It's finally here! Out now, the JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES, VOL. 4: THE ASYLUM YEARS (1976-1980) culls previously unissued material from original stereo reels, cassette tapes, CD-Rs, and even a radio broadcast. Newly mixed tracks came from multi-track tapes, while a handful of hi-res digital tracks have been sourced from the Bob Dylan Archives. More information here

This year, Rhino’s will be releasing a special Record Store Day Black Friday LP of Joni's Hejira Demos on 180g Black vinyl. This title will be available on November 29 at participating indie music retailers. These demos are included currently in the Archives 4 boxed CD set. More details to follow.

Throughout the latter half of the seventies, Joni continued to creatively break ground with her fearless and fluid exploration of jazz. Rather than tread the same path, she challenged and reinvented her style with a folk fusion like no other. Ascending to an unrivaled sonic peak, this innovative sound took shape across the gold-certified Hejira [1976], the gold-certified double-LP Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter [1977], her collaboration with Charles Mingus entitled Mingus [1979], and live album Shadows and Light [1980]. Channeling the thrill and excitement of these records, she delves even further into this season on Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), releasing on October 4, 2024 via Rhino Records. More information here

After The Hissing Of Summer Lawns tour, Joni retreated to Neil Young’s beach house to recover. Eager to travel but undecided about a destination, Mitchell was unexpectedly invited on a cross-country road trip with friends. It was one of three road trips she took between 1975 and 1976 and the beginning of a period defined by wanderlust, both in her physical travels and musical exploration. This transformative phase is the focal point of The Asylum Albums (1976-1980), the next release in the Joni Mitchell Archives series.

The new collection showcases Mitchell at her most daring across Hejira (1976), Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), Mingus (1979), and the live album Shadows and Light (1980). Renowned audio engineer Bernie Grundman remastered all four releases included in this boxed set from the original flat analog master tapes.

The Asylum Albums (1976-1980) will be available on June 21 from Rhino as a 5-CD set, a limited edition (5,000 copies) 6-LP version pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and digitally. Pre-order both collections here. The newly remastered version of “Coyote” from Hejira is available today digitally. Listen here.

Rhino’s acclaimed The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) boxed set from 2022 returns as part of the ongoing Quadio series. The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) [Quadio] features remastered Hi-Res Stereo, Dolby Atmos mixes by Grammy® Award Winning producer Ken Caillat and Claus Trelby, and Quad Mixes of For The Roses (1972), Court And Spark (1974), Miles Of Aisles (1974), and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (1975). A brand new 2023 Quad Mix of For The Roses was done by Bruce Botnick. The collection is available today on 4 Blu-ray discs. More information here

Trina Robbins, who as an artist, writer and editor of comics was a pioneering woman in a male-dominated field, and who as a historian specialized in books about female cartoonists, died on Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 85.

In 1970, Ms. Robbins was one of the creators of It Ain’t Me Babe, the first comic book made exclusively by women. In 1985, she was the first woman to draw a full issue of Wonder Woman, and a full run on a Wonder Woman series, after four decades of male hegemony.
[Gavin Edwards, NYT]

The first verse of Joni’s song “Ladies of the Canyon,” is a portrait of Ms. Robbins:

Trina wears her wampum beads
She fills her drawing book with line
Sewing lace on widow’s weeds
And filigree on leaf and vine.

Trina answered a few questions about the song for the website in 2008.

The first Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame induction ceremony for recipients and their families will take place in April 19-20. Living and deceased artists, songwriters, record executives, managers and concert promoters tied to elevating folk, Americana and roots music were all eligible.

Celebrating the lifeblood of America’s musical and cultural heritage, the inaugural class of 29, including Joni, was selected by a designated nomination committee. This committee includes industry experts, whose collective experience reflects an eclectic mix of genres, geography, gender, race, and roles as well as FARHOF’s Board of Directors which consists of artist and industry advisors. More information here

Artists from across the musical spectrum will join the national library and U.S. leaders to honor the great songwriting duo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin in the nation’s capital on Wednesday, March 20, as they are awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an all-star tribute concert.

The lineup will include performances by 2023 Gershwin Prize honoree Joni Mitchell, 2020 Gershwin Prize honoree Garth Brooks, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Metallica, Maren Morris, Billy Porter, Charlie Puth and Jacob Lusk of Gabriels, along with appearances by John and Taupin. Porter will host the television event. The concert is by invitation only. The event takes place in Washington DC on 3/20/24. It will air on PBS on 4/8. More information here

Joni won her 10th Grammy in last night's ceremony in Los Angeles - 11th if you include her Lifetime Achievement Award. She won Best Folk Album for the 2023 release of "At Newport".

Joni won her first Grammy in 1970, but her first actual singing appearance on the awards show didn’t take place until last night, as she sang “Both Sides Now” - done “Joni Jam”-style, with Joni seated on a comfortable-looking throne with her recent trademark cane, surrounded by similarly seated all-star accompanists. (Photo by Emma McIntyre)

Due to overwhelming demand, a second Hollywood Bowl show has been added for October 20th. The only way to get access to the artist pre-sale code is if you sign up for Joni's email list. Tickets go on-sale Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10am PT. Get on the list here.