When Joni did the Mingus album I heard she did preproduction with a different band including Stanley Clarke and John McLaughlin, this is from her latest archives release and sounds killer. I dig it as much as the original.
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Joni Mitchell alternate God Must Be with Stanley Clarke
- Thread starter jerry
- Start date
Nice. Nice bass. Somehow this may be more "the original" than what became "the final" 
"God must be Stanley Clarke" would be a good name for a song. 
devnulljp
Supporting Member
No doubtaboutit!
Wilton Felder on Edith and the Kingpin from her Hissing of Summer Lawns album has always been an a favorite of mine. And I saw her live with Jaco ( and so many others ), outstanding.
That whole album is just wonderful.
One of my favorites. Often overlooked, IMHO."God must be Stanley Clarke" would be a good name for a song.
Came here looking for something along these lines.
This reminds me of when I saw the Zawinul Syndicate in the mid '00s. After Linley Marthe's solo spot Joe said to us that he's had some good luck with bassists in his bands.
Jaco's body of work with Joni is of my favorite. However, the Stanley cut with Jan Hammer is so much more cohesive than the Jaco version. To me, it's a better song.
Hammer's Moog is profound and other worldly. Stanley's bass tone is beautiful and solid. Definitely prefer the alternate take. Thanks, @jerry !
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I am a Joni fan more than the women in my life, this was definitely a jewel with all the alternate Mingus tracks and spoken word by Mingus. In this archive vol 4, there are a few Jaco tracks including GMBABM live in Forest Hills. Joni introduces Jaco as "the bass player and one-man circus " and he responded with fuzz into delay riff. 
Also worth listening is the alternate track to Dry Cleaner from Des Moines that alternate Jaco bassline which is more forward than the album version
Also worth listening is the alternate track to Dry Cleaner from Des Moines that alternate Jaco bassline which is more forward than the album version
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I am a Joni fan more than the women in my life, this was definitely a jewel with all the alternate Mingus tracks and spoken word by Mingus. In this archive vol 4, there are a few Jaco tracks including GMBABM live in Forest Hills. Joni introduces Jaco as "the bass player and one-man circus " and he responded with fuzz into delay riff.
Also worth listening is the alternate track to Dry Cleaner from Des Moines that alternate Jaco bassline which is more forward than the album version
The archive vol 4 also has the Hejera tracks with just Joni and her guitar, its fun to play along with them. I just spent the week with that album set, vol four was the one I was looking forward to for awhile. Joni is top of the mountain for me as well!
That youtube link lists two bassists (Stanley Clarke and Eddie Gomez) and three drummers (Don Alias, Johnny Guerin, and Tony Williams). Any idea where one can find a more granular breakdown of who plays on which cuts? Thx
I have the CD and liner notes and the breakdown sucks, I used to see Gomez a lot in NY around that time, and the tone/playing didn't sound like him at all, sounded more like Stanley to me. That's why I listed Stanley, just a guess.
I have the CD and liner notes and the breakdown sucks, I used to see Gomez a lot in NY around that time, and the tone/playing didn't sound like him at all, sounded more like Stanley to me. That's why I listed Stanley, just a guess.
Oh, I agree, tone definitely sounds more Stanley than Eddie. And I'd wager it's Guerin on drums, although there is one fill where I thought "whoa, that could be Tony Williams..." So then I started wondering if any of these versions were cobbled together from different takes. A thankless rabbit-hole, that.
btw, after listening to this version I went back and listened to the version on the Mingus album ...and imho this previously unreleased version is SO MUCH BETTER!
But I think I get why Joni was more attracted to the released version (with Jaco, Erskine, et al), she really did gravitate towards stuff that floats both harmonically and rhythmically. This previously unreleased version is so much more grounded in both respects.
But I think I get why Joni was more attracted to the released version (with Jaco, Erskine, et al), she really did gravitate towards stuff that floats both harmonically and rhythmically. This previously unreleased version is so much more grounded in both respects.
Tony is listed in the liner notes along with Guerin, I think its Tony. When they started releasing Joni's archives I was hoping this stuff would be in there after hearing about those sessions for the last 45 years. I'm hoping they dig around more and maybe release all the Mingus demos on its own.
