Introduction:
“A City Called Heaven” is a traditional spiritual song that has been performed by countless artists over the decades, most notably within the folk and gospel genres. While Joan Baez has a long and celebrated history of performing and recording traditional folk and spiritual songs, and her association with Bob Dylan during the early to mid-1960s is legendary, a specific studio recording of “A City Called Heaven” explicitly credited as a joint release by “Joan Baez & Bob Dylan” is not commonly found among their primary discographies.
However, Joan Baez did record “A City Called Heaven” on her own. A notable release of the song by Joan Baez can be found on her album “Joan Baez in Italy,” which was released in 1969. This album, as the title suggests, was recorded live in Italy. The genre is firmly rooted in folk music, and specifically, traditional spirituals/gospel, which often found a home within the broader folk revival movement of the era.
While Bob Dylan and Joan Baez frequently performed together during their touring years in the early 1960s, particularly at folk festivals like Newport, and many live recordings circulate, an official studio album or single release featuring both their names on “A City Called Heaven” is not a recognized part of their studio catalogs. Their collaborations were more often characterized by Baez performing Dylan’s songs, or by shared stage appearances where they might duet on various folk and protest songs.
As a traditional song, “A City Called Heaven” predates both artists, and its “achievements” are rooted in its historical significance as a spiritual. For Joan Baez’s interpretation on “Joan Baez in Italy,” the album itself, while a live recording, contributed to her extensive discography of folk and protest music, further cementing her reputation as a powerful and authentic interpreter of traditional songs. The album “Joan Baez in Italy” showcases her captivating live performance and her commitment to the folk tradition. While not a chart-topping single, her rendition on this album is a testament to her enduring artistry and her role in preserving and popularizing traditional American music.