Diamonds & Rust

Joan Baez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000002GBM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,077 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > Folk > Traditional Folk
  • #41 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Singer-Songwriters
  • #43 in Music > Music Deals > $8.99 and Under

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Perhaps the most outstanding folk album of the 1970s, this collection represents Baez's blossoming from a girlish folk icon into a mature interpreter of folk music. The title track (and, to a much lesser degree, "Dida" and "Children and All That Jazz") showcases her songwriting, but the intimate spin she puts on the music of others is what makes this the remarkable work it is. On Jackson Browne's "Fountain of Sorrow," Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" and John Prine's "Hello in There," the purity of Baez's clear soprano (deeper and mellower than on her early albums) expresses the gentle pains of nostalgia and what-might-have-been. The medley of "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair/Danny Boy" reminds us that no matter what other directions she moves in, Baez will always be a masterful singer of traditional folk music. --Barrie Trinkle --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Ms. Baez's most successful album, artistically and commercially...and she recorded it on her own terms and direction. The material she chose to cover includes songs originally by Jackson Browne, Stevie Wonder, her forever love Bob Dylan and The Allman Brothers. But it was the title track that must have brought her the most satisfaction, as it was self-penned. An ode to her fabled affair with Dylan, it speaks from the heart frankly, affectionately and unapologetically. She was rewarded with it becoming a Top 40 hit (something that had eluded her since the 1960's), one of the biggest in her career. Musicians include Crusaders Wilton Felder and Joe Sample along with Larry Carlton, as well as Joni Mitchell (with Tom Scott & The L.A. Express) who duets on "Di Da". Produced by David Kershenbaum and Baez, it's simply one of her best albums ever. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful & Wide-Ranging Song-Cycle By Joan Baez!, July 9, 2000

By 

Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamonds & Rust (Audio CD)

Listening to this album still gives me goose-bumps! In this tour of the state of her life in a song-cycle she recollects famously about her long-term friendship and love affair with folk legend Bob Dylan, does an incredible cover version of "Fountain of Sorrow" by Jackson Browne, and delviers the only performance of "Jesse" by Janis Ian I can stand to listen to besides Ian's own version. Perhaps it is because by the time this album had appeared in 1975 or so, baez had experienced emnough herartache oin her own life to sing more authoritatively about it than she could have ten years before.

The Joan Baez on this album is, then, most undeniably and characteristically different from the earlier Joan Baez of the early 1960s. here she is more confident, more worldly, and quite noticeably less idealistic and more tolerant of othe people's frailties and vulnerabilities, perhaps even of her own. Speaking of Dylan who is calling her some dark late night, she retorts, " Where are you calling from- some booth in the mid-west" and says volumes between the lines with the qualities in her world-weary voice.

Be forewarned, though, that while this is a superb album and a lasting ttreasure to add to your CD collection that you will have to listen to it for a while to really appreciate it. Her talents here are obvious and appealing, but her versatility and maturity as an artist grows on you as you get more and moe familair with all the nuances of her music. This is a great album, and one you should have and appreicate for years and years to come. Enjoy!

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favourite albums!, April 3, 2000

By 

Sasha "lampic" (at sea...sailing somewhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Diamonds & Rust (Audio CD)

I loved this album even as a child when I didnt understand english (and made up my own words).I wore up my tape and vinyl,replacing them both with a CD.Many years later I went to work overseas and "Diamonds And Rust" was with 10 CD's that I took with me in my suitcase,for comfort.Of course now I understand the lyrics (I learn english by myself,through music) and I still think this is one of the most beautiful albums I ever heard.Baez voice is wonderful (specially on title song and "I Dream Of Jeannie/Danny boy" medley) and Im not surprised this album gave new wings to her career back then - for somebody so political conscious this was actually very much departure from her 60-es protest songs material.Covers are wonderful,her title song stunning and unexpected wonder,her Dylan impersonation in "Simple Twist Of Fate" hilarious and funny,dueth with Joni Mitchell updated version of the same song from amazing spanish album "Gracias A La Vida"... I usualy play this album in the morning for good start of the day and my voice can be heard around the house(houses,wherever I am) my heart responding to this wonderful music.This morning it played from my CD player on work and somebody was so thrilled with music that he went to shop looking for it :)))I am glad that so many reviewers here like this album and I feel sorry for previous listener who cannot open his heart & ears to a beauty.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pinnacle of a Fabulous Career, January 25, 2003

By 

bethtexas (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamonds & Rust (Audio CD)

Joan Baez, one of the most breathtaking folk singers of our age, has always made waves by lending her exquisite vibrato to famous and forgotten folk songs. But with Diamonds and Rust, she does a great deal of her own writing. And boy, that's what fans had been waiting for!

The title track, Diamonds and Rust, is such a stirring reflection of a love that just "didn't quite work" - nobody was evil, nothing horrendous happened - but the love just didn't quite work ... and it hurt. It's hard to find a song that really expresses that phenomenon with the kind of heartfelt pain and wimsy of this one. It makes you wonder - what took her so long to start writing her own songs? She's got talent!

The album also contains some favorites like "Jesse" which provides just the most gorgeous forum for her voice and "I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" which expresses a subtle pain through simple lyrics.

I think most Joan Baez fans agree - Diamonds and Rust is THE Joan baez album, whether you're a long-time fan of her folk albums, or whether you're new to her. There's no excuse for skipping this one!