The Asylum Years (1976-1980)  

2024

Asylum Records #6 03497 82702 2, Made in Germany at Optimal Media

6x Vinyl LP, 4 albums Reissued, Remastered, 180 grm, Compilation, Each LP in Gatefold. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Limited Edition 5000. Beautiful slipcase with Joni artwork.

Wonderful to see this next instalment of the boxset from Joni. She finally seems to have gone from the musical wilderness to her rightful position as a true musical star.

Perhaps these albums represent Joni at her most experimental, after the wonderful 'Hissing of Summer Lawns'. These four albums were a stamp of her real creativity and guts in the face of pressure from the record company for hits. It's unlikely a string of albums like this would be made today.

None of these albums could be considered as commercial, although the 'Shadows and Light' was the most accessible. 

Included are 'Hejira'- which represents travelling; be it a journey on roads, chronological time, forgotten memories and the greatest of all, love.

'Don Juans Reckless Daughter'- impossible to categorise. Jazz perhaps, but much more World? Luscious layers of new sounds and melodies drawing in you into her world. 14 minutes of 'Paprika Plains' is a masterpiece. The original sleeve, not-PC today has been substituted. 

'Mingus'- an ever increasing focus on Jazz brought her to Charles Mingus. A fractious collaboration producing a wonderous but challenging work.

'Shadows and Light' is a Live album bringing together songs from the previous four albums. Spectacular playing with some truely amazing backup muscicians. Including Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report), Don Alias (Nina Simone, Miles, etc.), Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny....the amazing list goes on, don't forget Michael Brecker!

Condition

Sealed