To mark the anniversary of Joni Mitchell’s « Blue », which came out 50 years ago on Tuesday, the artist’s label has released « Blue 50 (Demos and Outtakes) », which contains five previously unreleased recordings of the album.
The EP includes a Mitchell demo for « A Case of You » with alternative lyrics; an acoustic recording of « California »; an alternate version of « River » with French horns; and a stringed version of “Urge for Going,” a song she wrote and played live a few years earlier, but only put on tape at the “Blue” sessions. (It first came out as the B-side of « You Turn Me on, I’m a Radio » in 1972.) Most importantly, Mitchell finally allowed the release of « Hunter, » a song she made at the last minute cut out of « Blue ». Although she performed the song live, « Hunter » was never officially released in its studio form.
The release was accompanied by news that Rhino Records had released « Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971), the continuation of a 2020 volume compiling her early folk recordings. Based on their work at Laurel Canyon that led to the creation of « Blue », the new set will include what Rhino describes as « nearly six hours of unreleased home, studio and live recordings. »
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In addition to the five songs published on the EP, the music is on » Archives Vol. 2 « features a complete 1968 performance at an Ottawa coffeehouse, recorded by Jimi Hendrix. Another full concert, broadcast on the BBC in 1970, features a cameo by her then-boyfriend James Taylor.
“Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years” will be released digitally on October 29th as a five-CD package as well as a 10-LP set in a limited edition of 4,000 copies (an independent version of the Ottawa concert from 1968 will be released on the same day as a three-LP set.)
And as if that wasn’t enough, Rhino will release « The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) » on July 2nd, a four-CD, Four LP or digital set, the remastered versions of the albums « Song to a Seagull », « , » Ladies of the Canyon, « and » Blue. «
Randall Roberts is a resident music writer and writes the weekly California Sounds column for the Los Angeles Times.
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