Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975)

Out October 6, 2023 On 5CD / Digital & 4LP Versions

Collection Shines A Revelatory Spotlight On Her Prolific Peak From 1972–1975

Latest In GRAMMY-Winning, Multi-Volume Journey Through Joni’s Previously Unmined Archives

Includes Never-Before-Heard Demos, Early & Alternate Versions of Classic Songs, Historical Performances, and 40-Page Book

Featuring Photos & Conversation With Joni & Cameron Crowe

Includes Sessions With James Taylor, Neil Young & Tom Scott & the L.A. Express

LOS ANGELES — Come 1972, Joni Mitchell’s singular songwriting talent and poetic gifts were undeniable. Fresh off the back-to-back Platinum-certified releases of 1970’s Ladies of the Canyon and 1971’s Blue — totemic albums whose artfulness and ubiquity would influence generations of songwriters — Mitchell had grown wary of mounting media scrutiny. Everything from her style choices to romantic partners became the subject of far more gossip column inches than were ever dedicated to the lifestyle minutiae of her male counterparts.

In response, she had pulled back, announcing an early retirement from the stage in 1970 and moving to the quiet expanses of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. It was a fruitful change of scenery. Inspired by her proximity to nature and refreshed by the peaceful seclusion, she began constructing the songs that would become For The Roses. This respite thrust Mitchell into a remarkably fertile creative period, yielding a run of albums — 1972’s For The Roses, 1974’s Court And Spark, and 1975’s The Hissing Of Summer Lawns — that would simultaneously expand and refine the scope of her music. Her adventurous, intricate arrangements and growing formidability as a bandleader injected these songs with a clarity of purpose, a potent muscularity, and a sense of possibility — it is among the most exciting eras of a near peerless career.

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.

Pre-orders are available at jonimitchell.com and here: https://JM.lnk.to/JMAVol3

As 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) did, 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 triumphant 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.

Alongside today’s announcement, Rhino shares an early demo of Court And Spark’s “Help Me,” a track that would go on to be Joni Mitchell’s biggest ever chart and radio hit. While the official version is assured and sophisticated, this newly unveiled demo shows the song’s rawer, original form.

Listen to “Help Me” (demo) here: https://JM.lnk.to/HMVol3

As she approaches her 80th birthday later this year, Joni Mitchell is reaffirming the vitality and resonance of her music. Last month, she released At Newport, a live album commemorating her incredible comeback performance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival (Read Robert Kinsler's review of the album HERE). Pitchfork described it as “a joyous surprise, a moment of wonder,” while NPR Music says it “[shows] Mitchell's legacy in action and how younger generations of musicians carry forth her spirit of imagination and fearless reconfiguration.”

Back in June, Mitchell held her first ticketed performance in over 20 years at a sold-out Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, WA. Rolling Stone called it “The triumph of the human spirit we all desperately craved…a powerful celebration of Mitchell’s life and resiliency.”

Released on Sept 29: Four studio albums on 180 gram black vinyl, available now at jonimitchell.com.

From The Reprise Albums:

Ladies Of The Canyon (1970)

From The Asylum Albums:

Court and Spark (1974)

Miles Of Aisles (1974) (2LP Live)

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (1975)

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:

a. Down To You

b. Court And Spark

c. Car On A Hill

d. Down To You

   2.   People’s Parties

   3.   Help Me

   4.   Just LIke This Train

   5.   Raised On Robbery

   6.   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, Mar. 3, 1974

   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

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Sessions

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975

   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)

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

4LP Track Listing

Side One:

Graham Nash David Crosby Session

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

   1.   Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire

For The Roses Demos

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

   2.   Like Veils Said Lorraine

For The Roses Early Sessions

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

   3.   Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell - with James Taylor   

   4.   You Turn Me On I’m A Radio - with Neil Young & The Stray Gators

   5.   See You Sometime (early version with bass & drums)

Side Two:

Live at Carnegie Hall

New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972

   1.   This Flight Tonight

   2.   Electricity

   3.   Lesson In Survival

   4.   Blue

   5.   Banquet

   6.   Intro to For The Roses

   7.   For The Roses

Side Three:

Live at Royal Festival Hall

London, England, May 5, 1972

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

   2.   Judgement Of The Moon And Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)

For The Roses Sessions

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

   3.   Blonde In The Bleachers (alternate guitar mix)

   4.   Barangrill (guitar/vocal mix)

   5.   Sunrise Raga   [3:41]

   6.   Twisted (early alternate version)

Side Four:

Court And Spark Demos

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1973

    1.   Piano Suite:

a. Down To You

b. Court And Spark

c. Car On A Hill

d. Down To You

   2.   Help Me

Side Five:

Tonight’s The Night [Neil Young] Session

S.I.R., Hollywood, CA, Aug. 26, 1973

   1.   Raised On Robbery – with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers

Court And Spark Sessions

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

   2.   People’s Parties (early alternate take)

   3.   Trouble child (early alternate take)

   4.   Car On A Hill (early alternate take)

   5.   Bonderia

Side Six:

Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 3, 1974

   1.   Introduction

   2.   Free Man In Paris – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

   3.   The Same Situation – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

   4.   Just Like This Train – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

Live at New Victoria Theatre

London, England, Apr. 22, 1974

   5.   Intro to Jericho

   6.   Jericho

Live at Wembley Stadium

London, England, Sep. 14, 1974

   7.   Woman Of Heart And Mind

Side Seven:

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demos

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975

   1.   In France They Kiss On Main Street

   2.   Edith And The Kingpin

   3.   Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

   4.   Harry’s House

Side Eight:

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Sessions

A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975

   1.   The Jungle Line (guitar/alternate vocal)

   2.   Shades Of Scarlet Conquering (alternate version)

   3.   The Boho Dance (alternate version)

   4.   Dreamland (early alternate band version)