My Favorite Joan Baez Songs
Happy Birthday Joan! Check out some of my favorite tunes from the songbird.
All My Trials
'All My Trials' is a folk song which became popular during the social protest movements of the late 1950s and 1960s. Joan Baez released the song in 1960 where it was published in The Joan Baez Songbook suggesting the tune began as a pre–Civil War era American Southern gospel song.
Prison Trilogy (Billy Rose)
Off of her album "Come from the Shadows" (1972), 'Prison Trilogy' is one of Baez's original compositions released alongside covers from the likes of John Lennon and Janis Joplin. Baez had signed with A&M and attempted to point her career in a more commercial direction, however, the album still had overtly political overtones.
The album's liner notes read: "...In 1972 if you don't fight against a rotten thing you become a part of it."
Simple Twist of Fate
Although covered and interpreted by many other artists, Joan Baez recorded the first on her 1975 album "Diamonds and Rust". Written by Bob Dylan, 'Simple Twist of Fate' features Baez performing a flawless Dylan impression.
It's the second song featured on my favorite Dylan album "Blood on the Tracks" (1975).
Check out my piece on the iconic album: https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/blood-on-the-tracks
Donna Donna
This tune was originally a Yiddish language song written by Sholom Secunda and Aaron Zeitlin and used in a Yiddish play produced by Zeitlin. Originally titled 'Dana Dana' (in Yiddish דאַנאַ דאַנאַ), also known as "Dos Kelbl" (in Yiddish דאָס קעלבל, meaning The Calf), 'Donna Donna' was popularized and retitled by Baez with her English version of the song recorded in 1960.
'Donna, Donna' and 'All My Trials' both appear on Baez's debut and self-titled album. I first heard these songs in college while building sets for a play taking place in the early 60s.
Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan recorded this famous tune for his second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", released in 1963. Sam Cooke was inspired by 'Blowin' in the Wind' to write his song 'A Change Is Gonna Come', an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement.
Check out my piece on "Freewheelin'" for more information: https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/freewheelin-anniversary
Baez and Dylan recorded the song live numerous times, with Baez also recording her own version.
In "Forrest Gump", Jenny sings this song while working in a strip club and is introduced as "Bobbi Dylan". The film's soundtrack album features Joan Baez's 1975 live recording of the song.
Read more about the music of "Forrest Gump" here: https://www.thehotchildinthecity.com/post/turn-turn-turn-the-music-of-forrest-gump
Diamonds And Rust
'Diamonds and Rust' is the title track off her album from 1975. The song recounts her tempestuous relationship with Bob Dylan. Originally, the song was about something completely different until one day, Baez receieved a call from Dylan, ringing her from a Midwest phonebooth. "He read me the entire lyrics to 'Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts' that he'd just finished from a phone booth in the Midwest," Baez told music writer Mike Ragogna. "That must have been one helluva call", said Ragogna.
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