Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)

Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)
Box set by
Joni Mitchell
ReleasedOctober 4, 2024
Recorded1976–1980
LabelRhino
ProducerJoni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell chronology
The Asylum Albums (1976–1980)
(2024) 		Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)
(2024) 		Hejira Demos
(2025)

Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980) is a six-disc box set by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell, released on October 4, 2024, by Rhino Records.[1][2] The box is the fourteenth overall release and fourth offering of unreleased material from the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned series of releases containing remastered material from the singer's personal archives. Formatted in chronological order, the fourth volume of the series consists of the archived material that was recorded during the second half of Mitchell's tenure at Asylum Records, which includes the years between the release of her eighth studio album, Hejira (1976) and her second live album, Shadows and Light (1980).[1][2] The album won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Historical Album.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic90/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[5]
MojoStarStarStarStarStar[6]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[7]
UncutStarStarStarStarHalf star[4]
Under the RadarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[8]

Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4 has received positive reviews from critics and was awarded the 2026 Grammy award for Best Historical Album. On Metacritic which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the set has a score of 90 based on six reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek complimented the live performances, highlighting an early version of "Coyote", as well as renditions of "Help Me", "Just Like This Train", "Furry Sings the Blues", and "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow". Jurek also praised the set's ability to "illuminate the studio albums" from which the material is derived, as well as display the evolutionary process of the songs.[5]


Track listing

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

Disc one

Rolling Thunder Revue: Live In Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY (November 15, 1975)
No.TitleLength
1."Jericho"3:11
Rolling Thunder Revue: Live at Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA (November 20, 1975)
No.TitleLength
2."Introduction – Bob Neuwirth"0:23
3."Edith and the Kingpin"4:16
4."Don't Interrupt the Sorrow"3:58
Rolling Thunder Revue: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (November 21, 1975)
No.TitleLength
5."Introduction – Bob Neuwirth"0:29
6."Harry's House"4:13
Rolling Thunder Revue: Live in Bangor, Bangor, ME (November 27, 1975)
No.TitleLength
7."A Case of You"6:37
Rolling Thunder Revue: Gordon Lightfoot’s House, Toronto, ON, Canada (November 30, 1975)
No.TitleLength
8."Woman of Heart and Mind"3:03
Rolling Thunder Revue: GLive at Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada (December 4, 1975)
No.TitleLength
9."Introduction – Bob Neuwirth"0:32
10."Intro to Coyote"0:38
11."Coyote"4:32
1976 Tour of the United States: Live in Madison, Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI (February 29, 1976)
No.TitleLength
12."Help Me"3:18
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (February 19, 1976)
No.TitleLength
13."Love or Money"4:32
14."Free Man in Paris"3:03
15."For the Roses"4:31
16."Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire"6:19
17."Big Yellow Taxi"2:56
18."Shades of Scarlett Conquering"4:23
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (February 20, 1976)
No.TitleLength
19."For Free"5:34

Disc two

1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (February 19, 1976)
No.TitleLength
1."Intro to Coyote/Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"0:20
2."Coyote/Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"9:58
1976 Tour of the United States: Live in Madison, Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI (February 29, 1976)
No.TitleLength
3."Just Like This Train"4:15
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (February 19, 1976)
No.TitleLength
4."Shadows and Light"5:34
5."In France They Kiss on Main Street"3:19
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Duke University, Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC (February 7, 1976)
No.TitleLength
6."Traveling (Hejira)"6:36
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (February 19, 1976)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Edith and the Kingpin" 3:50
8."Talk to Me" 5:10
9."Harry's House/Centerpiece"
5:23
10."Intro to Furry Sings the Blues" 1:22
11."Furry Sings the Blues" 4:36
12."Trouble Child" 3:45
13."Rainy Night House" 3:51
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Duke University, Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC (February 7, 1976)
No.TitleLength
14."Don't Interrupt the Sorrow"3:53
1976 Tour of the United States: Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA (February 19, 1976)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Raised on Robbery" 2:43
16."The Jungle Line" 5:30
17."Twisted"
4:24

Disc three

Hejira Demos: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (March 1976)
No.TitleLength
1."Furry Sings the Blues"4:30
2."Traveling (Hejira)"6:07
3."Dreamland"4:53
4."Talk to Me"3:54
5."Coyote/Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"9:41
6."Black Crow"3:57
7."Amelia"4:52
8."Blue Motel Room"3:24
9."A Strange Boy"4:16
Rolling Thunder Revue: Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX (May 16, 1976)
No.TitleLength
10."Black Crow"3:59
11."Intro to Song for Sharon"0:27
12."Song for Sharon"9:01
Hejira Demos: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (Summer 1976)
No.TitleLength
13."Refuge of the Roads" (early mix with horns)6:29
14."Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" (early rough mix)6:05

Disc four

Don Juan's Reckless Daughter Sessions: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA
No.TitleLength
1."Save Magic" ("Paprika Plains" embryonic version)12:08
2."Otis and Marlena" (early rough mix)4:20
Mingus Sessions: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
3."Sweet Sucker Dance" (vocals & drums version – take 5)
6:37
4."A Chair in the Sky" (early alternate version – take 6)
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
5:14
5."Sweet Sucker Dance" (early alternate version)
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
7:00
Live at Bread & Roses Festival: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA (September 2 & 3, 1978)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Introduction" 1:00
7."The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
2:20
8."Intro to A Chair in the Sky" 0:51
9."A Chair in the Sky"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
6:33
10."Intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" 0:37
11."Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
5:19
12."Intro to The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey" 1:07
13."The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey" 6:24
Mingus Early Alternate Version: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY and A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (1978 & 1979)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."A Good Suit and a Good Haircut"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
3:12
15."God Must Be a Boogie Man" 3:40
16."Solo for Old Fat Girl's Soul"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
3:33
17."The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
3:35

Disc five

Mingus Early Alternate Version: Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY and A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (1978 & 1979)[cont.]
No.TitleLength
1."Sue and the Holy River"7:09
Mingus Sessions: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (1979)
No.TitleLength
2."The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey"6:18
Live at May 6 Coalition Rally Against Nuclear Power: National Mall, Washington, D.C. (May 6, 1979)
No.TitleLength
3."Introduction – Graham Nash"0:30
4."Big Yellow Taxi"3:46
1979 Tour Rehearsals: SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA
No.TitleLength
5."Jericho"3:11
6."Help Me"3:46
1979 Tour of the United States: Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY (August 25, 1979)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Big Yellow Taxi" 3:03
8."Just Like This Train" 3:56
9."In France They Kiss on Main Street" 3:52
10."Coyote" 4:46
11."Edith and the Kingpin" 3:52
12."Free Man in Paris" 3:11
13."Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
5:25
14."Jaco's Solo/Third Stone from the Sun"
5:48
15."The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
5:24

Disc six

1979 Tour of the United States: Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY (August 25, 1979)[cont.]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Amelia" 6:16
2."Pat's Solo"Pat Metheny3:08
3."Hejira" 6:42
4."Don's Solo"Don Alias4:24
5."Dreamland" 4:39
6."Black Crow" 3:39
7."Furry Sings the Blues" 5:22
8."Intro to God Must Be a Boogie Man" 0:43
9."God Must Be a Boogie Man" 4:46
10."Raised on Robbery" 4:12
11."Shadows and Light" 4:56
12."The Last Time I Saw Richard" 4:59
13."Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
2:39
1979 Tour of the United States: Live in Philadelphia, Robin Hood Dell West, Philadelphia, PA (August 28, 1979)
No.TitleLength
14."Woodstock"5:54
1979 Tour of the United States: Live at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA (September 13, 1979)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Intro to A Chair in the Sky" 0:48
16."A Chair in the Sky"
  • Mitchell
  • Mingus
6:43

Charts

Chart performance for Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[9] 82
Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] 50
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[11] 44
UK Album Sales (OCC)[12] 38
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[13] 6

Hejira Demos

Hejira Demos
Compilation album by
Joni Mitchell
ReleasedNovember 29, 2024 (2024-11-29)
RecordedMarch 1976
StudioA&M Studios, Hollywood
GenreFolk
Length45:34
LabelRhino
Joni Mitchell chronology
Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)
(2024) 		Hejira Demos
(2024)

An excerpt of the Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980), titled Hejira Demos, was released on November 29, 2024, by Rhino Records.[14][15] It features material recorded during the first of two different Hejira 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 was released exclusively on vinyl LP for the 2024 Record Store Day Black Friday event.[14][15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Coyote/Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"9:41
2."Amelia"4:51
3."Furry Sings the Blues"4:30
4."A Strange Boy"4:16
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Traveling (Hejira)"6:07
2."Black Crow"3:57
3."Blue Motel Room"3:23
4."Dreamland"4:52
5."Talk to Me"3:54

References

  1. ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (August 8, 2024). "Joni Mitchell Revisits Her Move From the 'Hit Department' to the 'Art Department' on Late Seventies Box Set". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Friedlander, Matt (August 8, 2024). "Joni Mitchell to Release the 'Archives, Vol. 4' Box Set, Featuring Rarities from Her Jazz-Influenced Late-1970s Work". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  3. ^ "Joni Mitchell". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980) [Box Set]". Metacritic. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  6. ^ Segal, Victoria (October 4, 2024). "Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)". Mojo. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  7. ^ Martoccio, Angie (October 4, 2024). "Joni Mitchell's Latest Archives: Hop In, We're Traveling to the Late Seventies". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  8. ^ Davis, Hays (November 7, 2024). "Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980)". Under the Radar. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joni Mitchell – Archives - Volume 4 - The Asylum Years (1976-1980)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 11/10/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  12. ^ "Official Album Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 11 October 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart on 11/10/2024 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Willman, Chris (November 29, 2024). "Record Store Day Black Friday's Most Wanted, 2024 Edition: Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, U2, Billie Eilish, the Doors, Beatles and More". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Joni Mitchell - Hejira Demos". Record Store Day. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
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