Joan Baez
Live Europe '83

One of the most intense voices of American folk and protest songs, in the distant 1984, releases an album titled "Live - Europe '83", which gathers the most beautiful live performances from that year: we're talking about the unstoppable icon of the folk music of the '60s, we're talking about Joan Baez.

For those who don't know, Baez's live shows have always been very emotional and full of pathos, her magical symbiosis with the acoustic guitar makes this artist not only a great performer but also a very skilled musician. Baez's voice, unlike many voices that over time lose their original charm, is perfect and boasts an indisputable lyrical technique and one of the most recognizable vibratos in her genre. Thus, this work also presents itself as a great live album, recommended to all fans of Baez's music: in addition to collecting her most beautiful interpretations, it also contains some gems written by Joan herself, more known as an interpreter than as a songwriter unfortunately.

The live recordings were made in 1983 during concerts in Europe: from Germany to Spain and from France to England. The album boasts a very respectable track list: it begins with "Farewell Angelina", a 1963 Dylan song which he himself said he wrote for his "Jonie". Then comes "Warriors Of The Sun", a track penned by Baez herself, with a reggae rhythm and an important theme: it talks about environmental issues and the fact that man is gradually destroying the planet in which he lives. "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" another beautiful track by Dylan, this time arranged using as few instruments as possible, for a minimal arrangement. The centrality of the text is necessary to understand the "Dylanian" lyrics and sometimes requires greater focus on words rather than music. It is followed by the sweet "Lady Di And I", another gem signed by Joan Baez where her acoustic guitar and her voice are the only protagonists: the song, as the title suggests, is dedicated to Lady Diana and the lyrics are obviously rich with references regarding the English monarchy, Prince Charles and is an indirect criticism of the nobility.

Then come two elegant pieces titled: "E Prendre Un Enfant", by Y. Duteil and "A Tous Les Enfants" by B. Vian and C. Vence. After the quiet of the first part, the musical arrangements now become more energetic and we start to "enter" into purer country and folk like in "Children Of The Eighties" another piece by Baez, which talks about the new generation, the children of the '80s, recounting the mythical '60s, the Woodstock Generation, quoting Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, and the ever-beloved Dylan. "The Love Inside" is a track penned by Gibb: an acoustic guitar paints a soft and sweet harmony followed by strings, making this piece one of the most intense tracks on the album. And after the ballad song, we return to a more driving rhythm with "Me And Bobby McGee" by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. And how can one not praise a great political activist whom Baez has always greatly admired, being herself one of the most fervent female activists committed against war and the just causes in the world: it is "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley; the reggae rhythm is almost abandoned to make way for a more "seventies" sound complete with Hammond. And again "Imagine" by John Lennon, a classic that's always beautiful to listen to again; it is followed by a popular song "Jaria Hamuda" by A. Hamza, performed a cappella, "Here's To You" one of the most touching, provocative, and sweet songs of the '70s, written by Baez as the soundtrack for the film "Sacco E Vanzetti" and finally "The Land Of A Thousand Dances" by A. Domino and C. Kenner, another ballad with an intimate and deep sound with which this album closes.

An album to discover, to understand, to let yourself be enveloped by Joan's warm voice and discover that true American folk has never died.