Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Such a sweet voice
Just beautiful.
Just wonderful
What a hauntingly beautiful voice
How beautiful. Reminds me of the voice of Joni Mitchell, but is a little less over-warbled so doesn't get old at all. I really really enjoyed this. Also, didn't know House of the Rising Sun was a folk song before this, so that's a cool little factoid.
Holy shit. Her voice is so clear, and her folk style I can tell right off the bat is monumental to the genre. (reading her bio, I guessed right!). I can't believe her name didn't ring any bells for me. Excellent album
Completely blows my mind that she was 19 when she recorded this. I love her voice and her guitar playing. It feels simple, and raw. I feel like I could be in the room with her as she plays this. Joan's version of I Know You Rider was so excellent.
This is great. I love this era of American music. When all of Greenwich Village was pumping out roots music and reviving an old tradition. Its fun to hear these traditional songs recorded with decent quality. I really respect Joan standing out as a solo act during this era and especially as an outspoken civil rights activist and feminist. Musically, I like her take on these songs. I love her I Know You Rider cover and Its All Over Now, Baby Blue. Silver Dagger and Wildwood Flower were also songs that stood out to me. More than anything, I like that this is an important link in a long standing American tradition of music. Its beautiful, its messy, its sincere, its genuine. Its one of those things that has shaped who we are as a people and the music that we consume.
Joan deserves better.
Love it, I just love her glorious voice through all these lovely folk songs.
Beautiful vocals with simple acoustic guitar backing. Songs are mostly traditional folk songs arranged by Baez. Very strong songs well executed, all in all a great album
It was nice. I would listen to it again
Really good! Fantastic voice and great songs.
I really enjoyed this album and will definitely check out her other albums. Especially Joan Baez Vol 2. In reading reviews, it seems like people either love her or hate her. I liked it, even with the shrill voice. I found it relaxing to at the end of the day.
This will Fare Thee Well if you give it a chance.
Wow, this is really awesome. Wouldn’t have expected it to be this good. What a voice!
I love Joan Baez a lot as a person and activist but never listened to her music bc folk makes me profoundly sad - I am in a place to listen now, and I LOVED sm, I’ve been listening to this album regularly. Standout tracks: - Silver Dagger - on repeat 10/5 - John Riley 5/5
Bit warbly in places but she is amazing, brilliant musician, and old songs are like source material
Fav: All My Trials Least Fav: Donna Donna Fantastic voice, I think it really elevates a good album into something incredible
If I were around in the 1960s, I would’ve fallen so hard in love with Joan Baez. The arrangements, guitar playing, voice… well I guess it’s not too late to fall in love with her. Just a reminder how big of a fumble Bob Dylan had when he lost her.
Surprisingly good. Amazing renditions of classic songs.
Pure beauty in this voice.
This is fantastic. Haunting and soulful, a voice that I am glad was captured and shared with all.
It is pretty, simple, and deep. Folk in its simplest and purest form is really beautiful. She plays the guitar beautifully and her voice is clear and delivers deep touching lyrics. With so little (voice and guitar) she can deliver such deep, touching songs, speaks to how amazingly talented she is. I know a lot of these are not her original songs (common of folk at this time) but she made them her own. House of the Rising Sun for example is so well known but hearing it from her was a different experience and made see the place differently.
It was interesting. I have more appreciation for Joan Baez's music than before.
My Girl always slays
This is maybe a 4.5 rounded up, but it was an excellent album full of wonderful folk songs front to back. I thoroughly enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell's "Blue" which I gave a 4/5, so here we are.
Very few artists could produce a quality album using only their voice and an acoustic instrument. JB doesn’t just do that, she kills it.
The guitar playing is superb, really inspirational if you’re an acoustic player! However the vocals are an acquired taste and I’d have to be in the mood to listen to her for an extended period of time.
I love her
5/5. A beautiful voice, ethereal even. It's hard to deny why she became so popular so fast. It's almost all traditional songs and considering the release date, it kind of make sense. She could have written her own songs and cover albums are always a little worrisome but her voice is so wonderful to listen to that it honestly doesn't matter what she is singing. Sometimes albums have a good balance of lyrics, vocals, music, etc. Other times if you are just good at one of those things, it's a classic. Bob Dylan got lyrics, Santana got music, Joan Baez can have vocals. It's honestly just too good. Best Song: House of the Rising Sun, Silver Dagger, Mary Hamilton
Ethereal.
Very nice
I’m getting Pink Moon vibes from this. A bit repetitive but it’s cool.
Holy cow. I've certainly heard of Joan Baez, but don't think I've listened to an album before. This is her debut from 1960, quite a while ago, and good lord it's incredible. She's got this ethereal voice that reminds me a bit of Joni Mitchell (no doubt there's some influence on her), but more so of The Wicker Man or something, she sounds timeless in a way that's almost scary. It also reminds me of this song from a Twilight Zone episode, called "Come Wander With Me." She's a perfect fit for the songs, which are mostly traditional songs and folk standards. I know a few here: "House of the Rising Sun," obviously, "Girl of Constant Sorrow" is cool, and what the hell, "East Virginia"??? I didn't realize that was a folk song, I thought it was made by some wacky band in the '60s or '70s. She kills that one, and so many others on here, it's just unbelievable. Wikipedia says she's also a songwriter in her own right but as far as folk/cover albums go, has anyone done better than this? And apparently it was recorded in a few days in a hotel room, with just a couple microphones and guitars. I'm just in awe, incredible album, easy 5 star for me. Amazing what someone can create with an acoustic guitar and a voice, I'm such a sucker for minimalist endeavors like this. Favorite tracks: East Virginia, Donna Donna, John Riley, Silver Dagger, House of the Rising Sun, All My Trials, Mary Hamilton, Henry Martin, El Preso Numero Nueve, I Know You Rider. Album art: Not much to it, frankly. It's a purple-filtered, but otherwise washed out, picture of Joan holding a guitar over her shoulder. Text looks like an anthropology text book inset. There's apparently another, possible original cover, but it's not much better, just a black and white silhouette style concert shot. But hey, who cares, it's 1960, and the album more than makes up for it. 5/5
Just an excellent set of traditional folk songs, recorded before the poor woman was infected by the repulsive affliction of Bob Dylan. Yeah, she's a bit warbly at times, but this kind of music actually calls for it, and at least she doesn't sound like she's singing it with her eyes shut. There's no way I'd want to listen to her every day, or even more than once or twice a year, but if the mood were to strike me, this is a lovely example of what it is.
9/10. Awesome, unique voice. Has her own style too. Holds up for 60+ years!
Soft, careful, beautiful
Great songs and a beautiful voice. Not always into this kind of stuff, but really dug it on this listen.
Wow. Seriously haunting album. This one floored me. Phenomenal.
Pure
Wow. I had forgotten how powerful her voice was. I love these classics. This was part of the soundtrack of my early college days.
Great voice, incredible lyrics, simply a treasure.
A folk legend knocks it out of the park.
I was hoping for more gripping stories, but the timeless, placeless almost medieval melodies did grow on me. The shrillness of her voice makes sense in the last song, underscoring her Mexican heritage. She makes up for it with sensitivity. Her Scottish songs (Henry Martin, Mary Hamilton) really brought this album together for me.
A beautiful voice singing simple, delightful songs.
Great album by Joan
The 1960s represented the apogee of the folk genre in mainstream terms, giving us some of the most prominent and impactful names, songs and albums that still makes its presence felt to this day. Joan Baez, album and person, encompasses this moment. As though she were both a gust of wind and a kick up the ass, Joan solidifies her stature with delicate arrangements of materials well sung and well-traveled yet her approach to them veers them into becoming the definitive versions, most notably on House of the Rising Sun, Silver Dagger and John Riley. Baez also makes poignant use of her Spanish tongue on (what was initially) the final track El Preso Número Nueve, offering representation within folk. Overall, an excellent debut and a sign of things to come.
How have I literally not listened to her much before. I know the name so it’s not lack of awareness. Somehow just haven’t listened. This was great. I love the simple production. Woman and guitar. What more do you need.
Oh wow, I didn't think I would love this as much as I do. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and the simplistic instruments are not only beautiful and atmospheric, but give her voice so much more of a presence. And her storytelling is just amazing, the lyrics are so captivating and really make me want to keep listening.
Ahead of it's time. Chill, yet somehow boppy at the same time.
Beautiful debut album from Joan Baez. Just her acoustic guitar and her angelic voice. So many gems here, but my favorites are House of the Rising Sun, Donna Donna, Mary Hamilton, Henry Martin, and El Preso Numero Nueve.
Casi 4, pero por El Preso Numero Nueve ...¡¡5!!
Casi 4, pero por El Preso Numero Nueve ...¡¡5!!
Enjoyed this!
I absolutely LOVED this album! Her voice is beautiful and impactful. At times it felt like she was singing me folklore stories but I guess some of her songs were based on biblical stories. So, makes sense. She loved talking about “Mary’s and Maidens”. I also liked her version of “House of the Rising Sun”, seemed more genuine coming from her”. Then she sang Spanish to me which solidified my rating! 10/10
Warm, soft, haunting. While listening to this record, I feel like I'm listening to someone telling old ghost stories around a campfire. There’s just a wonderful simplicity to it all. Just a guitar and vocals, and yet Baez and her guitar are able to tell some wonderful stories. This is another one of those folk albums that absolutely would not have interested me a few years ago, and it probably wouldn’t mesh well with me at the height of summer either. But I’m well and truly an adult now, and it’s a cold and unpleasant winter. It’d be a perfect one for exploring the great outdoors, embracing nature and the elements even at this time of year, but it’d also be great for snuggling up under a blanket with a hot chocolate in the warm comforts of home. This self-titled debut is a perfect winter companion, mostly comprising of arrangements of traditional folk songs. I’ve never heard Baez’s performances of these songs, and most of these I don’t think I’ve heard in any form, with the exception of House Of The Rising Sun (Which I forget was originally a traditional folk song) and Henry Martin (My first exposure to it was by self-proclaimed “Pirate Metal” band Alestorm!) This was an excellent record. It’s one of those sorts of albums that makes me want to move far away from society and go and live in the forest. Who needs all these computers and cars and stuff? Just give me a cabin, a campfire, a guitar and some interesting friends who are good at telling stories. I can dream. Favourite: Henry Martin
Was ready to knock a star off regardless of the score knowing that these were all covers of folklore tracks...lesson learned. Joan elevates many of these classics. Beautiful, haunting, and pure. From the first measure, voice and guitar blend incredibly for close to an hour, invoking a wide range of emotions. The sound and mix is incredibly refined for 1960, just a masterpiece from every angle. Favorite track: Mary Hamilton (and it takes a LOT for House of the Rising Sun to not be my fave)
Pekne to je, mozno v jednej pesnicke sa trosku opustila
Voice like an angel. No skips whatsoever.
Flawless folk record. Beautiful voice, great guitar and ambience. A joy to listen and a wonderful piece of history.
Pure, pure folk, of the purest kind. Just Joan on her guitar, and that voice. John Riley is utterly captivating. The guitar on Silver Dagger.
Folksy guitar-and-vocals covers of classic folk songs.
Such an excellent folk album I’m just going to give it a 5. Engaging guitar playing, singing and moments of quietude that keep you focused until the end, after which you’ll want to go back for more
Here's another artist I was hoping to get to know better in this project, and I'm glad it was her debut album for us to start. This was so earnest and sincere that it's sometimes hard not to think about Bluto smashing a folk singer's guitar in Animal House. (Stephen Bishop!) But once I get my mind set to appreciate it, it's quite beautiful and wonderful and I enjoyed Joan Baez's unique voice and her selection of songs very much. As the child of parents who appreciated, played, and sang folk music, this was a nostalgic day.
That was a nice dose of folksy music, not something that I am always into, but Joan’s voice was something special.
Pure, haunting, beautiful.
Nice to hear the first album from such a singer. While I will gravitate to her later more instrumentally complex albums, I very much enjoyed the simplicity of a beautiful voice with a guitar.
Absolutely incredible, transporting album. I adore her voice, and the songs were excellently chosen. The queen of folk to this day. Favs: Silver Dagger, House of the Rising Sun, Henry Martin, El Preso Numero Nueve, Girl of Constant Sorrow
Beautiful.
Such a beautiful voice. A must listen to.
love the whole album
What a voice.
A true classic. She exemplifies true folk....a masterpiece. Joan, Janis Jopin, Joni Mitchell, Carole King.....the true greats!
Sutil. Íntimo.
this was incredible.
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.
meh
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!
Don’t sign love songs You’ll wake my mother
Sterling voice.
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.
solid folk
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.
Casi 4, pero por El Preso Numero Nueve ...¡¡5!!
it's good in a weird way. me likes it.
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’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.
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
Great folk
So pure. Really nice singing.
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
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.
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
Great voice
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
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.
You know what hell yeah
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) ★★★★
Love the folksy stuff, the vibrato, and some great songs.
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.
4 stars even though it has none of the hits
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.
Enjoyed this a lot. She does have a great voice and the simple production means it shines here
Not my music but influence and tge performance good
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
hi queen
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.
Beautiful clarity, simple intensity.
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
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.
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 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...
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.
Album 151. Joan Baez (https://open.spotify.com/album/734AFYo34Q1zRpg9N8E2Ho?si=vAeyR_UIQvayVTOiP4zBMA) — Joan Baez (1960) Very beautiful and the purest folk genre. Reminds me a lot of Joni Mitchell and Carole King, but Joan Baez was way earlier, a whole decade earlier. It's more like a traditionally sounding ballads. She was close to Bob Dylan and was promoting him before he became famous. 4/5 Liked: — Silver Dagger — All My Trials
I am not a folk fan so this was not exactly something that i was looking forward to. This despite my enjoyment of folk songs sung by later successors of Baez, Segar and Dylan. I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Baez's voice grows on you and the guitar playing and arranging are also great.
New album and artist. Loved it. Glasgow.
Simple, pretty and nice. Strange to get that tape/vinyl wow and flutter I would only expect if I was actually listening to the vinyl. Classic folk vibes, if I’m in the mood for a quiet one this was really lovely
4/5
Was a nice listen, I thought it was kinda funny how so many songs were just named after people. Songwriting was great
As you all known I am in my Dolly Parton era so my brain was already primed to love this and it was lovely! None of the songs stick out to me strongly tho so ... only 4 stars
Very very good
amazing but a little drawn out at times. I agree with other ppl I think this can grow to 5 but I will give a 4 for now.
its lovely. sadly a lot of my reviews will be subpar cause of my work trip rn but this is really in that lovely joni mitchell vein…or was joni mitchell in a joan baez vein? i can see myself getting really acquainted with this record and growing to 5 stars but i feel like it maybe couldve been trimmed to 40 minutes? could just be me getting frustrated at how hard it is to listen to a full album while managing a convention lmao
Welcome to Americana Please make your selection Followed by the pound sign now
incredible
I didn't expect to be so into the guitar playing.
Dit album was perfect op de achtergrond bij het lezen van A song of ice and fire. Supermooie stem, hield ook op de achtergrond de aandacht vast, ook met slechts een akoestische gitaar.
She’s got the most beautiful voice. It’s a little one note for a whole album but I enjoyed it
Damn, some people on this site really hate women artists. Joan Baez a legend of folk, and for 1960, this record sounds crystal clear. Her voice is beautiful, her guitar playing is excellent, and her arrangements are top notch. I just don’t get the criticisms that her voice is “shrill.” It just… isn’t. A solid entry, and one I’m sure I’ll listen to again.
Fav- house of the rising sun 4/5
She is the epitome of female folk singer. Wonderful voice, deep, meaningful songs. Nothing objectionable here.
This still sounds pretty great and showcases her incredible voice.
Fave tracks- house of the rising sun, Mary Hamilton
A legendary voice singing traditional songs. Too stark and spare for some I’m sure, but great to me.
A classic album by a classic singer. You really need to be in the right mood to enjoy it, and I’m happy I was.
Fantastic folk album, stunning voice and some excellent guitar plucking. What a haunting track House of the Rising Sun is. At only 19yrs old she did this, spectacular debut. 4 stars
I’m a little hit or miss with Joan Baez, and while I wasn’t feeling this album much at first, I ended up really loving it. “Mary Hamilton” was the standout, but the majority of the 2nd half is really good. Kind of a slow start with this one, but worth it in the end.
I quite liked this
这才是音乐，感觉被净化了
Ah, pure innocent Joanie. Imagine what it would have been like if she never met Dylan and stayed on this ethereal track. Not singing about political issues, but instead these old eternal folk songs of challenge and struggle sung with the voice of an angel.
very calming
Traditionel folk, altså ikke fokus på hvem den egentlige kunstner er men nærmere at videreføre gamle traditioner i form af sange som har eksisteret i mange år. F.eks. House of the rising sun som først er dateret tilbage til 30erne??? eller lignende men måske endnu ældre. Så det meste er fortolkninger af sange og ikke originale. Jeg kan virkelig godt lide traditionelle folk sange, det er meget råt og det føles så tidsløst fordi det nærmest er en person som synger personligt til en. Det lyder det i hvert fald næsten som om i produktionen. Det kunne ligeså godt være mig der blev sendt tilbage til den tid og så lyttede til sangen. Det er en virkelig god stemning som bliver skabt og man bliver virkelig draget ind i det. Det er jo bare hvad det er, smukke skrevet sange. Jeg kunne rigtig godt lide teksten til John Riley, den var virkelig cute.
I enjoyed listening to this. Early days in the 1960s US folk explosion. A lot of it sounded very "country" to my ear, so perhaps it bridges a gap? I also hear this as having been a big influence on Joni Mitchell, with the singer-songwriting and the vocal swoops, so hurrah for that. What an amazing body of work Baez has now produced, and it's cheering to read that she continues to be known as an activist in her 80s. Saying all that, this isn't exactly my thing, but I'm very glad to have listened to it; previously, I'd mainly heard about her in connection with Bob Dylan, so it's great to have had an excuse to read about her life. I'd be interested to seek out the follow-up, which seems to include more of her own original songs. Perhaps it's on the list.
Nice record, good old songs
I love folk music and she has a very good voice for the genre. Pleasant listen.
Her voice is pretty impressive, and I quite liked the calm, simple nature of the album. It felt a little long, however.
Haunting and beautiful
Fine album.
Wo Lisa Simpson ihre Texte her hat? Hier weiß man es. Anfänge Proteste musikalisch zu begleiten. Gutes Album.
What an incredible voice. Loved the simplicity and emotion behind every song. Also can we leave it out there just how kickass Monica Barbaro was? Wow. Definitely have a deeper appreciation after seeing the movie as well. Favorite tracks: Wildwood Flower, Rake and Rambling Boy
Yeah joany Baez damn. I can see why Bob Dylan fell in love with her but why on earth he didn’t commit is beyond me. Especially if she looks like Monica babaro. That being said her voice is absolutely lovely and sings a mix of classic folk standards and her own works. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could
Lekker album vol 60’s vibes hou ervan
Perfectly lovely folk album
Nice folk
I mean, it’s Joan Baez. This is a top twenty album for many people, and her legacy is well established. Maybe there’s a monotony to it, and it doesn’t hit a middle age white man with full impact, but culturally she is a Rushmore female musician. And she’s still around.
I do genuinely enjoy this music, and I appreciate Baez updating it with her own sensibilities, but I've never felt the connection to it that people apparently did in the revival period, and some part of me wishes I did, I guess because it would feel sophisticated in some way?
Great
Never heard of her or this album but wow what a great find! Prime reason to do this challenge right here. Beautiful voice, great lyrics and awesome modal tonalities
Revisit
Ta cabrón, canta muy bien, no sé si lo escucharía diario, pero me gustó
Ooh a real grower 4
Beautiful voice. This will be getting a few more plays when there’s a long drive to be done
Very folks, but felt genuine to the artist
Love her voice, but over the course of whole album I found myself wishing for some different sound
Classic Folk guitar
That was nice. I like this album. Joan Baez is probably a notable enough name to have an album on a list like this, and I'm not just saying that because she dated Bob Dylan. She's widely considered to be a folk icon, and that seems warranted to me. However, this album doesn't actually feature any of her songwriting. Apparently Baez is more well-known for interpreting others songs rather than writing her own. That's fine though. As long as you do something good with it, I can't be upset with covers like this, especially given that this debut album of hers is largely comprised of traditional folk songs. As far as the performances go, they're pretty good! I like Joan's voice. It pleases my ears. Her guitar work is also rather enjoyable to listen to. Songs like the opener "Silver Dagger" balance these two very well to create an engaging listen. It helps that the songs in question were chosen well. While I can't claim some of her versions to be the definitive ones, I do think that every single track on the album is worth its place on the album. I mean, it's kind of hard to beat the Animals in the competition of "who can play 'House of the Rising Sun' better?" isn't it? Still, it's the voice that makes the album work as well as it does. There really isn't anything that this album does poorly. It's a very well-balanced album, and I appreciate that. It's got a pleasant vibe that I'm never not in the mood for. Good stuff. Light 4/5.
Timeless document of the folk-revival in the early 1960s. It is a stark recording, but captures the beginning of an era. The mood has to be right, but overall excellent and essential.
Very unique and ahead of her time in terms of singer songwriter especially so young. I would listen to this if I had to carry the one ring to Mordor
Love her voice
This was very pretty and the loud soft contrast is really impressive for a folk album.
Good
Very clean and beautiful for its time and her voice is unadorned yet sweet And powerful.
Lovely. 4 *
I enjoyed it, don’t know what else to say
I was only introduced to her because of the Bob Dylan album but I love this style.
Folk yeah!
The thing I like about a lot of folk songs is that the songs tell a story and this album is definitely the quintessential folk album. I don't think that Joan Baez had what I call a pretty voice, but it was definitely a voice with character. I can appreciate her singing; however, when she starts that caterwauling I just wish it would end. I know that some people think that adds emotion to the song, but honestly, does it? Worst song for me was "Fare Thee Well" and best was "Donna, Donna".
Un álbum muy melancólico y folk que seguramente tuvo la oportunidad de ser reconocido gracias a la gran ola de música country de los 50s y los 60s en Estados Unidos. Me gustó el hecho de que es una obra muy cruda en términos de arreglo y grabación: una cantante y su guitarra, grabando en una toma. La vida que cobra la música deviene del gran trabajo interpretativo que hace Baez. De hecho por ejemplo, me gusta más esta versión de "The House Of The Rising Sun" en comparación con la más famosa y desarrollada versión de The Animals. Creo que tiene una calidad interpretativa más íntima y sutil. La calidad de sonido de la grabación no es grandiosa, pero aporta a la mística de la sencillez y la crudeza del estilo en ésta época. Gran parte de los temas cuentan historias muy tristes, que por alguna razón suelen ser parte de este tipo de country music tan reconocido. Esto me parece interesante, ya que es una paradigma que se corre de las clásicas temáticas de amor y desamor, que por supuesto también forman parte de estas músicas, pero casi siempre se ven atravesadas por una gran melancolía y nostalgia, que eventualmente se convertirían en clichés temáticos, pero que en su momento deben haber sido un aporte relevante y necesario para la sociedad de la época post segunda guerra mundial.
1960, she was so young. Very cool. I Know You Rider!
Beautiful haunting voice and great interpretations of traditional folk songs. Particularly liked Donna Donna and John Riley.
I remember my mam♡
gosh she has a crazy voice
Folk
Pleasant 3.7/5
A note to all divas: singing scales is good and all, but if you have a beautiful voice, I think it is better utilized singing about interesting things and with feeling. Joan definitely belongs there amongst the best.
An unbelievable talent. This is a solid debut album, but some of her later work is much more polished and mature. It certainly provides a glimpse of what the artist would become!
A good album, I liked Wildwood Flower, Donna Donna and A Girl Of Constant Sorrow the most.
Silver Dagger // All My Trials // 3.5/5
Haunting and beautiful. Lovely folk from an absolute legend.
Such simple folk purity from a 19 year old JB. Astounding stuff.
Good
Wonderful!
Pretty nice, thou I'm expecting even more ahead from her.
Fantastic 60’s folk
Joan Baez – Joan Baez (1960) Ein beeindruckendes Debütalbum, das mit puristischem Charme und emotionaler Tiefe überzeugt. Baez interpretiert traditionelle Folksongs mit klarer Stimme und minimaler Gitarrenbegleitung – aufgenommen in nur vier Tagen, fast wie ein Live-Konzert A. Besonders hervorzuheben sind Stücke wie „Silver Dagger“, „Domma Donna“ und „House of the Rising Sun“, die durch ihre schlichte, aber eindringliche Darbietung glänzen. Ein Meilenstein des amerikanischen Folkrevivals – ein Stern Abzug nur, weil die hohe Stimme nicht in jedem Song gleich gut funktioniert. Trotzdem: ein zeitloser Klassiker.
Fallout: New Vegas vibes (complimentary)
Great vocal and guitar performances. Too much vibrato for me but that's a personal choice. Great songs incredible how well this record holds up
I love Joan so much. Having become a Quaker in recent years, when I found out she’s a Quaker it really moved me deeply and made so much more sense of her story. This is a beautiful collection of mostly covers and folk tales but she really does have one of the most stunning clear pure lovely voices of all time. (4.5 stars)
Good
I'm surprised that I enjoyed it more than I should.
Joan has so many albums She cool
A stunning voice singing beautiful folk music. Good stuff.
one thing will always remain true, joan baez has one of the most beautiful singing voices of all time. god, it is gorgeous. and here, in its most youthful form, it is not different. the one thing i will slightly gripe about here is that it is a folk album from 1960. so it's not really curated beyond "here's a handful of songs i know" and that's fine, but it makes for a bit of a hit or miss experience listening to this album. some cuts, she knocks out of the park, some she strikes out. is what it is. but god, her voice.
Really nice voice, although I probably wouldn’t listen on my own.
It blows my mind that Joan Baez was only 19 when she put this out. Her voice already had this power and maturity that most singers never get to, and she made it sound effortless. Her version of “House of the Rising Sun” is really good. It is stripped down, raw, and you can feel the weight behind it. Then she goes and closes the album by singing completely in Spanish, which was both bold and impressive. That takes guts for a teenager stepping into the folk scene. It is no wonder Bob Dylan was into her. From this debut alone you can tell she had the talent and confidence to stand out, and it set the stage for everything that came after. Simple, strong, and memorable.
scho e uuuhuere schöni stimm. da isch uuuhuere früeh sie isch jo huere vorriterin gsi. east virginia meega schön wie sie geg de schluss eis lisliger wird woow. fare thee well au impressive ihri kopfstimm. house of the rising sun isch halt d animals version die definitiv aber ihri isch suuper schön. super guets vibrato höbla. john riley baut mega uuf woow wie macht sie das. ha richtig spass hey. impressive joan, 19ni. melodie vo henry martin mit de chromatische sache huuere cool.
Cool. Sometimes her vibrato can be a bit much, but here its only grating on the spanish one. Anyway impressive on a lot of counts from a kid.
Hauntingly Beautiful. I feel like a moron sailor and she is a siren and I have definitely forgotten where I am supposed to be going.
Wow what a fascinating listen. I can't believe I haven't listened to Joan Baez before. I could not believe this was recorded in the 50s. Beautiful voice that shines with a single guitar backing the whole album.
4+
An enjoyable listen. Surprised at how much I enjoyed it actually. Lovely vocal tone. Soft singing, you can really hear the annunciation due to the clearness of the recording. Then we are building building, all the while just acoustic guitar to accompany. The volume picks up. Then softly softly again. Very dynamic. Beautiful. The voice is gorgeous really. I thought some of the vocal melodies were really interesting and they didn't always do what I expected which isn't always the case with what can be quite a predictable genre. Perfect example first track, Silver Dagger. Could be boring but there's something about it. The last two sentences of each stanza give me some sort of chills. That's my favourite track. As a Scotsman I also enjoyed Mary Hamilton. 8.5/10
Beautiful voice. Some songs are a hit or miss. But would listen again to chill out.
This album is lovely. It’s a great selection of songs that range from haunting and melancholy to warm and hopeful. Joan Baez’s voice and guitar work is are wonderful and her arrangements all work very well. The album never feels boring because Baez’s voice tells the stories in very compelling ways. 4/5
Props for House of the Rising Sun
never heard this before. rating is based on the original tracklist Silver Dagger - 5/5 East Virginia - 3/5 Fare Thee Well - 4/5 House of the Rising Sun - 5/5 All My Trials - 3/5 Wildwood Flower - 5/5 Donna Donna - 5/5 John Riley - 4/5 Rake and Rambling Boy - 3/5 Little Moses - 4/5 Mary Hamilton - 3/5 Henry Martin - 5/5 El preso numero nueve - 4/5 Average score: 4.1/5 it was a nice album overall, but i was surprised to have not found as much enjoyment listening to this as i thought i would. i was so certain i would give this a 5 too i think what made the album a little difficult to listen to was the vocals. she has a beautiful voice, don't get me wrong. but the loud, warbling soprano was just... a bit much on some tracks (especially ones that are 5+ minutes long) regardless, it's still pretty solid folk music, and worth hearing at least once. i'll likely keep listening to the handful of songs i liked
Listens: 4 Standout tracks: Silver Daggers, House of the Rising Sun Was a bit tough to find this on YouTube Music. The link on this site goes to a version of the album that is not available for listening. The album does exist though, under her list of albums; came out in 2021, and just titled Joan Baez (the implicit and sometimes explicit Vol 1 has been dropped). Hope this helps someone find it. --- Enjoyed the cover of House of the Rising Sun a lot. Would have been even better if she really got into it, even if it's an acoustic version. She has a lovely voice. That being said, it seems like most if not all of these songs are covers of "traditional folk music". Okay. Something about this album reminds me of the Coen Brothers movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, specifically some of the songs on the movie the soundtrack. That soundtrack does have a very folksy feel to it so tracks with what the album is putting out. I love that movie and I think this album is pretty good.
I was fearing the worst but this album made for an enjoyable late night listen. 1960 seems ancient but it wasn't anything difficult or boring listen in my opinion.
Doesn't really work as an album, it all becomes too repetitive. Individual tracks do work well as random parts of a much longer playlist.
Proper folk music, great voice (Very Joni Mitchel)
John Baez does some cool stuff and it seems so does Joan Baez.
I thought this was really beautiful and will listen to Joan Baez again. It was cool to hear such a different version of House Of The Rising Sun
I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.
https://1001albumsgenerator.com/constanzamobtano15
Love this so much. Highlights: East Virginia, House of the Rising Sun, John Riley
Joan’s voice is so beautiful Fav songs: House of the Rising Sun
I really liked this one. Something about the kind of folk thats actually folk.
Great blessings, beautiful accompaniment, but her voice is just a little too pure for these rough old lyrics.
Último miércoles de junio de la mano de Joan Baez, artista que estuve escuchando a fondo en estos últimos meses. Dueña de una voz dulcísima pero no por eso empalagosa. ¿Pasional, cautivante? Por supuesto. Si le agregamos su música, todo se vuelve hechizo y un augurio de lo que iba a ser su carrera. Hasta mañana.
It’s always nice stumbling across albums like this from the late 50s and early 60s. Nothing too extremely special here, but it’s a really chill folk album with strong traditional English and Scottish folk influences. Simple, stripped-down, and easy to vibe with.
Classic folk that also paved the way for female singer/songwriters. The songs are good and her voice is great. This is an important album.
Interesting mix of sounds here but not really sure why it is on the list.
Need to listen to this by a river stat, pt. 2
I love her
i love Joan... i love Greenwich Village... i love folk music so much
Lukewarm take - I think Joan sounds better when she sings in Spanish
My mom loves this shit. Voice is definitely strong. I prefer her in the lower register though. The hyper-celtic falsetto gets a bit tiresome after awhile.
Great voice
A beautiful voice singing timeless songs.
It’s amazing she did this when she was 19 and she’s got my respect for sure. This album is like a good bottle of scotch though - definitely worth a few sips, but your head will hurt if you drink the whole thing at once.
Has a lot of old tunes and Joan's unique voice
This works so well because it sounds as if Joan is set up in the corner of your living room singing directly to you. This album is so chill, I had absolutely no desire to be distracted by life. Joan’s character shows up quite a bit in the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, as they were lovers and both played and largely shaped what the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island is. Bob can be a huge dick, so the story plays out accordingly.
Good stuff. Lovely voice, interesting songs
Very nice
Na Bert Jansch nog iemand met enkel een gitaar, een bandrecorder en een stelletje folksongs. Zij het dat het nu allemaal traditionals zijn, de gitaar gestemd is, en dat je Joans engelachtige stem een beetje moet waarderen om het album te waarderen. Eric luisterde mee en die vond het he-le-maal niks. Bij mij heeft Joan de gunfactor, het is bovendien iemand die veel voor het genre heeft betekend, al schreef ze weinig zelf.
A nice easy listen
The voice of a generation.
I never was a fan of folk, but this album touched some strings in me
Gorgeous. A revelation for sure, I admittedly hadn't heard of Joan Baez before. Really really cool. Great voice and great guitar, though by the end of the album the vibrato was starting to get to me haha.
Nothing too interesting, but +1 for female artists.
Good voice. Clear and strong. I enjoy listening to Joan more than Joni Mitchell, although she's not as good as Karen Carpenter.
Such a good voice. Haunting. I could listen to her sing anything. 4.5 stars
i think a few more listens and it will click for me but i love her voice
Love her voice
I like folk
I liked it a lot. A good vibe.
Beautiful voice and guitar playing.
ASÍ SE INTERPRETA UN DISCO CARAJO
4- Stars (10/15)
Ethereal voice + soft instrumentals = instant love.
Wow her voice is great! I liked this better the second time through on my headphones as opposed to the car with windows down. This is a fine folk album.
Joan Baez has a high soaring voice that suits the material she chooses beautifully. The arrangements are simple and sparse, often just her voice and an acoustic guitar, allowing the melodies to carry the day. The standout songs for me are Silver Dagger, House of the rising son which she sings with drama and power, making it her own, Henry Martin and the beautiful Spanish closer, El Press Numero Nuevo.
Favorite Track: Silver Dagger
A great debut album from a legendary folk artist. All Traditional songs arranged brilliantly. Great record.
Iconic folk album
gorgeous so pretty and devastating but a little bit samesy
Joan Baez is good. I'm not super into Folk, but I like this.
unambiguous, uncomplicated, and undiluted in its pleasures....just a spread of traditional songs being sung by one of the v best folkies to ever do it. theres some good tonal breadth in the selections, and joan is both earthy and angelic esp in her immaculately clear vibrato, but for the most part trying to explain it feels stupid lol...just a v generous piece of wax, for its simplicity
A really, really nice folk album. Her voice is interesting - pure and sweet, plenty of trilling, but powerful. I liked Donna Donna quite a lot. And John Riley, Henry Martin, and Mary Hamilton. All the songs named after people. Anywho, really traditional and folksy, with simple accompaniment.
Unapologetic folk album with the power and vibrato of Joan Baez's voice to carry it through
Pleasant listen, though not overall compelling. Good instrumentals and vocal work. 'Donna Donna' was my fave.
Haunting and ethereal, very beautiful and amazing guitar.
downloaded 1,,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12 and 13. beautiful voice of course. rating it a 4 only because a lot of the songs don’t have an instrumental variation which would’ve been nice
What a voice! Not generally my thing to just throw on, but this debut record has something special to it.
warbly
The interpretation of other people's songs is a fine skill to have.
good sound, good folk album, would listen again.
The voice of an angel
Joan Baez has the voice of an angel and the plucking ability of the devil. Dang, she is impressive. It's a shame the recording quality of this record is garbage, which is what you get when you record a solo artist singing into one mic while playing their guitar into another. Still, I appreciate getting the original sound. It is not lost on me that this album is all rearranged covers and I dinged the Stones for covers. Still, she brings her own flavor to them and I think it's quite beautiful. Classic folk right here from the Queen of Folk.
Absolute tranquility, Joan has that sweet sweet voice that just carries you away. And like most late 50s/early 60s debut albums, its all covers of traditional songs, but she makes each one her own with just her voice and her guitar, the way folk music should be.
I tend to prefer male vocals for folk music (Dylan, Cohen, Tim Buckley etc.) However really enjoyed this & cant argue with the quality - I always thought Dylan was the first to popularise House of the Rising Sun but she recorded it first!
+ I like folk music - but I like it when the lyrics seem a little more universal. This album is just too much middle-aged for my taste. + I like Joan's dynamic singing - but I don't love her vibrato; at this point it's been parodied enough that it's a lurks hard to take it.
3.5
Enjoyable album. Some alternative versions of some classic songs
So folky, so nice.
Incredible voice and very musical. Probably just a bit too long of an album but each song is strong.
Upea levy. Puhdas ääni täynnä tunnetta ja kauniita tekstejä. 4/5
Great folk music and I really like Joan Baez voice....but oh my GOD put some sort of sound in the fucking left channel. 90% of this album is in the right channel or rightmost of the left channel. Absolutely infuriating
An apparently quite well known album by an artist that I’ve never heard of. This is really excellent traditional folk music. The guitar playing is spectacular, and frankly my favourite part of the whole album. Joan Baez’s voice is really something else too, almost ethereal? I could see it not being some peoples cup of tea, but I found it really enjoyable. My only real gripes with this album are few and far between. I don’t particularly care for the cover of “House of the Rising Sun”, I think it felt a little draggy and too downtempo for what it is. My only other complaint is the relative sameness throughout the record, but I guess that’s part and parcel of this era of folk music. 4*.