{"product_id":"joan-baez-the-contemporary-ballad-book-vinyl-2xlp-vsdb-49","title":"Joan Baez – The Contemporary Ballad Book (Vinyl 2xLP, VSDB-49)","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJoan Baez – \u003cem\u003eThe Contemporary Ballad Book\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog #:\u003c\/strong\u003e VSDB-49  |  \u003cstrong\u003eSide A Matrix:\u003c\/strong\u003e VSDB-49A-2GT  |  \u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vanguard Records\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Artist\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoan 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Album\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemporary Ballad Book\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHighlights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDraws from Baez's celebrated Vanguard years — widely regarded as the artistic peak of her recording career\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eShowcases her interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, and other key figures of the folk and singer-songwriter movements\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFeatures her signature blend of traditional ballads and contemporary material, demonstrating the full breadth of her repertoire\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRecorded with the warm, natural acoustic sound that defined Vanguard's folk catalogue — a joy to hear on vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eA double album offering exceptional value and listening depth for collectors and folk enthusiasts alike\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRecord Condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth records have been carefully cleaned with a \u003cstrong\u003eSpin-Clean record washer\u003c\/strong\u003e and stored in \u003cstrong\u003enew inner plastic sleeves\u003c\/strong\u003e. The vinyl shows \u003cstrong\u003eminor surface scuffs\u003c\/strong\u003e consistent with age, but played \u003cstrong\u003eflawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips\u003c\/strong\u003e. Minor pops and crackles were noted during playback — typical for records of this vintage. Overall, very solid players.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eJacket Condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jacket is in \u003cstrong\u003eFair (F)\u003c\/strong\u003e condition. The \u003cstrong\u003etop seams have been torn open\u003c\/strong\u003e and the \u003cstrong\u003ecorners show wear\u003c\/strong\u003e, as shown in the photos. The cover art and text remain legible. Priced accordingly — a listener's copy of a wonderful record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrading Summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecords:\u003c\/strong\u003e VG (play well; minor surface marks, light pops\/crackles)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJacket:\u003c\/strong\u003e F (tops torn open; corner wear; cover art intact)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAll items are shipped securely in protective mailers. Combined shipping available — please inquire before purchasing.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Portage MCC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47654781911293,"sku":"Storefront Vinyl","price":8.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/9597\/7651\/files\/PXL_20260608_172518722.jpg?v=1780943924","url":"https:\/\/portagemcc.com\/fr\/products\/joan-baez-the-contemporary-ballad-book-vinyl-2xlp-vsdb-49","provider":"Portage MCC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}