Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4

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& '79, and studio session contributions from the likes of Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock, plus a 36-page booklet of unpublished photos and liner notes in conversation with Cameron Crowe.

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& '79, and studio session contributions from the likes of Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock, plus a 36-page booklet of unpublished photos and liner notes in conversation with Cameron Crowe.

Joni Mitchell's ongoing Archives series has been an overwhelming success and the third volume somehow manages to outdo its predecessors. Where Volume 1 gave a raw, warts-and-all look at a developing talent wrestling with her creative identity and Volume 2 showed that talent operating at an astonishingly high level, Volume 3 documents Mitchell's transition from a truly gifted artist pushing the boundaries of the rock-culture zeitgeist into a mad genius staking her own sonic territories. This set, probably more than any other that has been or will be part of this series, is dynamic and revelatory, like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz and finding an actual wizard doing real wizardry. While Vol. 3 falls short of giving blow-by-blow documentation of the incredible studio-as-an-instrument work Mitchell did to transform For the Roses, Court and Spark, and—most triumphantly—The Hissing of Summer Lawns from jazz-inflected pop-folk records into towering artistic statements (most of the songs here are presented in either spare embryonic versions or funky, recalibrated live takes, with little middle ground).

The 5-CD collection includes a 40-page booklet that features many unseen photos from Mitchell's personal collection as well as new liner notes featuring conversations between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell, who recently spent a couple of Sunday afternoons together discussing her archives. Crowe will continue to provide liners for future releases in the series.

The 5-CD collection includes a 40-page booklet that features many unseen photos from Mitchell's personal collection as well as new liner notes featuring conversations between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell, who recently spent a couple of Sunday afternoons together discussing her archives.

5 CDs of the Finest, most Intimate, Surprising, and Captivating Content From Joni’s Unmined 1968-1971 Archives-The tracks on Archives Vol II have been sequenced chronologically to follow Mitchell in real time through one of the most creative periods of her career. The collection uncovers several unreleased Mitchell originals, including “Jesus” recorded in 1969 at her friend Jane Lurie’s New York apartment in Chelsea, which also served as the setting for the song “Chelsea Morning.” Other highlights include Mitchell’s performance at Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa on March 19, 1968 that was recorded by Jimi Hendrix and a concert at the Paris Theatre in London on October 29, 1970 that was broadcast on the BBC. The latter includes several songs destined to appear on Blue the following year: “Carey,” “River” and “My Old Man.” In addition, singer-songwriter James Taylor joined Mitchell to perform with her during the second half of the show.

Joni Mitchell's ongoing Archives series has been an overwhelming success and the third volume somehow manages to outdo its predecessors.

Volume 2 in the Joni Archive series - this one explores the period leading up to Blue through nearly six hours of unreleased home, studio, and live recordings. The tracks on Archives Vol. 2 have been sequenced chronologically to follow Mitchell in real time through one of the most creative periods of her career. The collection uncovers several unreleased Mitchell originals, including “Jesus” recorded in 1969 at her friend Jane Lurie’s New York apartment in Chelsea, which also served as the setting for the song “Chelsea Morning.” Other highlights include Mitchell’s performance at Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa on 19 th March 1968 that was recorded by Jimi Hendrix and a concert at the Paris Theatre in London on 29 th October 1970 that was broadcast on the BBC. The latter includes several songs destined to appear on Blue the following year: “Carey,” “River” and “My Old Man.”

Today, five previously unreleased demos and outtakes from the album are available as part of a digital EP called Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes). These songs will also be included on Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), a compilation coming out in October that will document the period leading up to Blue.