Joan Baez

Released in October 1960 on Vanguard Records, Joan Baez's self-titled debut is a foundational text of the American folk music revival. Following her breakout performance at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, Baez famously rejected major label offers from Columbia to sign with the smaller, independent Vanguard, seeking more creative control. The album consists entirely of traditional folk songs and ballads, many of which were popularized by the Carter Family or preserved in the Child Ballads collection. Sonically, the record is defined by Baez's three-octave soprano and her proficient, though often overlooked, fingerstyle guitar playing. It eschews the commercial 'pop-folk' polish of the era (such as The Kingston Trio) in favor of a stark, purist approach. The inclusion of 'El preso número nueve' signaled her lifelong commitment to internationalism and social justice. In 2015, its historical significance was cemented by its induction into the National Recording Registry.