Joan Baez overcame some audio difficulties to wow a crowd of 12,000 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in multilingual fashion.

12,000 Hear Joan Baez at SPAC

Tiny Girl With Very Big Voice

By Marily Nason / The Post-Star Vol. XLIII-No. 216

A lone, tiny girl on the mammoth stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night set the proper tone for a concert by Joan Baez, as some estimated 12,000 persons listened attentively and applauded wildly.

Singing “oldies but goodies,” a standard or two but largely unknown numbers, Miss Baez displayed a remarkable vocal range, a strong, vibrant voice and a sure mastery of her guitar.

Mike trouble was a source of repeated annoyance both to her and the audience, but seemed to stem largely from the fact that although she is petite, she possesses an extremely powerful voice.

The protest songs, expected by most of those attending, were there but seemed milder than what might have emerged or, perhaps, as one fellow critic observed, “When she first sang these a few years ago, protest songs were not so common as today.”

The audience, both in the 5,100-seat amphitheatre and literally covering the lawn behind, was largely teen-age. But the surprising fact was that the major share were extremely well dressed-a la a Saturday night date – with sensible-length hair and polite, if enthusiastic, applause throughout the evening.

Miss Baez introduced most of her tunes, occasionally spoke at some length between numbers, and displayed her mastery of several languages, at least in song, by singing in Japanese, Italian and Spanish.

If a criticism of any kind were to be voiced, beyond the aforementioned mike trouble, it would have to be the generally morbid tone of many of Miss Baez’s songs, a sharp contrast to the fantastic smile she displayed to the applause given each number.

At one point, she showed an intelligent understanding of a major American problem by telling the basically teenage audience, “The anti-marijuana law is stupid, but then so is smoking. If life is an interesting enough trip, you don’t need smoking ‘pot’ anymore than you need booze.” And she received thunderous applause for the remark.

Joan Baez Presents Concert at Spa for Audience of 12,000

By Peg Breen for The Glens Falls Times

At various times during the past few years, the position of Joan Baez in the hierarchy of American folk singers seemed threatened. Last night, however, before some 12,000 persons at the Saratoga Performing
Arts Center, Miss Baez again proved her claim to the title of “Queen of American Folk Singers.”

Joan Baez followers could remember previous concerts in which the repertoire consisted mainly of old English ballads and the outfit was a rather drab skirt and blouse.

The woman before them last night definitely expressed the
style and sentiment of the day. Dressed in a fashionable, bright dress, Miss Baez included songs by such contemporary performers as the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel, as well as songs from her later albums. She only lapsed into a ballad once, “for old times sake.”

Always one to express her opinions, Miss Baez sang, also, of peace and brotherhood. She brought home the point that these were universal feelings by rendering “Blowin’ in the Wind” in Japanese and singing a recent Italian song about Vietnam. A quality of hope was noted in a beautiful version of “The Lord’s Prayer” backed with a calypso rhythm and in an apology for a line stating “nothing is given to man” which she felt was necessary “after watching a sunset.”

Her lovely, clear voice overcame temporary microphone difficulties and her humor displayed at various points, e.g. striking fake poses before a barrage of flashbulbs and remarking after a noise “I bet you’re the cat that took the jewels, too.”

Tumultuous applause from an audience ranging from sandal-clad youths to groups of nuns showed the approval of each number and the program in general. Radiant smiles and a wave from Miss Baez showed
her appreciation as she disappeared from the stage.