THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Throughout the latter half of the ’70s, Joni Mitchell continued to creatively break ground with her fearless and fluid exploration of jazz. Rather than tread the same path, she challenged and reinvented her style with a folk fusion like no other.
Ascending to an unrivaled sonic peak, this innovative sound took shape across the gold-certified Hejira (1976), the gold-certified double-LP Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), her collaboration with Charles Mingus entitled Mingus (1979), and the live album Shadows And Light (1980). Channeling the arc of these records, she delves even further into this season on her latest rarites collection Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980).
This comprehensive and essential set spans one of the most prolific periods of her storied career. It boasts powerful live tracks from her time in Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue during 1975 and 1976 tour of the United States. It pulls back the curtain on the music by showcasing early recordings and alternate takes from the respective sessions for the aforementioned studio albums. It covers her performances at the Bread & Roses Festival as well as the Anti-Nuclear Rally. Finally, Vol. 4 chronicles her 1979 tour, even showcasing two tracks from the rehearsals. And of courses, it showcases her versatility and adaptability, housing collaborations with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Jaco Pastorious to Wayne Shorter and Pat Metheny.
Vol. 4 culls its previously unissued material from original stereo reels, cassette tapes, CD-Rs and even a radio broadcast. Newly mixed tracks came from multi-track tapes, while a handful of hi-res digital tracks have been sourced from the Bob Dylan Archives. The set includes a book with never-before-seen photos and liner notes comprising a deep discussion between Mitchell and longtime friend Cameron Crowe. As part of their candid conversation, she shares intimate anecdotes, memories, and stories from that five-year creative run.”
