Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 06:55:02 minutes | 13,98 GB | Genre: Folk Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino – Elektra
Enjoy nearly 100 unreleased recordings tracing Joni’s groundbreaking work from the birth of Hejira to her legendary collaborations with jazz luminaries on this 6-CD box set. Featuring newly unearthed demos and studio outtakes from the era, live tour recordings from ’76 & ’79, and studio session contributions from the likes of Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock, plus a 36-page booklet of unpublished photos and liner notes in conversation with Cameron Crowe.
The Joni Mitchell Archives series has been one of the most successful forays into an iconic artist’s unreleased work to date. While not as exhaustive as some artists’ (looking at that 27-disc set documenting one Bob Dylan tour!), it has also not been as exhausting, allowing each box set to go deep enough into a specific era’s output without drowning listeners with more music than they could ever hope to listen to. These revelatory sets have tracked Mitchell’s evolution from a tentative Canadian coffeehouse singer into one of the most innovative musicians of the rock era. The fourth volume, documenting her most challenging phase, is no less illuminating than its predecessors—however, it may be the most surprising. Although it catalogs an era in which Mitchell was exploring dense studio production techniques, jazz-inspired musical adventurousness, and other unexpected avenues, this collection of archival and live recordings consists predominantly of straightforward and stripped-down material that is far more aligned with the folkie/coffeehouse persona of her early years than it is with the experimental jazzbo studio hound she became in the mid-’70s. This is made clear from the very first songs, which come from Mitchell’s appearances on Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour, accompanied only by her guitar and performing in a near-lighthearted manner. Likewise, a half-dozen cuts at the end of the first disc find Mitchell alone at the piano at the Music Hall in Boston, delivering strikingly spare versions of cuts like “Free Man in Paris” and “Shades of Scarlett Conquering” that provide clear evidence of her superlative strength as a songwriter. While the tracks documenting other highlights from her 1976 U.S. tour showcase her full band—featuring expansive percussion, lugubrious bass, electric keys, and plenty of jazzy flourishes—that same band was also lean and tough. So, whether it’s a burly run through “Just Like This Train” or a downright funky version of “Trouble Child,” the vibe on these live cuts is more confident and laid-back than it is exploratory and challenging. There’s surprisingly little studio material to be found among the six discs here. (It’s actually disappointing that there are only two outtakes from Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, as the gestation of that album was probably something to behold.) Mingus’ development is represented by five alt versions, while there are a comparatively generous 11 Hejira outtakes, most of which are well-crafted demos. – Jason Ferguson
Tracklist:
1-01. Joni Mitchell – Jericho (Live at Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY, 11/15/1975) (03:11)
1-02. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA, 11/20/1975) (00:23)
1-03. Joni Mitchell – Edith and the Kingpin (Live at Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA, 11/20/1975) (04:16)
1-04. Joni Mitchell – Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow (Live at Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA, 11/20/1975) (03:58)
1-05. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 11/21/1975) (00:30)
1-06. Joni Mitchell – Harry’s House (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 11/21/1975) (04:13)
1-07. Joni Mitchell – A Case of You (Live in Bangor, ME, 11/27/1975) (06:37)
1-08. Joni Mitchell – Woman of Heart and Mind (Live at Gordon Lightfoot’s House, Quebec City, Canada, 11/30/1975) (Live at Gordon Lightfoot’s House, Toronto, ON, Canada, 11/30/1975) (03:03)
1-09. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada, 12/4/1975) (00:32)
1-10. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Coyote (Live at The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada, 12/4/1975) (00:38)
1-11. Joni Mitchell – Coyote (Live at The Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada, 12/4/1975) (04:32)
1-12. Joni Mitchell – Help Me (Live at Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, 2/29/1976) (03:18)
1-13. Joni Mitchell – Love or Money (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (04:32)
1-14. Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (03:03)
1-15. Joni Mitchell – For the Roses (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (04:31)
1-16. Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (06:19)
1-17. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (02:56)
1-18. Joni Mitchell – Shades of Scarlett Conquering (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (04:23)
1-19. Joni Mitchell – For Free (Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, 2/20/1976) (05:34)
2-01. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (00:21)
2-02. Joni Mitchell – Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (09:58)
2-03. Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train (Live at Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, 2/29/1976) (04:15)
2-04. Joni Mitchell – Shadows and Light (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (05:34)
2-05. Joni Mitchell – In France They Kiss on Main Street (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (03:19)
2-06. Joni Mitchell – Traveling (Hejira) (Live at Cameron Stadium, Duke University, Durham, NC, 2/7/1976) (06:36)
2-07. Joni Mitchell – Edith and the Kingpin (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (03:50)
2-08. Joni Mitchell – Talk to Me (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (05:10)
2-09. Joni Mitchell – Harry’s House/Centerpiece (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (05:23)
2-10. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Furry Sings the Blues (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (01:23)
2-11. Joni Mitchell – Furry Sings the Blues (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (04:36)
2-12. Joni Mitchell – Trouble Child (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (03:46)
2-13. Joni Mitchell – Rainy Night House (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (03:51)
2-14. Joni Mitchell – Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow (Live at Cameron Stadium, Duke University, Durham, NC, 2/7/1976) (03:53)
2-15. Joni Mitchell – Raised on Robbery (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (02:43)
2-16. Joni Mitchell – The Jungle Line (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (05:30)
2-17. Joni Mitchell – Twisted (Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, 2/19/1976) (04:24)
3-01. Joni Mitchell – Furry Sings the Blues (Demo) (04:30)
3-02. Joni Mitchell – Traveling (Hejira) (Demo) (06:07)
3-03. Joni Mitchell – Dreamland (Demo) (04:53)
3-04. Joni Mitchell – Talk to Me (Demo) (03:54)
3-05. Joni Mitchell – Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Demo) (09:41)
3-06. Joni Mitchell – Black Crow (Demo) (03:57)
3-07. Joni Mitchell – Amelia (Demo) (04:52)
3-08. Joni Mitchell – Blue Motel Room (Demo) (03:24)
3-09. Joni Mitchell – A Strange Boy (Demo) (04:16)
3-10. Joni Mitchell – Black Crow (Live at Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, 5/16/1976) (03:59)
3-11. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Song for Sharon (Live at Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, 5/16/1976) (00:27)
3-12. Joni Mitchell – Song for Sharon (Live at Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, 5/16/1976) (09:01)
3-13. Joni Mitchell – Refuge of the Roads (Early Mix with Horns) (06:29)
3-14. Joni Mitchell – Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Early Rough Mix) (06:05)
4-01. Joni Mitchell – Save Magic (Paprika Plains Embryonic Version) (12:08)
4-02. Joni Mitchell – Otis and Marlena (Early Rough Mix) (04:20)
4-03. Joni Mitchell – Sweet Sucker Dance (Vocals & Drums Version, Take 5) (06:37)
4-04. Joni Mitchell – A Chair in the Sky (Early Alternate Version, Take 6) (05:14)
4-05. Joni Mitchell – Sweet Sucker Dance (Early Alternate Version) (07:00)
4-06. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (01:30)
4-07. Joni Mitchell – The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (02:20)
4-08. Joni Mitchell – Intro to A Chair in the Sky (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (00:51)
4-09. Joni Mitchell – A Chair in the Sky (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (06:33)
4-10. Joni Mitchell – Intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (00:37)
4-11. Joni Mitchell – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (05:19)
4-12. Joni Mitchell – Intro to The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (01:07)
4-13. Joni Mitchell – The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey (Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 9/2-3/1978) (06:24)
4-14. Joni Mitchell – A Good Suit and a Good Haircut (Mingus Early Alternate Version) (03:12)
4-15. Joni Mitchell – God Must Be a Boogie Man (Mingus Early Alternate Version) (03:40)
4-16. Joni Mitchell – Solo For Old Fat Girl’s Soul (Mingus Early Alternate Version) (03:33)
4-17. Joni Mitchell – The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines (Mingus Early Alternate Version) (03:35)
5-01. Joni Mitchell – Sue and the Holy River (Mingus Early Alternate Version) (07:09)
5-02. Joni Mitchell – The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey (Mingus Session Outtake) (06:18)
5-03. Joni Mitchell – Introduction (Live at May 6 Coalition Rally Against Nuclear Power, National Mall, Washington, DC, 5/6/1979) (00:31)
5-04. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at May 6 Coalition Rally Against Nuclear Power, National Mall, Washington, DC, 5/6/1979) (03:46)
5-05. Joni Mitchell – Jericho (Live at SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA, 7/20/1979) (03:11)
5-06. Joni Mitchell – Help Me (Live at SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA, 7/28/1979) (03:46)
5-07. Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:03)
5-08. Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:56)
5-09. Joni Mitchell – In France They Kiss On Main Street (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:52)
5-10. Joni Mitchell – Coyote (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:46)
5-11. Joni Mitchell – Edith and the Kingpin (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:52)
5-12. Joni Mitchell – Free Man in Paris (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:11)
5-13. Joni Mitchell – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (05:25)
5-14. Joni Mitchell – Jaco’s Solo/Third Stone From the Sun (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (05:49)
6-01. Joni Mitchell – Amelia (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (06:16)
6-02. Joni Mitchell – Pat’s Solo (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:08)
6-03. Joni Mitchell – Hejira (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (06:42)
6-04. Joni Mitchell – Don’s Solo (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:24)
6-05. Joni Mitchell – Dreamland (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:40)
6-06. Joni Mitchell – Black Crow (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (03:39)
6-07. Joni Mitchell – Furry Sings the Blues (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (05:22)
6-08. Joni Mitchell – Intro to God Must Be a Boogie Man (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (00:43)
6-09. Joni Mitchell – God Must Be a Boogie Man (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:46)
6-10. Joni Mitchell – Raised on Robbery (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:12)
6-11. Joni Mitchell – Shadows and Light (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:56)
6-12. Joni Mitchell – The Last Time I Saw Richard (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (04:59)
6-13. Joni Mitchell – Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, 8/25/1979) (02:39)
6-14. Joni Mitchell – Woodstock (Live at Robin Hood Dell West, Philadelphia, PA, 8/28/1979) (05:54)
6-15. Joni Mitchell – Intro to A Chair in the Sky (Live at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 9/13/1979) (00:48)
6-16. Joni Mitchell – A Chair in the Sky (Live at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 9/13/1979) (06:43)
