Joni Mitchell ‘Archives Vol. 2’ box set due in October

Joni Mitchell’s fourth album, ‘Blue’, celebrates its half century this week. Considered one of Joni’s most essential works, the songs helped usher in an era of confessional song writing, and tracks like ‘River’ (as covered by Heart, Linda Ronstadt, and more recently Sam Smith) and ‘A Case of You’ (later covered by Tori Amos and Prince) are considered classics.

To tie in with the anniversary, it has been announced that Mitchell will release a second box set of largely unreleased and archival goodies in the autumn. ‘Archives Vol. 2’ brings together a truckload of live and demo material sourced from between 1968 and 1971 and is set for a release date of 29th October. The actual UK price of the physical set hasn’t been shared, but if it mirrors the first set, fans can expect a price point of somewhere between £55-£65.  It’ll definitely be more affordable than Neil Young’s nearest equivalent, whatever happens.

It’s a set that promises to be packed with highlights, not least of all the complete audio for a BBC live set with Joni duetting with James Taylor.  Unfortunately, despite circulating among fans for some time, thanks to a couple of TV repeats, this show has yet to come out on DVD, but an official audio document is certainly the next best thing.

A full track listing for the box set can be explored below.

CD 1

Joni’s home (late 1967/early 1968)

  1. “Midnight Cowboy” – Version one
  2. “The Dawntreader” – Demo with vocal overdub
  3. “Song To A Seagull”
  4. “Midnight Cowboy” – Version two

Jane Lurie’s Apartment, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, NY (late 1967/early 1968)

  1. “The Way It Is”
  2. “Turn Around” – Incomplete

Home Demo, Joni’s home (late 1967/early 1968)

  1. “I Had A King” – Demo with piano overdub
  2. “Roses Blue” – Demo with peacock harp overdub
  3. “The Fiddle And The Drum” – Piano demo

Song To A Seagull Session, Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA (January 24, 1968)

  1. “Jeremy”
  2. “Conversation”
  3. “Both Sides Now”
  4. “The Gift Of The Magi”

Jane Lurie’s Apartment, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, NY (early 1968)

  1. “It’s Easy”
  2. “Another Melody”

Live at Canterbury House, Ann Arbor, MI (March 10, 1968)

  1. Introduction
  2. “Jeremy”
  3. “Songs To Aging Children Come”

CD 2

Le Hibou Coffee House, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Recorded by Jimi Hendrix (March 19, 1968)

First Set

  1. “Night In The City”
  2. “Come To The Sunshine”
  3. Intro to “The Pirate Of Penance”
  4. “The Pirate Of Penance”
  5. “Conversation”
  6. “The Way It Is”
  7. Intro to “The Dawntreader”
  8. “The Dawntreader”

Second Set

  1. “Marcie”
  2. Intro to “Nathan La Franeer”
  3. “Nathan La Franeer”
  4. Intro to “Dr. Junk”
  5. “Dr. Junk”
  6. Intro to “Michael From Mountains”
  7. “Michael From Mountains”
  8. “Go Tell The Drummer Man”
  9. Intro to “I Don’t Know Where I Stand”
  10. “I Don’t Know Where I Stand”
  11. Intro to “Sisotowbell Lane”
  12. “Sisotowbell Lane”
  13. Intro to “Ladies Of The Canyon”
  14. “Ladies Of The Canyon”

Studio Session, Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA (May 31, 1968)

  1. “Come To The Sunshine”

Jane Lurie’s Apartment, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, NY (summer 1968)

  1. “My Second Album”
  2. “Lambert, Hendricks & Ross”
  3. “The Pirate Of Penance”

Top Gear BBC Radio Broadcast, London, England (recorded September 23, 1968)

  1. Intro to “Chelsea Morning”
  2. “Chelsea Morning” – with the John Cameron Group
  3. Intro to “The Gallery”
  4. “The Gallery”
  5. Intro to “Night In The City”
  6. “Night In The City” – with the John Cameron Group

CD 3

Live at Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY (February 1, 1969)

First Set

  1. “Chelsea Morning”
  2. A Valentine for Joni
  3. “Cactus Tree”
  4. “Night In The City”
  5. “I Had A King”
  6. “Blue Boy”
  7. My American Skirt
  8. “The Fiddle And The Drum”
  9. Spoony’s Wonderful Adventure
  10. “That Song About The Midway”
  11. “Both Sides Now”

Second Set

  1. “Marcie”
  2. “Nathan La Franeer”
  3. Intro to “The Gallery”
  4. “The Gallery”
  5. “Hunter”
  6. “Morning Morgantown”
  7. Intro to “Get Together”
  8. “Get Together”
  9. Intro to “The Circle Game/Little Green”
  10. “The Circle Game/Little Green”

Encore

  1. “Michael From Mountains”

CD 4

Live at Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY (February 1, 1969)

  1. Intro to “Urge For Going”
  2. “Urge For Going”

Clouds Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (spring 1969)

  1. “Conversation”
  2. “Blue Boy”
  3. “The Priest”

Jane Lurie’s Apartment, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, NY (mid 1969)

  1. “Jesus”
  2. Playing piano and vocalizing

The Dick Cavett Show ABC TV Broadcast, New York City, NY (Recorded August 18, 1969)

  1. “Chelsea Morning”
  2. “Willy”
  3. “For Free”
  4. Interview
  5. “The Fiddle And The Drum”

Ladies Of The Canyon Demo Session, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (late 1969)

  1. “Woodstock”

Live at Centennial Auditorium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (November 1, 1969)

  1. “As I Lie Thinking In My Backyard On August 2nd”
  2. “Roses Blue”
  3. “Rainy Night House”

Ladies Of The Canyon Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (late 1969)

  1. “Ladies Of The Canyon” – with cellos
  2. “Blue Boy” – with recorder coda

In Concert BBC TV Broadcast, (recorded September 3, 1970)

  1. “All I Want”

Blue Demo Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (September 1970)

  1. “A Case Of You”
  2. “California”

CD 5

In Concert BBC Radio Broadcast, Paris Theatre, London England (recorded October 29, 1970)

  1. Introduction
  2. “That Song About The Midway”
  3. Intro to “The Gallery”
  4. “The Gallery”
  5. “Hunter”
  6. Intro to “River”
  7. “River”
  8. “My Old Man”
  9. “The Priest”
  10. This is a mountain dulcimer
  11. “Carey”
  12. “A Case Of You” – with James Taylor
  13. Intro to “California” – with James Taylor
  14. “California” – with James Taylor
  15. Intro to “For Free” – with James Taylor
  16. “For Free” – with James Taylor
  17. Intro to “The Circle Game” – with James Taylor
  18. “The Circle Game” – with James Taylor
  19. Intro to “You Can Close Your Eyes” – with James Taylor
  20. “You Can Close Your Eyes” – with James Taylor
  21. “Both Sides Now”
  22. Intro to “Big Yellow Taxi”
  23. “Big Yellow Taxi”

Blue Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA (late 1970/early 1971)

  1. “Hunter”
  2. “River” – with French horns
  3. “Urge For Going” – with strings