Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 05:51:35 minutes | 3,56 GB | Genre: Pop, Indie Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino – Elektra
Joni Mitchell’s ongoing Archives series has been an overwhelming success and the third volume somehow manages to outdo its predecessors. Where Volume 1 gave a raw, warts-and-all look at a developing talent wrestling with her creative identity and Volume 2 showed that talent operating at an astonishingly high level, Volume 3 documents Mitchell’s transition from a truly gifted artist pushing the boundaries of the rock-culture zeitgeist into a mad genius staking her own sonic territories. This set, probably more than any other that has been or will be part of this series, is dynamic and revelatory, like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz and finding an actual wizard doing real wizardry. While Vol. 3 falls short of giving blow-by-blow documentation of the incredible studio-as-an-instrument work Mitchell did to transform For the Roses, Court and Spark, and—most triumphantly—The Hissing of Summer Lawns from jazz-inflected pop-folk records into towering artistic statements (most of the songs here are presented in either spare embryonic versions or funky, recalibrated live takes, with little middle ground).
This volume repeatedly demonstrates Mitchell’s unerring gift for songwriting that is singular and superlative, as well as her willingness to build sonic scaffolding for those songs that is as complementary as it is challenging. The results are often just as impactful in their simplest renditions (a live acoustic version of “This Flight Tonight” loses the electric filigree and multi-tracked harmony vocals but still can stop traffic), and there are real revelations in the early and alternate versions of these well-known album tracks. In fact, most of these early versions would have made excellent album tracks. “See You Sometime” especially benefits from a loose, swinging airiness that’s replaced with a denser arrangement on For the Roses, a streamlined, acoustic demo of “Raised on Robbery” is missing the full-band energy of the final version, but employs some wild background vocals that give the number an entirely different vibe, and a demo of “Help Me”—just Mitchell and a guitar—is breathtaking in its elegance. Despite the strengths of these more straight-ahead versions, Mitchell was clearly going to be dissatisfied with releasing them in forms that were merely “really good,” when—with more work in the studio and the multi-track editing suite—they would be transformed into work that was “truly great.”
Tracklist:
1-1. Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Graham Nash David Crosby Session) (03:58)
1-2. Joni Mitchell – For the Roses (Graham Nash David Crosby Session) (04:03)
1-3. Joni Mitchell – Banquet (For the Roses Demo) (03:13)
1-4. Joni Mitchell – Lesson in Survival (For the Roses Demo) (03:14)
1-5. Joni Mitchell – Like Veils Said Lorriane (For the Roses Demo) (02:15)
1-6. Joni Mitchell – See You Sometime (For the Roses Demo) (03:04)
1-7. Joni Mitchell – This Flight Tonight (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:30)
1-8. Joni Mitchell – Electricity (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:25)
1-9. Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue and Sweet Fire (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (05:21)
1-10. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:15)
1-11. Joni Mitchell – Blue (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (02:37)
1-12. Joni Mitchell – For Free (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (04:36)
1-13. Joni Mitchell – Banquet (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:19)
1-14. Joni Mitchell – All I Want (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:37)
1-15. Joni Mitchell – Intro to A Case of You (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (00:38)
1-16. Joni Mitchell – A Case of You (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (04:40)
1-17. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Carey (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (01:28)
1-18. Joni Mitchell – Carey (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:18)
1-19. Joni Mitchell – Lesson in Survival (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:17)
1-20. Joni Mitchell – Woodstock (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (04:05)
1-21. Joni Mitchell – Intro to You Turn Me On I’m a Radio (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (00:29)
1-22. Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On I’m a Radio (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (02:54)
1-23. Joni Mitchell – Intro to For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (00:37)
1-24. Joni Mitchell – For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:52)
2-1. Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (05:41)
2-2. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (03:53)
2-3. Joni Mitchell – Intro to The Circle Game (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (01:49)
2-4. Joni Mitchell – The Circle Game (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, 2/23/1972) (05:56)
2-5. Joni Mitchell – Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell (with James Taylor) (For the Roses Early Sessions) (03:58)
2-6. Joni Mitchell – Electricity (with James Taylor) (For the Roses Early Sessions) (03:32)
2-7. Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On I’m a Radio (with Neil Young & The Stray Gators) (For the Roses Early Sessions) (03:25)
2-8. Joni Mitchell – See You Sometime (Early Version with Bass and Drums) (For the Roses Early Sessions) (03:10)
2-9. Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On I’m a Radio (Early Version with Bass and Drums) (For the Roses Early Sessions) (02:57)
2-10. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune) (Live at Royal Festival Hall, London, England, 5/5/1972) (00:45)
2-11. Joni Mitchell – Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune) (Live at Royal Festival Hall, London, England, 5/5/1972) (05:48)
2-12. Joni Mitchell – Blonde in the Bleachers (Alternate Guitar Mix) (For the Roses Sessions) (02:42)
2-13. Joni Mitchell – Let the Wind Carry Me (Piano/Vocal Mix) (For the Roses Sessions) (03:59)
2-14. Joni Mitchell – Barangrill (Guitar/Vocal Mix) (For the Roses Sessions) (02:51)
2-15. Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Sax Guide Vocal) (For the Roses Sessions) (04:17)
2-16. Joni Mitchell – Sunrise Raga (For the Roses Sessions) (03:41)
2-17. Joni Mitchell – Twisted (Early Alternate Version) (For the Roses Sessions) (02:00)
2-18. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 4/15/1973) (00:58)
2-19. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 4/15/1973) (02:40)
3-1. Joni Mitchell – Piano Suite: Down to You / Court and Spark / Car on a Hill / Down to You (Court and Spark Demo) (12:33)
3-2. Joni Mitchell – People’s Parties (Court and Spark Demo) (03:02)
3-3. Joni Mitchell – Help Me (Court and Spark Demo) (03:31)
3-4. Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train (Court and Spark Demo) (03:48)
3-5. Joni Mitchell – Raised on Robbery (Court and Spark Demo) (02:54)
3-6. Joni Mitchell – Trouble Child (03:53)
3-7. Joni Mitchell – Raised On Robbery (Early Working Version) (Wild Tales Session) (03:09)
3-8. Joni Mitchell – Raised On Robbery (with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers) (Tonight’s the Night Session) (03:35)
3-9. Joni Mitchell – People’s Parties (Early Alternate Take) (Court and Spark Sessions) (02:49)
3-10. Joni Mitchell – Trouble Child (Early Alternate Take) (Court and Spark Sessions) (03:40)
3-11. Joni Mitchell – Car on a Hill (Early Alternate Take) (Court and Spark Sessions) (02:37)
3-12. Joni Mitchell – Down to You (Early Alternate Take) (Court and Spark Sessions) (05:36)
3-13. Joni Mitchell – The Same Situation (Alt Vocal/Piano Mix) (Court and Spark Sessions) (03:08)
3-14. Joni Mitchell – Bonderia (Court and Spark Sessions) (03:20)
3-15. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (00:38)
3-16. Joni Mitchell – This Flight Tonight (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:38)
3-17. Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On I’m a Radio (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:23)
3-18. Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:14)
3-19. Joni Mitchell – The Same Situation (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:35)
3-20. Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:17)
4-1. Joni Mitchell – Rainy Night House (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:16)
4-2. Joni Mitchell – Woodstock (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (05:04)
4-3. Joni Mitchell – Cactus Tree (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (05:29)
4-4. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:15)
4-5. Joni Mitchell – Intro to People’s Parties (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (06:06)
4-6. Joni Mitchell – People’s Parties (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:01)
4-7. Joni Mitchell – All I Want (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:49)
4-8. Joni Mitchell – A Case of You (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (05:03)
4-9. Joni Mitchell – Intro to For the Roses (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (07:52)
4-10. Joni Mitchell – For the Roses (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:14)
4-11. Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (feat. Tom Scott) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (05:30)
4-12. Joni Mitchell – Blue (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (02:48)
4-13. Joni Mitchell – For Free (with Tom Scott) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:39)
4-14. Joni Mitchell – Trouble Child (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (04:10)
4-15. Joni Mitchell – Help Me (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (03:57)
4-16. Joni Mitchell – Car on a Hill (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, 3/3/1974) (02:52)
5-1. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre, London, England, 4/22/1974) (00:29)
5-2. Joni Mitchell – Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre, London, England, 4/22/1974) (03:16)
5-3. Joni Mitchell – Woman of Heart and Mind (Live at Wembley Stadium, London, England, 9/14/1974) (03:34)
5-4. Joni Mitchell – In France They Kiss On Main Street (Demo) (03:05)
5-5. Joni Mitchell – Edith and the Kingpin (Demo) (03:32)
5-6. Joni Mitchell – Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow (Demo) (02:27)
5-7. Joni Mitchell – Shades of Scarlet Conquering (Demo) (04:52)
5-8. Joni Mitchell – The Boho Dance (Demo) (03:53)
5-9. Joni Mitchell – Harry’s House (Demo) (04:01)
5-10. Joni Mitchell – Dreamland (Demo) (04:07)
5-11. Joni Mitchell – In France They Kiss On Main Street (Alternate Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (03:25)
5-12. Joni Mitchell – The Jungle Line (Guitar/Alternate Vocal) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (04:36)
5-13. Joni Mitchell – Edith and the Kingpin (Alternate Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (03:35)
5-14. Joni Mitchell – Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow (Alternate Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (04:13)
5-15. Joni Mitchell – Shades of Scarlet Conquering (Alternate Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (05:41)
5-16. Joni Mitchell – The Boho Dance (Alternate Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (03:54)
5-17. Joni Mitchell – Dreamland (Early Alternate Band Version) (The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions) (04:43)
