Although offered a recording contract with the major label Columbia, Joan opted to sign with the independent Vanguard label, ostensibly to retain artistic licence. Recorded over the course of four days in a ballroom of a hotel in New York, her debut album is noticeable for its sparseness, featuring little more than Joan on guitar and vocals, with some tracks featuring a second guitar. Released in November 1960, the album would finally chart in 1962 when her second album had begun to attract major interest, and would go on to attain gold status.

1. Silver Dagger
2. East Virginia
3. Fare Thee Well
4. House Of The Rising Sun
5. All My Trials
6. Wildwood Flower
7. Donna Donna
8. John Riley
9. Rake And Rambling Boy
10. Little Moses
11. Mary Hamilton (Child No 173)
12. Henry Martin (Child No 250)
13. El Preso Numero Nueve (The Ninth Prisoner)