Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust

Titles

LP 1 Side 1

1. Diamonds & Rust

2. Fountain Of Sorrow

LP 1 Side 2

3. Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer

4. Children And All That Jazz

LP 2 Side 1

5. Simple Twist Of Fate

6. Blue Sky

LP 2 Side 2

7. Hello In There

8. Dida

9. Winds Of The Old Days

Joan Baez is an icon – and one of the greatest voices in American folk music. With her commitment to social justice, the activist has inspired generations with her powerful lyrics and distinctive soprano voice – and continues to do so today. From her early days at the forefront of the civil rights movement to her role as the musical voice of protest during the Vietnam War, Baez has always combined art and activism. With honors such as the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Joan Baez is a lasting fixture in American cultural history. “Diamonds & Rust” is her sixteenth studio album and one of the most significant in her career, which spans six decades. Released in 1975, the album features songs written or performed by Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, The Allman Brothers, Jackson Browne and John Prine. However, “Diamonds & Rust” also includes a number of her own wonderful compositions, including the world-famous title track: a bittersweet reflection on her past relationship with Bob Dylan. The album reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and went gold with over half a million records sold.

With her move to A&M Records, Joan Baez became a fixture in Nashville and produced “Diamonds & Rust” together with the legendary David Kershenbaum and the exceptional jazz guitarist Larry Carlton. Released at a pivotal moment in her career, “Diamonds & Rust” combines Baez's folk roots with sophisticated production that adds a new sonic dimension to her songwriting and interpretations. Baez shows her most personal and expressive side on this album, striking an artful balance between intimate stories and bold sonic ambitions. The album also showcases Baez's unique interpretive power: songs such as Jackson Browne's “Fountain Of Sorrow” and Stevie Wonder's “Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer” are rendered with impressive emotional clarity. Songs such as “Winds Of The Old Days” and “Dida” reveal Baez's development as an artist and her willingness to explore new textures and lyrical perspectives.

Analogue Productions now honors this masterful album with a sonically outstanding double LP, strictly limited to 2,000 copies, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at 45 RPM pressed by industry leader Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and packaged in a luxurious old-style tip-on gatefold sleeve by Stoughton Printing. A ½-inch flat tape copy of the original master tape was cut by Matthew Lutthans (The Mastering Lab) especially for this reissue. The result is the most vibrant and sonorous listening experience of this timeless classic to date, capturing Baez's flawless voice and moving arrangements in their most natural and haunting form.