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The Asylum Albums (1972–1975)
Box set by
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)
Recorded1972–1975
Venue
Studio
  • For the Roses, Court and Spark, and The Hissing of Summer Lawns
  • A&M (Hollywood, California)
Label Rhino
Joni Mitchell chronology
Blue Highlights
(2022)
The Asylum Albums (1972–1975)
(2022)
Joni Mitchell at Newport
(2023)

The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) is a four-disc box set by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on September 23, 2022, by Rhino Records. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The set is the tenth overall release and second box set of remastered albums from the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned series of releases featuring remastered and unreleased material from the singer's personal archives. Formatted in chronological order, the second volume of the remaster series includes Mitchell's first four albums released on Asylum Records: For the Roses (1972), Court and Spark (1974), Miles of Aisles (1974), and The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Background and recording

On September 10, 2020, Rhino Records announced the creation of the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned years-long effort by Mitchell and her late manager Elliot Roberts to finally release and remaster previously unreleased recordings in Mitchell's archives. [6] [7] It was Rhino's intention to follow a certain release schedule, specifically stating that all "future releases in the archive series will arrive in a similar manner, with a box set focused on studio albums from a specific era, followed by an official 'Archives' release looking at unreleased audio from the same period." [8] The 2021 release schedule for the Archives series followed said format, first with the release of The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) in June followed by the release of Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971) in November. [8] The record label committed to this release schedule again while announcing The Asylum Albums (1972–1975), albeit acknowledging the third volume of unreleased material would arrive the following year. [1]

Like The Reprise Albums (1968–1971), The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) features original artwork by Mitchell, a picturesque scene painted in the Canadian wilderness that inspired For the Roses. The box set also features an essay written by Mitchell's friend, peer, and archival mentor Neil Young. [1] [9] All of the material on this release was remastered by series regular collaborator Bernie Grundman. [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.

Disc 1 – For the Roses (1972)

No.TitleLength
1."Banquet"3:01
2."Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire"4:17
3."Barangrill"2:52
4."Lesson in Survival"3:11
5."Let the Wind Carry Me"3:56
6."For the Roses"3:48
7."See You Sometime"2:56
8."Electricity"3:01
9." You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"2:39
10."Blonde in the Bleachers"2:42
11."Woman of Heart and Mind"2:38
12."Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune)"5:19

Disc 2 – Court and Spark (1974)

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Court and Spark" 2:46
2." Help Me" 3:22
3." Free Man in Paris" 3:02
4."People's Parties" 2:15
5."Same Situation" 2:57
6."Car on a Hill" 3:02
7." Down to You" 5:38
8."Just Like This Train" 4:24
9." Raised on Robbery" 3:06
10."Trouble Child" 4:00
11." Twisted"2:21

Disc 3 – Miles of Aisles (1974)

No.TitleLength
1."You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" (Live)4:09
2." Big Yellow Taxi" (Live)3:09
3."Rainy Night House" (Live)4:04
4." Woodstock" (Live)4:29
5."Cactus Tree" (Live)5:01
6."Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire" (Live)5:23
7."Woman of Heart and Mind" (Live)3:40
8." A Case of You" (Live)4:42
9." Blue" (Live)2:49
10." The Circle Game" (Live)6:29
11."People's Parties" (Live)2:42
12."All I Want" (Live)3:21
13."Real Good for Free" (Live)4:27
14." Both Sides, Now" (Live)4:14
15." Carey" (Live)3:30
16." The Last Time I Saw Richard" (Live)3:35
17."Jericho" (Live)3:26
18."Love or Money" (Live)4:50

Disc 4 – The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975)

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1." In France They Kiss on Main Street" 3:19
2."The Jungle Line" 4:25
3."Edith and the Kingpin" 3:38
4."Don't Interrupt the Sorrow" 4:05
5."Shades of Scarlett Conquering" 4:59
6."The Hissing of Summer Lawns"
3:01
7."The Boho Dance" 3:48
8."Harry's House / Centerpiece"6:48
9."Sweet Bird" 4:12
10."Shadows and Light" 4:19

Charts

Chart performance for The Asylum Albums (1972–1975)
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums ( Ultratop Wallonia) [10] 171
German Albums ( Offizielle Top 100) [11] 93
Scottish Albums ( OCC) [12] 26
UK Album Sales ( OCC) [13] 26
US Top Album Sales ( Billboard) [14] 31

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Joni Mitchell Announces THE ASYLUM ALBUMS (1972-1975)". Rhino Records. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (July 28, 2022). "New Joni Mitchell Box Set Chronicles the Turn She Took After 'Blue'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Moreland, Quinn (July 28, 2022). "Joni Mitchell Announces New Asylum Albums (1972-1975) Box Set". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Lindert, Hattie (July 28, 2022). "Joni Mitchell announces new box set The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (July 28, 2022). "Joni Mitchell announces 'The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)' box set". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Martoccio, Angie (September 10, 2020). "Joni Mitchell Announces Archive Series, Shares Earliest-Known Recording". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Strauss, Matthew (September 10, 2020). "Joni Mitchell Launches Archival Series, Shares First Known Recording: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Martoccio, Angie (October 28, 2020). "A DJ Rediscovered Joni Mitchell's Earliest Recordings. Now Everyone Can Hear Them". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joni Mitchell – The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Joni Mitchell – The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2022.