Customer Reviews

Joan

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

 

 

This is a magnificent Joan Baez cd and one of her finest efforts. The music is glorious and her voice, well... Joan is Joan. What more need one say?

The orchestration on this recording may need getting used to, particularly if one is used to hearing Ms. Baez accompanied only by a strumming guitar. Once the listener gets used to hearing music other than that of a guitar accompanying Ms. Baez, however, the listener will fully appreciate this glorious recording. It is a rich, full bodied, musical orchestration that, at times, is replete with guitar, piano, organ, vibraphone, bass, drums, percussion, french horns, trumpets, trombones, oboes, bassoons, tambourine, harp and celesta. It is a fitting orchestration for a singer with the voice of an angel.

There is not one bad recording on this fourteen track cd. It is a wonderful blend of the traditional, the contemporary, and the political. Ms. Baez beautifully sings two beloved tunes by the late folk-minstrel Tim Hardin, "If I Were a Carpenter" (re-gendered for the recording as "If You Were a Carpenter) and "Lady Came from Baltimore". She does Tim Hardin proud with her rendition of these two songs, as she does Paul Simon with her superb version of "Dangling Conversation". I even find her rendition preferable to that by Simon and Garfunkel. Fans of The Beatles are also in for a treat with her stylized version of "Eleanor Rigby", a song that Ms. Baez, at the time, had been given to performing in concert.

Edgar Allen Poe's poem "Annabel Lee", a lamentation about the death of a young woman, put to music and sung by Ms. Baez, is absolutely haunting and one of the best tracks on this cd. Her sweet, true soprano makes its poetic beauty soar and come to life. It is an absolutely beautiful track and part of her early concert repertory. "North", a haunting poem about a search for a lost love, put to music and sung by Ms. Baez, is memorable.

In tribute to her folk roots, "The Greenwood Side" should satisfy those more traditional fans of Ms. Baez. She sings this track accompanied by her guitar. It is the Joan Baez with which many of her earliest fans are most familiar. At nearly eight minutes in length it is, by far, the longest track on the cd and simply glorious. The other tracks on this cd range between just over two minutes in length to just under five minutes. "Be Not Too Hard", written by British poet Christopher Logue and put to music by folk-rock singer, Donovan (Leitch), is also another nod to her more traditional folk roots. "Turquoise", with lyrics and music by Donovan (Leitch) is, likewise, a nod to the more traditional. So purists should find something to enjoy in this cd.

Ms. Baez sings "Saigon Bride" on this cd, one of the most moving anti-war songs of its time. This song is sure to tug at the listener's heart strings, as it is lyrically moving and melodically engaging. It is one of my favorite tracks. This cd also includes a moving English translation of "La Colombe-the Dove", a song by renowned Belgian troubadour Jacque Brel, to whom Ms. Baez pays tribute with its inclusion on this cd. As Ms. Baez was an anti-war activist, it is little wonder that this song so resonated with her, as it thematically deals with the act of the young going off to war. This is also the theme of "Child of Darkness", a song written by the late Richard Farina, talented brother-in-law to Ms. Baez, and set to a rousing martial tempo.

Moreover, this cd contains two bonus tracks. One is a folk/gospel version of Peter Seeger's "Oh, Had I a Golden Thread". It also includes the Jacques Prevert's poem, which was originally set to music by Joseph Kosma and later adapted by Johnny Mercer as "Autumn Leaves", which Ms. Baez sings in French. Both of these songs are a welcome addition to this musically rich, diverse recording, which serves to showcase the musical versatility and range of Ms. Baez. Moreover, Ms. Baez also wrote the music for "North" and "Saigon Bride".

This is, as you may have already guessed, my favorite recording by Ms. Baez, which is why, when my son lost my cd, I was heartbroken, thinking that I would be unable to replace it. Well, not only was I able to replace it, I gained two bonus tracks. It appears that this newer, 2003 release of this cd, includes two bonus tracks that were recorded during the original "Joan" recording sessions but were previously not included in its original release. Moreover, this 2003 release also contains a twelve page liner that contains ten pages of informative liner notes by Grammy-nominated music historian Arthur Levy. As the earlier release of this cd is, apparently still available, I recommend that one get the newer release, as it is a better value, despite the nominal difference in price.

This is a cd that all fans of Ms. Baez should have in their personal collection. Bravo!

...though its more orchestration than pop.I adore Eleanor Rigby among the other hidden gems in this oft over looked album. I enjoy it, adore it and recommend it!

I am diehard Joan Baez fan and I find this work to be one of her finest.It contains compositions by her as well as some written by others.Her angelical voice shines throughout but specifically in THe Lady Came From Baltimore and Allan Poe's Annabel Lee.The feelings of longing from a long gone love resonate in the self penned North whereas passion inundates her rendition of Paul Simon's Dangling Conversation.To sum it, a gem.

Baez is one of the greatest folk singers ever to come along. Her performance on this CD is superb. However, the transition from LP to CD is sadly lacking. It is one of those cases when someone is trying to put something into the sound that wasn't there originally. Track 4 (The Dove) is a perfect example. The snare drums come in sounding like raspy tin cans. If you can get your hands on the LP, it is well worth it.

Joan Baez/ Joan: Joan gives her magnificent voice to songs from various writers. This is a very good recording but there is little attempt here to create an "album". It seems more like a selection of her favorite songs by other people to be given in a small concert. I like this selection, but when I think of one of these versions, I can never remember which album they came from.

My review partially relates to the MP3 download as offered through Amazon. Though the sound is clear there are faint, muffled rattlings apparant on the transfer. The overall result is adaquate for casual listening but I'm prejudiced in favor of my LP recording that was purchased 1n the 1960's and still sounds perfect. The selections and arrangements were done with great care. The listener's attention is invited to drink in the sweetness of Joan's clear and unhurried voice. The efforts of the support performers results in a shimmering expression of music. This is my favorite recording by Joan Baez.

I've been familiar with this recording for decades. It was never a favorite of mine until now. In recent months, with some difficult personal experiences, I found myself thinking about this album until I finally purchased it on CD. I was open to its captivating beauty in a way I never was before.

This was, at the time of its original release, a big departure for Joan Baez. She had never recorded an album of contemporary music with orchestral accompaniment. Her collaborations with conductor Peter Schickele produced some of her most enigmatic recordings. As one reviewer here put it, it took some getting used to. Nat Hentoff, in an early review for the album, wrote that the material was perfect for Joan Baez, but not the accompaniment. I agreed with that assessment until now. This is a grand album musically and Joan's vocals are so beautiful. Schickele created some memorable musical arrangements that highlighted and complemented the vocals.

I suppose that I am open to what this album has to offer now because I'm feeling more introspective these days. Joan Baez's vocals run the gamut of emotional experience, and, in the words of Richard Farina, I am reminded: "Now in this age of confusion, I have need for your company."

All of Joan Baez's early recording are gems and I would like to thank Vanguard and company for re-working them.