"Three stars might seem a low rating, since I have searched for this recording ever since I first heard it in college in the '70s, but the combination of poetry (read in Joan Baez's monotonous voice) and a few songs will not be to everyone's taste, as it was not to mine. However, some of the poetry and several of the songs are so haunting as to be almost devastating. "All in Green Came My Love Riding" and "The Woods" have remained in my head all these years, and have an almost visceral effect on me - beautiful and haunting and other-worldly. They have a quality sometimes associated with the word Celtic, though that would limit them too much. And the poetry is excellent - particularly Wilfred Owen's "The Old Man and the Young," which retells the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac in terms of the millions of youth sacrified to no end in World War I, and his among his (many) powerful anti-war poems. Even if you buy this CD for one or two tracks, it will be worth the price."
Baptism
07/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Delicate,fragile and sensitive. She interprets the author's words like no one else. I fell in love with this album in '68 and played it until it died. Vanguard could not find the the master in '99 when I looked for it. Bless you who found the this piece of art and offer it to us via CD.
If you Love Joan..if you love poetry, don't deny yourself of this experience. Indeed. encourage her to do more interprative reading!!!"
An almost unknown, neglected gem!
David M. Perkins | Washington, DC | 02/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a stunning, esoteric album showing Baez's voice at its best--I agree completely with the other reviewer here--it must be heard in its entirety to be fully appreciated. With the wonderful and lovely orchestrations by the creator of P.D.Q. Bach (!), this is a piece of artistry not to be missed."
After a long search
David Spanswick | Brighton United Kingdom | 01/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an album that encapsulates my adolescence and that gave me the confidence to start to write my own poetry. I knew I would find it here at the greatest shop on the planet. Thank you Amazon,com"