Customer Reviews

Blessed Are

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this album in 1972 and became a Baez fan forever! I was especially touched by Joan's treatment of Beatles' and Stones material.Her interpretations were great! I normally don't like cover versions . . . but Joan changed my mind.Her auto biographical songwriting style provided a "snap shot" of who she was,where she had been and where she was going. I just loved how she used violins in Angeline and Milanese Waltz / Marie Flore. This was a great album in 1972 and still is, it's timeless. I bought the CD so I wouldn't have to keep taping it! I am glad I did and you should too.

When this remastered disk came out, I was excited because "Warm and Tender Love" was on the second disk. Went to Tower and bought the CD; when I got home, the set contained two disks, both DISK #1. So, I took it back to Tower and exchanged it for a new copy. I opened it before I bought it, and the new copy also contained two disks, again both DISK #1. Last week I ordered a copy from Amazon.com and I received it on Friday. The set had two disks alright, but this time they were both DISK #2. After calling Amazon and finding out how to return the disks, I called Vanguard Records and reported the manufacturing defect. Vanguard Records is going to send me the COMPLETE RECORDING. If you have encountered copies of this album with the same problem, contact Vanguard Records in Santa Monica, CA. The album deserves 5 stars for content. The music is beautiful and Joan, as always, is exquisite.

Some of us old foggies couldn't get enough of Joan Baez during her most productive years. Many of us have multiple LPs of Joan's extensive library of folk music. From the guitar chords of the opening of Blessed Are . . . through the final song on the extra CD - Warm and Tender Love - - - this music and performance not only are beautiful, they bring back fond memories of the meaningful 1960s and 1970s - a period of incredible change for our culture. Joan Baez, through her music and persona, was and is a reminder of all that was good about that time.

I first had this on album and then on 8 track. I especially like"Outside the Nashville City Limits", which she wrote about a trip with Kris Kristophersen to visit the writers of "The Long Black Veil". Also the haunting song "Thee Horses". This c.d. proved that she was not only a gifted singer but a prolific songwriter as well.

When this album came out in 33rpm, the extra two songs were on an inserted 45rpm disc ... hence the seperation today I suspect. This too got me started with Joan although it was almost 30 yrs later before I saw her live in concert .. and that is an unforgettable experience that I've enjoyed twice now.

This music stirs the soul. These pieces remind us of our own mortality in "Three Horses", inspire us to common decency in "Blessed Are" and mourns the condition of human-kind in "Heaven Help Us All." This music is melodic and engaging, but carries messages about the very meaning of our lives as well. For all of that, somehow it is "Marie Flore" which has the most impact for me. Superficially a wistful account of a chance meeting in a distant city, it is a metaphor for the brevity of life, the precious gift of every friendship, and the prfound emotional connection we could make with each other if we would choose to do so. 25 years after first hearing this album the music and messages are still haunting.

i seem to have overlooked this item among others for some time. Joan Baez's musical interpretations have always been a favorite of mine -- since the time of my youth -- and she's one of the very few artists who's cover versions i can live with. this is release belongs to a selection of CDs i must have as a complete set. few bonus tracks here though, that weren't released with the previous CD release. :-(

JohPWilbrand

The crisp rendition on this remastered cd does full justice to Joan Baez's heavenly voice. This is one of her best sets as it has several hits and lesser known gems and very few low spots, which mar some of her albums. A must have if you love her voice and her poetry.

THIS ALBUM WAS GIVEN TO BE BY SOME DEAR FRIENDS YEARS AND YEARS AGO. I WAS A STANCH JOAN BAEZ FAN. WHENEVER I HAD A BAD BREAKUP IN HIGH SCHOOL I HAD TO COME HOME AND LISTEN TO JOANS "LONG BLACK VAIL" OVER AND OVER. THIS ALBUM I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. MY VERY VERY FAVORITE IS THREE HORSES. MS BAEZ HAS WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS CALLED A PURE VOICE REACHING THOSE TRUE HIGHS. A GREAT STORY TELLER SHE IS INDEED. THIS IS TRULY A LITTLE KNOWN MASTERPIECE.

Joan Baez / blessed are...
This is a Masterpiece from Joan Baez. Whichever version you buy, you will be receiving a Great one.

The Original release was a double LP which also included a '45 RPM' single that contained the songs "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" and "Maria Dolores".

The 1994 Vanguard 2 CD version has the entire double album on one CD and the `45' on a second CD. The 1994 Vanguard version does NOT have the "Warm and Tender Love" Woodstock performance bonus track.

The 2005 Vanguard 2 CD version has the bonus Woodstock track of "Warm and Tender Love", but there is no information on this Amazon page that indicates if this 2005 version also has the two songs from the original `45 RPM' single.

If anyone with the 2005 Vanguard version can add a note to this review to let us know if the 2005 version has the two songs from the `45' included, it would be a big help to those looking to buy. Thanks