Something stood out in our recent ranking of Joni Mitchell's indelible catalogue: she did some of her finest work between 1972 and 1975 — a fruitful period that produced For the Roses (1972), Court and Spark (1974) and The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975). The legendary singer-songwriter's latest archival release hones in on this remarkable era of her remarkable career.
Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) arrives on October 6 via Rhino Records on 4LP, 5CD and digital, previewed today by a demo of Court and Spark's "Help Me." It follows her recent Joni Mitchell at Newport live release, as well as the other entries in her ongoing archival project — including 2022's The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) — and you can pre-order it here.
While last year's archival release featured the three aforementioned evergreen albums, Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) focuses on previously unheard material from that period — including demos, early versions, alternate mixes, live performances (featuring her triumphant 1972 return to Carnegie Hall) and more.
Mitchell's "Asylum Years" coincided with her decision to pull back from the public eye with an early retirement from the stage in 1970 and further retreat from the media scrutiny that followed the success of Ladies of the Canyon (1970) and Blue (1971). She found respite in a move to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, and seclusion in its idyllic landscapes proved very inspiring for the artist. She went forth to do the near-impossible: follow up her pair of Platinum albums with a trio of equally compelling records.
Both physical versions of Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) come with a 40-page booklet of photos and a conversation about this time period between Mitchell and Cameron Crowe. See the full tracklist below, where you can also hear the humble beginnings of "Help Me" — the singer-songwriter's only Top 10 hit — before it became the soft-rocker we know with an assist from jazz band Tom Scott's L.A. Express.
Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975):
Side One:
For the Roses Early Sessions
1. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Graham Nash, David Crosby Session)
2. Like Veils Said Lorraine (Demo)
3. Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell (feat. James Taylor)
4. You Turn Me on I'm a Radio (feat. Neil Young & the Stray Gators)
5. See You Sometime (Early Version)
Side Two:
Live at Carnegie Hall (February 23, 1972)
1. This Flight Tonight (Live at Carnegie Hall)
2. Electricity (Live at Carnegie Hall)
3. Lesson in Survival (Live at Carnegie Hall)
4. Blue (Live at Carnegie Hall)
5. Banquet (Live at Carnegie Hall)
6. Intro to For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall)
7. For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall)
Side Three:
For the Roses Sessions
1. Intro to Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune) [Live at Royal Festival Hall]
2. Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune) [Live at Royal Festival Hall]
3. Blonde in the Bleachers (Alternate Mix)
4. Barangrill (Alternate Mix)
5. Sunrise Raga
6. Twisted (Early Version)
Side Four:
Court and Spark Demos
1. Piano Suite: Down to You, Court and Spark, Car on a Hill and Down to You
2. Help Me
Side Five:
Court and Spark Sessions
1. Raised on Robbery (feat. Neil Young & the Santa Monica Flyers)
2. People's Parties (Early Version)
3. Trouble Child (Early Version)
4. Car on a Hill (Early Version)
5. Bonderia
Side Six:
1. Introduction (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
2. Free Man in Paris (feat. Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
3. The Same Situation (feat. with Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
4. Just Like This Train (feat. with Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
5. Intro to Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre)
6. Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre)
7. Woman of Heart and Mind (Live at Wembley)
Side Seven:
The Hissing of Summer Lawns Demos
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
1. The Jungle Line (Alternate Version)
2. Shades of Scarlet Conquering (Alternate Version)
3. The Boho Dance (Alternate Version)
4. Dreamland (Early Version)
Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) arrives on October 6 via Rhino Records on 4LP, 5CD and digital, previewed today by a demo of Court and Spark's "Help Me." It follows her recent Joni Mitchell at Newport live release, as well as the other entries in her ongoing archival project — including 2022's The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) — and you can pre-order it here.
While last year's archival release featured the three aforementioned evergreen albums, Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) focuses on previously unheard material from that period — including demos, early versions, alternate mixes, live performances (featuring her triumphant 1972 return to Carnegie Hall) and more.
Mitchell's "Asylum Years" coincided with her decision to pull back from the public eye with an early retirement from the stage in 1970 and further retreat from the media scrutiny that followed the success of Ladies of the Canyon (1970) and Blue (1971). She found respite in a move to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, and seclusion in its idyllic landscapes proved very inspiring for the artist. She went forth to do the near-impossible: follow up her pair of Platinum albums with a trio of equally compelling records.
Both physical versions of Archives, Vol 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) come with a 40-page booklet of photos and a conversation about this time period between Mitchell and Cameron Crowe. See the full tracklist below, where you can also hear the humble beginnings of "Help Me" — the singer-songwriter's only Top 10 hit — before it became the soft-rocker we know with an assist from jazz band Tom Scott's L.A. Express.
Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975):
Side One:
For the Roses Early Sessions
1. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (Graham Nash, David Crosby Session)
2. Like Veils Said Lorraine (Demo)
3. Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell (feat. James Taylor)
4. You Turn Me on I'm a Radio (feat. Neil Young & the Stray Gators)
5. See You Sometime (Early Version)
Side Two:
Live at Carnegie Hall (February 23, 1972)
1. This Flight Tonight (Live at Carnegie Hall)
2. Electricity (Live at Carnegie Hall)
3. Lesson in Survival (Live at Carnegie Hall)
4. Blue (Live at Carnegie Hall)
5. Banquet (Live at Carnegie Hall)
6. Intro to For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall)
7. For the Roses (Live at Carnegie Hall)
Side Three:
For the Roses Sessions
1. Intro to Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune) [Live at Royal Festival Hall]
2. Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune) [Live at Royal Festival Hall]
3. Blonde in the Bleachers (Alternate Mix)
4. Barangrill (Alternate Mix)
5. Sunrise Raga
6. Twisted (Early Version)
Side Four:
Court and Spark Demos
1. Piano Suite: Down to You, Court and Spark, Car on a Hill and Down to You
2. Help Me
Side Five:
Court and Spark Sessions
1. Raised on Robbery (feat. Neil Young & the Santa Monica Flyers)
2. People's Parties (Early Version)
3. Trouble Child (Early Version)
4. Car on a Hill (Early Version)
5. Bonderia
Side Six:
1. Introduction (Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
2. Free Man in Paris (feat. Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
3. The Same Situation (feat. with Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
4. Just Like This Train (feat. with Tom Scott & the L.A. Express) [Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion]
5. Intro to Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre)
6. Jericho (Live at New Victoria Theatre)
7. Woman of Heart and Mind (Live at Wembley)
Side Seven:
The Hissing of Summer Lawns Demos
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
1. The Jungle Line (Alternate Version)
2. Shades of Scarlet Conquering (Alternate Version)
3. The Boho Dance (Alternate Version)
4. Dreamland (Early Version)