The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)

The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) is a four-disc box set by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, that was released on June 25, 2021, by Rhino Records.[1][2] The set is the sixth overall release and first box set of remastered albums from the Joni Mitchell Archives, a planned series of releases featuring remastered and unreleased material from the singer's archives. Formatted in chronological order, the first volume of the remaster series includes Mitchell's first four albums, all of which were released on Reprise Records: Song to a Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and Blue (1971).[1][2]

The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)
Box set by
ReleasedJune 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)[1][2]
Recorded1967–1971
Studio
Genre
LabelRhino
Joni Mitchell chronology
Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes)
(2021)
The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)
(2021)
Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971)
(2021)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Absolute Sound[5]
Record Collector[6]
Uncut[7]
Under the Radar9/10[8]

Background and recording

edit

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.[9][10][11] The first round of releases featured a box set of previously-unreleased material (Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967)), a condensed version subtitled Highlights, an auxiliary compilation album of the earliest material in the box set (Early Joni – 1963), and a separate release of the live sets featured on the box's last two discs (Live at Canterbury House – 1967). The press release announcing the archive's creation indicated a similar release structure would be followed on a yearly basis, which each release round moving through Mitchell's career in chronological order.[11] However, on April 8, 2021, Rhino announced The Reprise Albums (1968–1971), the first box set of remastered studio albums under the Joni Mitchell Archives banner. The press release indicated that the box set’s release is being timed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Blue's release, as well as to introduce an additional yearly release to the series’ lineup, as 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."[1] The box set of unreleased material recorded during this time period, Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968–1971), was released on November 12, 2021.[12][13]

Like the cover for Early Joni – 1963, the artwork of The Reprise Albums features a previously never-before-seen self-portrait by Mitchell originally drawn sometime during the period of time from which the set’s releases span.[1] The set also features liner notes by American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, who wrote that Mitchell's magnum opus Blue is "the greatest album ever made. Blue didn’t make me a better songwriter. Blue made me a better woman… No matter what we are dealing with in these times we can rejoice and know that of all the ages we could have lived through, we lived in the time of Joni Mitchell.”[2] Song to a Seagull features a new mix by Mitchell and audio mixer Matt Lee, as she was compelled to "fix" the album's original mix that sounded to her like "it was recorded under a jello bowl."[1] The poor-sounding quality of the original mix has been attributed to album producer David Crosby's unconventional recording setup that captured an excessive amount of ambient noise.[14]

Track listing

edit

All tracks are written by Joni Mitchell.

Disc 1 – Song to a Seagull (1968)

edit
I Came to the City
No.TitleLength
1."I Had a King"3:37
2."Michael from Mountains"3:41
3."Night in the City"2:30
4."Marcie"4:35
5."Nathan La Franeer"3:18
Out of the City and Down to the Seaside
No.TitleLength
6."Sisotowbell Lane"4:05
7."The Dawntreader"5:04
8."The Pirate of Penance"2:44
9."Song to a Seagull"3:51
10."Cactus Tree"4:35
Total length:38:00

Disc 2 – Clouds (1969)

edit
No.TitleLength
1."Tin Angel"4:09
2."Chelsea Morning"2:35
3."I Don't Know Where I Stand"3:13
4."That Song About the Midway"4:38
5."Roses Blue"3:52
6."The Gallery"4:12
7."I Think I Understand"4:28
8."Songs to Aging Children Come"3:10
9."The Fiddle and the Drum"2:50
10."Both Sides, Now"4:32
Total length:36:52

Disc 3 – Ladies of the Canyon (1970)

edit
No.TitleLength
1."Morning Morgantown"3:12
2."For Free"4:31
3."Conversation"4:21
4."Ladies of the Canyon"3:32
5."Willy"3:00
6."The Arrangement"3:32
7."Rainy Night House"3:22
8."The Priest"3:39
9."Blue Boy"2:53
10."Big Yellow Taxi"2:16
11."Woodstock"5:25
12."The Circle Game"4:50
Total length:44:33

Disc 4 – Blue (1971)

edit
No.TitleLength
1."All I Want"3:32
2."My Old Man"3:33
3."Little Green"3:25
4."Carey"3:00
5."Blue"3:00
6."California"3:48
7."This Flight Tonight"2:50
8."River"4:00
9."A Case of You"4:20
10."The Last Time I Saw Richard"4:13
Total length:35:41

Charts

edit
Chart performance for The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 120
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 29
Irish Albums (IRMA)[18] 52
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 45
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 42
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[22] 7
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[23] 5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 44

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Joni Mitchell The Reprise Albums (1968–1971) Available June 25 In Celebration Of Blue 50th Anniversary". Rhino Records. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Joni Mitchell to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of 'Blue' With Remasters of First Four Albums". Rolling Stone. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  3. ^ The Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Incorporated. 1999. p. 599. ISBN 978-0-7172-0131-0.
  4. ^ Ellen Willis (2011). Out of the Vinyl Deeps: Ellen Willis on Rock Music. U of Minnesota Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-8166-7282-0.
  5. ^ "Joni Mitchell: The Reprise Albums, 1968–1971".
  6. ^ "Joni Mitchell | the Reprise Albums (1968-1971) - Record Collector Magazine".
  7. ^ "Joni Mitchell – the Joni Mitchell Archive Series: The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)". 9 July 2021.
  8. ^ "The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)".
  9. ^ Martoccio, Angie (September 10, 2020). "Joni Mitchell Announces Archive Series, Shares Earliest-Known Recording". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Strauss, Matthew (September 10, 2020). "Joni Mitchell Launches Archival Series, Shares First Known Recording: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Now Streaming: Joni Mitchell, "House of the Rising Sun" (from THE JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES)". Rhino Records. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Martoccio, Angie (June 21, 2021). "Joni Mitchell Surprise-Releases 'Blue' EP, Preps 50th-Anniversary Box Set". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Announcing 'Archives Volume 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971)' available October 29". jonimitchell.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  14. ^ Monk, Katherine (September 7, 2012). Joni: The Creative Odyssey of Joni Mitchell. Greystone Books. pp. 78–79. ISBN 9781553658382.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joni Mitchell – The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Joni Mitchell – The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Joni Mitchell – The Reprise Albums (1968–1971)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 9 July 2021". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Joni Mitchell – The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  23. ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "Joni Mitchell Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.