TheJoni Mitchell Archives is an ongoing project to release previously unreleased recorded material by Canadian singer-songwriterJoni 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 ofA&R forRhino Records, the label through which the project's offerings are being released.[1] The first release also received input fromNeil Young, who had experience with the release of his own extensive archival series, and Mitchell and Young's late managerElliot 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 traditionalSaulteaux 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 theYellow Quill First Nation – translates to 'Sparkling White Bear Woman' in English.[3]
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/filmmakerCameron Crowe and Mitchell.[7]
The second volume of unreleased archived material,Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971), was released November 12, 2021.[8][9] The box set consists of the archived material that was recorded during Mitchell's tenure atReprise Records, which includes the years between the release of her debut studio album,Song to a Seagull (1968) and her fourth studio album,Blue (1971).[10] The set is 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]
The third volume of unreleased material,Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972–1975), was released on October 6, 2023. The box set consists of the archived material that was recorded during the first half of Mitchell's tenure atAsylum Records, which includes the years between the release of her fifth studio album,For the Roses (1972) and her seventh studio album,The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975).[11][12]
The fourth volume of unreleased material,Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980), was released on October 4, 2024.[13] he box set consists of the archived material that was recorded during the second half of Mitchell's tenure atAsylum Records, which includes the years between the release of her eighth studio album,Hejira (1976) and her second live album,Shadows and Light (1980).
The first volume of album remasters,The Reprise Albums (1968–1971), was released on July 2, 2021, byRhino Records.[14][15][16] The box set includes Mitchell's first four albums, all of which were released onReprise Records:Song to a Seagull (1968),Clouds (1969),Ladies of the Canyon (1970), andBlue (1971).[15][16] In the case ofSong To A Seagull, the original mix has been recently updated by mixer Matt Lee, overseen by Mitchell. The box includes an essay byBrandi Carlile.[14]
The second volume of album remasters,The Asylum Albums (1972–1975), was released on September 23, 2022, byRhino Records.[17][18] The box set includes Mitchell's first four albums released onAsylum Records:For the Roses (1972),Court and Spark (1974),Miles of Aisles (1974), andThe Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975).[17][18]
The third volume of album remasters,The Asylum Albums (1976–1980), was released on June 21, 2024, byRhino Records.[19][20][21] The box set includes the latter half of Mitchell's albums released onAsylum Records:Hejira (1976),Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977),Mingus (1979), andShadows and Light (1980).[19][20][21]
The first auxiliary release in the series,Early Joni – 1963, was released on October 30, 2020, byRhino Records.[6] The album features one of Mitchell's first live performances, a broadcast set onSaskatoon radio stationCFQC AM. 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.
The second auxiliary release in the series, a condensed version ofJoni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967), subtitledHighlights, was released on June 12, 2021, by Rhino Records.[22][23] The truncated version of theArchives – Volume 1: The Early Years (1963–1967) compilation was released exclusively as avinyl LP forRecord Store Day 2021 Drop 1.Highlights features a track listing that is in chronological order. The 180 gram vinyl was limited to 5,500 copies in the United States and 15,000 copies worldwide.[22][23]
The third auxiliary release in the series,Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes), was released byRhino Records on June 21, 2021, to celebrate the 50th anniversary ofBlue's release.[24] The digital-onlyEP release consists of five unreleased demos recorded during the making ofBlue.
The fourth auxiliary release in the series, a condensed version ofJoni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971), titledBlue Highlights, was released on April 23, 2022, by Rhino Records.[25][26] The sampler album was released exclusively as avinyl LP forRecord Store Day 2022, and was made with "Joni's insight, cooperation and creative input".Blue Highlights is the ninth overall release and fourth auxiliary release of the Joni Mitchell Archives, and like the album its material is derived from, features a track listing that is in chronological order. The vinyl release is limited to 9,000 copies in the United States and 16,000 copies worldwide.[25][26] It debuted at number 150 on theBillboard 200, making it the first release from the archive series to appear on the chart.
An excerpt of theJoni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972–1975), titledCourt and Spark Demos, was released on November 24, 2023, by Rhino Records.[27][28] It is the twelfth overall release and fifth auxiliary release of the Joni Mitchell Archives. The album, which is formatted in the same order as the first six tracks of the set's third disc, was released exclusively onvinyl LP for the 2023Record Store DayBlack Friday event.[27][28]
An excerpt of theJoni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980), titledHejira Demos, was released on November 29, 2024, by Rhino Records.[29][30] It features material recorded during the first of two differentHejira recording sessions recovered by the archival team, and is the fifteenth overall release and sixth auxiliary release of the Joni Mitchell Archives project. The album, which is formatted in the same order as the first nine tracks of the set's third disc, was released exclusively onvinyl LP for the 2024Record Store DayBlack Friday event.[29][30]
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] The live album was pressed exclusively on vinyl.
The second live album of the series,Live at Carnegie Hall – 1969, was released on November 12, 2021. The two-set recording was captured atCarnegie Hall in New York City, New York on February 1, 1969. The live album was pressed exclusively on vinyl.
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