play for you

lt's mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel

But there was one song he played

I could really feel

There's a double bill murder at the New Daisy

The old girl's silent across the street

She's silent waiting for the wrecker's beat

Silent staring at her stolen name

Diamond boys and satin dolls

Bourbon laughter ghosts history falls

To parking lots and shopping malls

As they tear down old Beale Street

Old Furry sings the blues

He points a bony finger at you and says

"I don't like you"

Everybody laughs as if it's the old man's standard joke

But it's true

We're only welcome for our drink and smoke

W. C. Handy I'm rich and I'm fey

And I'm not familiar with what you played

But I get such strong impressions of your hey day

Looking up and down old Beale Street

Ghosts of the darktown society

Come right out of the bricks at me

Like it's a Saturday night

They're in their finery

Dancing it up and making deals

Furry sings the blues

Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true

Fallen to hard luck

And time and other thieves

While our limo is shining on his shanty street

Old Furry sings the blues