Joan Baez - Vanguard Sessions - Baez Sings Dylan -1998

Joan Baez - Vanguard Sessions: Baez Sings Dylan (1998)

1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit
2. It\'s All Over Now, Baby Blue
3. You Ain\'t Goin\' Nowhere
4. It Ain\'t Me Babe
5. I Pity The Poor Immigrant
6. Tears Of Rage
7. Love Is Just A Four-Letter Word
8. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
9. Farewell, Angelina
10. Dear Landlord
11. One Too Many Mornings
12. I Shall Be Released
13. Boots Of Spanish Leather
14. Daddy, You Been On My Mind
15. Restless Farewell
16. Don\'t Think Twice, It\'s All Right
17. Walls Of Red Wing
18. Drifter\'s Escape
19. Walkin\' Down The Line
20. North Country Blues

Culling 15 tracks from her 1968 release of Any Day Now and adding five tracks taken from her releases of the early \'60s, Vanguard Sessions: Baez Sings Dylan is a wonderful example of Joan Baez\'s ability to transcend the work of other songwriters. Though it could be said that the genius of Dylan\'s songcraft can occasionally be obscured by the understated starkness of his presentation, Baez\'s use of slightly countrified arrangements to compliment her powerful vocals succeeds in recasting these classics in a slightly prettier package. Baez takes few liberties, so most tracks don\'t count as surprises, though a bluesy a cappella rendition of "Tears of Rage" and a funky, soulful "Dear Landlord" nearly qualify as such. More than anything, Baez\'s renditions make the listener realize just how incredibly nuanced Dylan\'s delivery can be. Though standards like "You Ain\'t Goin\' Nowhere," "It Ain\'t Me Babe," and "I Shall Be Released" are covered, just as many tracks are of a lesser-known variety, such as "Walkin\' Down the Line," "Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word," and "Walls of Red Wing." Of course, bringing out the genius in Dylan\'s work isn\'t exactly akin to pulling teeth, but the timeless quality of Baez\'s thoughtful renditions more than does the work justice. ~ Matt Fink, All Music Guide