Joni Mitchell Announces Third Volume in Archives Series

For fans of Joni Mitchell’s jazz era, the third volume of the legendary singer-songwriter’s Archives series is what we’ve been waiting for. 

It was during this time in her career that Joni went into an early retirement from music as a means of recalibration and respite from the public eye. In 1972, she emerged from her seclusion on the British Columbia Sunshine Coast with a newfound sense of creativity that would be expressed across three classic albums in 1972’s For The Roses, 1974’s Court And Spark and 1975’s The Hissing Of Summer Lawns that would greatly expand her profile as an artist and bandleader. 

This era comes into even greater focus on Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975), out October 6, 2023 on Rhino Records. It’s the latest entry in Rhino’s ongoing, GRAMMY-winning series exploring the vast untapped archives of rare Joni Mitchell recordings — a project guided intimately by Mitchell’s own vision and personal touch. Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) will be available both in a 5CD / digital version and a 4LP cut-down version, both with an accompanying book featuring photos and a conversation about this period between Joni Mitchell and longtime friend Cameron Crowe.

As with Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) — which won a 2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Historical Album — and Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), Vol. 3 boasts an embarrassment of riches. The collection begins with an early cut of “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire,” one of two songs (along with “For The Roses”) test-driven during a visit to a Graham Nash David Crosby recording session at Wally Heider’s in Hollywood.

From there, listeners are treated to early demos and alternate versions from sessions from For The Roses, Court & Spark and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns; historic live show recordings, including the entirety of Mitchell’s 1972 return to Carnegie Hall and a definitive gig with her Court And Spark backing band Tom Scott & the L.A. Express; and tracks from sessions cut alongside James Taylor, Graham Nash, and Neil Young.

Offering a taste of what’s to come, Rhino shares an early demo of Court And Spark’s “Help Me,” which would go on to be Joni Mitchell’s biggest ever chart and radio hit. Check it out below.

As Joni Mitchell approaches her 80th birthday, this third volume of her archive series is a testament to both the brilliance and bravery of this true American icon. 

 

JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES VOL. 3: THE ASYLUM YEARS (1972 TO 1975)

Full Track Listing

CD One:

Graham Nash David Crosby Session

Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Dec. 13, 1971

1.   Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire
2.   For The Roses

 

For The Roses Demos

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, late 1971 / early 1972

3.   Banquet
4.   Lesson In Survival
5.   Like Veils Said Lorraine
6.   See You Sometime

 

Live at Carnegie Hall

New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972

7.   This Flight Tonight
8.   Electricity
9.   Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire
10.   Big Yellow Taxi
11.   Blue
12.   For Free
13.   Banquet
14.   All I Want
15.   Intro to A Case Of You
16.   A Case Of You
17.   Intro to Carey
18.   Carey
19.   Lesson In Survival
20.   Woodstock
21.   Intro to You Turn Me On I’m A Radio
22.   You Turn Me On I’m A Radio
23.   Intro to For The Roses
24.   For The Roses

 

CD Two:

Live at Carnegie Hall [cont.]

New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972

1.   Both Sides Now
2.   My Old Man
3.   Intro to The Circle Game
4.   The Circle Game

 

For The Roses Early Sessions

Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Apr. 16-21, 1972

5.   Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell – with James Taylor   
6.   Electricity – with James Taylor
7.   You Turn Me On I’m A Radio – with Neil Young & The Stray Gators
8.   See You Sometime (early version with bass & drums)
9.   You Turn Me On I’m A Radio (early version with bass & drums)

 

Live at Royal Festival Hall

London, England, May 5, 1972

10.   Intro to Judgement Of The Moon And Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
11.   Judgement Of The Moon And Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)

 

For The Roses Sessions

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Jul-Aug, 1972

12.   Blonde In The Bleachers (alternate guitar mix)
13.   Let The Wind Carry Me (piano/vocal mix)
14.   Barangrill (guitar/vocal mix)
15.   Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire (sax guide vocal)
16.   Sunrise Raga
17.   Twisted (early alternate version)

 

James Bay Benefit Concert

Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Apr. 15, 1973

18.   Intro to Big Yellow Taxi
19.   Big Yellow Taxi

 

CD Three:

Court And Spark Demos

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1973

1.   Piano Suite:
2. Down To You
3. Court And Spark
4. Car On A Hill
5. Down To You
6.   People’s Parties
7.   Help Me
8.   Just LIke This Train
9.   Raised On Robbery
10.   Trouble Child

 

Wild Tales [Graham Nash] Session

Rudy Records Studios, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 25, 1973

7.   Raised On Robbery (early working version)
8.   Raised On Robbery – with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers

 

Court And Spark Sessions

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Sep.-Oct., 1973

9. People’s Parties (early alternate take)
10.   Trouble Child (early alternate take)
11.   Car On A Hill (early alternate take)
12.   Down To You (alternate version)
13.   The Same Situation (alt vocal/piano mix)
14.   Bonderia

 

Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 3, 1974

15.   Introduction
16.   This Flight Tonight – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
17.   You Turn Me On I’m A Radio – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
18.   Free Man In Paris – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
19.   The Same Situation – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
20.   Just Like This Train – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

 

CD Four:

Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion [cont.]

Los Angeles, CA, 1.   Rainy Night House – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

2.   Woodstock – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
3.   Cactus Tree
4.   Big Yellow Taxi
5.   Intro to People’s Parties
6.   People’s Parties
7.   All I Want
8.   A Case Of You
9.   Intro to For The Roses
10.   For The Roses
11.   Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire – with Tom Scott
12.   Blue
13.   For Free – with Tom Scott
14.   Trouble Child – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express 
15.   Help Me – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
16.   Car On A Hill – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

 

CD Five:

Live at New Victoria Theatre

London, England, Apr. 22, 1974

   1.   Intro to Jericho

   2.   Jericho

 

Live at Wembley Stadium

London, England, Sep. 14, 1974

   3.   Woman Of Heart And Mind

 

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demos

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975

   4.   In France They Kiss On Main Street

   5.   Edith And The Kingpin

   6.   Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

   7.   Shades Of Scarlet Conquering

   8.   The Boho Dance

   9.   Harry’s House

   10. Dreamland

   11.  In France They Kiss On Main Street (alternate version)

   12.   The Jungle Line (guitar/alternate vocal)

   13.   Edith And The Kingpin (alternate version)

   14.   Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow (alternate version)

   15.   Shades Of Scarlet Conquering (alternate version)

   16.   The Boho Dance (alternate version)

   17.   Dreamland (early alternate band version)

 

AUDIO: Joni Mitchell “Help Me” (Demo)