Hear Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me” Demo From New Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) Box Set
Joni Mitchell has announced a new box set. Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) will be out October 6 via Rhino Records and features rare recordings, all personally curated by Mitchell. The set also includes an accompanying book with photos and a conversation about this period of time — which saw the release of 1972’s For The Roses, 1974’s Court And Spark, and 1975’s The Hissing Of Summer Lawns — with Cameron Crowe.
Following 2020’s Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) and 2021’s Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), Vol. 3 includes an early cut of “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire,” plus early demos and alternate versions from the For The Roses, Court & Spark, and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns sessions.
There are also live show recordings (including the entirety of Mitchell’s 1972 return to Carnegie Hall) and tracks from sessions created alongside James Taylor, Graham Nash, and Neil Young.
Alongside today’s announcement, we get to hear an early demo of Court And Spark’s “Help Me,” which went on to become her biggest single and her only Top 10 hit. Check that out below.
TRACKLIST:
CD ONE:
Graham Nash David Crosby Session
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Dec. 13, 1971
01 “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire”
02 “For The Roses”
For The Roses Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, late 1971 / early 1972
03 “Banquet”
04 “Lesson In Survival”
05 “Like Veils Said Lorraine”
06 “See You Sometime”
Live At Carnegie Hall
New York City, NY, Feb. 23, 1972
07 “This Flight Tonight”
08 “Electricity”
09 “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
01 “Both Sides Now”
02 “My Old Man”
03 “Intro To The Circle Game”
04 “The Circle Game”
For The Roses Early Sessions
Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA, Apr. 16-21, 1972
05 “Medley: Bony Moronie/Summertime Blues/You Never Can Tell” (with James Taylor)
06 “Electricity” (with James Taylor)
07 “You Turn Me On I’m A Radio (with Neil Young & The Stray Gators)
08 “See You Sometime” (early version with bass & drums)
09 “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
01 Piano Suite:
“Down To You”
“Court And Spark”
“Car On A Hill”
“Down To You”
02 “People’s Parties”
03 “Help Me”
04 “Just Like This Train”
05 “Raised On Robbery”
06 “Trouble Child”
Wild Tales [Graham Nash] Session
Rudy Records Studios, San Francisco, CA, Aug. 25, 1973
07 “Raised On Robbery” (early working version)
08 “Raised On Robbery” (with Neil Young & The Santa Monica Flyers)
Court And Spark Sessions
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, Sep.-Oct., 1973
09 “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
01 “Rainy Night House” (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express)
02 “Woodstock” (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express)
03 “Cactus Tree”
04 “Big Yellow Taxi”
05 “Intro To People’s Parties”
06 “People’s Parties”
07 “All I Want”
08 “A Case Of You”
09 “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
01 “Intro To Jericho”
02 “Jericho”
Live At Wembley Stadium
London, England, Sep. 14, 1974
03 “Woman Of Heart And Mind”
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demos
A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1975
04 “In France They Kiss On Main Street”
05 “Edith And The Kingpin”
06 “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow”
07 “Shades Of Scarlet Conquering”
08 “The Boho Dance”
09 “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)
Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) will be out 10/6 via Rhino Records. Pre-order it here.