[2020-10-30] Joni Mitchell "Joni Mitchell Archives Volume 1: The Early Years 1963-1967" 5CD box set (Rhino)

Jason Michael · 30 May 2012

Description
JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES VOL. 1: THE EARLY YEARS (1963-1967) features nearly six hours of unreleased home, live, and radio recordings that flow chronologically to paint a rich portrait of Mitchell’s rapid growth as a performer and songwriter during the period leading up to her debut album. This treasure trove of unheard audio includes 29 original Mitchell compositions that have never been released before with her vocals.

This 5CD collection includes a 40-page booklet that features many unseen photos from Mitchell’s personal collection as well as new liner notes featuring conversations between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell, who recently spent a couple of Sunday afternoons together discussing her archives. Crowe will continue to provide liners for future releases in the series.

Through a wealth of unreleased live performances, home recordings, and radio broadcasts, ARCHIVES VOL. 1 brings into focus the period when Mitchell was finding her voice artistically. It shows her moving away from the folk standards of her early days (“John Hardy” and “House Of The Rising Sun”) and starting to write and sing her own songs (“Day After Day” and “Urge For Going.”)

ARCHIVES VOL. 1 reveals just how prolific a songwriter Mitchell was at the time. In addition to early versions of songs that would appear on Song To A Seagull (“Michael From Mountains” and “I Had A King”), the set also features songs destined for later albums: “Chelsea Morning” “Both Sides Now” (Clouds, 1969); “The Circle Game” (Ladies of the Canyon, 1970); and “Little Green” (Blue, 1971).

More than a just historic document, these recordings crackle with energy thanks to a vibrant and enchanting Mitchell. On many, you can hear her turning tuning her guitar and telling a story about the song before playing it. That includes her rare 1967 cover of Neil Young’s “Sugar Mountain,” a song she says inspired her to write “The Circle Game.”

The collection begins in 1963 with her earliest-known recording as a 19-year-old Mitchell performs at CFQC AM, a radio station in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The box culminates with a stirring, three-set 1967 nightclub performance recorded at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

[tracklisting][CD1]
Radio Station CFQC AM, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (ca. 1963)

“House Of The Rising Sun”
“John Hardy”
“Dark As A Dungeon”
“Tell Old Bill”
“Nancy Whiskey”
“Anathea”
“Copper Kettle”
“Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)”
“Molly Malone”

Live at the Half Beat: Yorkville, Toronto, Canada (October 21, 1964)
First Set

Introduction
“Nancy Whiskey”
Intro to “The Crow On The Cradle”
“The Crow On The Cradle”
“Pastures Of Plenty”
“Every Night When The Sun Goes In”
Intro to “Sail Away”
“Sail Away”

Second Set

“John Hardy”
“Dark As A Dungeon”
Intro to “Maids When You’re Young Never Wed An Old Man”
“Maids When You’re Young Never Wed An Old Man”
“The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow”
“Deportee (Plane Crash At Los Gatos)”
Joni’s Parents’ House: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (February 1965)
“The Long Black Rifle”
“Ten Thousand Miles”
“Seven Daffodils”

[CD2]
Myrtle Anderson Birthday Tape: Detroit, MI (1965)

“Urge For Going”
“Born To Take The Highway”
“Here Today And Gone Tomorrow”

Jac Holzman Demo: Detroit, MI (August 24, 1965)

“What Will You Give Me”
“Let It Be Me”
“The Student Song”
“Day After Day”
“Like The Lonely Swallow”

Let’s Sing Out, CBC TV: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada (October 4, 1965)

“Favorite Colour”
“Me And My Uncle”

Home Demo: Detroit, MI (ca. 1966)

“Sad Winds Blowin’”

Let’s Sing Out, CBC TV: Laurentian University, London, ON, Canada (October 24, 1966)

“Just Like Me”
“Night In The City"

Live at the 2nd Fret: Philadelphia, PA (November 1966)

“Brandy Eyes”
Intro to “Urge For Going”
“Urge For Going”
Intro to “What’s The Story Mr. Blue”
“What’s The Story Mr. Blue”
“Eastern Rain”
Intro to “The Circle Game”
“The Circle Game”
Intro to “Night In The City”
“Night In The City”

[CD3]
Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA, (March 12, 1967)

Intro to “Both Sides Now”
“Both Sides Now”
Intro to “The Circle Game”
“The Circle Game”

Live at the 2nd Fret: Philadelphia, PA (March 17, 1967)
Second Set

“Morning Morgantown”
“Born To Take The Highway”
Intro to “Song To A Seagull”
“Song To A Seagull”

Third Set

“Winter Lady”
Intro to “Both Sides Now”
“Both Sides Now”

Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA (March 19, 1967)

Intro to “Eastern Rain”
“Eastern Rain”
Intro to “Blue On Blue”
“Blue On Blue”

“A Record Of My Changes” – Michael’s Birthday Tape: North Carolina (May 1967)

“Gemini Twin”
“Strawflower Me”
“A Melody In Your Name”
“Tin Angel”
“I Don’t Know Where I Stand”
Joni improvising

Folklore, WHAT FM: Philadelphia, PA (May 28, 1967)

Intro to “Sugar Mountain”
“Sugar Mountain”

[CD4]
Home Demo: New York City, NY (ca. June 1967)

“I Had A King”
“Free Darling”
“Conversation”
“Morning Morgantown”
“Dr. Junk”
“Gift Of The Magi”
“Chelsea Morning”
“Michael From Mountains”
“Cara’s Castle”
“Jeremy” (Incomplete)

Live at Canterbury House: Ann Arbor, MI (October 27, 1967)
First Set

“Conversation”
Intro to “Come To The Sunshine”
“Come To The Sunshine”
Intro to “Chelsea Morning”
“Chelsea Morning”
Intro to “Gift Of The Magi”
“Gift Of The Magi”
“Play Little David”
Intro to “The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow”
“The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow”
“I Had A King”
Intro to “Free Darling”
“Free Darling”
Intro to “Cactus Tree”
“Cactus Tree”

[CD5]
Live at Canterbury House: Ann Arbor, MI (October 27, 1967)
Second Set

“Little Green”
Intro to “Marcie”
“Marcie”
Intro to “Ballerina Valerie”
“Ballerina Valerie”
“The Circle Game”
Intro to “Michael From Mountains”
“Michael From Mountains”
“Go Tell The Drummer Man”
Intro to “I Don’t Know Where I Stand”
“I Don’t Know Where I Stand”

Third Set

“A Melody In Your Name”
Intro to “Carnival In Kenora”
“Carnival In Kenora”
“Songs To Aging Children Come”
Intro to “Dr. Junk”
“Dr. Junk”
“Morning Morgantown”
Intro to “Night In The City”
“Night In The City”
“Both Sides Now”
“Urge For Going”[/tracklisting]

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HRV32LB/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08HRV32LB/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HRV32LB/?tag=imwan-21

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:10 pm

Pre-order links are now in the first post. (Not yet active, but will be soon!) Here's the first sample:

Jason Michael · 30 May 2012

That sounds quite good. Thanks for fixing my mess of a post, Linda!

Renny · 26 Jun 2006