Whistle Down the Wind
Studio album by
Joan Baez
ReleasedMarch 2, 2018
RecordedFebruary 19–20, May 1–5 and September 25–27, 2017
StudioUnited Western Recorders, Hollywood, California
GenreFolk
LabelProper
ProducerJoe Henry
Joan Baez chronology
Day After Tomorrow
(2008)		 Whistle Down the Wind
(2018)
Singles from Whistle Down the Wind
  1. "Whistle Down the Wind"
    Released: 8 January 2018[1]

Whistle Down the Wind is the 26th (and 28th overall) studio album by American folk singer and musician Joan Baez, released on March 2, 2018, her first studio album in almost a decade. The album features songs written by such composers as Tom Waits, Josh Ritter and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Joe Henry produced the album.[1][2][3]

Whistle Down the Wind was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[4]

Making the album

On November 8, 2017, Joan Baez announced that, in conjunction with her final tour of Europe in 2018, she would release a new studio album entitled Whistle Down the Wind.[2]

It was produced by Joe Henry. It was recorded at United Recording in Hollywood, California[5] over 10 days.[6] The album was made over a period of three weeks.[7] The album features songs written by such composers as Tom Waits, Josh Ritter and Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released on March 2, 2018, and was her first studio album in almost a decade.[1][2][3]

The album was released on vinyl, CD, and digital.[8] Her final international September 2018 tour to promote Whistle Down the Wind included a digital copy of the record with each purchased ticket in the United States.[9][10]

Single

On January 8, 2018, Joan Baez made available on her website the first track from the album, "Whistle Down the Wind".[1]

Reception

The album features Baez singing covers of various contemporary songwriters, with NPR saying her choices "amplifies Baez ever-present gift for interpretation."[11] PopMatters said the album was "a beguilingly modest, humble work that wears with disarming lightness Baez's legendary status, instead placing the focus squarely on the songs."[12]

The Herald Standard says that album included a focus on "topical issues that are emotional and thought-provoking."[13] The San Francisco Chronicle said that the "music is reassuringly spare, highlighting Baez’s rich, world-weary voice and the slowly unfolding melodies of politically minded tunes like 'Another World' and 'I Wish the Wars Were All Over' over a blanket of acoustic guitars, stately pianos and prudent rhythms."[14] The Financial Times said it featured "pointedly chosen songs and starkly contemporary lyrics."[15] Marin Independent Journal said it was a "a tasteful and carefully curated collection of new songs by some of her favorite writers".[16]

It received a score of 77/100 on Metacritic. [17] The Guardian called it a "graceful farewell" and gave it 4 of 5 stars.[18] Pitchfork gave it a score of 7.4/10,[19] Rolling Stone gave it 4/5,[20] AllMusic gave it 4/5,[5] and Glide Magazine gave it 9/10.[21]

Track listings

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Whistle Down the Wind"Tom Waits4:49
2."Be of Good Heart"Josh Ritter4:05
3."Another World"Anohni2:57
4."Civil War"Joe Henry4:22
5."The Things That We Are Made Of"Mary Chapin Carpenter5:10
6."The President Sang Amazing Grace"Zoe Mulford3:20
7."Last Leaf"Waits, Kathleen Brennan3:05
8."Silver Blade"Josh Ritter3:55
9."The Great Correction"Eliza Gilkyson3:43
10."I Wish the Wars Were All Over"Tim Eriksen3:35

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 8
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 7
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 20
UK Albums (OCC)[25] 47
US Billboard 200[26] 88
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[27] 5
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 70
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 13
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[30] 23
French Albums (SNEP)[31] 65
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 43

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Latest news". joanbaez.com. January 8, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Joan Baez Announces New Album 'Whistle Down The Wind' and UK & Ireland Tour Dates (by Alex Gallacher)". folkradio.co.uk. November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Whistle Down The Wind". amazon.co.uk. January 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  4. ↑ "61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List". 7 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 Deming, Mark (March 2, 2018). "AllMusic Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ "Whistle Down The Wind". Joanbaez.com.
  7. ↑ Shapiro, Aira (February 27, 2018). "Joan Baez On 'Whistle Down The Wind' And Working Through Pessimism". GLT 89.1.
  8. ↑ Sylvester, Daniel (February 27, 2018). "Whistle Down the Wind". Exclaim!.
  9. ↑ Reed, Ryan (February 26, 2018). "Joan Baez Plots Final North American Tour". Rolling Stone.
  10. ↑ Menconi, David (February 26, 2018). "Joan Baez is retiring from touring, and her schedule has one last stop in NC". The News & Observer.
  11. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (February 22, 2018). "Review: Joan Baez, 'Whistle Down The Wind'". NPR.
  12. ↑ Ramon, Alex (March 7, 2018). "Modesty, Melody and Quiet, Reflective Words: Joan Baez's 'Whistle Down the Wind'". PopMatters.
  13. ↑ Rhodes, Clint (2018). "Music review: Joan Baez - 'Whistle Down the Wind'". Herald-Standard.
  14. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (March 7, 2018). "Facing retirement, Joan Baez remains defiant on 'Whistle Down the Wind'". an Francisco Chronicle.
  15. ↑ Honigmann, David (March 9, 2018). "Joan Baez: Whistle Down The Wind — 'an admirable farewell'". The Financial Times.
  16. ↑ Liberatore, Paul (July 23, 2018). "Joan Baez's farewell tour 'graced' by acclaimed new album, 'Whistle Down the Wind'". Marin Independent Journal.
  17. ↑ "Whistle Down the Wind". Metacritic. March 2, 2018.
  18. ↑ Spencer, Neil (March 4, 2018). "Joan Baez: Whistle Down the Wind review – a graceful farewell". The Guardian.
  19. ↑ M. Deusner, Stephen (March 10, 2018). "Whistle Down the Wind". Pitchfork.
  20. ↑ Hermes, Will (March 2, 2018). "Review: Joan Baez, 77, Still America's Folk Music Queen on 'Whistle Down the Wind'". Rolling Stone.
  21. ↑ Zimmerman, Lee (March 1, 2018). "'Whistle Down the Wind' Serves As Victory Lap for Joan Baez (Album Review)". Glide Magazine.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Joan Boaez – Whistle Down the Wind" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Joan Baez Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Joan Baez Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Joan Baez Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Joan Baez – Whistle Down the Wind". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Joan Baez – Whistle Down the Wind" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Joan Baez – Whistle Down the Wind". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Joan Baez – Whistle Down the Wind". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
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