Joni Mitchell

Early Joni - 1963 Joni Mitchell

JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES VOL. 1: THE EARLY YEARS (1963-1967) features nearly six hours of unreleased home, live, and radio recordings that flow chronologically to paint a rich portrait of Mitchell's rapid growth as a performer and songwriter during the period leading up to her debut album. This treasure trove of unheard audio includes 29 original Mitchell compositions that have never been released before with her vocals. The collection will be available as a deluxe 5-CD set.

The collection begins in 1963 with her earliest-known recording as a 19-year-old Mitchell performs at CFQC AM, a radio station in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The box culminates with a stirring, three-set 1967 nightclub performance recorded at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Both of these performances will be available separately on 180-gram vinyl on October 30. The first, EARLY JONI - 1963 will be released as a single LP on 180-gram vinyl. Like several of Mitchell's past albums, the cover for EARLY JONI features a self-portrait and marks her first new art in many years. The other, LIVE AT CANTERBURY HOUSE - 1967, is a 3-LP set and includes Mitchell's entire three-set performance from October 27, 1967. Production of this 180-gram vinyl set will be limited to 10,000 copies.

The 5-CD collection includes a 40-page booklet that features many unseen photos from Mitchell's personal collection as well as new liner notes featuring conversations between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell, who recently spent a couple of Sunday afternoons together discussing her archives. Crowe will continue to provide liners for future releases in the series. Liner notes for both vinyl releases were each composed by people who were in the room when the original performances were recorded. Barry Bowman was working as a DJ at radio station CFQC in 1963 and provides the notes for EARLY JONI. Bob Franke, who was covering Mitchell's show at Canterbury House for the Michigan Daily while also moonlighting as a doorman at the club, pens the liners for LIVE AT CANTERBURY HOUSE. His original review for the Michigan Daily is also included.