Joan Baez Songs Ranked
Joan Chandos Baez (/baɪz/; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest or social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing over 30 albums. Fluent in Spanish and English, she has also recorded songs in at least six other languages. Baez’s acclaimed songs include “Diamonds & Rust” and covers of Phil Ochs’s “There but for Fortune” and The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”. She is also known for “Farewell, Angelina”, “Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word”, “Forever Young”, “Here’s to You”, “Joe Hill”, “Sweet Sir Galahad” and “We Shall Overcome”. Baez performed fourteen songs at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and has displayed a lifelong commitment to political and social activism in the fields of nonviolence, civil rights, human rights, and the environment. Baez was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7, 2017. Here are all of Joan Baez songs ranked.
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16. Hello in There (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
“This country folk rock album is made of a beautiful female voice, easy classical and electric guitar, bass, basic keyboards and smooth drums. The is is rather relaxing, maybe too boring. The compositions are quite ordinary and I won’t listen to this on a regular basis. Simple, accessible, but not catchy. It sounds like many other names in the same style.”
15. Through Your Hands (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“The ‘Queen of Folk’ reaches a new level of comfort here, revels in new sources of inspiration and seemingly a renewed joy in recording and performing with another splendid group of Nashville producers and musicians.”
14. I’m With You (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“Yes, Joan still has it. In fact I enjoyed this album more than any she has made save Diamonds and Rust. While the songs still have substance, and still can fit the folk genre (if genres you must have), the rhythms & music are more complex than previous works. And on this album Joan sings, not showcases her voice, just sing”
13. In My Time of Need (Dark Chords on a Big Guitar, 2003)
“Joan as always giving a great performance. Some really good new material , sung as always superbly. She is the greatest .There was something about Dylan’s singing that was informal, it wore jeans, but there was something slightly operatic about Baez, something a bit old fashioned, a bit too mannered.”
See more: Joan Baez Albums Ranked
12. Island In the Sun (Joan Baez in San Francisco, 1964)
“I think I finally figured out what the deal is for me with Joan Baez. This is pleasant, listenable and worth an extra spin. I really always had a hard time with Joan “Falsetto” Baez, I don’t care how powerful her lyrics were at the time (I’m happy to study the transcript if relevant enough for my education).”
11. Shelter from the Storm (Shelter from the Storm, 1974)
“Her high range had always been a put off to these ears. But this is nice, orchestration is of the time but I happen to like it.”
10. The Water Is Wide (Farewell, Angelina, 1965)
“A very nice folk record. I always have a problem with the timbre in her voice in the beginning, it’s kind of ear-piercing sometimes. But after you get used to it, it is impressive, just as the way she interprets the mostly foreign songs. The last of the bonus tracks, the traditional “The Water Is Wide”, is a very special kind of pearl, and one of the best songs of her repertoire.”
9. Children and All That Jazz (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
“Children and all that Jazz” where she effortlessly sings a very complicated melody that genuine artistic growth and curiosity can be detected.”
8. Strange Rivers (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“The compositions are quite ordinary and I won’t listen to this on a regular basis. Simple, accessible, but not catchy. It sounds like many other names in the same style.”
7. Jesse (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
“Baez draws from great writes to fill out this album and one of the best renditions of their songs is Janis Ian’s ‘Jesse’, the other writers, not mentioned so far, Stevie Wonder and Jackson Browne.”
6. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound, 1971)
““The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is a history lesson in about three minutes. This tale of the Civil War and its aftermath fit the folk style of Joan Baez well. The Band produced a wonderful rock version, complete with harmonies, that became a concert staple for years.”
5. Winds of the Old Days (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
“Joan spent half a career singin’ sweet folk/hard protest and another half seeking a place in singer/songwriter cool. This one is coolest because she half speaks/sings through a great song of longing’ and losing out on love and I feel the honest emotions more than ever before from this great vocalis”
4. Play Me Backwards (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“In 1992 ‘Play Me Backwards’ was Joan’s first CD in several years to put her glorious voice to a whole new generation of folk/country/rock music composers’ songs (it has increasingly become her standard practice to champion new songwriters’ works), along with several songs she co-wrote.”
3. The Dream Song (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“The ‘Queen of Folk’ reaches a new level of comfort here, revels in new sources of inspiration and seemingly a renewed joy in recording and performing with another splendid group of Nashville producers and musicians. The collection of songs here explore issues of the heart, our culture and the human experience–just what longtime fans always expect from Joan.”
2. Edge of Glory (Play Me Backwards, 1992)
“Brilliant album, Baez in full voice. Her song, “Edge of Glory” should be heard by anyone who has ever come into conflict with his or her father.”
1. Diamonds & Rust (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
“Joan Baez has one of the best voices in the history of music in my own beliefs. She was also one of the most beautiful in her hey day when she was cruising around time with Bob Dylan. here she displays it in full contrast but I have heard better songs from her that were not singles.”
