Joan Baez: Hated by Dylan fans?

I’ve noticed a lot of Dylan fans being very vocal about their dislike of Joan’s versions of his songs.

I don’t understand why: she didn’t ‘popify’ them ‘pretty them up’ or render them nonsensical the way that the Hollies (for instance) did.

It’s true that Baez has/had a conventionally beautiful voice (one of the best female voices ever, I’d say, regardless of genre) but Iv’e always found her versions both individual and respectful. Her version of Don’t Think Twice (It’s Alright) cuts very deep and she OWNS Love Is Just A Four Letter Word (partly because Dylan never recorded it - so far as we know).

In fact, I can’t think of a bad version of a Dylan song she’s done. Her version have also put Dylan’s material in from of people (and there are many) who just can’t stand his voice.

 

She was the reason Dylan broke up.

 

I am a big Dylan fan but I certainly don't hate Joan Baez however I am quite indifferent to her. The only album I have in my collection is Diamonds and Rust the MFSL version and if it disappeared I don't think I'd be too concerned.

 

Joanie is an angel. She's still a fabulous singer.
I'm guessing she was clingy with Bob, and Bob...well, there were a lot of female fans for Bob at his disposal.

 

Ive never heard an overwhelming amount of Dylan fans who dislike Joan Baez. In fact, Ive found the opposite to be true. Dylan fans I know see them pretty much hand in hand. Joan Baez will forever be known in Dylan circles as Dylan’s singing partner from the early days and they loved it when she popped from time to time in his concert tours.

As far as her interpretations of Dylan songs I think she is pretty straight forward in her renditions. Pure folk. Her album “Any Day Now” is great. Beautiful singing of well selected Dylan songs.

Now thats given one likes her voice. And I think that is the real divide. Her voice is very pointed and pure with a healthy dose of vibrato in ending phrases. I think for some, this is grating and for others its the most beautiful sound ever.

But, yeah, as far as her reading of Dylan songs Im not sure why there would be a hatred. Shes the pinnacle of female folk singers and doesnt fancy anything up. Sings his songs with great reverence with beautiful flourishes of his melodies that show the songs to be much more melodic and pretty than what we realize.

As a fan of 30 yrs I certainly appreciate her connection and tributes to Dylan’s songs.

 

I enjoy the music of both.

Tim

 

The only thing I don't like about her is when she does that strong vibrato thing. Ugh.

 

100%.

I respect the hell out of Joan Baez. But the vibrato is a deal breaker from a listening standpoint.

 

I'm afraid I find Joan Baez unlistenable. There is nothing about her voice I like.

 

I prefer Joan's versions over Bob's for the most part.

 

Well and thats the thing. If you dont like this..then really you dont like her voice in its prime youth. Shes a soprano with healthy doses of vibrato. She could have been a helluva opera singer. But its definitely not for everyone.

 

As she came out of the 60s folk era and into the early 70s she used more of her deep voice. And less vibrato was noticed. I like this version of imagine. She gets off to an insecure start but then gives little nuances that are really very pretty.

 

It's a fact of life that ANYBODY singing any Dylan song is inherently prettying it up relative to Nasal Bob. And that's ALWAYS a good thing.

 

I just can’t listen to her. The vibrato is like a finger on chalk board .... if you’re old enough to to know what that means.

 

Same. It's not my thing at all. I would feel the same if I didn't like Dylan.

 

This. I certainly like both a lot.

 

I have to admit..
I attended both Rolling Thunder Shows at Maple Leaf Gardens..
When Joan sang by herself, I got up and bought a hot dog.

 

I find both of them mostly unlistenable. Joan improved in her later years by toning down the heavy handed vibrato.

 

Not me! I think she's terrific. Don't know her full catalog as well as Dylan's, but I have a bunch of her early albums and "Diamonds and Rust" (which is terrific).

 

I really liked her sister Mimi. A more 'tasteful' singer and a superior guitar player
with less political baggage...and a bit more of a 'looker' as well IMO:

 

I've always admired St. Joan more than I've enjoyed her music. As others have noted, that vibrato is a real deal-breaker.
That said, I've always found her very attractive.
These days, she's gotta be one of the hottest near-octogenarians around:

 

Couldn't have put it better myself. It's too pure, if you know what I mean. I prefer a bit of grit, or for want of a better word, soul.

 

I do love Dylan and I do love Joan Baez, specially when she sings Dylan (Joan Baez singing "It's all over now baby blue" is a gem !)

 

How would anyone know? Dylan fans seem to listen to nothing BUT Dylan.

I once attempted to explain to a Dylan fanatic that one of the verses of "I Shall Be Free #10" referenced Tommy Tucker's bluesy 1964 hit "High-Heel Sneakers." He'd never heard of the song, the artist, or perhaps even the genre called the blues.

 

I think her version of The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is the definitive version. Better than The Bands version.