Joan Baez - Ring Them Bells: Collector’s Edition

1995 live album expanded

A generational cross-pollination happened when Baez took over the Bottom Line club in New York’s Greenwich Village for one night in 1995. In the 60s, of course, The Bottom Line was the stomping ground for Baez and her generation of folkies. On this night in 1995, however, Baez not only paid service to that generation’s music with the likes of Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne and Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, but ushered in a new age of the female folk/singer-songwriter.

Among the guests joining her were Mary Chapin Carpenter and Indigo Girls: a younger generation influenced by Baez, and one which undoubtedly added meaning, for Baez at least, to the whole pursuit. With no major home unrest to risk having the leading lady mire herself in ‘we will overcome’ retroaction, the new, old, and older (traditional songs Lily Of The West and Sweet Sir Galahad) stood side by side. Baez and co reel through folk’s history (still with one ear on latterday Dylan: his 1989 song, Ring Them Bells, titles the album) in an outstanding show that was probably as momentous at the time as it is enjoyable today. Plus, the original 15-track album is expanded to 21, with liner notes from Baez herself.

Proper | PRPCD 031 (2-CD)

Reviewed by Jason Draper
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