Blue 50 (Demos & Outtakes) Is Available Today Digitally With Five Unreleased Tracks From The Making Of Blue That Will Also Appear On Next Mitchell Archive Release

Debuting On October 29, The 5-CD And Digital Collection Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 2: The Reprise Years (1968-1971) Will Explore The Period Leading Up To Blue Through Nearly Six Hours Of Unreleased Home, Studio, And Live Recordings

Limited Edition 10-LP Version Of Archives Vol. 2 Available For Pre-Order Now Exclusively At JoniMitchell.com

LOS ANGELES - Tomorrow will be the 50th anniversary of Joni Mitchell's masterpiece, Blue. To celebrate, Rhino is releasing two new collections that offer different perspectives on one of the greatest albums ever made and the inspired period of creativity that made it possible.

Rhino kicks off the celebration today with the release of BLUE 50 (DEMOS & OUTTAKES), a digital EP that debuts five unreleased recordings from the making of Blue that will appear on the upcoming Archives collection. The striking cover of the BLUE 50 EP features the original Blue color treatment with a previously unseen alternate photo of Mitchell by Tim Considine from the same session as the original.

Each track on BLUE 50 (DEMOS & OUTTAKES) is a standout, including the demos for "California" and an early version of "A Case Of You" that features different lyrics from those heard on the final album. There are also two alternate takes on the EP. The first is a version of "River" that adds French horns, unlike the album version, which features Mitchell solo on piano. The other alternate take is for "Urge For Going." Mitchell originally wrote the song in the mid-Sixties and often included in her early live sets. She later revisited the song during the sessions for Blue, recording a version that included strings, that differs from the version that was later released as the b-side to her 1972 hit "You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio." The final unreleased song is the studio recording for "Hunter," another song that was cut from Blue at the last minute that Mitchell later performed live but never officially released on an album.

All five of these tracks will also be included in JONI MITCHELL ARCHIVES VOL. 2: THE REPRISE YEARS (1968-1971), which will be released on October 29 as a 5-CD set ($64.98) as well as digitally. The music will be available the same day exclusively at www.JoniMitchell.com as a 10-LP set ($249.98) on 180-gram vinyl that will be limited to 4,000 copies. Any ARICHIVES VOL.2 music product purchased on the official Joni Mitchell store comes with an exclusive 7"x7" art print featuring a never-before-seen illustration by Mitchell from the era.

The tracks on ARCHIVES VOL. 2 have been sequenced chronologically to follow Mitchell in real time through one of the most creative periods of her career. The collection uncovers several unreleased Mitchell originals, including "Jesus" recorded in 1969 at her friend Jane Lurie's New York apartment in Chelsea, which also served as the setting for the song "Chelsea Morning."

Other highlights include Mitchell's performance at Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa on March 19, 1968 that was recorded by Jimi Hendrix and a concert at the Paris Theatre in London on October 29, 1970 that was broadcast on the BBC. The latter includes several songs destined to appear on Blue the following year: "Carey," "River" and "My Old Man." In addition, singer-songwriter James Taylor joined Mitchell to perform with her during the second half of the show.

Among the other treasures on ARCHIVES VOL. 2 is Mitchell's complete Carnegie Hall debut, recorded on February 1, 1969, a few months before the release of her second album, Clouds, which would win Mitchell her first of nine Grammy Awards. In addition to its inclusion on ARCHIVES VOL. 2, the concert will also be released separately on October 29 as a 3-LP set on 180-gram vinyl for $54.98, with an exclusive 180-gram, white vinyl version, limited to 3,000 copies, available at www.JoniMitchell.com.

Like its predecessor, ARCHIVES VOL. 2 includes a booklet illustrated with many unseen photos from Mitchell's personal collection as well as new liner notes featuring conversations about the time period between writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe and Mitchell.

ARCHIVES VOL. 2 serves a companion to The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) boxed set, which arrives on July 2 in 4-CD, 4-LP, and digital versions. It includes newly remastered versions of Blue (1971) and the three albums that came before it: Song To A Seagull (1968), Clouds (1969), and Ladies Of The Canyon (1970).