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Joan Baez - Do I just not get it?

Hi,

I'm a relatively young music/audio guy (24). I recently bought a remaster LP of Joan Baez "In Concert" which I've heard is a great album, both musically and soundwise.

This is my first exposure to Joan Baez - and not meant to offend fans... But I could not make it past song two. Now I love singer/songwriter music, and certainly enjoy female vocals and acoustic guitar... but her voice! It is unlistenable! She uses so much vibrato and sounds like a sheep... baaaaaaa... Stevie nicks can at least get away with being a sheep because she has the rock music to keep the attention away... but joan Baez - How do you guys enjoy listening to this stuff? The vibrato is terrible!
goatwuss
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
Sorry, Goat-boy, I guess it was someone else who said thin and hard. Two qualities I would NEVER assign to Joan Baez.
oakiris
206 posts
 
I have almost every album that Joan Baez has made and had the privilege of seeing/hearing her in concert many years ago. I think her voice is wonderful and have great admiration for her courage and convictions "back in the day." I grew up in the 50s and 60s, during the folk revival. I like Bob Dylan's voice too. One of my favorite albums by Joan Baez was the one where she did all Bob Dylan songs.

But, each to her or his own. No one should be forced to listen to music that makes them wince!

Holly
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Here's an interesting chronological biography about Joan
oakiris
206 posts
 
Thank you for that link, Fatparrot. I had no idea that she was still so active in humanitarian causes - and it looks as if I am missing more albums than I realized, too!

Holly
panderso
156 posts
 
Amusing to hear Goatwuss take from the other side of 50. It makes me re-examine my early impressions of Joanie. When I hark back to memories of her singing 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands', or 'Ride Me High', I don't remember vibrato, and certainly not thinness (yes I know, Goatwuss, you didn't suggest thinness).

My impressions are all of warm rich tones; a revelation in their day. Remember, we were just coming off The Weavers' bouncy, earnest, dustbowl version of folksong, with female vocals tuned like a bagpipe, all nasal Anglo-Celtic skirl. I'll have to go dig out Baez Sings Dylan - was the vibrato really there all along?

I suspect, as J.D. offers, that you had to be there.
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