Joan Baez and Earl Scruggs At Home

Monday morning, banjo legend Earl Scruggs pays a visit to Joan Baez’s house in the California hills. It’s 1972, and the courageous Earl Scruggs was the first (and one of the very few) major country western star to have come out against the Vietnam war.

Earl decided he wanted to expand his musical horizons, so he paid a visit to a slew of young singers, including Dylan and Baez. Documentarian David Hoffman got it all on film and turned the footage into an award winning documentary.

Here’s a scene at Baez’s home with Baez singing “Love is Just A Four-Letter Word” and Scruggs playing backup. Baez’s singing voice here is incredible, unearthly almost, just sitting there in her living room with no equipment. Earl’s talented 16 year old son Randy is on the other side of Joan, playing guitar.

More at David Hoffman

You Don’t Count The Dead When God’s On Your Side

Monday morning, Joan Baez singing Bob Dylan’s “With God On Our Side.”

Thanks to YouTuber TimeToCastAwayStones

Blowin’ In The Wind

Monday morning, meteorological musings, as sung by Ms. Baez.

Thanks to YouTuber octubre rojo

Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands

Monday morning, Joan Baez with the Bob Dylan song that took up a whole side of vinyl on the Dylan album, Blonde on Blonde.

Dylan’s wife at the time was Sara Lownds; but as for the rest of the lyrics, you’re on your own…

Singer Tom Waits said of “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”: “This song can make you leave home, work on the railroad or marry a Gypsy.”

Thanks to YouTuber vpolynha

Deportees

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Woody Guthrie wrote it over 70 years ago, and Joan Baez sung this version about 30 years later. And it’s still more relevant and haunting than ever.

Thanks to YouTuber Scout4Me1

Diamonds and Rust

Awakened by a call in the middle of night. Monday morning it’s forgotten. Maybe.

One of my favorite pieces of songwriting.