Joan Baez

Very Early Joan

AllMusic Rating
8
User Ratings (0)
Your Rating

Very Early Joan Review

by Zac Johnson

This Vanguard release is a heartwarmingly intimate look at Joan Baez during her most influential period (1960-1963). The album's 22 tracks are all live, performed before audiences held in silent and rapt attention in packed concert halls. The singer's trademark politically tinged folk songs are charmingly blended with a few pop interpretations like the Jerry Ragovoy early soul classic "She's a Trouble Maker" and a fun version of the Diamonds' "Little Darlin'," revealing a rarely seen lighthearted side of the activist. Baez's voice never sounded better than during this era, and her live performances resonate with a confident honesty. The only detractions of this CD are in the production: the whole album is mixed very quietly (requiring the listener to crank up the volume) but the applause between songs seems brashly loud. The other nitpick is that, for some reason, the album's engineer fades Baez's voice from left to right within the songs; this isn't a tremendous problem but listening on headphones to the sound bobbing back and forth can create a feeling of seasickness. However, these minor flaws should not discourage anyone from picking up Very Early Joan, a shining example of the bridge from the traditional Weavers/Kingston Trio folk singing of the fifties and the youthful fire of the political folk of the '60s.

Track Listing

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream Ed McCurdy	Joan Baez	02:39	Spotify Amazon
2	Willie Moore Traditional	Joan Baez	03:17	Spotify Amazon
3	She's a Trouble Maker Van McCoy / Jerry Ragovoy	Joan Baez	02:25	Spotify Amazon
4	Tears in My Eyes Pauline Marden	Joan Baez	03:26	Spotify Amazon
5	Somebody Got Lost in a Storm Traditional	Joan Baez	03:13	Spotify Amazon
6	The Water Is Wide Traditional	Joan Baez	03:05	Spotify Amazon
7	Man of Constant Sorrow Traditional	Joan Baez	04:13	Spotify Amazon
8	Freight Train Elizabeth Cotten	Joan Baez	03:03	Spotify Amazon
9	Lady Gay (Child Ballad No. 79) Traditional	Joan Baez	04:24
10	Johnny Cuckoo Traditional	Joan Baez	03:41	Spotify Amazon
11	Lonesome Valley Traditional	Joan Baez	03:32	Spotify Amazon
12	The Riddle Song Traditional	Joan Baez	03:47	Spotify Amazon
13	Railroad Bill Traditional	Joan Baez	02:12	Spotify Amazon
14	Little Darlin' Maurice Williams	Joan Baez	02:11	Spotify Amazon
15	In the Pines Traditional	Joan Baez	03:31	Spotify Amazon
16	Pilgrim of Sorrow Traditional	Joan Baez	04:30	Spotify Amazon
17	Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Pete Seeger	Joan Baez	04:30	Spotify Amazon
18	Rambler Gambler Traditional	Joan Baez	02:06	Spotify Amazon
19	Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies Traditional	Joan Baez	04:55	Spotify Amazon
20	Hallowed Be Thy Name Traditional	Joan Baez	03:20	Spotify Amazon
21	Twelve Gates to the City Traditional	Joan Baez	03:47	Spotify Amazon
22	Silver Dagger Traditional	Joan Baez	02:45	Spotify Amazon