What does Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years sound like?

A reflective tapestry of early demos and live performances, showcasing the raw evolution of Joni Mitchell's songwriting genius. Rooted in folk rock and jazz. Start with "Midnight Cowboy (version 1) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968)".

Is Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years a good place to start with Joni Mitchell?

Yes, Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years is recommended as a starting point for new Joni Mitchell listeners. A reflective tapestry of early demos and live performances, showcasing the raw evolution of Joni Mitchell's songwriting genius. Released in late 2021, this album is part of Joni Mitchell's comprehensive archival series and follows her acclaimed work during the late 1960s. At that time, she was transitioning from her debut album to becoming a prominent figure in the folk-rock scene, having already released 'Clouds' in 1969. This collection highlights her formative years as a songwriter, capturing the intimate essence of her artistic development.

Who is Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years for?

Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years works well if you're into intimate home recordings exploration, wave-like pacing with emotional depth and raw performances that invite reflection.

How many songs are on Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years?

Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years has 122 tracks, running approximately 374 minutes.

Released 5 years ago this November

Archives – Volume 2: The Reprise Years

Joni Mitchell · 2021

374 min · 122 tracks · folk music

A reflective tapestry of early demos and live performances, showcasing the raw evolution of Joni Mitchell's songwriting genius.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Midnight Cowboy (version 1) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Both Sides Now — This track showcases Mitchell's deft ability to weave complex emotions into simple melodies, and it represents a cornerstone of her lyrical style. The live version captures the rawness and immediacy of her early performances.
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Chelsea Morning — The vibrant imagery and uplifting melody in this song reflect the optimism prevalent in Mitchell's early work, making it an essential highlight of her budding artistry. This live rendition emphasizes her emotive vocal delivery.
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The Fiddle and the Drum — This track stands out for its poignant commentary on societal issues, showcasing Mitchell's early inclination towards blending personal reflection with broader themes. The piano demo highlights her introspective lyricism.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

This collection reveals Joni Mitchell's early creative process but lacks cohesion due to its extensive tracklist of demos and live cuts.

What we noticed

The album features 122 tracks, primarily consisting of home demos and live recordings from the late 1960s.
Live performances include introductions to songs, providing context and a glimpse into her interactions with the audience.
The sequencing alternates between studio demos and live recordings, creating a contrast between polished and spontaneous interpretations.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

intimate home recordings exploration
wave-like pacing with emotional depth
raw performances that invite reflection
nostalgic echoes of artistic evolution

Maybe skip if you

seeking polished studio production
prefer standalone tracks over demos

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Deep Cut — Offers fans a unique look at unreleased material, not primarily for new listeners.
Themes: early songwriting evolution· Chelsea Morning optimism· intimate live performances
Career context: Released in late 2021, this album is part of Joni Mitchell's comprehensive archival series and follows her acclaimed work during the late 1960s. At that time, she was transitioning from her debut album to becoming a prominent figure in the folk-rock scene, having already released 'Clouds' in 1969. This collection highlights her formative years as a songwriter, capturing the intimate essence of her artistic development.
Stylistic neighbors: Laura Nyro· Carole King· Nick Drake

Tracklist

Disc 1

1 Midnight Cowboy (version 1) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) Start here 2:31
2 The Dawntreader (demo with vocal overdub) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 2:01
3 Song to a Seagull (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 3:54
4 Midnight Cowboy (version 2) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 3:55
5 The Way It Is (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, late 1967/early 1968) 3:28
6 Turn Around (incomplete) (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, late 1967/early 1968) 1:22
7 I Had a King (demo with piano overdub) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 3:38
8 The Fiddle and the Drum (piano demo) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 3:25
9 Roses Blue (demo with peacock harp overdub) (Joni’s home demo, late 1967/early 1968) 3:24
10 Jeremy (Song to a Seagull session, January 24, 1968) 3:34
11 Conversation (Song to a Seagull session, January 24, 1968) 5:01
12 Both Sides Now (Song to a Seagull session, January 24, 1968) 4:09
13 The Gift of the Magi (Song to a Seagull session, January 24, 1968) 4:18
14 It’s Easy (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, early 1968) 2:12
15 Another Melody (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, early 1968) 4:56
16 Introduction (live at Canterbury House, March 10, 1968) 1:02
17 Jeremy (live at Canterbury House, March 10, 1968) 3:40
18 Songs to Aging Children Come (live at Canterbury House, March 10, 1968) 3:46

Disc 2

1 Night in the City (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 2:33
2 Come to the Sunshine (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:00
3 Intro to The Pirate of Penance (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:44
4 The Pirate of Penance (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:07
5 Intro to Conversation (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:19
6 Conversation (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 5:22
7 The Way It Is (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:50
8 Intro to The Dawntreader (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:29
9 The Dawntreader (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 4:52
10 Marcie (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 4:39
11 Intro to Nathan La Franeer (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:38
12 Nathan La Franeer (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:14
13 Intro to Dr. Junk (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:33
14 Dr. Junk (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 2:22
15 Intro to Michael From Mountains (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 0:31
16 Michael From Mountains (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 4:06
17 Go Tell the Drummer Man (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:17
18 Intro to I Don’t Know Where I Stand (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 2:55
19 I Don’t Know Where I Stand (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:21
20 Intro to Sisotowbell Lane (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 1:21
21 Sisotowbell Lane (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 4:14
22 Intro to Ladies of the Canyon (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 1:47
23 Ladies of the Canyon (live at Le Hibou Coffee House, March 19, 1968) 3:54
24 Come to the Sunshine (studio session, May 31, 1968) 2:55
25 “My Second Album” (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, summer 1968) 2:28
26 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, summer 1968) 0:34
27 The Pirate of Penance (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, summer 1968) 2:43
28 Intro to Chelsea Morning (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 0:14
29 Chelsea Morning (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 2:23
30 Intro to The Gallery (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 0:25
31 The Gallery (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 3:50
32 Intro to Night in the City (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 0:35
33 Night in the City (Top Gear BBC Radio broadcast, September 23, 1968) 2:21

Disc 3

1 Chelsea Morning (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 2:49
2 A Valentine for Joni (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 1:12
3 Cactus Tree (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:55
4 Night in the City (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 2:40
5 I Had a King (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:11
6 Blue Boy (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 3:06
7 My American Skirt (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 0:59
8 The Fiddle and the Drum (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 2:40
9 Spoony’s Wonderful Adventure (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 1:00
10 That Song About the Midway (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 5:19
11 Both Sides Now (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:35
12 Marcie (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 5:01
13 Nathan La Franeer (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 3:36
14 Intro to The Gallery (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 1:03
15 The Gallery (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:29
16 Hunter (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:24
17 Morning Morgantown (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 3:34
18 Intro to Get Together (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 0:39
19 Get Together (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 5:26
20 Intro to The Circle Game / Little Green (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 1:22
21 The Circle Game / Little Green (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 9:02
22 Michael From Mountains (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 4:48

Disc 4

1 Intro to Urge for Going (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 1:21
2 Urge for Going (live at Carnegie Hall, February 1, 1969) 6:01
3 Conversation (Clouds session, March 20, 1969) 5:14
4 Blue Boy (Clouds session, March 20, 1969) 3:33
5 The Priest (Clouds session, March 20, 1969) 3:58
6 Jesus (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, mid 1969) 2:21
7 Playing Piano and Vocalizing (Jane Lurie’s Apartment, mid 1969) 1:59
8 Chelsea Morning (The Dick Cavett Show ABC‐TV broadcast, August 18, 1969) 3:31
9 Willy (The Dick Cavett Show ABC‐TV broadcast, August 18, 1969) 3:19
10 For Free (The Dick Cavett Show ABC‐TV broadcast, August 18, 1969) 4:15
11 Interview (The Dick Cavett Show ABC‐TV broadcast, August 18, 1969) 2:43
12 The Fiddle and the Drum (The Dick Cavett Show ABC‐TV broadcast, August 18, 1969) 2:46
13 Woodstock (Ladies of the Canyon demo session, Late 1969) 5:03
14 “As I Lie in My Backyard Thinking on August 2nd…” (live at Centennial Auditorium, November 1, 1969) 0:58
15 Roses Blue (live at Centennial Auditorium, November 1, 1969) 3:59
16 Rainy Night House (live at Centennial Auditorium, November 1, 1969) 3:30
17 Ladies of the Canyon (with cellos) (Ladies of the Canyon sessions, January 30, 1970) 3:34
18 Blue Boy (with recorder coda) (Ladies of the Canyon sessions, February 2, 1970) 3:19
19 All I Want (In Concert BBC TV broadcast, September 3, 1970) 4:17
20 A Case of You (Blue demo sessions, September 1970) 4:00
21 California (Blue demo sessions, September 1970) 3:33
22 Introduction (Greenpeace benefit concert for Amchitka, October 16, 1970) 0:16
23 Medley: Big Yellow Taxi / Bony Moronie (Greenpeace benefit concert for Amchitka, October 16, 1970) 4:00

Disc 5

1 Introduction (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:21
2 That Song About the Midway (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 5:23
3 Intro to The Gallery (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:33
4 The Gallery (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 4:27
5 Hunter (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 2:39
6 Intro to River (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:17
7 River (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:39
8 My Old Man (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:55
9 The Priest (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 4:01
10 “This Is a Mountain Dulcimer” (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:43
11 Carey (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:06
12 A Case of You (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 4:38
13 Intro to California (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:14
14 California (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 4:25
15 Intro to For Free (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:51
16 For Free (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 4:37
17 Intro to The Circle Game (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 1:40
18 The Circle Game (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 7:23
19 Intro to You Can Close Your Eyes (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:40
20 You Can Close Your Eyes (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 2:54
21 Both Sides Now (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:47
22 Intro to Big Yellow Taxi (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 0:26
23 Big Yellow Taxi (In Concert BBC Radio broadcast, October 29, 1970) 3:18
24 Hunter (Blue session, late 1970) 2:57
25 River (with french horns) (Blue session, late 1970) 4:05
26 Urge for Going (with strings) (Blue session, late 1970) 5:06