The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) Explained

The Asylum Albums (1972–1975)
Type:box set
Artist:Joni Mitchell
Cover:The Asylum Albums (1972–1975).jpeg
Recorded:1972–1975
Venue:
Studio:
  • For the Roses, Court and Spark, and The Hissing of Summer Lawns
  • A&M (Hollywood, California)
Label:Rhino
Prev Title:Blue Highlights
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Joni Mitchell at Newport
Next Year:2023

The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) is a four-disc box set by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on September 23, 2022, by Rhino Records.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The set is the tenth overall release and second box set of remastered albums from the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned series of releases featuring remastered and unreleased material from the singer's personal archives. Formatted in chronological order, the second volume of the remaster series includes Mitchell's first four albums released on Asylum Records: For the Roses (1972), Court and Spark (1974), Miles of Aisles (1974), and The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975).[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

In 2024, Rhino released this exact box (same packaging, graphics, etc) set in a multichannel version on their Quadio imprint - on Blu Ray discs instead of CDs - that has all four albums in newly-done Dolby Atmos mixes, as well as the original '70s quad mixes, and the recent new stereo remasters from the 2022 edition.

Background and recording

On September 10, 2020, Rhino Records announced the creation of the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned years-long effort by Mitchell and her late manager Elliot Roberts to finally release and remaster previously unreleased recordings in Mitchell's archives.[6] [7] It was Rhino's intention to follow a certain release schedule, specifically stating that all "future releases in the archive series will arrive in a similar manner, with a box set focused on studio albums from a specific era, followed by an official 'Archives' release looking at unreleased audio from the same period."[8] The 2021 release schedule for the Archives series followed said format, first with the release of The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) in June followed by the release of in November.[8] The record label committed to this release schedule again while announcing The Asylum Albums (1972–1975), albeit acknowledging the third volume of unreleased material would arrive the following year.[1]

Like The Reprise Albums (1968–1971), The Asylum Albums (1972–1975) features original artwork by Mitchell, a picturesque scene painted in the Canadian wilderness that inspired For the Roses. The box set also features an essay written by Mitchell's friend, peer, and archival mentor Neil Young.[1] [9] All of the material on this release was remastered by series regular collaborator Bernie Grundman.[1]

Track listing

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

Disc 4 – The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975)

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
UK Album Sales (OCC)[10] 26

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joni Mitchell Announces THE ASYLUM ALBUMS (1972-1975) . . July 28, 2022. July 28, 2022.
  2. New Joni Mitchell Box Set Chronicles the Turn She Took After 'Blue' . Angie . Martoccio . . July 28, 2022. July 28, 2022.
  3. Web site: Joni Mitchell Announces New Asylum Albums (1972-1975) Box Set . Quinn . Moreland . . July 28, 2022. July 28, 2022.
  4. Web site: Joni Mitchell announces new box set The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) . Hattie . Lindert . . July 28, 2022. July 28, 2022.
  5. Web site: Joni Mitchell announces 'The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)' box set . Bill . Pearis . . July 28, 2022. July 28, 2022.
  6. Joni Mitchell Announces Archive Series, Shares Earliest-Known Recording . Martoccio. Angie . . September 10, 2020. September 10, 2020.
  7. Web site: Joni Mitchell Launches Archival Series, Shares First Known Recording: Listen . Strauss. Matthew . . September 10, 2020. September 10, 2020.
  8. Web site: Joni Mitchell The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) Available June 25 In Celebration Of Blue 50th Anniversary . . April 8, 2021. April 9, 2021.
  9. A DJ Rediscovered Joni Mitchell's Earliest Recordings. Now Everyone Can Hear Them . Martoccio. Angie . . October 28, 2020. November 2, 2020.
  10. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. October 1, 2022.