Joan Baez - 1974-06-02 - Berkeley, CA (SBD/FLAC)

(Soundboard FLAC)

Joan Baez
Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
June 2, 1974

Source : Soundboard > unknown lineage > cd-r (courtesy of M.R. archives)
Transfer : Soundforge (volume adjustment) > Wave > TLH (SBE aligned) Flac 8

Joan Baez - vocals, acoustic guitar
Mimi Farina - vocals, acoustic guitar (*)

01 banter > Honey Love
02 Di Da
03 Blessed Are
04 Forever Young
05 Daddy, You've Been On My Mind
06 Winds Of The Old Days
07 Gracias A La Vida
08 banter
09 Natalia Gorbanevskaja
10 The Ballad Of Sacco And Vanzetti
11 Kumbaya
12 banter
13 Oh, Happy Day
14 banter
15 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
16 Introduction of Mimi Farina (*)
17 Less Than A Song (*)
18 Ain't You Got A Right To The Tree Of Life (*)
19 Prisoner Trilogy (Billy Rose)
20 Love Song To A Stranger (part 1)
21 Love Song To A Stranger (part 2)
22 banter
23 Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
24 Where's My Apple Pie (fades out)
xx Joe Hill
xx Amazing Grace

Total Time = 01:28:00

This recording is incomplete. The very first song is missing and the track "Where's My Apple Pie," towards the end of the set, is also incomplete due to a tape change.  Comprised of two sets that cover a wide range of material, this concert captures Joan Baez at a uniquely transitional time in her career. Although she had dipped out of the popular music spotlight for several years, the sessions that resulted in her career rejuvenating album, Diamonds and Rust, were about to be completed. Baez was still a serious interpretive folk singer and political activist, but was beginning to embrace a more mainstream sound, and openly displaying a sense of humor on stage.

The material Baez chose to perform this night ranges from some of her earliest traditional material like "Kumbaya" and "Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh" right up to songs featured on her most recent album, including "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," soon to become the biggest hit of her career.  The obligatory Dylan covers are featured, but rather than mining his "protest songs" of yesteryear, as had usually been the case, she chooses to interpret two of his more recent compositions, "Forever Young" and "Mama, You Been On My Mind," which she modifies accordingly.

During the second set, Joan's sister, Mimi Farina, makes an appearance on stage (for 2 songs), contributing to a particularly enjoyable sequence that showcases Joan's sense of humor and illustrates how captivating their voices could sound together. The sisters perform "Less Than a Song" and the old Southern hymn, "Ain't You Got A Right To The Tree Of Life."
Back to back versions of "Love Song To A Stranger," parts 1 and 2, are featured, as is" Where's My Apple Pie," a rare 45 single charity release sold only at her shows during this time. The set ends with Baez's angelic read of the traditional hymn "Amazing Grace," which she does as an audience sing-a-long.