Similar Albums:
- Artist: Joan Baez
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1987
- Total Time: 65:18
- Type: Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Folk
Review
This 1987 best-of compiles the work from A&M efforts that marked a stylistic change from her Vanguard years, yet a pretty consistent level of success. Relying on the work of other artists seemed to be more hit and miss during the A&M era. In Baez's interpretations of songs like Bob Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" and "Forever Young" and John Lennon's "Imagine," her pitch-perfect tone might strike some as unemotional, but her singing is engrossing nonetheless. Not surprisingly, Baez sounds the best here with the tracks that deviate from weighty issues. "Gracias a la Vida" (sung in Spanish) and the haunting "Di Da" (with Joni Mitchell) have her giving off more charm and emotion than usual. "Children and All That Jazz," from her best-selling 1975 album Diamonds & Rust, has a gorgeous, heavily produced '70s L.A. pop/rock style that suited her voice. Unlike many greatest-hit sets, Classics, Vol. 8 also offers strong live performances, including "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and the CD closing "Amazing Grace." Classics, Vol. 8 has the strength of a regular release effort and more than captures the time frame and the artist it's spotlighting. ~ Jason Elias, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Diamonds & Rust | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (4:44) |
| The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Lyrics) | Robbie Robertson | Joan Baez | (3:37) |
| Simple Twist of Fate (Lyrics) | Bob Dylan | Joan Baez | (4:46) |
| Imagine (Lyrics) | John Lennon | Joan Baez | (3:25) |
| In the Quiet Morning (Lyrics) | Mimi Fariña | Joan Baez | (2:55) |
| Best of Friends (Lyrics) | Mimi Fariña | Joan Baez | (3:03) |
| Forever Young (Lyrics) | Bob Dylan | Joan Baez | (3:51) |
| Prison Trilogy (Billy Rose) | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (4:23) |
| Jesse | Janis Ian | Joan Baez | (4:28) |
| Children and All That Jazz | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (3:07) |
| Please Come to Boston (Lyrics) | Dave Loggins | Joan Baez | (4:16) |
| Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer | Joan Baez | (2:45) | |
| Gracias a la Vida | Joan Baez, Violeta Parra | Joan Baez | (3:34) |
| Sweeter for Me | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (4:28) |
| Love Song to a Stranger | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (3:51) |
| Dida | Joan Baez | Joan Baez | (3:33) |
| Amazing Grace | Joan Baez | (4:32) |
