Diamonds & Rust

Diamonds & Rust

Joan Baez greeted the mid-'70s by temporarily dropping the politics, embracing glossy contemporary soft-rock production, and making an album that sensitive college students everywhere loved. The title track celebrates her hot-and-cold relationship with an ex, who happens to be Bob Dylan. Bob's fans got a giggle from her affectionate imitation of his voice on "Simple Twist of Fate." Baez also gets romantic on a Stevie Wonder tune, and even rocks a little: Her version of "Blue Sky" isn't that different from The Allman Brothers' original.