Joan Baez, Vol. 2

Released in September 1961 on Vanguard Records, Joan Baez, Vol. 2 solidified Baez's position as the 'Queen of Folk' during the genre's commercial and cultural peak. Following the success of her debut, this second volume leaned further into traditional Anglo-American ballads and Child Ballads, including definitive versions of 'Barbara Allen' and 'The Cherry Tree Carol.' The recording is notable for its technical austerity; produced by Maynard Solomon, it features Baez almost exclusively on her Martin 0-45 guitar, with occasional second guitar accompaniment by The Greenbriar Boys' Bruce Langhorne. Sonically, the album is defined by Baez's three-octave soprano range and her precise, classical-adjacent vibrato, which brought a formal elegance to folk material that was previously often heard in rougher, more rural contexts. It remains a cornerstone of the 1960s folk revival, influencing a generation of singer-songwriters by demonstrating the power of a single voice and instrument.