Joni Mitchell “Archives, Vol. 4” Features Previously Unheard Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, and More

Joni Mitchell’s archival releases have continued with Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), which sheds light on the singer-songwriter’s jazzier phase of the last ’70s. This was the period during which she collaborated with Charles Mingus for Mingus and hired bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius on for her stellar band. The 6-CD set includes unreleased studio sessions, alternate versions, live recordings, rarities, and more.

“[Vol. 4] boasts powerful live tracks from her time in Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue during 1975 and 1976 Tour of the United States,” the box set description explains. “It pulls back the curtain on the music by showcasing early recordings and alternate takes from the respective sessions for HEJIRA, DON JUAN’S RECKLESS DAUGHTER, and MINGUS. It covers the Bread & Roses Festival as well as the Anti-Nuclear Rally. Finally, VOL. 4 chronicles her 1979 tour, even showcasing two tracks from that year’s Tour Rehearsals. Not to mention, it showcases her versatility and adaptability, housing collaborations with everyone from Herbie Hancock and Jaco Pastorius to Wayne Shorter and Pat Metheny.”

One of Jaco’s famous solos is included from the performance at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in 1979. After flurries of notes, Pastorius plays a portion of “Continuum” before launching into his groovy take on “Third Stone From The Sun.”

However, Jaco is not the only bassist on the set. Mitchell consistently had great bassists in her circle. First up is Rob Stoner, who served as bassist during Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. Session ace Max Bennett is featured on many of the earlier live tracks. Interestingly, some of the early alternate versions of songs for the Mingus album feature a more traditional jazz instrumentation with Stanley Clarke or Eddie Gomez on upright.

Hear the early version of “God Must Be a Boogie Man” with Gomez alternating between big, fat bass notes and beautiful fills.

Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) is out now in CD or vinyl sets and as a digital download (Apple Music and Amazon Music).

Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) Track List:

Disc One:
Rolling Thunder Revue, Live In Niagara Falls, Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY, November 15, 1975

1. Jericho

Live at Harvard Square Theater, Cambridge, MA, November 20, 1975

2. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
3. Edith and the Kingpin
4. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, November 21, 1975

5. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
6. Harry’s House

Live in Bangor, Bangor, ME, November 27, 1975

7. A Case of You

Gordon Lightfoot’s House, Toronto, ON, Canada, November 30, 1975

8. Woman of Heart and Mind

Live at Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC, Canada, December 4, 1975

9. Introduction – Bob Neuwirth
10. Intro to Coyote
11. Coyote

1976 Tour of the United States, Live in Madison, Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, February 29, 1976

12. Help Me

Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

13. Love or Money
14. Free Man in Paris
15. For The Roses
16. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
17. Big Yellow Taxi
18. Shades of Scarlett Conquering

Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, February 20, 1976

19. For Free

Disc Two:
Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

1. Intro to Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
2. Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter

Live in Madison, Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI, February 29, 1976

3. Just Like This Train

Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

4. Shadows and Light
5. In France They Kiss on Main Street

Live at Duke University, Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC, February 7, 1976

6. Traveling (Hejira)

Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

7. Edith and the Kingpin
8. Talk To Me
9. Harry’s House/Centerpiece
10. Intro to Furry Sings the Blues
11. Furry Sings The Blues
12. Trouble Child
13. Rainy Night House

Live at Duke University, Cameron Stadium, Durham, NC, February 7, 1976

14. Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow

Live at Music Hall, Boston, MA, February 19, 1976

15. Raised on Robbery
16. The Jungle Line
17. Twisted

Disc Three:
Hejira Demos, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, March 1976

1. Furry Sings The Blues
2. Traveling (Hejira)
3. Dreamland
4. Talk To Me
5. Coyote/Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
6. Black Crow
7. Amelia
8. Blue Motel Room
9. A Strange Boy

Rolling Thunder Revue, Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, May 16, 1976

10. Black Cow
11. Intro to Song For Sharon
12. Song For Sharon

Hejira Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1976

13. Refuge of the Roads (Early Mix with Horns)
14. Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (Early Rough Mix)

Disc Four:
Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA

1. “Save Magic” (Paprika Plains Embryonic Version)
2. Otis and Marlena (Early Rough Mix)

Mingus Sessions, Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY

3. Sweet Sucker Dance (Vocals & Drums Version – Take 5)
4. A Chair in the Sky (Early Alternate Version – Take 6)
5. Sweet Sucker Dance (Early Alternate Version)

Live at Bread & Roses Festival, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, September 2 & 3, 1978

6. Introduction
7. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
8. Intro to A Chair In The Sky
9. A Chair In The Sky
10. Intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
11. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
12. Intro to The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey
13. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

Mingus Early Alternate Version, Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY and A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1978 & 1979

14. A Good Suit and A Good Haircut
15. God Must Be A Boogie Man
16. Solo for Old Fat Girl’s Soul
17. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

Disc Five:

1. Sue and the Holy River

Mingus Sessions, A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1979

2. The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey

Live at May 6 Coalition Rally Against Nuclear Power, National Mall, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1979

3. Introduction – Graham Nash
4. Big Yellow Taxi

1979 Tour Rehearsals, SIR Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA

5. Jericho
6. Help Me

1979 Tour of the United States, Live at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, August 25, 1979

7. Big Yellow Taxi
8. Just Like This Train
9. In France They Kiss On Main Street
10. Coyote
11. Edith and The Kingpin
12. Free Man In Paris
13. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
14. Jaco’s Solo/ Third Stone From The Sun
15. The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines

Disc Six:

1. Amelia
2. Pat’s Solo
3. Hejira
4. Don’s Solo
5. Dreamland
6. Black Crow
7. Furry Sings The Blues
8. Intro to God Must Be A Boogie Man
9. God Must Be A Boogie Man
10. Raised On Robbery
11. Shadows and Light
12. The Last Time I Saw Richard
13. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
14. Live in Philadelphia

Robin Hood Dell West, Philadelphia, PA, August 28, 1979

14. Woodstock

Live at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, September 13, 1979

15. Intro to A Chair In The Sky
16. A Chair In The Sky