Joan Baez – The Contemporary Ballad Book

Catalog #: VSDB-49  |  Side A Matrix: VSDB-49A-2GT  |  Label: Vanguard Records

About the Artist

Joan Baez is one of the most iconic and enduring figures in American folk music. Born in Staten Island, New York in 1941, she burst onto the national stage at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival and quickly became the defining voice of the early-'60s folk revival. Her pure, crystalline soprano — one of the most immediately recognizable voices in popular music — carried both traditional ballads and contemporary protest songs with equal grace and conviction. A committed civil rights activist and pacifist, Baez was as important a cultural figure as she was a musical one, marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and performing at Woodstock. Her influence on artists from Bob Dylan to contemporary singer-songwriters is immeasurable. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

About the Album

The Contemporary Ballad Book is a Vanguard Records compilation drawing from Joan Baez's rich catalogue of recordings for the label throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. As a double album, it offers a generous and carefully curated survey of her interpretive range — moving from intimate acoustic folk to more orchestrated arrangements — and showcases her extraordinary ability to inhabit a song and make it entirely her own. Vanguard, one of the great independent folk and classical labels of the era, captured Baez with exceptional fidelity, and these recordings remain some of the finest examples of acoustic folk production from the period. The album serves as both an ideal introduction for new listeners and a treasured retrospective for longtime fans.

Highlights

• Draws from Baez's celebrated Vanguard years — widely regarded as the artistic peak of her recording career
• Showcases her interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, and other key figures of the folk and singer-songwriter movements
• Features her signature blend of traditional ballads and contemporary material, demonstrating the full breadth of her repertoire
• Recorded with the warm, natural acoustic sound that defined Vanguard's folk catalogue — a joy to hear on vinyl
• A double album offering exceptional value and listening depth for collectors and folk enthusiasts alike

Record Condition

Both records have been carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washer and stored in new inner plastic sleeves. The vinyl shows minor surface scuffs consistent with age, but played flawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips. Minor pops and crackles were noted during playback — typical for records of this vintage. Overall, very solid players.

Jacket Condition

The jacket is in Fair (F) condition. The top seams have been torn open and the corners show wear, as shown in the photos. The cover art and text remain legible. Priced accordingly — a listener's copy of a wonderful record.

Grading Summary

• Records: VG (play well; minor surface marks, light pops/crackles)
• Jacket: F (tops torn open; corner wear; cover art intact)

All items are shipped securely in protective mailers. Combined shipping available — please inquire before purchasing.