Joni Mitchell - The Hissing Of Summer Lawns

“Made in U.S.A” version of [r28503499]

Embossed gatefold cover

Inner gatefold has a note that reads (line breaks preserved):

This recordis a total work
conceived graphically, musically, lyrically and accidentally
—as a whole. The performances were guided by the given compositional
strictures and the audibly inspired beauty of every player.
The whole unfolded like a mystery.
It is not my intention to unravel that mystery for anyone
but rather to offer some additional clues:
“Centerpiece” is a Johnny Mandel-Jon Hendricks tune. John Guerin and I
collaborated on “The Hissing Of Summer Lawns.” “The Boho Dance” is a Tom Wolfe-ism
from the book “The Painted Word.” The poem, “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow” was born around
4 a.m. in a New York loft. Larry Poons seeded it and Bobby Neuwirth was midwife here but the
child filtered thru Genesis at Jackfish Lake, Saskatchewan, is rebellious and mystical
and insists that its conception was immaculate.
Henry—more than an engineer—Lewy
and his assistant Ellis Sorkin piloted these tapes to their destination;
Henry and I mixed them; and Bernie Grundman mastered
then at A&M Studios in Hollywood.
I drew the cover and designed the package
with research help and guidance from Glen Christensen,
Elektra / Asylum Art Director. The photo is Norman Seeff’s.
I would especially like
to thank Myrt and Bill Anderson,
North Battleford. New York, Saskatoon,
Bel-Air, Burbank, Burundi, Orange
County, the deep, deep heart of
Dixie. Blue, National Geographic
Magazine, Helpful Henry The
Housewife’s Delight—and John
Guerin for showing me the
root of the chord
and where 1
was.

…She
could
see the
blue pools in the
squiting sun
and hear the
hissing of
summer
lawns…