Joni Mitchell Announces New Rarities Album, Unveils ‘Help Me’ Demo

Joni Mitchell has announced Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975), the latest in her series of archival releases. Set for release on October 6 via Rhino, it features rare recordings from the period that spawned 1972’s For the Roses, 1974’s Court and Spark, and 1975’s The Hissing of Summer Lawns. These include live sets from Carnegie Hall, Royal Festival Hall, the James Bay Benefit Concert, Wembley Stadium, and more, as well as tracks from sessions with James Taylor, Graham Nash, and Neil Young. Listen to an early demo of Court and Spark’s ‘Help Me’ below.

Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) also comes with a 40-page booklet of photos and a conversation about the time period between Mitchell and Cameron Crowe. It follows 2020’s Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) and 2021’s Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971).

Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) Tracklist:
5xCD

CD One:
Graham Nash David Crosby Session
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Dec. 13, 1971
1. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
2. For the Roses

For the Roses Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, late 1971 / early 1972
3. Banquet
4. Lesson in Survival
5. Like Veils Said Lorraine
6. See You Sometime

Live at Carnegie Hall
New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972
7. This Flight Tonight
8. Electricity
9. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
10. Big Yellow Taxi
11. Blue
12. For Free
13. Banquet
14. All I Want
15. Intro to a Case of You
16. A Case of You
17. Intro to Carey
18. Carey
19. Lesson in Survival
20. Woodstock
21. Intro to You Turn Me on I’m a Radio
22. You Turn Me on I’m a Radio
23. Intro to For the Roses
24. For the Roses

CD Two:
Live at Carnegie Hall [cont.]
New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972
1. Both Sides Now
2. My Old Man
3. Intro to the Circle Game
4. The Circle Game

For the Roses Early Sessions
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Apr. 16-21, 1972
5. Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell – with James Taylor
6. Electricity – with James Taylor
7. You Turn Me on I’m a Radio – with Neil Young & The Stray Gators
8. See You Sometime (early version with bass & drums)
9. You Turn Me on I’m a Radio (early version with bass & drums)

Live at Royal Festival Hall
London, England, May 5, 1972
10. Intro to Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
11. Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)

For the Roses Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Jul-Aug, 1972
12. Blonde in the Bleachers (alternate guitar mix)
13. Let the Wind Carry Me (piano/vocal mix)
14. Barangrill (guitar/vocal mix)
15. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire (sax guide vocal)
16. Sunrise Raga
17. Twisted (early alternate version)

James Bay Benefit Concert
Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Apr. 15, 1973
18. Intro to Big Yellow Taxi
19. Big Yellow Taxi

CD Three:
Court and Spark Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1973
1. Piano Suite:
Down to You
Court and Spark
Car on a Hill
Down to You
2. People’s Parties
3. Help Me
4. Just Like This Train
5. Raised on Robbery
6. Trouble Child

Wild Tales [Graham Nash] Session
Rudy Records Studios, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 25, 1973
7. Raised on Robbery (early working version)
8. Raised on Robbery – with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers

Court and Spark Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Sep.-Oct., 1973
9. People’s Parties (early alternate take)
10. Trouble Child (early alternate take)
11. Car on a Hill (early alternate take)
12. Down to You (alternate version)
13. The Same Situation (alt vocal/piano mix)
14. Bonderia

Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 3, 1974
15. Introduction
16. This Flight Tonight – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
17. You Turn Me on I’m a Radio – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
18. Free Man in Paris – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
19. The Same Situation – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
20. Just Like This Train – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

CD Four:
Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion [cont.]
Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 3, 1974
1. Rainy Night House – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
2. Woodstock – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
3. Cactus Tree
4. Big Yellow Taxi
5. Intro to People’s Parties
6. People’s Parties
7. All I Want
8. A Case of You
9. Intro to For the Roses
10. For the Roses
11. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire – with Tom Scott
12. Blue
13. For Free – with Tom Scott
14. Trouble Child – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
15. Help Me – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
16. Car on a Hill – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

CD Five:
Live at New Victoria Theatre
London, England, Apr. 22, 1974
1. Intro to Jericho
2. Jericho

Live at Wembley Stadium
London, England, Sep. 14, 1974
3. Woman of Heart and Mind

The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975
4. In France They Kiss on Main Street
5. Edith and the Kingpin
6. Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow
7. Shades of Scarlet Conquering
8. The Boho Dance
9. Harry’s House
10. Dreamland

The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975
11. In France They Kiss on Main Street (alternate version)
12. The Jungle Line (guitar/alternate vocal)
13. Edith and the Kingpin (alternate version)
14. Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow (alternate version)
15. Shades of Scarlet Conquering (alternate version)
16. The Boho Dance (alternate version)
17. Dreamland (early alternate band version)

4xLP

Side One:
Graham Nash David Crosby Session
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Dec. 13, 1971
1. Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire

For the Roses Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, late 1971/early 1972
2. Like Veils Said Lorraine

For the Roses Early Sessions
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Apr. 16-21, 1972
3. Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell – with James Taylor
4. You Turn Me on I’m a Radio – with Neil Young & The Stray Gators
5. See You Sometime (early version with bass & drums)

Side Two:
Live at Carnegie Hall
New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972
1. This Flight Tonight
2. Electricity
3. Lesson in Survival
4. Blue
5. Banquet
6. Intro to For the Roses
7. For the Roses

Side Three:
Live at Royal Festival Hall
London, England, May 5, 1972
1. Intro to Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
2. Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)

For the Roses Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Jul-Aug, 1972
3. Blonde in the Bleachers (alternate guitar mix)
4. Barangrill (guitar/vocal mix)
5. Sunrise Raga [3:41]
6. Twisted (early alternate version)

Side Four:
Court and Spark Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Summer 1973
1. Piano Suite:
Down to You
Court and Spark
Car on a Hill
Down to You
2. Help Me

Side Five:
Tonight’s the Night [Neil Young] Session
S.I.R., Hollywood, CA, Aug. 26, 1973
1. Raised an Robbery – with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers

Court and Spark Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Sep.-Oct., 1973
2. People’s Parties (early alternate take)
3. Trouble Child (early alternate take)
4. Car on a Hill (early alternate take)
5. Bonderia

Side Six:
Live at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 3, 1974
1. Introduction
2. Free Man in Paris – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
3. The Same Situation – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express
4. Just Like This Train – with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express

Live at New Victoria Theatre
London, England, Apr. 22, 1974
5. Intro to Jericho
6. Jericho

Live at Wembley Stadium
London, England, Sep. 14, 1974
7. Woman of Heart and Mind

Side Seven:
The Hissing of Summer Lawns Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975
1. In France They Kiss on Main Street
2. Edith and the Kingpin
3. Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow
4. Harry’s House

Side Eight:
The Hissing of Summer Lawns Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975
1. The Jungle Line (guitar/alternate vocal)
2. Shades of Scarlet Conquering (alternate version)
3. The Boho Dance (alternate version)
4. Dreamland (early alternate band version)