In the late ‘70s, Joni Mitchell rode a surge of critical and commercial success into a fearless and unfettered period of artistic experimentation, drawing on disparate sources from the underground to pioneer a new folk-fusion. As a longtime lover of jazz, Mitchell shifted her influence from subtle inflections and thematic allusions (hear the bebop cadence of “Twisted” and “Fleurette Africaine”-esque rattle of “The Jungle Line”) to full-scale conceptual explorations, calling on a cast of giants from the cutting-edge to disrupt the then-rigid boundaries of rock music. Alongside icons like Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorious and Wayne Shorter, Joni crafted albums unlike anything before or since. Today, the artist shares a window into how it happened.
Mitchell and Rhino Records–the catalog imprint of Warner Music Group–have officially announced Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), continuing the ongoing Grammy-winning reissue series that plumbs the artist’s vast archive of recordings. Set to release on Oct. 4, The Asylum Years (1976-1980) compiles early recordings, demos and alternate takes from this prolific period of Joni’s career by her own curatorial guidance. The digital and six-CD versions feature a staggering 98 previously unreleased recordings, while a four-LP vinyl pressing will comprise 40 highlights.
The tracks on Mitchell’s fourth sprawling archival dispatch are sourced primarily from the four iconic albums she released in the five-year period: 1976’s Hejira, 1977’s Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter, 1979’s Mingus–a collaboration with the legendary bassist that stands as his final project before his passing that year–and the 190 live album Shadows and Light. Beyond the studio sessions that produced these entries and Mitchell’s live performances from the period, the compilation features selections from such memorable moments as the Bread & Roses Festival, Anti-Nuclear Rally and her stint with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue.
To preview the collection, the artist has shared “Intro To Coyote / Coyote,” which she delivered at Montreal, Quebec’s The Forum on Dec. 5, 1975. In advance of the album’s release, fans can pre-order and pre-save Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) now. For more information on the collection and broader archive project, visit jonimitchell.com.
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