Customer Reviews

Carry It on (Rpkg)

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Joan Baez must hold the record for the number of live recordings she has made. But since they are all so beautifully made, we can only celebrate her efforts. "Carry It On" is no exception, in fact, the introduction of Jeffrey Shurtleff, who accompanies her on "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", is the icing on the cake.

If not for the commentary by her then husband, David Harris, throughout the recording, one could easily forget this is actually a soundtrack for a documentary being filmed of the events leading up to Harris being locked away in prison for draft resistance.
In spite of their impending separation, the mood of the entire CD is upbeat and encouraging. From the gospel "Oh, Happy Day" to the audience-accompanied "We Shall Overcome", listeners should be impressed by the social conscience typified by Harris's comments and Baez' singing.

"Carry It On" is also a tribute to Joan's eclectic tastes; the selections range from traditional "We Shall Overcome", "Joe Hill" to contemporary composers such as Gram Parsons ("Hickory Wind") and two songs written by Bob Dylan, one of which, "Love is Just a Four Letter Word", Dylan never recorded.

In 1971, when "Carry It On" was released, Joan still had the magnificent five octave range which is vividly clear on each of the 10 songs.

1969 is perhaps a 'hipper' more 'mature' year then '67'. People were 'turning on' in '67, 'tuning in' in '68 and '69. And the war lent a persecuted if not grim air to the party. Carry It On is a live album and has all the political charge of the times, a tangible urgency up against universal truths and love. Interspersed between the songs are interesting voice clips from her husband's draft resistance movement, crucial moments before he's arrested and the whole album just works very well as a cohesive whole. It's dramatic, biographical, and deep. The songs are all just Joan and a guitar (and sometimes the audience). They are excellent.

The Joan Baez Vanguard "Original Master Series" is a nice reissue package. The cd comes in a sturdy dust cover and for each cd in this series there is a little story (background) on the back of the dust cover (actually excerpts from the even more detailed liner notes). This was Joan's 14th album.

They should reissue the movie on DVD.