Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up!

Joni Mitchell, The Asylum Albums (1972-1975) (Elektra/Rhino)

4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Joni Mitchell's Archives campaign rolls on with this new 4-CD or 5-LP box collecting four of the inspirational singer-songwriter's most acclaimed and beloved studio albums, all recorded for David Geffen's then-new Asylum Records label: For the Roses (1972), Court and Spark (1974), and The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975), as well as Joni's first live album, Miles of Aisles (1974).  All four albums have been newly remastered by Bernie Grundman, and Mitchell's friend Neil Young has contributed an essay to the package. Read more here.

Grateful Dead, In and Out of the Garden: Madison Square Garden '81, '82, '83 / MSG: New York, NY 3/9/81 (Grateful Dead/Rhino)

17CD: Dead.net
3CD (3/9/81 Show Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Grateful Dead's 17-CD box set In and Out of the Garden: Madison Square Garden '81, '82, '83 collects six previously unissued concerts recorded during that three-year span.  For those looking to sample the larger box's wares, Rhino/Grateful Dead is offering up this 3-CD release of the March 9, 1981 show. This gig from In and Out of the Garden has been restored and speed-corrected utilizing the Plangent Processes, and was mastered by Jeffrey Norman.  Dead archivist/legacy manager David Lemieux produced the set which is adorned with new artwork by Dave Van Patten.  David Fricke has penned the new liner notes.  Read more here.

Dr. John, Things Happen That Way (Rounder) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Rounder delivers a posthumous set from Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John (1941-2019).  Things Happen That Way adds a country tinge to the New Orleans legend's signature sound, and includes such tracks as "Funny How Time Slips Away," "Ramblin' Man," "Gimme That Old Time Religion" featuring Willie Nelson, "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" with Willie's son Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, and "End of the Line" with Aaron Neville.  A vinyl edition follows on October 14.

The Smithereens, The Lost Album (Sunset Blvd.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Sunset Blvd. unveils a previously unreleased album from the New Jersey pop-rockers (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, Mike Mesaros, and the late, great Pat DiNizio) recorded between major label stints in the fall of 1993.  The Lost Album features twelve rip-roaring tracks in the band's trademark style.  Available on CD and digitally.

Neil Young, Time Fades Away (Reprise) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

After its appearance in a 2017 Official Release Series box set, Neil Young gives a standalone CD release to his once-long-out-of-print album featuring "Journey Through the Past," "Love in Mind," and more.

Ray Charles, Ray Sings, Basie Swings (Tangerine) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The late Ray Charles' Tangerine label brings back into print the 2006 album melding Charles' 1973 vocals with newly-recorded tracks by The Count Basie Orchestra.  Includes "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," "The Long and Winding Road," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Georgia on My Mind," and more.  A CD edition arrives today while a vinyl LP follows on December 2.

Chick Corea, The Montreux Years (BMG) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

The late pianist-composer is celebrated on this latest volume of The Montreux Years, culled from performances from 1998-2010.  Available on CD and 2-LP vinyl.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bond 25 (Decca, 2022)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Bond 25, an orchestral survey of the pop themes that have accompanied every picture based on Ian Fleming's Agent 007, finally hits stores today after a lengthy delay.  (The album was originally announced for 2019!)  Available on CD, LP and digitally.