Customer Reviews

From Every Stage

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't like most live albums, but this one's dynamite, showcasing a powerful selection of songs from her 1960s and early 1970s heyday. I think it was recorded during the tour for the "Diamonds & Rust" album, and the atmosphere is electric. I love her between-song banter, and the choice of material is superb. The sound is also great throughout, on both the acoustic and electric sides. My favourite is Emmylou Harris' "Boulder To Birmingham" and "Stewball", but I also love her hits The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Forever Young, Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, her version of Amazing Grace, and the political songs Natalia, Ballad Of Sacco & Vanzetti and Joe Hill. But there's no need to single out any tracks, the album as a whole is a wonderful listening experience and shows her at the height of her powers.

First off, I simply love this album. Ms. Baez voice always an instrument of crystaline purity,is simply lovely here. From Leonard Cohen covers{suzanne} to the haunting love song to a stranger part 2, Joan Baez is in top form. The obligatory Dylan covers are here[I shall be released, lilly rosemary and the jack of harts,blowin in the wind} and her classic 's {the night they drove old dixie down, swing low, amazing grace}though the gem for me is Natalia, telling the story of the Russian poet Natalia Gorbenevskya, imprisoned,tortured, still going,still writing luminous poetry. Taken together, Ms. baez has fashioned a sweet, lyrical live recording, that sums up{up until the 1980's] of this great artist and woman.

This was one of my favorite albums when I was a teenager. Several (ahem!) years later I now find that nothing has changed.

Ms. Baez is at her best when she entertains and at her worst when she preaches. Thankfully there is far more of the former than the latter here (though the latter that IS here can be annoying).

What I could not appreciate back "then" was that her touring band was a "who's who" of music industry legends: Jim Gordon, Drums; David Briggs, Keyboards; Dan Ferguson, Guitar; Larry Carlton, Guitar; and last, but certainly NOT least, legendary Motown Bass Player James Jamerson. If you are a musician these names will require no introduction or biography!

In an age of over production and techno-wizardry it may be hard to understand how just one little lady with just a soaring voice and well plucked guitar can hold an entire auditorium in the grip of beauty and charm. Here is proof that it is not only possible but it happened frequently lo those many years ago.

This album is a classic.

Of the more than 20 albums of Joan's which I own, this is far and away my favorite, capturing her at her height of strenght and popularity. The live recording captures Joan performing both accoustic sets and with a full band. The songs are well-chosen and diverse, from classic folk balads, original compositions, and some of her choicest Dylan covers.

FROM EVERY STAGE is a bit too political for my tastes, but when she concentrates on making music instead of a statement, she's in fine form. A great live version of her classic song "Diamonds and Rust", and beautifully sung covers of Dylan's "Forever Young" and Emmylou Harris's "Boulder to Birmingham" are among the highlights. The greatest moment on this double disc, however, is Dylan's "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts", which is alone worth the price of this concert recording.

Got this from the library when I was in high school in the 70s,
got my own vinyl record in the 80s, got the CD in the 90s; I
love this album. A few of the songs are too religious for me,
or polically dated now, but her voice is still amazing and the
words still speak to me.

I grew up listening to this album and it is absolutely amazing. Joan is so talkative and easy with the audience and they obviously love her! Listening to her music is the next bext thing to seeing her in concert. I especially love "Stewball" and "Forever Young."

This album was released in 1976 when I was 5 years old and my mom got it when it came out on record. I still have that old record. I also have it on cassette, cd, and from my cd on my ipod. It's held up well through the years.
Joan's voice is amazing and her interaction with the audience shows how she's developed fans that have been faithful to her for so long.
My favorite song on the album is Diamonds and Rust for sentimental reasons. The whole album is solid though and while she does get political on a few tracks, part of what she's always been known for is strong opinions and a willingness to share them.
Her covers of Bob Dylan's songs are wonderful. Dylan's songs are great lyrically anyway and her voice carries them well. My favorite of those is the story song, Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Her biographical song Love Song to a Stranger Part 2 is a wistful and gorgeous recapping of relationships and how they feel at first.
I think I've listened to this album at least once a month for most of my life and still enjoy it very much. It's not the only Joan Baez in my collection but it is my favorite.

There is nothing I can say that would express the absolute delight I have always had for this album. Although Joan Baez had many wonderful albums (I've owned most of them), if I had to keep only one of her albums, it would be this one.

I originally bought this on LP in the late-1970s. Recently I heard her studio version of several songs and it brought back memories of the live recordings. I usually prefer the studio version of songs, but these recordings are both emotionally better and technically as good as the studio ones, that in this case I prefer these recordings. View this as a "best of" CD.