Gracias a la Vida (album)

Gracias a la Vida (subtitled Joan Baez canta en español), or Here's to Life: Joan Baez sings in Spanish was a 1974 studio album released by Joan Baez. The album was performed mainly in the Spanish language (just one song in Catalan language). Baez stated at the time that she released the album as a "message of hope to the Chileans suffering under Augusto Pinochet", in the wake of the death of Salvador Allende. (Baez is known for her criticism of US foreign policy in Latin America, and has toured and worked on behalf of improving human rights in the region.) Songs include selections by Chilean composers Victor Jara (who was tortured and killed in the aftermath of the 1973 coup d'état) and Violeta Parra, who composed the title song.

A more upbeat version of "Dida" appears on Baez' Diamonds & Rust, released the following year.

Countries represented in the track listing range from Mexico and Cuba to Chile and Spain. The album was moderately successful in the U.S. but extremely so in Latin America.

The album has a dedication: "This record is dedicated to my father who gave me my Latin name and whatever optimism about life I may claim to have."

Track listing

1. "Gracias a la Vida" (Here's to Life) (Violeta Parra)
2. "Llego Con Tres Heridas" (I Come With Three Wounds) (from a poem by Miguel Hernández, musicalized by Joan Manuel Serrat)
3. "La Llorona" (The Weeping Woman) (traditional)
4. "El Preso Número Nueve" (Prisoner Number Nine) (H. Cantoral)
5. "Guantanamera" (J. Martí, adapted by H. Angulo, Pete Seeger)
6. "Te Recuerdo Amanda" (I Remember You Amanda) (Víctor Jara)
7. "Dida" (Joan Baez)
8. "Cucurrucucú Paloma" (T. Méndez)
9. "Paso Río" (I Pass A River) (traditional)
10. "El Rossinyol" (The Nightingale) (traditional Catalan)
11. "De Colores" (In Colors) (traditional)
12. "Las Madres Cansadas" (All The Weary Mothers Of The Earth) (Joan Baez)
13. "No Nos Moverán" (We Shall Not Be Moved) (traditional)
14. "Esquinazo Del Guerrillero" (Guerilla's Serenade) (F. Alegría/R. Alarcón)

Personnel

• Joan Baez: Lead vocal, acoustic & classical guitar.
• Tommy Tedesco - Lead guitar.
• Jim Hughart: Bass guitar.
• Lalo Lindgron: Harp.
• Tom Scott: Flute & woodwind, string arrangement.
• Mariachi Uclatlan (4,8)
• Rondalla Amerindia (13)
• Edgar Lustgarten: Cello.
• Milt Holland: Percussion.
• Joni Mitchell - Vocal improvisation (7)
• Jackie Ward Singers, Sally Stevens, Andrea Willis: Backing vocals (12).

References

• Farber, Nancy (1974). "Joan Baez: Singing of fewer causes now". People Magazine 4/29/74;54-57.