Joni Mitchell Archives

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The project's official logo, which features a prominent visual allusion to Mitchell's given Saulteaux name

The Joni Mitchell Archives is an ongoing project to release previously unreleased recorded material by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. So far, each new release schedule consists of a box set collection, a compilation with material on the box set release, and a live album. The project is being overseen by Mitchell and Patrick Milligan, director of A&R for Rhino Records, the label through which the project's offerings are being released.[1] The first release also received input from Neil Young, who had experience with the release of his own extensive archival series, and Mitchell and Young's late manager Elliot Roberts, who died during the process of planning the first box set, and to whom the release is dedicated.[2]

The project's logo prominently features a polar bear, a visual allusion to the traditional Saulteaux name bestowed upon Mitchell by a childhood friend at her seventy-fifth birthday party.[3] Kāwāsapizit-Wābiski-Makawko-Ikwē - the name granted and recognized by the Yellow Quill First Nation - translates to 'Sparkling White Bear Woman' in English.[3]

Box sets[]

Unreleased material[]

Volume 1: The Early Years (1963–1967)[]

Main article: Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967)

The first volume of unreleased archived material, Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), was released on October 30, 2020.[4] The five-disc box set includes the archived material that was recorded in the years preceding the release of Mitchell's debut studio album, Song to a Seagull (1968).[5][6] The box set also includes a booklet with liner notes featuring conversations about the time period between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell.[7]

Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971)[]

Main article: Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971)

The second volume of unreleased archived material, Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971), is set to be released on October 29, 2021.[8][9] The box set includes the archived material that was recorded in the years between the release of Mitchell's debut studio album, Song to a Seagull (1968) and her fourth studio album, Blue (1971).[10] The set will be available in multiple formats, including as a five-disc CD set and, exclusive to the official Joni Mitchell web store, a limited edition 10-LP vinyl set.[9] Like the first set, the second volume also includes a booklet with liner notes featuring conversations about the time period between Cameron Crowe and Mitchell.[9]

Album remasters[]

The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)[]

Main article: The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)

The first volume of album remasters, The Reprise Albums (1968–1971), is set to be released on July 2, 2021, by Rhino Records.[11][12][13] The box set includes Mitchell's first four albums, all of which were released on Reprise Records: Song to a Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and Blue (1971).[12][13] In the case of Song To A Seagull, the original mix has been recently updated by mixer Matt Lee, overseen by Mitchell. The box includes an essay by Brandi Carlile.[11]

Auxiliary releases[]

Early Joni - 1963[]

Main article: Early Joni - 1963

The first companion album of the series, Early Joni - 1963, was released on October 30, 2020.[6] The album features one of Mitchell's first live performances, a broadcast set on Saskatoon radio station CFQC AM. The contents of the album were recorded by CFQC 600 DJ Barry Bowman over two nights in 1963. Mitchell made the recordings at Bowman's behest, as he was encouraged by her budding talent after spending the previous summer sharing a rented house with her and three other friends in downtown Saskatoon, Canada.[2] The cover art for the release features a self portrait drawn by Mitchell that is based on an early photo in her personal archive, and marks the first visual artwork that she had completed in several years.[6] This separate title was pressed exclusively on vinyl, though it serves as a companion to Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), the box set from which its material is derived.

Archives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Highlights[]

Archives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Highlights
Compilation album by
Joni Mitchell
ReleasedJune 12, 2021 (2021-06-12)
Recorded1963 - 1967
LabelRhino Records
Joni Mitchell chronology
Live at Canterbury House – 1967
(2020) 		Archives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Highlights
(2021)
(2021)

Archives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Highlights is a compilation album by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on June 12, 2021, by Rhino Records. The LP, exclusive to Record Store Day 2021, Drop 1, features highlights from the first volume of the ongoing Joni Mitchell Archives series. As its parent release Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), the LP features tracks in chronological order. The 180gram vinyl is limited to either 15000 copies worldwide (Mitchell's official site)[14] or 5500 copies (Record Store Day listing).[15]

Track listing[]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."House of the Rising Sun" (Radio Station CFQC AM / Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, ca. 1963)Woody Guthrie2:54
2."Pastures of Plenty" (Live at the Half Beat / Yorkville, Toronto, Canada, Oct. 21, 1964)Traditional2:52
3."Seven Daffodils" (Joni's Parents' House / Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Feb. 1965)Fran Moseley, Lee Hays2:59
4."Urge For Going" (Myrtle Anderson Birthday Tape / Detroit, MI, 1965)Joni Mitchell4:25
5."Day After Day" (Jac Holzman Demo / Detroit, MI, Aug. 24, 1965)Joni Mitchell2:10
6."The Circle Game" (Live at the 2nd Fret / Philadelphia, PA, Nov. 1966)Joni Mitchell5:13
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Both Sides Now" (Folklore, WHAT FM / Philadelphia, PA, Mar. 12, 1967)Joni Mitchell3:46
2."Born to Take the Highway" (Live at the 2nd Fret / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mar. 17, 1967)Joni Mitchell4:12
3."Blue on Blue" (Folklore, WHAT FM / Philadelphia, PA, Mar. 19, 1967)Joni Mitchell2:33
4."Strawflower Me" ("A Record Of My Changes" – Michael's Birthday Tape / North Carolina, May 1967)Joni Mitchell1:50
5."Chelsea Morning" (Home Demo / New York City, NY, ca. June 1967)Joni Mitchell2:34
6."I Don’t Know Where I Stand" (Live at Canterbury House / Ann Arbor, MI, Oct. 27, 1967)Joni Mitchell6:18

Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes)[]

Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes)
EP by
Joni Mitchell
ReleasedJune 21, 2021 (2021-06-21)
LabelRhino Records
Joni Mitchell chronology

(2020) 		Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes)
(2021)

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Blue album by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, Rhino Records released a 5-track 'taster' EP Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes) from the forthcoming Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971) box set, on June 21, 2021. The digital only release consists of five unreleased tracks from the making of the album. Of the two demos included, "A Case Of You" is an early version with alternate lyrics. Two alternate takes are included: "River" with French horns (album version features Mitchell solo on piano) and "Urge for Going", a Mitchell song from the mid-60s, revisited during "Blue" sessions as a version with strings (different to version later released as B-side to "You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio" in 1972). "Hunter" was cut from "Blue" at the last minute and remained officially unreleased until this release.[16]

Track listing[]

No.TitleLength
1."A Case Of You" (Blue Sessions Demo)4:00
2."California" (Blue Sessions Demo)3:39
3."Hunter" (Blue Sessions)2:57
4."River" (With French Horns - Blue Sessions)4:05
5."Urge for Going" (With Strings - Blue Sessions)5:05

Live albums[]

Live at Canterbury House - 1967[]

Main article: Live at Canterbury House - 1967

The first live album of the series, Live at Canterbury House - 1967, was released on October 30, 2020.[6] The expansive, three-set recording was captured at the Canterbury House student missionary in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967.[2] This separate live album was pressed exclusively on vinyl, and serves as a companion to Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), the box set from which its material is derived.

References[]

  1. ^ Stone, Sam (October 30, 2020). "A SECOND DISC EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Joni Mitchell's Co-Producer Patrick Milligan Discusses New "Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1" Box Set". The Second Disc. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Martoccio, Angie (October 28, 2020). "A DJ Rediscovered Joni Mitchell's Earliest Recordings. Now Everyone Can Hear Them". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Kerslake, Danny (November 9, 2018). "Joni Mitchell is Sparkling White Bear Woman: Music legend given Saulteaux name at 75th birthday bash". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Martoccio, Angie (September 10, 2020). "Joni Mitchell Announces Archive Series, Shares Earliest-Known Recording". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "Joni Mitchell Archives - Vol 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) [5CD]". Official Joni Mitchell Store. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Now Streaming: Joni Mitchell, "House of the Rising Sun" (from THE JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES)". Rhino Records. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "Joni Mitchell Archives - Vol 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) [5CD]". Official Joni Mitchell Store. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Martoccio, Angie (June 21, 2021). "Joni Mitchell Surprise-Releases 'Blue' EP, Preps 50th-Anniversary Box Set". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Announcing 'Archives Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971)' available October 29". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  10. ^ Bloom, Madison; Moreland, Quinn (June 21, 2021). "Joni Mitchell Announces Archives Vol. 2 Box Set, Shares Blue 50 Demo EP: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Joni Mitchell The Reprise Albums (1968 - 1971) Limited Edition 4LP Box Set". Official Joni Mitchell Store. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Joni Mitchell The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) Available June 25 In Celebration Of Blue 50th Anniversary". Rhino Records. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Joni Mitchell to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of 'Blue' With Remasters of First Four Albums". Rolling Stone. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Special 'Record Store Day' release". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "RSD DROPS 2021 - June 12 > Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1 (1963-1967): Highlights". Record Store Day. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Announcing 'Archives Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971)' available October 29". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
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