Customer Reviews

Speaking of Dreams

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Not since her landmark triumph with "Diamonds and Rust" has Joan Baez created such a personal and stellar work as "SPEAKING OF DREAMS." This album starts off in traditonal Baez style, with the political song "CHINA", which chronicles the massacre in Tiananmen Square. The stirring chant "China Shall be Free" leads the listener to the next cut..a joyous "greenpeace" song called "Warriors of the Sun" and its ascerbic lyrics "we're killing everything on dry land, why can't we just let the fishes be..." The political messages ring through loudly, with such works as "El Salvador", where Joan is assisted bt Jackson Browne, and George Michael's winning "Hand To Mouth." However, where this album truly reaches new heights is with the title cut, "Speaking Of Dreams." Against a lush, rich background of strings and acoustic piano, we are treated to one of Ms. Baez's most personal, instrospective love songs, detailing her relationship with a much younger partner. Baez sings "You were not yet born, when my career began in '59, we're a sign of the times, who cares if you are a breath of Spring and I am vintage wine." This album masterpiece concludes with an utterly rousing Spanish rendition of "My Way-A Mi Manera", where Joan melds effortlessly with The Gypsy Kings. "Speaking of Dreams" shall forever stand out as one of Joan Baez' greatest works.

THIS IS A GOOD CD BUT I BOUGHT IT FOR THE LAST BAND " A MI MANERA" THE FLAMENCO
VERSION OF PAUL ANKA'S SONG MY WAY. VERY GOOD RENDERING AND WORHT THE PRICE OF
ADMISSION.
VENDER VERY COMMUNICATIVE, PROMPT, AND PRODUCT AS ADVERTISED. THX R.V.DEVLIN

Paul Simon, Jackson Browne and the Gipsy Kings all contributed to this 30th anniversary album. Speaking Of Dreams kicks off with two of her own compositions, the protest song China which deals with the Tiananmen Square massacre, followed by Warriors of the Sun with its bouncy reggae rhythm.

I did not find Carrickfergus very satisfying although the guitars are lovely, neither do I enjoy Hand To Mouth at all. The graceful title track, another own composition, reminds me of her earlier song Gulf Winds in its confessional nature. Jackson Browne sings along on El Salvador, a typical Baez protest song, but it doesn't sound so convincing here.

The collaboration with Paul Simon - Rambler Gambler, has a happy South African rhythm and is altogether more inspiring. The album concludes with the more traditional folk number Fairfax County. An interesting blend, but not always successful. This is not an altogether bad album, I just don't think that most of the material suits her.

This is an ok CD. I like some of the songs, such as China and El Salvador, but some of the others I don't like so much. I like fast moving songs, so that's why I like El Salvador and China. If you are going to buy a Joan Baez CD, get a different one, such as Classics Volume 8. Also, if you like Joan Baez's faster songs, you might like a Nanci Griffith album, or for other folk type music, try Cheryl Wheeler.