Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: A Deep Dive into Her Jazz Evolution (1976-1980) | World Music Central (2024)

Rhino Records has released Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), marking the latest entry in the ongoing, GRAMMY-winning series. This volume continues to explore Mitchell’s extensive archive, focusing on her jazz-influenced experimentation during the late 1970s. The set highlights recordings from a pivotal period when Mitchell broke away from traditional folk to embrace a more fluid jazz fusion sound, evident in albums like Hejira (1976), Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), and Mingus (1979).

The collection is available in two formats: a 6-CD/digital version and a 4-LP highlights edition, both featuring a curated selection of tracks, rare recordings, and live performances. A standout feature of this release is the accompanying book, which includes never-before-seen photos and a conversation between Mitchell and longtime friend, filmmaker Cameron Crowe, where she reflects on her creative journey during this time.

Vol. 4 captures Mitchell’s live performances from Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, early takes from Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, and Mingus, and appearances at the Bread & Roses Festival and the Anti-Nuclear Rally. The set also includes collaborations with renowned artists like Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, and Pat Metheny, showcasing Mitchell’s versatility.

The archival material in Vol. 4 was sourced from original stereo reels, cassette tapes, and radio broadcasts, with some tracks newly mixed from multi-track tapes. This release follows Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975), which came out in 2023, continuing the chronological exploration of Mitchell’s catalog that began with Vol. 1 (1963-1967), the latter winning a GRAMMY for Best Historical Album.

6CD Tracklisting

Disc One:

Rolling Thunder Revue

Live In Niagara Falls
Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY, November 15, 1975
Recorded by L.A. Johnson & Petur Hliddal

  1. Jericho

Live at Harvard Square Theater
Cambridge, MA, November 20, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Sean Brennan

  1. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
  2. Edith and the Kingpin
  3. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, November 21, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
  2. Harry’s House

Live in Bangor
Bangor, ME, November 27, 1975
Recorded by L.A. Johnson & Petur Hliddal

  1. A Case of You

Gordon Lightfoot’s House
Toronto, ON, Canada, November 30, 1975
Recorded by L.A. Johnson & Petur Hliddal

  1. Woman of Heart and Mind

Live at Montreal Forum
Montreal, QC, Canada, December 4, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Sean Brennan

  1. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
  2. Intro to Coyote
  3. Coyote

1976 Tour of the United States
Recorded by Stanley Johnston from PA mixes by Brian Jonathan
(Courtesy of the estate of Stanley Tajima Johnston)

Live in Madison
Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, February 29, 1976

  1. Help Me

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Love or Money
  2. Free Man in Paris
  3. For The Roses
  4. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
  5. Big Yellow Taxi
  6. Shades of Scarlett Conquering

Live at Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, NY, February 20, 1976

  1. For Free

Disc Two:

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Intro to Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
  2. Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter

Live in Madison
Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, February 29, 1976

  1. Just Like This Train

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Shadows and Light
  2. In France They Kiss on Main Street

Live at Duke University
Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC, February 7, 1976

  1. Traveling (Hejira)

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Edith and the Kingpin
  2. Talk To Me
  3. Harry’s House/Centerpiece
  4. Intro to Furry Sings the Blues
  5. Furry Sings The Blues
  6. Trouble Child
  7. Rainy Night House

Live at Duke University
Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC, February 7, 1976

  1. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Raised on Robbery
  2. The Jungle Line
  3. Twisted

Disc Three:

Hejira Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, March 1976
Recorded by Henry Lewy; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Furry Sings The Blues
  2. Traveling (Hejira)
  3. Dreamland
  4. Talk To Me
  5. Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
  6. Black Crow
  7. Amelia
  8. Blue Motel Room
  9. A Strange Boy

Rolling Thunder Revue
Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, May 16, 1976
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Engineered by
Don Meehan; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Black Cow
  2. Intro to Song For Sharon
  3. Song For Sharon

Hejira Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1976
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. Refuge of the Roads (Early Mix with Horns)
  2. Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Early Rough Mix)

Disc Four:

Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. “Save Magic” (Paprika Plains Embryonic Version)
  2. Otis and Marlena (Early Rough Mix)

Mingus Sessions
Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy & Jerry Solomon

  1. Sweet Sucker Dance (Vocals & Drums Version – Take 5)
  2. A Chair in the Sky (Early Alternate Version – Take 6)
  3. Sweet Sucker Dance (Early Alternate Version)

Live at Bread & Roses Festival
Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, September 2 & 3, 1978
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. Introduction
  2. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
  3. Intro to A Chair In The Sky
  4. A Chair In The Sky
  5. Intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  6. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  7. Intro to The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey
  8. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

Mingus Early Alternate Version
Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY and A&M Studios,
Hollywood, CA, 1978 & 1979
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy & Jerry Solomon

  1. A Good Suit and A Good Haircut
  2. God Must Be A Boogie Man
  3. Solo for Old Fat Girl’s Soul
  4. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

Disc Five:

  1. Sue and the Holy River

Mingus Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1979
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

Live at May 6 Coalition Rally Against Nuclear Power
National Mall, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1979

  1. Introduction – Graham Nash
  2. Big Yellow Taxi

1979 Tour Rehearsals
SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Recorded by Joel Bernstein

  1. Jericho
  2. Help Me

1979 Tour of the United States

Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium
Queens, NY, August 25, 1979
Recorded by Joel Bernstein from PA mix by Ed Wynne

  1. Big Yellow Taxi
  2. Just Like This Train
  3. In France They Kiss On Main Street
  4. Coyote
  5. Edith and The Kingpin
  6. Free Man In Paris
  7. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  8. Jaco’s Solo/ Third Stone From The Sun
  9. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

Disc Six:

  1. Amelia
  2. Pat’s Solo
  3. Hejira
  4. Don’s Solo
  5. Dreamland
  6. Black Crow
  7. Furry Sings The Blues
  8. Intro to God Must Be A Boogie Man
  9. God Must Be A Boogie Man
  10. Raised On Robbery
  11. Shadows and Light
  12. The Last Time I Saw Richard
  13. Why Do Fools Fall In Love

Live in Philadelphia
Robin Hood Dell West, Philadelphia, PA, August 28, 1979
Recorded by Joel Bernstein from PA mix by Ed Wynne

  1. Woodstock

Live at Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA, September 13, 1979
Recorded by Andy Johns & Henry Lewy; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Intro to A Chair In The Sky
  2. A Chair In The Sky

4LP Highlights Tracklisting

Side One:

Rolling Thunder Revue

Live at Harvard Square Theater
Cambridge, MA, November 20, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Sean Brennan

  1. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
  2. Edith and the Kingpin
  3. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, November 21, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
  2. Harry’s House

Live in Bangor
Bangor, ME, November 27, 1975
Recorded by L.A. Johnson & Petur Hliddal

  1. A Case of You

Side Two:

Live at Montreal Forum
Montreal, QC, Canada, December 4, 1975
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Mixed by Sean Brennan

  1. Intro to Coyote
  2. Coyote

1976 Tour of the United States
Recorded by Stanley Johnston from PA mixes by Brian Jonathan
(Courtesy of the estate of Stanley Tajima Johnston)

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Free Man In Paris
  2. Shades of Scarlett Conquering

Live at Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, NY, February 20, 1976

  1. For Free

Side Three:

Live at Music Hall
Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

  1. Shadows and Light
  2. In France They Kiss On Main Street
  3. Intro to Furry Sings The Blues
  4. Furry Sings The Blues

Hejira Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, March 1976
Recorded by Henry Lewy; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Traveling (Hejira)

Side Four:

  1. Black Crow
  2. Amelia

Rolling Thunder Revue
Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, May 16, 1976
Recording supervised by Don DeVito; Engineered by
Don Meehan; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Intro to Song For Sharon
  2. Song For Sharon

Side Five:

Hejira Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1976
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. Refuge of the Roads (Early Mix with Horns)
  2. Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Early Rough Mix)

Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. Otis and Marlena (Early Rough Mix)

Mingus Sessions
Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy & Jerry Solomon

  1. Sweet Sucker Dance (Vocals & Drums Version – Take 5)

Side Six:

Live at Bread & Roses Festival
Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, September 2 & 3, 1978
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy

  1. Introduction
  2. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
  3. Intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  4. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
  5. Intro to The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey
  6. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

Mingus Early Alternate Version
Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY and A&M Studios,
Hollywood, CA, 1978 & 1979
Recorded & Mixed by Henry Lewy & Jerry Solomon

  1. God Must Be A Boogie Man

Side Seven:

  1. Sue and The Holy River

1979 Tour Rehearsals
SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Recorded by Joel Bernstein

  1. Jericho
  2. Help Me

1979 Tour of the United States

Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium
Queens, NY, August 25, 1979
Recorded by Joel Bernstein from PA mix by Ed Wynne

  1. Big Yellow Taxi
  2. Just Like This Train
  3. Raised On Robbery

Side Eight:

  1. The Last Time I Saw Richard

Live at Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA, September 13, 1979
Recorded by Andy Johns & Henry Lewy; Mixed by Patrick Milligan

  1. Intro to A Chair In The Sky
  2. A Chair In The Sky

Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: A Deep Dive into Her Jazz Evolution (1976-1980) | World Music Central (1)

Author: World Music Central News Room

World music news from the editors at World Music Central

Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: A Deep Dive into Her Jazz Evolution (1976-1980) | World Music Central (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 5691

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.