We leave the 50's to enter the golden sixties. And to open this decade, we start with a figure of folk music and the hippie movement: Joan Baez.
Joan Baez is an American singer, musician and activist born in 1941 in New York. The beginning of her career is marked by her performances in folk clubs in the late 1950s.
Baez attracted attention with her powerful voice, as well as her ability to interpret traditional songs with a new energy. She also began to include original songs in her sets, which showed her own talent as a songwriter.
Around the time of the release of this album, Baez also began to focus on social causes, particularly the fight for civil rights and peace. She participated in many peaceful demonstrations.
Joan Baez's early career was marked by her commitment to social justice and her powerful voice, which earned her recognition as an icon of folk music and the civil rights struggle.
The album
The album features a selection of traditional folk songs, as well as a few of Baez's original songs. She performs ballads, protest songs and instrumentals with a fresh energy and personal touch. Her voice is enhanced by the simple but effective arrangements, which showcase her vocal technique.
The album was well received by critics and helped establish Baez as an important figure in folk music. It also attracted the attention of Bob Dylan, who would later become a (very) close collaborator of Baez.
The House of Rising Sun
“The House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional American ballad that dates back centuries. It is about a man who leads a fallen life and regrets his past mistakes.
If I had listened to what my mother said
I'd have been at home today
But I was young and foolish, oh, God
Let a rambler lead me astray
Joan Baez's version helped popularize the song to a wider audience and became one of her best-known interpretations. Baez brought her own personal touch to the song by singing it with a powerful and moving voice, enhancing the emotional impact of the song.
There are countless covers of this song, I'll share just one here, by Nina Simone, released in 1965. On this video dated 1968, we see her performing the song live at the Bitter End in New York.