Reviews (page 2 of 8)
★★½
Old plinky folk. Kind of Joni Mitchell Carole King etc. high pitched and kind of bird-like. Kind of annoying tbh. I have heard of her from that Bob Dylan movie.
The sound of fingernails on a chalkboard causes a physical cringe because its frequencies match the warning screams of primates and trigger an alarm in the brain. This album had exactly the same effect on me!
I loved this - pared back folk, with no sense of ego. Raw, emotional and stripped back - in some places jarring which to me really bought out the storytelling. I really vibe with her voice, it reminds me so much of one of my favourite musicians Jonna Newsom. I enjoyed her take on the traditional songs, and am looking forward to exploring more of her work. Not for everyone for sure, but it was perfect for me today, painting in the sun, thinking about my past, present and future.
Simultaneously one-dimensional and timeless.
A little too tender
I will admit that folk isn't really something that falls on my ears, but I will try to be nice here. Vocally, her singing was okay, but there were times she hit certain notes where I couldn't stand it. Instruments were okay - I found myself wishing that she had more high energy songs throughout. This was alright to have play in the background, but I did find myself counting down how much time was left until the end.
Good poetry, but her voice is not something I want to jam out to. Pretty but intense.
Not sure i will finish this album. She is a good singer but almost too good. Too operatic? Not tasty enough? Too pure? Whatever it is I find it boring. Its the simplest of recordings. Nowt but her finger picking quietly and belting out loud enough to give the mixer the shits in overly dramatic tones. I’ve not listened to a full Joan Baez album before. I think her voice is very good and so pure it would sit better as an instrument among other instruments. After this i will go through some other albums and see if i am right. I finiahed the album before i had to rate so listened to a few other tracks and i find her much more engaging when set in a band. She still tends toward the melancholic, though some of her 70’s stuff ia pretty poppy.
Special, Her perfect voice and traditional folk songs. While there are lots of essential Joan baez albums, this one is right up there. But, while I'm here, this album has gone out over the years under a number of different covers. One Album A Day hasn't chosen on of the better ones here.
Though the album was a good vibe even though there weren't that many standout songs. Preferred the songs where there was a bit more music going on instead of just the singing. Favourite: Wildwood Flower Least favourite: John Riley - though none of them were terrible Per-song ratings (not including the 3 bonus tracks): 3333343344343
Her voice is beautiful. Her version of House of the Rising Sun gave me goosebumps. What a fun album of folk songs. I really like folk music so this was right up my street, I know it isn’t for everyone. I like the contrast between the softer and more powerful singing she does. And I love the acoustic guitar, it’s always intricate enough to be interesting but never so much that it takes away from her singing. Fav song: House Of The Rising Sun Least fav: East Virginia
This has a Joni Mitchell feel to it which I really do not like, somehow the Spanish song completely erased this though and I really enjoyed that. Rest of it not so much. Specific rating - 3.1 Fav song - el preso numero nueve/ girl of constant sorrow Least fav - house of the rising sun
I enjoyed a lot of the songs individually but I found myself getting a little sick of the whole album at points. Her voice is just gorgeous though, so powerful. Amazed that she was just 19 and would go on to do so much- and bring Bob Dylan with her. Fun to have a Glasgow mention! Favourite: House Of The Rising Sun Least: East Virginia
Not for me. 1/5
This one is very mellowed-out, fragile, precious-sounding album. It has Joan (I believe) covering songs for the entire duration, I'm not too familiar with the songs - except for "The House of the Rising Sun" - so I can't really comment specifically on her renditions, but I thought the songs were lovely and all had a lo-fi vibe to it. Even I enjoyed it, I don't think I'd see myself returning to this, I do think this album is must-hear, it really captures the time period well, so there's that. Highlight Song/s: "Silver Dagger" and "Rake and Rambling Boy"
Il faut être zen pour l’entendre
Meh. Not much for troubadours. Feels like I need a lute and a codpiece. Also, her vibrato gets annoying after two or three songs. Here's the weird thing. I somehow have three of her LPs. Go figure.
I found this to be very difficult to listen to simply because it's so boring.
It’s interesting to think that this folk revival stuff was really titillating to people at the time. This one’s early eh. 1960. Pretty cool. My true enjoyment is more like a 3, but I got a kick out of thinking “Wow Joan Baez could really sing” as if I didn’t already sort of know that.
Stark but really excellent.
Anstrengend, langweilig
Rating: 4.5/5 Short Review: Her voice is almost too perfect. Clear, controlled, beautiful, and occasionally a little haunting. And there’s barely anything around it, which makes the whole album feel incredibly intimate. I did start craving a little more variety toward the end. Voice and acoustic guitar can only carry me so far before my attention starts wandering. But the simplicity is also what makes the best songs hit so hard. Nothing to hide behind. Favorite Track: “Silver Dagger.” Beautiful song. There’s this quiet sadness to it that stuck with me immediately. Her voice against that simple guitar is basically all it needs.
Whew! That’s a lot of fairy music. It was about 30 minutes too much. It I listen more, I might start talking like a nobleman.
Schlecht gealtert. Gefällt mir nicht (mehr).
Beautiful. I like Joan Baez. Of all the folk revival stuff, she feels the most trad to me. I guess it might just be the stripped back folk club arrangements. Her voice is beautiful. Like Sandy denny meets a primary school teacher.
Love a singer songwriter
Decent album if vocally shrill at times 3/5
I get Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell confused, and had to look up who sang Yellow Taxi because this wasn't the voice I was expecting. I enjoyed the it though, but after listening to a few songs from later albums, I prefer them but no disputing her influence on 60s folk & social/political causes.
She has a beautiful voice, but this just doesn't really stand the test of time as far as being an enjoyable listen. Influential, absolutely. But this isn't something I'd put on in a group and expect positive reactions.
The warbling voice gets annoying after about the 10th track. The House of the Rising Sun cover was nice though.
I love Joan but this was not her best
Just a striking voice and a hand-plucked guitar. Performed with an earnestness you rarely hear today. But if you can set aside your jaded twenty-first century disaffection, you may find this album is actually quite beautiful. (At first, my only complaint was that it felt too long and drawn out, but I later learned that this was specific to the reissue, which adds three tracks that don’t add to the overall impact to the album, and instead make it feel overwrought. But maybe it’s just testing the stamina of this distraction-prone listener.)
A beautiful collection of songs sung and played wonderfully. My favorite folk song “Wildwood Flower” and the hidden haunting gem “All My Trails” mixed in with great classic folk. Makes me want to listen to some Burl Ives
Fav song: House Of The Rising Sun
What a voice. Incredible
Not normally my thing at all. Loved it. Class.
A fine record of folk tunes, sung well. Influential, obviously, but not quite my cup of tea, personally.
I can’t stand her voice. Sorry, I have really tried to appreciate Joan Baez. I don't get it.
Not bad
It’s fun, 2.5
!!! I suppose nearly all of these are traditional folk songs, and I appreciate the History of Sound (and a little bit, the Bob Dylan movie) for helping me understand the significance of sharing and covering folk songs. Honestly, very Hadestown. Kind of. Anyway, her voice is magic, so peaceful and comforting. Odd sense memory re Joan Baez, is overhearing some badass woman and my sociology professor talking about going to see her in concert my freshman year. I didn’t know who she was at the time but she became associated with “cool” and “old” and “an honor to see live” and it was like a reminder of how fans span across generations.
Good but overstays its welcome
The singing is decent, but the lack of variety really makes the album drag on.
I hate that near traditional folk sound of the 60’s.
Just can’t handle this singing style
I was at 3 stars and then the track came with the grating voice, only this time en Espanol. No bueno.
Not here to argue about the cultural significance of this one, on that front it stands on its own, and probably justifiably so. There's just something to this warbly style of singing that turns me off. No doubting her talent and musical chops on display here, just can't take too much of this
Beautiful folk album Joan Baez has a beautiful voice
Boring shrill and not my thing. It's like what if the most annoying vegan you ever met at a party, also brought a guitar.
15-20 minutes too long
I like my folk music but come on, this is way too airy fairy Donaldson’s dairy
I love this kind of folk music so even if the songs aren't original, her vocals and a guitar are all I need!
Her voice is so beautiful, so I’m slightly surprised I don’t love it more x
I love it when Joan Baez gets dark and spooky, elevating her performance from that of a gentle soul, to someone with a more chilling perspective. I particularly liked Free Thee Well and Donna Donna. The sweeter takes on traditional folk are beautiful and smooth but possibly less memorable in the canon of traditional folk singers.
Some kind of 3 for Joan Baez, a great voice and lovely playing of some folk standards
It’s aight, not my vibe
If she skipped the warbling, her music would be 10x better. As it is, she's a yodeling hippie.
The house of the rising sun was really powerful with her voice. If more songs on this album gave me the feels this song did it would have been a higher rating.
She has a beautiful voice. Not sure I'd seek out folk music but if I did, I would probably listen to more of her.
I have to go high here just because of the quality of her voice. I enjoy the folky storytelling style, but the vocals are just so smooth and clear on a high range. Well produced and easy to consume and hear the stories.
I was not expecting to like this much but am now a convert! Incredible story telling and incredible musicianship clinched it for me.
So pure. Really nice singing. (Copied from my other group.)
Not doing it.
no notes
Malo
I remember reading a book about Bob Dylan’s going electric. In the book, it referred to Baez a lot. It talked about how she help him get his footing in the music world, and things went sour by the mid sixties. Listening to this, I can hear how Baez definitely set the scene for Dylan to arrive a couple years later, same early Dylan sound with a better than Dylan voice. She did these folk tunes a good service.
I do like Joan Baez’s music, but around the 40 minute mark I started checking out and just kind of ignoring the album by going through some YouTube videos for other music. 3.5 / 5
Not a folk fan, it's probably fine
Before Dylan or Simon or Jansch or Mitchell, there was Baez. Listening without context in 2026 this is bog standard trad-folk and wouldn’t get much attention but at the time it was revolutionary and big respect for that.
Не моя музыка, но очень искренняя
Respectfully I did not enjoy this album.
This is fine. For me the vibrato on Joan’s voice is a bit much.
I can appreciate her talent on this album. She was 19 when she recorded this album that is nearly solo work with the exception of an additional guitarist on some songs. Her vocals are so pure with incredible control. Beautiful album.
Joan Baez was 19 years old, lying on a dirty rug in a smelly hotel ballroom on Broadway with two microphones, one for her voice and one for her guitar, recording thirteen traditional folk songs across four nights. They could not record on Wednesdays because the hotel played bingo. This is either a charming origin story or a sign that the universe was trying to tell everyone something. The voice is genuinely extraordinary. A soprano so pure that one critic wrote the mere act of listening, forget what she was singing, was a pleasure. She recorded House of the Rising Sun two years before The Animals made it famous, which is the kind of historical footnote that earns respect without necessarily earning a repeat listen. The album was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. It influenced Bob Dylan, who she later dated, which influenced everything, which influenced the artists I actually listen to now. I imagine someone listening to Florence Welch in the year 2092 might feel the same way as I do now. I'm giving her a 2 star rating delivered with complete respect and zero guilt. One guitar. One voice. No beat. Beautiful and not my thing, which I have established in my reviews so far as a well established star value for such work. 2 out of 5. Both stars awarded to the voice, which deserved a bigger room than a bingo hall.
Beautiful voice but style of singing which i find difficult to listen to
Florence the machine if she were in 1960
Nah bruh
Hmmm. So far, pač vse zveni kinda enako. Njen visok glas s temi trilli al whatever the fuck so (you either like it, or not, in js sm slightly bolj v campu folka, k jim je to annoying/preveč piercing) in akustična kitara. In če prou dojamem, so vsi neki traditional traditional folk komadi, ne prou avtorski. Veselim se dva poznana slišat in to je to. Evo, "House of the Rising Sun". Mja. Eric Burdon mi ma tok dobr glas, da mam raj The Animals verzijo. Tudi glasbeno. O fak ej. Sj na neki točki bo I guess konec tega. "El Preso Número Nueve" mi je bil še najbolj všeč. Ne vem, a je blo sam zarad španščine, a tud končno mal inštrumentalne variacije. In technically bi mogla kle zaključit, ker ostalo so bonus komadi, k so bli dodani na ponovni izdaji albuma (ampak sm še "Girl of Constant Sorrow" poslušala, k me je zanimal zarad filma O Brother, Where Art Thou?.)
What an incredible voice. 4
Not really my style of music, but Joan has a great voice and most songs are clean arrangements with only Joan and acoustic guitar, which has it's charm. For traditional folk it's a step above the rest IMO.
7/21/26. First time diving into Joan Baez, she's got a great voice! Folk isn't my top genre, but always love the minimalist nature and storytelling.
2.5 - too folky
Early 60s folk. Debut. Classic folk songs. Really pretty and gentle.
Oh. Really not feeling the folksy 60’s. Yeah. It’s a beautiful collection. But man this ain’t my scene. 3 Boolean: true
As folky as ot gets. I like it
What a truly beautiful and heartfelt voice, performer and person Joan Baez is. This collection of mostly traditional songs are breathed into life by the way she delivers them, and you're spellbound in the main. Occasionally, the level of folkiness is too much for me, but it's truly a lovely thing to get to hear the birth of the Newport crowd, Dylan, Joni and so many more. She doesn't get anywhere near the love and recognition that she deserves.
Very very good.
Tough one for me. After the first two songs I thought I'd be giving this a 5. Fare Thee Well lost me, House won me back, and All My Trials lost me again. There's a few songs where her voice gets a little grating for me. But then all the other songs are incredible. Pure folk with very simple production that showcases her talent. I guess it's a 4.
neat historical artifact. simple, but there's a lot of heart and soul there. it might be a little too mournful to make for easy listening, but it is lovely. has the sound of essential americana, feels very culturally rooted in a neat way, not just in american folk but in other folks that got caught up in the melting pot. favorite is Silver Dagger or John Riley, but El Preso Numero Nueve deserves an honorable mention for how much it wakes joan up. very strong 3
Rating: 7/10 Beautiful folk from the early days of the scene, like 19 year old folk singer recording an album in 1960 is crazy. I often complain about covers and renditions in old music but for some reason with traditional folk it just feels right. Great guitar work and vocal performance, a while it might start to feel like it drags and get a just a little samey in places, it’s an all around good album. Silver Dagger is beautiful
I like this a lot, it's pretty simple but all of the pieces work really well together. Super strong vocals with some complementary guitar, not much to dislike there. House of the Rising Son cover was cool, Donna Donna and Henry Martin were nice, and the closing song was nice too 7.4/10
Great vocals, weird religious part, very cool when language switched
idk it sounds like she needs to breathe through her nose or something
Great voice but very boring
I loved the voice, but I still didn’t finish the entire album due to not my fave type of music.
Similar to my thoughts on early Dylan, this is so far removed from modern music, I am not comfortable judging it as such.
This is a bit far out from my tastes but I always approach things with an open mind. Joan appears good at what she does - it's just that I’m not really a fan of what she does, personally. This can make it difficult to rate - if we all rated albums simply based on personal tastes rather than looking beyond that and judging based on the overall music then what's the point? With that in mind - I would probably have to go 2.5 (though for the purpose of this site's rating system it's a 2 I guess). The reason being that there weren't any songs that stood out to me and it all sounded too much of the same thing. The pitch of her voice and constant vibrato started to become wearing. However it's not completely terrible where I think it has no musical value otherwise I'd be giving it a 1. About as fair a review as I can give!
JB has a beautiful voice, well suited to folk music. It's very traditional in parts with the obligatory cover of 'House Of The Rising Sun'. The standout track for me is the opener, 'Silver Dagger'. All that being said, this style is small doses only for me but that's personal preference, and this is great.
Some stand outs in here but overall I had a hard time going through the album
Her voice is beautiful and I appreciate her place in the music industry and folk music as a whole. However… an hour of this is a lot
This record is a vibe. Her voice is beautiful, and the songs are super pleasant. When the subject matter gets a bit religious I roll my eyes but thats "old standards" for ya. Joan seems like a national treasure through all of her advocacy and public comments. 4.5/5 -> 5/5
Didn’t like her voice but I bet she would do numbers in a medieval tavern
She’s alright. Very samsey
She’s got a nice voice and I can understand why people might like it. I, however, don’t. Too little variation, songs not engaging me, subpar cover of House of the Rising Sun
First verse of the songs are okay, then singer gets tired or something anw whispers throughout the song. Can’t hear the words.
love joan, but in the long run she lowk too much for me
First time I've listened to Joan Baez. Her soprano voice is clear and beautiful across an album of old folk tunes. I appreciated her take on House of the Rising Sun. East Virginia was also nice.
Joan is imoortsnt. I don’t think this is the album. But she certainly makes a bigger mark than some of the slop we’ve seen lately.
I've always found the soprano voice singing "folk" songs a tad jarring. Mean I know but I've never been a fan. I think Dimery needs a list which is "Artefacts" to give these records a nod of acknowledgement but there's nothing about this that is great. Just on House of the Rising Sun, every time I hear one of the many versions from the time I'm reminded of the Mike Jeffery/Alan Price scam on the arrangement royalties, to think Price is still getting all the money after all this time, what a prick.
Joan Baez has a beautiful and exquisite voice and a preternatural ability to communicate the drama and narrative of folk songs. Personally, I generally prefer a grittier tone (Karen Dalton is possibly an extreme example of a folk singer with a more distinctive voice) than Joan Baez's crystal-clear soprano, but it is really hard to argue with the quality of her singing. I mean, this was recorded very quickly with, like, two microphones in live takes, with just one or two guitars providing subtle accompaniment, and she nails it. She absolutely delivers beautiful, sensitive and compelling performances all the way through, with nothing to hide behind. Hard to believe she was only 19. Would it have been more appropriate to include one of her subsequent albums that showed off her songwriting? Maybe. But this is an exquisite example of her to arrange and perform traditional folk material. I think this is possibly my favourite version of the House of the Rising Sun -- it makes more sense with a female narrator, and Joan Baez's performance just feels devastatingly real. Highlights: Silver Dagger, House of the Rising Sun, El Preso Numero Nueve. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
Holy s***, I feel like I was put under a spell the moment she sang the first note. One of the biggest surprises of this journey for me as I literally never heard of her before. And no, I didn’t know about her and Dylan’s romance or watched the recent movie, so I really went into this blind. Joan is incredible and I swear she is casting spells through her voice. I am in awe and in a trance as I listen to each song.
Moderate
Folky and chill, but I like her later work better
3/5
Unfortunately her voice just makes every song sound the same. It became background music after the second song
I'm sorry Sara. Joan has a lovely voice, but I don't find her music particularly interesting. Favorite Songs: House of the Rising Sun
I am aware of the existence of Joan Baez but not very familiar with her stuff. I currently have only 1 song liked by her on Spotify - "Love is Just a Four-Letter Word" from 1968. I'm sitting here wondering how/where/when I first heard that to caused me to click like on it. I also have the song called "No Kings" by Jesse Wells that she appears on - which is a new song from 2025. So, curious to dive deeper into her catalog. Thoughts after listening 3 times ... First thought - she definitely sounds a bit like Sandy Denny from Fairport Convention - who I like and is the only other person to sing on a Led Zeppelin song. It's interesting to read about the history of some of these songs and how the evolved over long periods of time. I get similar vibes listening to this as I do listening to some of the earliest Carter Family stuff from the late 1920s and early 1930s. She even does a song that was originally recorded by The Carter Family - "Wildwood Flower". It feels like you are transported back to an ancient time - sitting in some medieval pub or around a campfire. I noticed she didn't write any of the songs on this album and reading the Wikipedia article it seems like she mostly does NOT write her songs - only doing so occasionally. This contrasts with someone like Joni Mitchell who I believe, while operating in a somewhat similar style, writes all of her songs. I ended up liking 4 songs on this one. "Silver Dagger", "East Virginia", "Fare Thee Well" and "House of The Rising Sun" - basically the first 4 songs on this one. I think that captures the vibe of this whole thing - and it honestly felt a little repetitive after that. Some of it started feeling too "churchy" for me as well. Liked songs on Spotify: 4/13 Rating: 2/5
bonito
Appalachian folk heaven - Joan’s voice is spooky in a way that I really enjoy.
Undoubtedly divine and beautiful. A debut album so strong and unique for 1960 I think it help cascade the folk and Americana movement. I think this album has a really interesting DNA code. Because its undoubtedly great solo folk album. But Joan's siren wail of a vocal range and the production value of a 4 track, mic, and acoustic guitar takes this back another 35 years and sounds like an early radio recording in low fidelity. It sounds so antique. I love that quality. The songs are great and simple and I sure do appreciate it. But, the mood really needs to hit with this type of antique sounding music. I wasn't prepared for this type of sound on a Monday morning. But, I enjoyed it and think it deserves its place on this list.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Joan Baez’s music. It’s always very comforting, and since this is the only record of hers on the list, I think this is worth hearing. I do think her later works are much stronger. Additionally, her lack of songwriting does push her work down a bit. But a very pleasant listen of classic Americana folk.
Beautiful! What a voice and lyrics, no wonder she’s a household name. Standouts are silver dagger and house of the rising sun.
Ack
Like it 3/5
I’d always meant to get around to listening to Joan Baez, especially when I was listening through the Dylan discography, reading ‘Been Down So Long it Looks Like Up to Me,’ visited Woodstock, and generally had a sixties folk moment. Yet, poor Joan slipped through the cracks as I focused on the men surrounding her in that era. What a misstep on my part. She’s excellent! What a new jewel in my musical jewel box. I immediately had to go off and listen to Joanna Newsom after this.
Nice record, very Greenwich Village in its folkiness.
Classics that are still evocative 60 years later
Nice and relaxing while I'm melting to death in this godforsaken UK heat.
Never heard of her and didn't particularly care for any of these tracks
Not my favourite voice but the songs are lovely.
3.5
you know what hell yeah lady
mmmno
No va
I never listened to folk music much. This album was easy on the ear. Incredible that this was recorded in 1960. I loved House of the Rising Sun. It’s much more convincing in this setting.
18/06/2026 Slow, boring and nothing stands out here. Spotify listeners: 1.7v million
Nice interpretation of traditional songs
I am left in awe with her voice and songs she was just 19
House of the rising Sun sample from this album
I love folk but I find this a bit too sweet for my liking. Baez's voice is very shrill and I really couldn't enjoy it as my eyes kept twitching for some reason. Just not my cup of tea but grateful to give her a shot as I'm aware many view her as legend. Some of the guitar work is nice though.
Lovely voice, not that much variation throughout the album though.
This is a very beautiful folk album esp for being from 1960. Holy sparks tho it’s 55mins did it really need to be that long?
Usually not a fan of this genre, but her voice is so beautiful, and there was enough variety in it that it cuts through very well. Her cover of House of the Rising Sun is quite brilliant, too. Look, it is a bit long, but it's still good.
Lille smule we have Joni Mitchell at home, kunne godt bruge nogle lidt mere interessante arrangementer men hun synger super godt
Meget pænt!
Super light and airy voice. Loads of bangers (because they're folk songs). "If it was never new, and it never gets old, then it's a folk song"
She writes well and there’s some songs on here I enjoy but it’s goes too far into gospel influenced territory for me and her vibrato is far too strong a lot of the time for it to be super enjoyable for me to listen to.
not too familiar and this is clearly excellent folk fayre - but not for me
Not quite my tempo. Joan Baez is cut from a very similar cloth as Joni Mitchell. The folk tendencies are strong here, but it doesn't quite do it for me. Baez' voice is killer, but the lyricism and vocal style leave a bit to be desired. The music makes sense for the genre. It feels criminal to rate this a 2, so we're going 3 even.
Gentle folk, nice voice and cool acoustic guitar parts
Baez's voice is clear and ethereal, and I appreciate her singing and songwriting. She's truly a voice for the 60s and 70s. Also, today I learned she wrote "House of the Rising Sun."
Very early folk record, so can see how this became quite popular. You definitely get a feeling that this influenced and set the standard for so many other folk albums to come during the 60s (CSNY, Joni Mitchell etc.). It sounds good, and Joan's guitar playing and singing is definitely top notch. That being said, I think this genre of 60s rock/folk has become quite oversaturated on this list, so I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I probably should and could have. I also have a hard time with covers being on this list, and this is being an album with only traditional folk songs puts it a bit in the same category. All of that taken into account lands it a 3 for me. Could potentially deserve more, but feels like a correct assessment for now.
I haven’t really listened to much Joan Baez, even though I’m familiar with a lot of early folk music. Her guitar playing is quite good, and she clearly has a strong voice. I was a bit disappointed that all the songs were traditional folk standards rather than her own material. The arrangements are okay, but I grew tired of her vocal style fairly quickly. At times, it felt a bit one-dimensional, with a heavy reliance on those high notes. It works well on a song or two, but across an entire album it became repetitive. Going to settle on a strong 2.
Country. Me aburrió. Por ahí si prestaba más atención estaba mejor pero no
I liked the idea of listening to folk songs, but the voice was not for me: too much vibrato, too shrill
I liked Joan Baez to a pretty surprising degree. It's been two days since i last did a singer-songwriter album and this one blows Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska out of the water and its all due to one thing, vocals. Baez managed to actually have a clear voice and make it an absolutely beautiful one which really helps me appreciate the songwriting here unlike Springsteen's more mumbly voice. Said songwriting is also very good here and its nice that i can appreciate it by actually being able to hear it. The music also fits very well but unfortunately it makes the songs sound quite samey which does take some of my enjoyment away from it. This album is a soft 4 but a 4 nonetheless. Best Song: All My Trials Worst Song: Donna Donna
I don't always like folk music, but wow this was good. Her vocalizations did not feel complex, but they suited the songs so well. El Preso Numero Nueve was really different than the rest of the album, but striking in its variation.
4 - BAD
Great folk
insanely boring despite great vocals. it's not building off anything and its those types of songs which sound empty if not for the singing carrying the majority of it.
Lovely voice and a true folk singer. Singing can get a bit show-y considering the material.
Rv
I can see why people that like this kinda of music would love this album but for me... bleh
Empieza agradable, pero se me ha hecho aburrido
Enjoyable album of traditional songs. East Virginia, John Riley, & Mary Hamilton were standouts to me. Interesting to learn Joan’s father had a significant hand in x-ray technology in the 1940/50’s.
Eh
So pure. Really nice singing.
really not my thing my shortness of patience couldnt make it thru this one i think her voice just isnt my style. someone might like it tho
Starts off with a great folk sound. Love the opening track, and the vibe continues on through the next two tracks. I don't always love the warbling she does, but the overall product of this album overcomes that for me. The three bonus reissue tracks are all great additions. 4/5
Jesus Christ
Given there's not any original writing, there's only so much I can praise in that regard, however beyond the writing she clearly demonstrates her competency in folk performance. Powerful but controlled vocal delivery over complex but beautifully complementary acoustic fingerpicking takes these traditional folk tunes to an elevated level. Reading that many of these were basically a one-take recording removes all doubt about her skill and having earned her fame.
beatufil voice
Thought I was going to enjoy it more than I did
Joan Baez has a beautiful voice and it’s on display here. It’s a bit too much at times though, I’m not really a fan of the high and long notes she’s hittinf, it doesn’t really fit the vibe for me. Other than that a pretty standard folk album, you kind of know what you are getting with these.
Good album. I enjoyed this one more than I expected. It is a solid 3 star album for me. No complaints. Nice acoustic guitars and the songs are obviously good.
it got boring on some songs but it’s so much better the Dylan.
Vocals can get tedious but the guitar parts and general vibe are quite nice
Like 'The Man Who Sold the World' song, I was first introduced to Baez because of MGSV (Here's to You). These album reviews has made me aware of the small, but noticeable, impression MGSV has left on my music tastes. Joan Baez is essential 20th century American folk, and it is a delight to hear her.
can you imagine being 19, doing a debut album of folk covers, and becoming an international folk icon whose work would become immortalized in the library of congress? scoot over bob dylan, the queen is ready to play* *i am sorry everyone but i unironically think she is leagues better than bob dylan, Brandon please forgive me
Very nice.
The favorite artist of the old lady at the outdoor art market peddling bespoke, upcycled trinkets. She has this CD in her 2007 Prius with the fading Coexist bumper sticker. The powerful vibrato and haunting tones didn’t do it for me, but I can’t deny that her voice is really impressive and singular. I’ll need to revisit it on a rainy day.
Silver Dagger - 3/5 East Virginia - 3.5/5 Fare Thee Well - 3/5 House Of The Rising Sun - 4/5 All My Trials - 3/5 Wildwood Flower - 3/5 Donna Donna - 2.5/5 John Riley - 2.5/5 Rake And Rambling Boy - 3.5/5 Little Moses - 3/5 Mary Hamilton - 3/5 Henry Martin - 3/5 El Preso Numero Nueve - 3.5/5 Girl Of Constant Sorrow - 2.5/5 I Know You Rider - 3/5 John Riley - 3/5
This is actually a very chill playlist, for just leaving it in the background while you're doing things.
2/5
smol 3
Not super into all the biblical stuff but an interesting look at musical storytelling
It's a nice listen, and you can definitely hear why Joan Baez eventually ended up as big as she was, but it doesn't feel like there's a lot to this one.
Pretty, but kinda dull.
i think this album just changed my life
The voice of an angel. I thought I might be bias going in because I’ve loved Joan and this album for years, but this listen through exceeded expectations. I know this music is not for everyone, but for me this is what music is about. Beautiful singing and guitar, incredible storytelling, and music that bridges the old world to the new. Incredible album. Top Songs: Silver Dagger, All My Trials, John Riley, El Preso Numero Nueve, I Know You Rider
9/10 Maybe a bit long, BUT it is part of the line between the old world and the new. Her voice is incredible, the guitar perfect. Recorded on a rug in a ballroom. Nowhere to hide. The root of much of the music I love, so gets the bump up into the hallowed 5 stars. I was also blown away that this was 1960 - a sign of a great album
She has a great voice, but that vibrato is too much.
I love love love Silver Dagger and always have. The rest of Joan's work has always been of more historical interest to me than anything else. Her voice is incredible and she clearly has a very thorough understanding of the folk canon, but I'm just not that moved by the more yodel-adjacent strain of folk that was popular at the time. It's not a fair comparison, but Bob's more grounded strain is more more kind of bag.
Not my thing
Great voice
keihard gejankt 10/10
Oh my. I do not have good feelings for the “folk movement.” This is actually a realization that has fully crystallized because of this exercise. I mean I always knew that Bob Dylan annoyed the f* out of me. No matter how much I tried/ try and appreciate his lyrics on paper, I just… hate him. And if I am honest this extends to the weird folksy stuff in Crosby Stills and Nash, to Neil Young generally, to the song Stairway From Heaven- God give me any Zeplin but that! My mom was a big fan of later Joan Baez. I didn’t pay much attention. But this, this, I wanted to destroy this. No doubt she has a voice and can play the guitar, but- man she makes me stabby. I was ready to kill half way through. Ugh. Give me Eienstruzende Neubauten any day over this drivel. 2 Boolean: no. I know it’s representative of the folk movement, but no, I don’t think I actually needed to hear it.
joaannnieeeeeeeee. need to relisten sorry
7 / 10
The Good: We get to do some drinking! The Bad: Wait… that’s another JB… The Ugly: The boring title, terrible cover art, and 2, count em, 1, 2, different fonts used… One should be grateful when it comes to following a list of 1001 albums, forcing you to listen to product you might never have listened to at all… why not. Also, you find out pretty darn fast if a style will be of your liking… Folk, together with rap, is quickly becoming a “thanks for ruining my mood!” kind of music. And what’s with the voices? Why why why do we need vibrato? Joan did good work, and is highly appreciated by many… just don’t count me amongst those. Though I’d feel bad to give her 2*, having to listen to her rendition of House of the Rising Sun was the proverbial nail… Sorry Joan, off to drink away my sorrows now… 2*
an all time country rock classic. I´d liked a lot her version of house of the rising sun, but i hated the last song on the album. 3 stars
I didn't expect this challenge to attract so many people with bad taste. What do you mean an average of 2.96? Get better ears y'all
2.5
Another artist that I’ve wanted to get into but didn’t know where to start. I love how smooth her voice is. I had thought that her music was more up tempo rock. Her later stuff probably was. But this is smooth and pure.. Joni Mitchell/Joanna Newsom. Holy shit she was 19!?
For me, this was like the Joanna Newsom album. I appreciate what is being done, even if I don’t really like her voice. The vibratto was a lot.
It was fine - even with the excessive vibrato on some of the songs. But it's folk and a little goes a long way.
3.5
Her voice reminds me of the succubus from South Park. This really does sound like it was recorded as a live album sans crowd, really beautiful. The song choice also seems to reflect a wide range of folk sub-genres from English to all across the US.
her voice is so high. pearse had bob dylan this same day!
Bastante meh, Joan canta increíble, pero no me generaron nada las canciones, me gustó su versión de House of the Rising Sun y la canción que canta en español, más allá de eso es un álbum olvidable.
Very pleasant
Music has come a long way since the 1960s
You know what hell yeah
3.5
Now on to the act that actually headlined the first night of Woodstock taking the stage at *checks notes* 3am Saturday morning. 😲 I admire/love/indifference with Joan over the years. I've often noted that I think her voice is actually too beautiful for her own good. She's got a lot of vigor but it's always balanced with i kind of classical sounding voice which creates a weird contradiction to my ear. But I don't think it's perfection over emotion as much as that's just the way she sings. Most albums I've hear were later album after the lore of Dylan became intertwined with her career. This is the first time I've heard any of her pre Dylan albums and honestly this might be my favorite of hers that I have heard. I think one thing that helps this is the absolute Simplicity of this album of just guitar and vocals . I think the guitar work between her and Fred Hellerman is absolutely incredible I think that's one of the highlights of this album and I think the simplicity of the production what's the emotionality of her voice actually rank through quite a bit. I actually like this album a lot more than I thought I was going to. (8.8) ★★★★
I really like these Greenwich village folk albums. Her voice is great, but I actually prefer her voice here to her later stuff. Also, I think she is a great interpreter of these folk songs. 3.5 stars
This was fine. I think after a while, I just kind of tuned it out though. Joan's warbly voice combined with the sparse arrangements gets really samey after awhile. My favorite tune was probably the last one, "El Preso Numero Nueve".
3.5
So, Joan Baez. I’ve heard you’re a bit of a ‘warbler’, eh? Know-what-I-mean know-what-I-mean, nudge nudge, say no more. JOAN BAEZ: I beg your pardon. So uh… I also heard you like to blow. Bob Dylan says you’re a bit of a blower, nudge nudge, say no more say no more. JOAN BAEZ: Yes. Well, um… I sometimes like to play Blowin’ In The Wind in my live sets. Ahh! Say no more say no more. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind bat. So you’re interested in photography, ay? “Photography, ay?”, he asked her knowingly. JOAN BAEZ: Photography? Snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more? JOAN BAEZ: I do sometimes have my photo taken for album sleeves or at live gigs. Could they be candid, you know CANDID photography? JOAN BAEZ: Look, what are you trying to insinuate? Well, you’ve been around the block. You know, been a boring folk singer for the past 70 years. JOAN BAEZ: Yes? What’s it like?
This was easy to listen to in the background. The production is great - everything feels really clear and bright. Her vocals are pretty stellar, the songs are nice and simple. I was pleasantly surprised by her Spanish singing skills! I don't think I would revisit this, but it was a decent listen. Favorite tracks: East Virginia Wildwood Flower El Preso Numero Nueve
1001 Albums Generator 289 (5/12/2026) Joan Baez's self-titled is a wonderful collection of gentle folk tunes, but it isn't much more than that. Her voice is beautiful and totally a precursor for much of the contemporary folk that would follow her. Pleasant to listen to, but not something I'd reach for. 3/5. Favs: Silver Dagger Donna Donna Henry Martin Least Fav: Rake and Rambling Boy
Good album maybe a bit to indie foll for me but for the time it was very cool. Great songwriting
Love the folksy stuff, the vibrato, and some great songs.
I am not a fan of the vibrato covers.
Pretty
Ja, prima, af en toe kabbelt het wel echt heel erg voor, maar echt storend is het niet
Wat een stem, damn. Er staan alleen maar covers op deze plaat, waardoor de kwaliteit en stijk van de nummers wat wisselt, maar al met al heerlijk om naar te luisteren.
Nope. 1
Light 3,5
That forced vibrato was not pleasant
4 stars even though it has none of the hits
it was pretty good but not somethign id listen to again
Die paar ‚covers‘ vo alte folk Lieder sind nöd schlecht gsi
Incredibly boring
Fun listening to this
Wonderful.
Enjoyed her guitar work - was hard to listen to a full album, though since it all sounded so similar. 3/5
Cool voice. Music not for me
Solid, though I definitely need to be in a different mind frame to sit down and listen through
Folk songs arent my style
I knew the name but had never listen d to any of Joan Baez’s music until I watched A Complete Unknown. Forget Dylan… I went on a big Baez kick after seeing that movie and vastly prefer her over Bob. So I came into this album already knowing and loving her. Overall I like this album although the Spanish track grates and gives me a headache.
Didn't know anything by her but it's kind of what I imagined it would be. Great voice but it's not something I'm likely to listen to again.
Enjoyed this a lot. She does have a great voice and the simple production means it shines here
I really wanted to like this but I just can't get into it. And I didn't realize this until now but I didn't know she didn't write her own songs, at least early on in her career. So these are her interpretations of other people's songs, some I'm very familiar with and some I didn't know at all. Folk isn't a genre I go too deep with, so she's already playing from behind here. There's some really good stuff on this album...the guitar work is great. But holy shit, when she hits those high soprano notes, the warbling...it just sounds almost off key. I'd really like to like this more than I do...or at least appreciate it more than I do. I gave the whole thing a listen but I was wondering when it'd be over instead of enjoying it. I understand why she's revered and an icon but this isn't what I want to listen to.
A Mighty Wind in real life
Another country album
I really can't stand her voice...and I like Bob Dylan.
I knew of Joan Baez before this but had never really listen to any of her songs. Not really my style of music but I liked it. Reminded me of festival music..
Folk.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but it gets a little tedious to listen to.
Quite enjoyed it. Can't bring myself to rate it more highly as she didn't write any of the tracks, but they're performed beautifully.
Not my music but influence and tge performance good
So far she sung one note change in a particular way that I liked, but the rest just reminded me of why I don't like hippies.
good voice, good singer folk. but nothing remarkable
Love a bit of folk
2.5/5
woman's got pipes. el presso is the best song, lol Would I listen again: maybe worth giving her discography a listen Deserves to be on this list: yeah 3.6
s'alright. not her best work but fine
So incredibly slow and tiring
Too many of these sound like church hymns.
Nice enough but I struggled to find anything that made me want to listen again.
I've read that Psy-Ops groups will use heavy metal or EDM as part of torture programs. I get it; because after 20 minutes of Joan Baez' voice, I'd be tempted to betray my own Mother. I'm genuinely astonished that people choose to listen to her sing. It's the shrill head-voice with the spasticating vibrato set in a Ren-Faire vibe with absolutely no hint of irony, or soul. I’m proud for having suffered all the way into All My Trials (although - full disclosure - I had to hit >> when I realized she was ruining House of the Rising Son). But at that point the discomfort became too much to bear.
Oväntat fint gitarrspel
hi queen
I get how good this is. But there is such a thing as to much vibrato.
Sounded like a medieval bird turned human
Very nice collection of old American folk songs, and Baez had a fantastic voice. Unsurprisingly, I'm used to The Animals' version of House of the Rising Sun, so it was nice to hear a version that's closer to the original folk song.
not my style, but chill
Escuche 3 temas y lo saqué. Me recontra emboló. Ella canta increíble igual. Quizás no es el album que deberia escuchar yo
Beautiful clarity, simple intensity.
This is a delicious album. I've enjoyed a lot listening to it. Baez's voice is very sweet and warm, and it matches perfectly the album's sound. Also, it is a pretty impressive album, a collection of some beautiful traditional folk songs, so well arranged and covered with a lot of taste. It's such a great album, and one with a very particular sound.
I don’t know what to say about this. It’s folk album that sounds like a folk album. Nothing stands out about it. It’s pretty boring but not really offensive.
Totally not my jam
A very simple but enjoyable folk record. Baez's dynamic voice is easily the star of the show here and I thought the stipped back acoustic instrumentals served as a pleasant backdrop for her singing. This does get a little bit samey as it goes on, but I never really got bored of the sound of which is quite impressive considering this is basically just 40 minutes of a woman and her guitar. Fav Songs: Fare Thee Well, House Of The Rising Sun, All My Trials, Silver Dagger Least Fav: Little Moses 8.4/10
Beautiful voice. Don’t love the vibrato/yodeling vocal affectation,
3.5. Better than expected
There's not much to criticize here, Joan Baez has a beautiful voice and all of these renditions of traditional folk songs are well-made, but personally I could never fully connect with her music. I just think there are plenty of more interesting artists in the genre. I wish the list went a little more in-depth with '60s folk, though, having no Townes Van Zandt or Phil Ochs on the list is a strange decision, to say the least. Favourite track: Fare Thee Well
Liked the voice and the songwriting. A quintessential folk album for a reason. 7/10
When my mom was listening to this in the early 60’s my grandfather used to call Joan the screaming bitch. I never actually listened to a Joan Baez album until now. Not my style but she can certainly sing.
Pas écouté en entier parce que pas l'ambiance du moment, potentiel indéniable.
Joan Baez like all the US early 60s folk scene, just seems like a footnote in the mythology of Bob Dylan. Maybe that's an unfair assessment on my part when you look at wiki. Musically it takes a moment to get used to the pacing, it sure is distant from all the derivatives of rnb, but it can be quite pleasant, with a simplicity, it's all on the strength of the song and voice. Sometimes the songs feel a bit samey., and there are definitely highs and lows which makes it a lengthy listen. If I had been around in1960, think I would have been into rnr and not this folk thing, and not likely to return to it any time soon, was a pleasant pallete cleanser today which definitely enjoyed in places and can see the value in, and the influences she had. 3 Stars
Hmmmm
Just beautiful. Surprisingly long, yet brisk. 55 minutes of short folk songs. Simply arranged, simply recorded and these choices allow Joan's voice, playing and arranging (no writing on this one -- all traditional) to shine. I don't have a lot to add, except that is is actually an essential record from the early days of the 60's counterculture (according to my reading). It's always interesting to see traditional songs come back into the zeitgeist, to consider their new interpretations and to ponder what might make them significant again to people of that time. Traditional folk music sounds really stuff but, ultimately, that's what all music is trying to be (or all music that's actually made by folks, rather than the great capital machine, anyway). Jack White might feel funny hearing 'Seven Nation Army' everywhere but it's not his anymore -- it's become a sports anthem and if it persists for another generation or two, it may become a part of 'folk' music; the music that people share spontaneously, with no further assistance from marketers. Give Joan Baez a listen and think a bit on her musical choices and her careful use of dynamics. She's adding or rolling off the loudness of her voice and instrument with nothing more than her breath, her hands and her body position relative to the microphone(s). There's not much but skill involved in 1960. 4/5, a classic which has aged very nicely
Het heeft wel een unieke kalme vibe! Ik denk niet gelijk dat dit een album is waar ik vaak terugkom, maar wel leuk 7.5/10
Enjoyed
I'm not a folk person but some of the traditional ballads are compelling micro stories and my attention certainly perked up.
INSANE!!!! bob dylan was a fool for fumbling her
Appreciate it as very early folk, but found it a bit of a snoozefest
Some beautiful vocals with some incredible story telling. Kind of crazy to think this was recorded and wrote by a 19 year old. Does stay a bit samey however, and the magic wears off a little by the second half Have had DONER DONER DONER stuck in my head all day 3
I do like traditional folk songs - especially old english - I have an Andreas Scholl album that I listen to on heavy repeat (a couple of which are on this album). I do like Joan's voice although not fully a fan of when she goes full vibrettto. Recording quality sounds great given its age and how it was recorded. Today I learnt that the Animals did not write House of Rising Sun...
Joan Baez There is nothing bad about this album at all, it’s very good. I love the tone and timbre of her voice, the playing has a sweet and delicate poise, and the song selection and arrangements are excellent. But I do struggle a little to get past the sedulousness that pervades this. I love the opening three tracks, but there is an earnestness and seriousness in this period of folk music that can at times undercut the quality of the music, and I think that's the case on much of this, particularly over the last half where she dials up the tremulousness. It’s a very pleasant listen, but I wish it was more than that - it is beautifully sung and played but it feels like it’s lacking something to make it truly stand out, so I’ll go for a high 3 😁😁😁 Playlist submission: East Virginia
There is something calming about a good, no-frills traditional folk singer and their guitar. I like this for the reasons I like the Bert Jansch album - an earnest collection of folk numbers, although here no originals but interpreted impressively by an 18 year old and her guitar. Gathering from folk traditions, it could come across as archival - but the decent recording quality and clean vocal and playing, is enough to overturn any suggestion of a stuffy field recording. There's a great intimacy; and I imagine it would have been fantastic to experience live in a smoky Greenwich club (check out 'A Complete Unknown' for such a scene). Murder-ballads, hymnals, English, American, Yiddish, Spanish, Carribbean - it's all excellently rendered and made consistent. In truth it was laying groundwork for much of the 60s revival, but it does stand on its own with ease.
This was a pleasant album to listen to. It calmed me down
I think the songs are good, but it's difficult to say for sure because she's singing over them.
Absolutely gloriously pure voice!
Listened to this a couple of times and found it extremely pleasant. Can totally see why it felt exciting in it's time. It now feels extremely limited in scope, but it's not Joan Baez fault that Bob Dylan exists.
Mid 3 As a folky i wanted to like this more. Ive tried to get into it a few times. Its just a bit boring sorry joany.
Ni en pedo le chupo las medias a la música de protesta/fogón yankee de los 60s. Totalmente embolante. La típica de Lisa en Los Simpsons.
Some early Baez folk that’s from before my music listening time. Although they’re her arrangements of traditional folk songs, I’m not familiar with a single song, (other than Risin’ Sun) but did recognize her voice, which is unique. Not sure why my parents didn’t have any of her albums as they were into folk music. Her debut might have been popular when it came out, but like folk music in general, it pretty much faded as rock and roll took over the next generation and the airwaves. (2.1*s) Was 1960 really that long ago? Yep!