Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) 5CD

Come 1972, Joni’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 — Joni 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). It’s the latest entry in the GRAMMY-winning series exploring the vast untapped archives of rare Joni recordings — a project guided intimately by Joni's own vision and personal touch. 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, you'll be 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.

TRACKLISTING

CD ONE

Graham Nash David Crosby Session
1.    COLD BLUE STEEL AND SWEET FIRE
2.    FOR THE ROSES
For The Roses Demos
3.    BANQUET
4.    LESSON IN SURVIVAL
5.    LIKE VEILS SAID LORRAINE
6.    SEE YOU SOMETIME

Live at Carnegie Hall
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.    Woodstoc
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.]
1.    BOTH SIDES NOW
2.    MY OLD MAN
3.    Intro to The Circle Game
4.    THE CIRCLE GAME

For The Roses Early Sessions
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
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
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
18.    Intro to Big Yellow Taxi
19.    BIG YELLOW TAXI

CD THREE

Court And Spark Demos
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
7. RAISED ON ROBBERY (early working version)

Tonight’s The Night [Neil Young] Session
8. RAISED ON ROBBERY – with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers

Court And Spark Sessions
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
1st Set
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 
1.    RAINY NIGHT HOUSE – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
.    WOODSTOCK – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
2nd Set
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
1.    INTRO TO JERICHO
2.    JERICHO

Live at Wembley Stadium
3.    WOMAN OF HEART AND MIND

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demos
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
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)