LOS ANGELES - Elektra/Asylum Records has set "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns," the new Asylum album from Joni Mitchell, for national release this week. Major sales, merchandising, advertising and promotion programs are underway in support of the set, the artist's first studio album in nearly two years.

"The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" is the first collection of new Mitchell songs since "Court And Spark" was released early in 1974; that album reached the number one position on Record World's chart and earned both gold and platinum record awards. Recorded in Los Angeles, the new album features musical support from members of the L.A. Express and the Crusaders, James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash and veteran jazz musicians Bud Shank and Victor Feldman. Mitchell plays guitar, piano and synthesizers, and designed the cover art.