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Joni Mitchell’s landmark Blue turns 55 this year, and Rhino isn’t letting the occasion go unnoticed.  On July 10 – just weeks after the album’s actual anniversary on June 21 – the label will unveil High Fidelity editions on both vinyl and reel-to-reel tape. (For audiophiles who prefer shiny silver discs, Blue was reissued last year on Blu-ray Audio with Atmos, quadraphonic, and high-resolution stereo mixes.)

On Blue, Mitchell turned her artistry fully inward for an act of stunning musical self-reflection.  Upon hearing the original album, Kris Kristofferson famously quipped “Save something for yourself, Joni!”  It’s still possible to hear exactly what Kristofferson was hearing.  Blue laid Mitchell’s soul bare on two sides of vinyl, and listeners were all the richer for it.  “Confessional” is too pat for this justly-acclaimed work that finds the sweet spot between sadness and joy, the tender and the tough, loneliness and love.  By stripping away all pretense and further liberating the language of pop, Mitchell established a new high watermark for the singer-songwriter genre.  She intuited that the secret to universality isn’t writing vaguely or generally; instead, it’s writing with specificity.  On Blue, Joni Mitchell gave eloquent and bracing voice to experiences and emotions shared by countless others.

The reel-to-reel edition of Blue was duplicated in real time from a 1:1 copy of the original flat analog master tape.  Rhino explains in its press release, “The result is a master-quality listening experience that captures the full dynamics of the recording without the surface noise or groove wear of vinyl. The 15 IPS half-track 1/4” tape is produced to the IEC equalization standard on premium RTM LPR90 tape stock and stored on a 10.5” metal reel.” The Rhino High Fidelity Reel-to-Reel edition is limited to just 350 copies worldwide and available exclusively at Rhino.com.

The vinyl edition was cut from the master tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at Optimal.  Following in the lavish footsteps of past releases in the High Fidelity series, it’s housed in a sturdy, glossy gatefold sleeve and includes an insert with new liner notes.  This pressing is limited to 5,500 individually numbered copies and is also available exclusively from Rhino.com and select Warner Music Group international storefronts.

Both High Fidelity editions of Blue arrive from Rhino on July 11.  You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links below. (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Joni Mitchell, Blue (Reprise MS 2038, 1971 – reissued Rhino, 2026) (High Fidelity Vinyl / High Fidelity Reel-to-Reel)

Side One

1. “All I Want”
2. “My Old Man”
3. “Little Green”
4. “Carey”
5. “Blue”

Side Two

1. “California”
2. “This Flight Tonight”
3. “River”
4. “A Case Of You”
5. “The Last Time I Saw Richard”