Joan Baez
Joan Baez
1960
Album Summary
Joan Baez is the debut solo album by folk singer Joan Baez. The album was recorded in the summer of 1960 and released the same year. The original release featured 13 traditional folk songs. Later reissues included three additional songs.In 2015, the album was selected for induction into National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for special recognition and preservation as one of the sound recordings in over 130 years of recording history that has "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's audio legacy".
WikipediaUnlistenable. This sounds like Woodstock and the Renaissance Fair had a baby.
Beautiful in its simplicity is something I've said on previous albums but this is another perfect example. Folk that I can get behind. Nothing more beautiful than a person and their guitar. Great cover of House of the Rising Sun.
This was a very nice folk album with such a clear and clean sound. I enjoyed how the guitar feels like it's just there to enhance her voice.
Such a beautiful first album from the goddess of folk. Totally forgot that House Of The Rising Son was on her debut. Hard not to get emotional on All My Trials or Girl Of Constant Sorrow, and have some peyote and run around like a kid in the fields of Walnut Grove as school lets out on Wildwood Flower. I would have loved to be on the hillside listening in at Woodstock when she was 6 months pregnant and missing her husband who was in a Texas prison for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. There is a reason that a passion for folk songwriting is in my soul, and I know that Joan had something to do with it. Tip of the hat to present era folk troubadours like Colin Meloy who continue to water the flowers that Baez planted.
I know what they are trying to do and I think they are doing it well. I just am not a fan.
“Joan Baez” by Joan Baez (1960) I don’t know what you were doing in 1960, but with this album, Joan Baez was launching her career as a folk icon. Actually, she wasn’t. She was simply singing beautiful traditional folk ballads and laments with her inimitable voice and deftly executed acoustic stylings. Her ‘career’ was simply the loving conversation that the world had with her musical magic. This recording is both tasteful and tasty in its simplicity, its resonance, and its depth. Her lyrics, melodies, and chord structures are all, of course, features of well-selected traditional folk songs (Her songwriting would come later). But it’s what she did with these songs that yanked on the heartstrings of millions—and still does. Vocally, her characteristic rapid vibrato over an equally characteristic sonorous timbre wrings every drop of passion out of the poetry. When she attacks the melody in her upper register, she freezes the listener in his tracks, like the ears of a deer caught in the headlights. Her dynamic variation is frightening—going from soft and sweet to a powerful wail in the space of a skipped heartbeat. Accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she chooses and performs fingerings and fills that are perfectly suited to each composition. Beginning guitarists would be well advised to listen to her, learn, practice, and aspire—in that order. This was Joan Baez’ first album. Most tracks were recorded in one take, with voice and guitar together. No dubbing. No effects. No frills. Folks, this is as pure as folk music gets. 5/5
Well, looks like I've fallen in love with a voice again. Joan, you have my heart. Don't tell my wife.
Joan's voice is incredibly clear and bright. The album is mastered so well for something as old as it is. This is gorgeous, very stripped folk music that highlights an incredible voice.
not really my taste in music. the singing was very high pitched and light and airy with a thin backing track. not really what i like
Very calm and relaxing. Every song sounds like it should be in a Disney movie.
this is one of those albums that are too good to rate I can’t tell you how much I love this kind of folksy music the vocals, the guitar, those nice melodies, it all comes together to create a beautiful, warm atmosphere it reminds me a lot of Vashti Bunyan’s album Just Another Diamond Day (one of my favorite albums ever) I would love to find more albums with this kind of sound Cottage Songs by Naomi Lewis is a pretty nice album, but the genre is a little too different, it still sounds incredible and I love that album, but it could use a little more one on one with her voice and some warm guitar anyway, this album is just too special for me to give a simple 10/10 I really need more music like this
Joan does some good stuff with these songs, but I do find 30+ minutes of her warbling away a little testing.
I thought this was going to be perfect listening for a slightly hungover Sunday morning but her voice is far too shrill for my tastes, I only made it halfway through.
tanto su voz, su música como sus letras son increíblemente bellas. este álbum se merece las cinco estrellas completas, y eso sin olvidar que es su álbum DEBUT.
My Mum played a lot of Baez when I was growing up, but, being 10, I never really saw the appeal. This album really clicked for me, though; it's very straightforward, but her pitch-perfect voice and skills as a guitarist elevate it to stratospheric levels. What's more is that it has a level of authenticity and sincerity that's sorely missed in modern music.
Alllllll the scrumptious folky singing, jangly guitar and all executed perfectly by the effortlessly cool Joan Baez. Voice of an angel combined with epic guitar skills. Absolutely beautiful and flawless renditions of some traditional folk songs. Finally, an album to get really excited about again! I love the feeling an album like this gives me, the story telling is done in such a relaxing yet haunting way. I'm so drawn into a different time in history, even if the subject of the story is super mundane. Ugh the Spanish tooooo, incredible. In awe!
Excellent example of why I think Folk Music may be the TRUEST form for music, no matter the origin. It feels Primordial and contemporary all at once.
A true classic. She exemplifies true folk....a masterpiece. Joan, Janis Jopin, Joni Mitchell, Carole King.....the true greats!
Great voice. Had memories of the Carpenters with more a country/folk twist.
Obviously a pinnacle talent in this genre, though I think her style meshes better with some songs (Silver Dagger, John Riley), but can't quite carry others (House of the Rising Sun) where her singing is just too refined and frankly pretty for the content of the lyrics.
Beautiful renditions of some classic songs. Interesting to read about how it was recorded in a hotel with just Joan and an acoustic guitar. Highlights: -East Virginia -House of the Rising Sun -I Know You Rider
I very much enjoyed it. Didn’t know House of the Rising Sun was a Baez jam.
Love her or not, Baez is definitely one of the foundational pillars of modern folk in America.
Love her. Her voice is haunting and so gripping. I've only heard this first album a couple of times, so it's a nice revisit.
Joan Baez has a beautiful voice. this is a great collection of folk covers
Proof that simplicity does not mean something has to be dull or uninspiring.
I was very surprised when I heard woman of constant sorry and house of the rising sun on this album. She has a beautiful voice that fits so well with the genre she was playing
A very soft and intimate album... Like you're sitting in someone's living room or around a fire and listening to them tell you stories. Thoroughly enjoyed. Favorite Tracks(s): "Silver Dagger," "House of the Rising Sun," and "Henry Martin"
I thought I wasn't gonna like this but you know what? First song is really pretty. I like her voice. I feel like Mandy Moore probably loves the hell out of this woman. But seriously I'm surprised I've never really listened to her. This is lovely. Makes me very calm. Sometimes she veers into sea shanty vibes lol. Bitch even sings in Spanish! This is dope. I'm gonna give it a 4/5 not cause it was one of my favorite albums but it's really good for the genre I think.
Sets the tone from the beginning. Wasn’t expecting an album of ballads, and wouldn’t expect to like one, but this is interesting. House of the Rising Sun was great. All in all an enjoyable, relaxing listening experience.
This is the first time I've ever listened to Joan Baez. I surprisingly enjoyed it. She has a very pleasant voice and impressive guitar skills. Some of the songs are depressing but musically engaging. I'll check out some more Joan Baez someday. Wren liked it too.
I wish I could say that this was a revelation for me. Maybe it would have been if I were a teenager when it was released but I have to listen through the spectrum of my already established tastes. 4 🌟 just for her angelic voice and the intimate recording.
A little low keyed for my tastes. But I can see where Joan was impressing folks.
Top Picks: Silver Dagger and House of the Rising Sun. Really liked this one! Obviously very Dylan-esque. Some really nice songs on here and due to the recording techniques used, it managed to capture studio sound with a very live, authentic feel.
Beautiful folk album. Stripped back instrumentation shows the strength in the vocals and the lyricism of the stories.
Even through these are mostly traditional songs, her voice is lovely and I really enjoyed listening to them.
J’aime bien le cote folk rock et la voix. C’est tres bin et ca secoute super bien dans le style. Content d’avoir decouvert cela. 4.75
Easy listen, I'm not usually into the ethereal ladies voices, but somehow this grabbed me. Interesting how these are all traditional songs -- many of unknown origin. Some of them are first take. Amazing. Reading more into this makes me like it more.
What a pleasant surprise! Thoroughly enjoyed this, relaxing backing with a really impressive vocal performance on top. Not a 'get shit done' album but fully here for it as one for an after work wind down
Trouxe uma vibe toda diferente. É uma voz peculiar, mas que cativa. Gostei v
Baez is such a lovely and talented writer and musician her folksy soprano perfect placed within subtle guitar. Lyrically she’s tearing my heart out “All My Trials” is a STANDOUT.
This type of folk music is not my favorite but I appreciate it from a historical perspective.
Such pretty/haunting melodies! I’m so impressed with the multiple languages and styles of songs across the board, and “House of the rising sun” is one of my all-time favorite songs, so this is a winner for me.
Her voice has a kind of hypnotic power. Interesting to listen to this shortly after the Joni Mitchell album - she must count Joan Baez as an influence. Their voices are similar. Recently I’ve enjoyed listening to mellow music on headphones late at night when everything’s quiet and this album fits that mood. I may have to add her to the nighttime rotation. (And she sings in Spanish too? God bless!)
Despite the several songs in which her warbly trilling hits the exact resonant frequency that vibrates the pain receptors behind my eyeballs, I enjoy much of this album. But then, I grew up with folk music. I love finger picking, I love story songs. Hard to believe she was basically a kid when this was recorded.