Album review: JOAN BAEZ – Whistle Down The Wind

January 4th, 2018 by jason

Proper Records [Release date 02.03.18]

Joan Baez made her live debut back in 1959 at the Newport Folk Festival and now she is starting to wind down her career, touring wise at least as 2018 marks her last year of extended touring. That won’t stop Joan Baez being involved in the musical and political arenas, as last year she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

‘Whistle Down The Wind’ is her first new album since 2008′s ‘Day After Tomorrow’ and it is produced by Joe Henry, whose own composition ‘Civil War’ features on this album. I am not sure who plays on the album, however the subtle organ on ‘Be Good Of Heart’ and piano on the aforementioned ‘Civil War’ underpin Joan’s vocals wonderfully.

All the song are by other writers including Tom Waits and Josh Ritter, although the stand out in the album is ‘The President Sang Amazing Grace’, by relative unknown Zoe Mulford. The haunting vocals, piano, gentle drum rolls and lyrics – a poignant tale of current ills in the US - all work so well. ‘Last Leaf’ could easily apply to Joan Baez, one of the last of the 60′s folk protest singer songwriters and again what a marvellous vocal, capture so crisp and cleanly by the production of Joe Henry.

Joan Baez may be stopping touring, however musically she is still in fine spirit and singing form. A wonderful listen from start to finish. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)