Joan Baez Complete A&M Recordings CD

 Great collection of songs
I like the clarity of the remastered recordings. This issue is long overdue. A&M should do the same with more of their older material with other artists. On the the less positive side of the issue - it is a lousy way to copile these fine albums. They deserve a better packaging - one or two LPs to a CD - not in a long row to save space.
Submitted by a reviewer (Denmark) 
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 Joan Baez - Complete A & M Recordings
For anyone who is a Joan Baez fan, this is an absolute "must have". It was so wonderful to hear the songs remastered so brilliantly and also tracks that had never appeared on albums before. Joan's voice is absolute magic, so crystal clear and sings with such emotion that I have never heard from any other singer before. Her brilliant renditions of Spanish songs was a real treat. The song Bangladesh which I had never heard before made me cry as did Where Are You Now My Son? (this song was a real experience). Johnny, I Hardly Knew Yeh, and Where's My Apple Pie I also had never heard before - were absolute highlights. There was also a stunning piece of music called "Windrose" with Joan obviously playing piano, which was so beautiful. She does a bit of everything on these recordings - it's not only folk. Her voice and guitar playing are faultless. I can not pick only one favourite song or CD from this compilation that is absolutely impossible, each song is very very special. The 4 CD package is beautifully put together, the best that I have ever seen, with photos of Joan on the side both front and back and a beautifully presented book. This box set shows why Joan is so popular and why she is so adored by her many fans all over the world, an exceptional woman who was born with "and a voice to sing with" (title of her book). You will not be disappointed.
Submitted by a reviewer (Melbourne Victoria Australia) 
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 A Great Collection!
The best of Joan Baez is at Vangard, but this Collection proves that the maturity made her a great lyricist and her voice became stronger and more beautiful, if it was possible. Unfortunately, today her voice is no more that what was... A Collection to listen over and over and over...
Submitted by raield (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)
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 Lots of wheat but not a little chaff!
Complete A&M Recordings (1972 -- 1976) box set containing Come From The Shadows (1972), Where Are You Now My Son? (1973), Gracias A La Vida (Here’s To Life) (1974), Diamonds And Rust (1975), Gulf Winds (1976) and From Every Stage (1976). Also are a trio of 45-rpm b-sides making their digital debut on this compendium, including a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”, and Baez originals “Where’s My Apple Pie” and “Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh”. After a dozen years on Vanguard Records, her first effort for A&M was the politically-charged Come In From The Shadows. The album became notable not only for its’ heavy Nashville influence, but also for the bold “Song Of Bangladesh,” her open letter to Dylan on “Bobby,” as well as the cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. This was followed by Where Are You Now My Son?, which quickly became controversial due to her strident viewpoints on the continuing conflicts in Southeast Asia. The title track is a 26-minute semi-biographical epic, with ambient sounds documented by Baez in Hanoi, Vietnam during the final weeks of 1972. Its’ brutal honesty did not sit well with many, although it re-established her as a key political and musical conduit. This was followed by Gracias A La Vida (Here’s To Life) which took an artistic detour as it was recorded in Spanish. It became no less of a controversial statement, containing a version of the Pablo Neruda poem “No Nos Moveran (We Shall Not Be Moved)”. The government of Spain banned the work and it was deleted from subsequent pressings. The brilliant and mostly non-political Diamonds & Rust became not only a touchstone for Baez, but was also considered essential listening in the mid 1970s. It remains resonant with the Dylan-influenced title composition, and the covers of Janis Ian’s “Jessie,” Jackson Browne’s “Fountain Of Sorrow,” the Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky” and John Prine’s “Hello In There.” Her last studio offering for A&M was Gulf Wind. It yielded considerably lighter fare, reflecting much of the same escapism and ennui America was concurrently enduring. One of the most outstanding elements is the plethora of strong originals. Chief among them are “Oh Brother!” -- an admitted response to Dylan’s “Oh Sister” -- and the picturesque title song, which Baez claims as having been influenced by an experience during Dylan’s all-star Rolling Thunder Review tour. Although technically From Every Stage was issued before Gulf Winds, for the sake of continuity the double-LP live collection concludes The Complete A&M Recordings (1972 -- 1976). Baez is spotlighted in both acoustic as well as band settings. Her repertoire at the time included tunes dating back to her days on Vanguard -- such as “Stewball” and “Blessed Are ..” as well as a few that had yet to be recorded by Baez before. Among them were the civil rights anthem “(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around,” and a reading of “Blowin’ In The Wind” which would be used in the film Forrest Gump during the March On Washington scene. The sound is spectacular as all 80 tracks have been thoroughly remastered. The accompanying 32-page booklet is replete with rarely publish photos, as well as reminiscences from the artist herself and faithful reproductions of the LP liner notes.
Submitted by SJOxford (Oxford)
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 Some of Joan's Best!
This is an absolute must for both long time fans AND for those who have just discovered the magic of Joan Baez. This set contains a "little of her all." You'll hear many of her best self-penned songs, many of her classics, the best 'live' recordings ever in From Every Stage, and the most honest and heartbreaking protest of war ever recorded ... Where Are You Now My Son? This box set gets the highest of my praises, and I've been a fan for over 40 years.
Submitted by a reviewer (Atlanta)
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