Culling 15 tracks from her 1968 release of Any Day Now and adding five tracks taken from her releases of the early '60s, Vanguard Sessions: Baez Sings Dylan is a wonderful example of Joan Baez's ability to transcend the work of other songwriters. Though it could be said that the genius of Dylan's songcraft can occasionally be obscured by the understated starkness of his presentation, Baez's use of slightly countrified arrangements to compliment her powerful vocals succeeds in recasting these classics in a slightly prettier package. Baez takes few liberties, so most tracks don't count as surprises, though a bluesy a cappella rendition of "Tears of Rage" and a funky, soulful "Dear Landlord" nearly qualify as such. More than anything, Baez's renditions make the listener realize just how incredibly nuanced Dylan's delivery can be. Though standards like "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," "It Ain't Me Babe," and "I Shall Be Released" are covered, just as many tracks are of a lesser-known variety, such as "Walkin' Down the Line," "Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word," and "Walls of Red Wing." Of course, bringing out the genius in Dylan's work isn't exactly akin to pulling teeth, but the timeless quality of Baez's thoughtful renditions more than does the work justice. 
 

Tracks 
   
    
    
    
  Title   
  Composer   
  Time   
 
      1  Love Minus Zero/No Limit  Dylan  2:43  
      2  It's All over Now, Baby Blue  Dylan  3:26  
       3  You Ain't Going Nowhere  Dylan  3:01  
       4  It Ain't Me Babe  Dylan  3:21  
       5  I Pity the Poor Immigrant  Dylan  3:48  
      6  Tears of Rage  Dylan, Manuel  4:22  
       7  Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word  Dylan  4:28  
       8  I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine  Dylan  3:17  
       9  Farewell, Angelina  Dylan  3:15  
       10  Dear Landlord  Dylan  3:00  
       11  One Too Many Mornings  Dylan  3:13  
       12  I Shall Be Released  Dylan  3:57  
       13  Boots of Spanish Leather  Dylan  4:34  
       14  Daddy You've Been on My Mind  Dylan  2:20  
       15  Restless Farewell  Dylan  5:50  
      16  Don't Think Twice, It's All Right  Dylan  3:13  
       17  Walls of Red Wing  Dylan  3:52  
       18  Drifter's Escape  Dylan  2:56  
       19  Walkin' Down the Line  Dylan  3:23  
       20  North Country Blues  Dylan  5:02  
 
 indicates  Track Pick 
 
 
 
 
Releases 
 Year   
  Type   
  Label   
  Catalog #   
 
1998 CD Vanguard 79512