SKU: 23399959722

The Asylum Albums (1976-1980) [5CD]

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The Asylum Albums (1976-1980) [5CD]Its not just the artifact music and lyrics that Joni gives us. Her artistry leaves us, ourselves, changed. She has shifted things around inside us. And thats how artists change the world. Meryl Streep After THE HISSING OF SUMMER Lawns tour, Joni Mitchell retreated to Neil Youngs 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

“It’s not just the artifact – music and lyrics – that Joni gives us. Her artistry leaves us, ourselves, changed. She has shifted things around inside us. And that’s how artists change the world.” - Meryl Streep

After THE HISSING OF SUMMER Lawns tour, Joni Mitchell 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.

During this period, Mitchell boldly declared her move from the “hit department” to the “art department.” Critics were slow to catch up, but her creativity was in overdrive. Instead of session aces, she began recording with jazz virtuosos like Larry Carlton and Pat Metheny (guitar), Michael Brecker (saxophone), Herbie Hancock (keyboard), and Don Alias (percussion), as well as several members of Weather Report, including Jaco Pastorius (bass) and Wayne Shorter (saxophone).

HEJIRA stands out as a testament to Mitchell’s artistic evolution. Its subdued instrumentation, coupled with her introspective lyrics, resulted in timeless tracks like “Coyote” and “Furry Sings The Blues” with Young on harmonica. Mitchell once said: “I suppose a lot of people could have written a lot of my other songs, but I feel the songs on Hejira could only have come from me.”

Her journey continued with DON JUAN’S RECKLESS DAUGHTER, a double album of largely experimental music. It included “Paprika Plains,” a side-long piano piece with orchestral arrangements. It found a receptive audience in musical seekers like Bjork, who said the album’s fearless approach later inspired her music.

Ultimately, Mitchell’s path led to Mingus, her collaboration with jazz titan Charles Mingus, who wrote several songs for the project. Mingus died shortly before the album was complete, and Mitchell dedicated it to him. Four songs by Mingus with lyrics written by Mitchell appeared on the album, including a version of “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” Mingus’ tribute to saxophonist Lester Young, and one of his most famous compositions. In the album’s liner notes, Mitchell said she felt fully immersed in jazz for the first time while making the record. “It was as if I had been standing by a river – one toe in the water – feeling it out – and Charlie came by and pushed me in – ‘sink or swim’…”

The final entry in THE ASYLUM ALBUMS (1976-1980) is the double live album Shadows and Light. It was Mitchell’s second live album and her last release with Asylum Records. She recorded it during the tour for Mingus in September 1979 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Except for the performance of her classic song “Woodstock,” the album focused on songs from her most recent albums, like “Amelia,” “Dreamland,” and “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines.” The Persuasions, a vocal group popular in the 1960s, also appeared on two songs: the title track and a cover of “Why Do Fools Fall In Love.”

The cover art for THE ASYLUM ALBUMS (1976-1980) includes a portion of one of Mitchell’s original paintings. Fans will enjoy a full version of the whimsically abstract landscape as an accompanying insert included in the album packaging for both the CD and LP configurations. Accompanying the set is a heartfelt essay penned by Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, a lifelong fan of Mitchell’s work.

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SKU: 23399959722

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I ordered these black Cole Haan penny loafers for casual wear with jeans, khakies, and even business casual with slacks and a jacket. They've always worked perfectly for these uses. The Cole Haan version is the most versatile and still meets my sophisticated look criteria. I wear a 9 1/2 M with almost all other shoes. I have found Cole Haan to run slightly wider and slightly shorter. This fit will work with thin and no socks and a little loose in width. . I'd likely order a 10 N next time. I tend to forget this but it runs consistent with me for Cole Haan. 5 stars for the shoe and service. My bad on the slightly off fit.
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The two shoes were not the same size. They were both labeled 11 1/2 but one shoe was larger than the other and the fit was poor. I returned the first pair and ordered a replacement. This time the shoes were close to the same size but too loose and the left one has sewing issues. I've bought Johnston & Murphy for years because of the quality. These were to replace an existing pair of burgundy penny loafers that have finally worn out (even after several heal/sole replacements). That is the expected quality. I suspect Nashville Shoe Warehouse may be handling shoes that didn't measure up for the quality; more like an outlet mall than getting the J&M quality I've come to expect. Update: went to Johnston & Murphy site to buy "direct" from the manufacturer. There were several recent reviews where the shoes were long and didn't fit properly. Genesco - please step up the manufacture / crafting of these classic shoes to the level of quality they used to have.
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My husband enjoys wearing these shoes. Very classy looking. They fit well. They arrived quickly. He liked them so much he ordered another pair in a different color which have worked out just as well.
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I ordered a wide in this shoe, but it was still way too narrow. I had to return them. Otherwise, it looked like a nice quality shoe.
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