Judy Collins #3/Judy Collins Concert [Live] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Judy Collins #3/Judy Collins Concert [Live] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Anathea

2. Bullgine Run

3. Farewell

4. Hey Nelly Nelly

5. Ten O'Clock All Is Well

6. Dove

7. Masters of War

8. In the Hills of Shiloh

9. Bells of Rhymney

10. Deportee/Plane Wreck at los Gatos

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Winter Sky

2. Last Thing on My Mind

3. Tear Down the Walls

4. Bonnie Boy Is Young

5. Me & My Uncle

6. Wild Rippling Water

7. Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

8. My Ramblin' Boy

9. Red-Winged Blackbird

10. Coal Tattoo

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Digitally Remastered Edition of Two Classic LPs Combined in a Deluxe Double CD Package. Collins Established Herself as One of the Foremost Interpreters of Traditional Material on her Third Album, which Mixes Standards with Pristine Covers of Compositions by Bob Dylan, Bob Gibson, Pete Seeger (A Fine Version of Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Here) , Ewan Maccoll and Shel Silverstein. With Jim (Roger) Mcguinn Arranging and Playing Second Guitar and Banjo, this Album, Had a Clear (If Overlooked) Influence on the Folk-rock He Pioneered with the Byrds a Couple Years Later. "in Concert" was Recorded at Town Hall in New York in 1964. Collins Stirs Up the Audience with a Rich Mixture of Traditional and Contemporary Covers, Including Billy Ed Wheeler's "Coal Tattoo" and Tom Paxton's "Ramblin' Boy." The Set Includes New Liner Notes, Rarely-seen Photos and Contemporary Ephemera.

Tracks:

Turn! Turn! Turn!/To Everything There Is a Season
So Early, Early in the Spring
Suzanne
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Both Sides Now
Since You've Asked
Albatross
My Father
Someday Soon
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Chelsea Morning (single version)
Farewell to Tarwathie
Song for Judith (Open the Door)
Cook with Honey
Send in the Clowns
Amazing Grace

Album Description

This definitive 16-track collection gathers signature singles and album cuts from her nine Elektra albums spanning 1964 to 1975. Co-produced by Judy Collins and featuring backing performances by Stephen Stills, Van Dyke Parks, Ray Baretto, and more.

Customer Reviews:

She Does it Beautifully.......2007-06-08

Judy Collins has great emotion in her graceful, harmonic voice.

She emits love, sorrow, and joy and peace.

Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Both Sides Now, Send in the Clowns and her wonderful rendition of Amazing Grace are classics

Highly recommended!

NOT The Very Best of Judy Collins ..........2007-05-07

I sent my first copy of this CD back to Amazon because it sounded like it had been over-modulated when it was transferred from vinyl or tape. No problem with that ... Amazon's return/replacement policies are the best. The problem was that this replacement CD was also over-modulated; even more so than my original shipment.

For the non-technical, on this CD all of Ms. Collins' exquisite high notes sound "shattered" and blurry; a by-product of recording the material at too high a volume ... a sound engineering problem called 'Over-modulating.'

I like almost all of the songs on this CD (especially 'Someday Soon,' and have this album in a treasured LP. However, the process of re-mastering it onto CD was poorly engineered, resulting in the 'shattering,' blurring, and over-modulation problems I experienced.

Save your money and buy either the audio tape or the LP version of this fine and pioneering recording, which was the epitome of the flower-power era. I have not sent my replacement CD back to Amazon for another try. I'm too discouraged to try again.

Nice Sounds.......2006-06-26

As I have stated on my other review of Judy Collins work this is noce sounds and eash to listen to whild working.
While they are songs from my past, at least you can understand the words and they are not hard on the years.

The voice of an Angel..........2005-08-13

This is an exceptional album by any standards and ridiculous value.

While most of her classics are on here, there are many other tracks that blew me away - such as the ONLY example of the danceable, single version of Chelsea Morning to appear on an album.

The other two songs that were a surpsise sensation to me were Judy's own song, Since You've Asked, and her simply breathtaking version of the old whaling song Farewell To Tarwathie. This is made all the more haunting by the presence of whale song from humpback whales, which Judy added in herself, from a tape that came from a marine biologist friend, Dr. Roger Payne.

To cap it all, the mini booklet contains wonderful bio info and many stunning shots of this impossibly beautiful woman.

Invaluable.

A great single CD of Judy's music.......2005-04-13

One of the most important folk-pop singers of the twentieth century, Judy recorded most of the songs for which she is best remembered in the sixties although she recorded plenty of great music in the seventies. Judy had three major international hits (Both sides now, Amazing grace, Send in the clowns) but she certainly deserved to have plenty more.

Among the other songs are Who knows where the time goes (written and first recorded by Sandy Denny), Chelsea morning (written, like Both sides now, by Joni Mitchell), Someday soon (a country song) and Turn turn turn (originally recorded by Pete Seeger with lyrics lifted from the biblical Book of Revelations, this song became famous when covered by the Byrds).

For a really in-depth Judy Collins compilation, go for the double-CD, Forever. If you only want a single CD of Judy's music, you'll find all the classic tracks here.

Average customer rating:

5 STARS FOR BELOVED JUDY !
A FANTASTIC ALBUM!
Fantastic
Take a sad song and make it better"?

Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Wildflower
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song

ASIN: B000QFAEJG
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

And I Love Her
Blackbird
Golden Slumbers
Penny Lane
Norwegian Wood
When I'm Sixty-Four
Good Day Sunshine
Hey Jude
We Can Work It Out
Yesterday
I'll Follow the Sun
Long And Winding Road

Amazon.com

That the mainstream folk goddess has become quite a formidable torch singer in her golden years should surprise no one. Ms. Collins has always shone brightest as an interpreter of other's songs, from traditional folk tunes to such notable covers as her takes on Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" and Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns." Not far from 70 years of age at the time of this album's release, Ms. Collins lends a gentle irony to her reading of "When I'm 64." But her voice is clear; it's as youthful and plaintive as it's been in years. And on tracks like "Norwegian Wood" and "Blackbird," it's flat-out gorgeous. Ably backed by studio musicians Larry Campbell, Tony Levon, and Zev Katz, these jazzy renditions of your favorite Beatle numbers--though where's "Revolution"?--are simply a delight. Buy it for your mom, but treat yourself to a listen first. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

5 STARS FOR BELOVED JUDY !.......2007-07-30

The 4 reviews prior to this one including the reviewer's say enough : Judy Collins is an extraordinary woman. And the people who wrote these articles (from the USA, of course, but European countries, too) are first class, too. I was never particularly attracted by The Beatles whose music looks often like "dépassée", "old stuff" in France at the moment. Particularly for young people. Judy recorded "In my life" and lately "Let it be" which are so good versions.
In this CD all is great : the songs, the musicians, the recording and Judy's voice above all. This CD is for me, too, the confirmation that Judy's teacher (the late Max Margulis, member of the so renowned "Blue Note") was right : She has kept her wonderful voice in spite of ageing... She is AN ANGEL with such a soulfull voice : it must be the reason why !

A FANTASTIC ALBUM!.......2007-07-26

JUDY COLLINS'S new album is truly quite a masterpiece.
I never was a BEATLES-fan, but hearing her interpretations of
these songs makes me just realize the greatness of these songs.
She brings a closeness to the lyrics, and her mucicality and artistry
that she has used on her other wonderful work throughout the years
makes this a fantastic album.
All 12 songs are just great, and if you did not know it, they could very well have been written with JUDY'S voice in mind.
The arrangements on each song is perfect and the musicians are brilliant.
This is really a great work of art!

Fantastic.......2007-07-24

At first, the notion of Judy Collins doing an all Beatles cd turned me off: who could improve on the originals? But this cd, the more I listen to it, really grows on me and I very much enjoy Collins's varied interpretations. In fact, she makes some of these tunes sound new again and who would have thought that possible? She is especially good on "Blackbird" and "Long and Winding Road," but also shines on "And I Love Her" and "Good Day Sunshine." "I'll Follow the Sun" was a perfect choice for her, as well. I'm not crazy about the children's choir on "Hey Jude," and it was a brave venture on her part to even record this classic...it works well in spots, but the ending kind of falls apart, in my opinion. The most remarkable thing about this cd is Collins's voice; it sounds as clear and crisp and warm as it did decades ago; in some ways, it sounds as if it's improved over time. I never would have guessed when I first started listing to Collins in 1968 that she would still be putting out albums almost 40 years later. All in all, this is a cd I would highly recommend. In my opinion, Judy could sing the alphabet and make it truly her own...at this point in her career she has nothing to prove, and it seems as if she's having lots of fun taking on the Beatles. Thanks again, Judy, for blessing us with your remarkable voice and keep on singing!

Take a sad song and make it better"?.......2007-07-17

After having recorded an all Dylan and then an all Leonard Cohen CD, Judy Collins finally sings twelve Lennon-McCartney songs. (Is it possible that she has only recorded one Beatles song previously, her glorious rendition of "In My Life"?) My favorite is "Yesterday," with a simple, mostly piano accompaniment, followed closely by "Blackbird," "When I'm Sixty-four" and "Hey Jude." "When I'm Sixty-four" is particularly poignant since John Lennon, as the whole world knows, was killed years ago and never made that magic number. Collins adds a nice touch by changing the final phrase to "when I'm 84." Adding a children's choir to "Hey Jude" works nicely as well. The selections that work best are those with fewer rather than more instruments (including Korg Triton and Minimoog) accompanying Ms. Collins.
"And I Love Her" and "Norwegian Wood" suffer from too much loud background music and should be remixed.

Ms. Collins faces the dilemma that everyone faces when he or she records music that the original group or singer has already made famous. While her arrangements of these familiar songs are perfectly fine, she does not improve on the originals. No one will ever sing "When I'm Sixty-four" and "Yesterday" better than the Beatles for the precise reason that they sang beautifully together. (The women who did a tribute album to Dolly Parton had the same problem a few years ago.) In a word, it is a lot easier to improve on a song sung by Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen than John Lennon and Paul McCartney. On the other hand, that a singer in her sixth decade is still singing and doing it so beautifully is cause for rejoicing.

While this is not Ms. Collins' best CD (I would give that to the outrageously wonderful "Who Knows Where the Times Goes"), her tribute to Lennon-McCartney is certainly worth listening to and far better than what most of her contemporaries are recording.

Average customer rating:

Ripped off by Amazon
"WILDFLOWERS": JUDY COLLINS' ARTISTIC SUPREMACY
A Lovely Bouquet
Music, Memories, and Magic
Wildflowers by Judy Collins: A Meticulous and Melliflous Offering by a Folk=Rock Princess

Wildflowers
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In My Life
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
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Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins

ASIN: B000002I26
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Michael From Mountains
Since You Asked
Sisters Of Mercy
Priests
A Ballata Of Francesco Landini
Both Sides Now
La Chanson Des Vieux Amants
Sky Fell
Albatross
Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye

Amazon.com essential recording

She began her career as a folk formalist. Her clear, clean diction and perfect pitch wedded to both age-old folk songs and modern upstarts (Dylan, Eric Andersen) cast her as an immediate authority. With In My Life and Wildflowers she began to shift away from pure folk and into art song. Arranged and conducted by Joshua Rifkin, the disc's orchestration adds a suitable grace to Collins's high seriousness. Joni Mitchell's two compositions are further softened, while Leonard Cohen's three songs sound positively biblical. Toss in a Jacques Brel piece and a 14th-century Italian ballad, and you have the perfect formation of Collins's aesthetic before it congealed in the middle of the road. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Ripped off by Amazon.......2007-04-15

I never received this item. I've never received a refund from Amazaon. It's been weeks since I told them about a non-delivery. They've written to say they've had it returned, but I haven't received a refund.

Neal Kirby

"WILDFLOWERS": JUDY COLLINS' ARTISTIC SUPREMACY.......2006-12-14

Judy Collins' "Wildflowers" is the epitome of avant-garde chic. It was released in 1967 and Judy obviously had the artistry, musicianship and nerve to release such an daring album, in the process paving the way for the modern "art-song", as "Wildflowers" straddles the gap between popular and classical music.

Recorded entirely backed by orchestral instruments, Judy Collins' "Wildflowers" contains songs which the artist presents with a classical aire yet still somehow have a popular music accessibility to them.

On "Wildflowers", the songwriting is particularly strong: Judy chose and combined material from a then unknown Joni Mitchell ("Michael From Mountains", about an elusive young man, opens the album and "Both Sides, Now", with it's glorious harpsichord arrangement, became a big hit single); Leonard Cohen ("Sisters Of Mercy", the trance-like "Priests" and the vocal harmony-layered "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" are each one more beautiful than the other!); the legendary French composer Jacques Brel ("La Chanson de Les Vieux Amants", sung in French); and a traditional 14th century Italian chant ("A Ballata di Francesco Landini" - honestly, I don't know where she digs up some of these interesting pieces!).

At the advice of her fan, then friend, then ultimately mentor, Leonard Cohen, Collins had just begun songwriting herself; and the album is rounded out by her very own first three compositions: the abstract "Sky Fell", the imagery-laden "Albatross" and "Since You Asked", all three beautiful and polished, sounding like the works of a seasoned writer.

All of these songs are further enhanced by Judy's wonderful singing. While being technically proficient, her vocals have a warmth and sincerity which brings each song full circle by making them resonate with the truth of the subject matter, lending an understanding to the listener.

"Wildflowers" is a magnificent album which does, indeed, stand up to the test of time: it is still a fresh bouquet all these years later.

A Lovely Bouquet.......2006-10-03

JUDY COLLINS is one of the very few female folk soloists to not only retain a strong popular following, but who rose to the level of "superstardom". She realized her wish to sing "art songs" with an accompanying achievement of seemingly going from an alto to soprano. Compare her early work (Judy Collins, In My Life, etc.) to the music that followed. Her original material comprises much of her repertoire ever since the transition in the 70's. Calling Leonard Cohen a "mentor," Judy Collins often includes his songs on her CD's. Her latest, Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen is testament to that.

"Wildflowers" is one of Judy Collin's best.
Whales & Nightingales
In My Life
Judith
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy
Forever: An Anthology

Music, Memories, and Magic.......2006-02-20

My favorite Judy Collins album of all time -- each song a gem, including 3 by Judy herself, 2 penned by Joni Mitchell, and 3 written by Leonard Cohen. I first found the LP in the late 1960s (I still have that record!) and was delighted to find the CD, taking the opportunity to purchase 3 more CDs by Collins at the same time. Collins has a beautiful voice, and before Enya and Celtic Woman, Collins had that lovely, lilting sound. This is music I have loved most of my life and will continue to enjoy for many years to come.

Wildflowers by Judy Collins: A Meticulous and Melliflous Offering by a Folk=Rock Princess.......2005-11-20

Judy Collins I remember, was around when I always had a guitar in my hand and my hair always touched my shoulder. Judy was there in the beginning; Gerdes Folk City, the Cafe Wah, Dylan tramping around on W. 4th street, Sullivan and Bleeker and me-I was in the Fountain strummin away and tunin' out. This partcular album focuses on the typical Judy fare, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell material spun in an unpretentious and totally innocent delivery, the clarity of which is a stand alone Judy trademark. Judy is my age presently, maybe a little older. She looks more conservative now and is showing the paunchy, matronly facade of a senior citizen as she should. But I will always remember the exceptionally attractive, pleasingly slim folk singer who captivated me with her wonderfully crafted cover songs and impressed me with her powerful entree with the Dylans, Crosby Stills and Cohens of the imperial folksinger's castle where only the elite may reside. Purchase Wildflowers by Judy Collins and go back to a time when Love was in the air and your hair touched your shoulder.

Jay R. Adler- Massapequa, New York

Average customer rating:

A Disappointing CD
"IN MY LIFE": JUDY COLLINS SETS THE ARTISTIC PACE
In my ears
What's left to say?
Thank You Once More Judy

In My Life
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Judith

ASIN: B000002I2D
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Tom Thumb's Blues
Hard Lovin' Loser
Pirate Jenny
Suzanne
La Colombe
Marat/Sade: Homage To Marat; Marat We're Poor; People's Reaction; Poor Old Marat
I Think It's Going To Rain Today
Sunny Goodge Street
Liverpool Lullaby
Dress Rehearsal Rag
In My Life

Amazon.com essential recording

Folky chanteuse Judy Collins is generally known for two things: Her great eyes (memorialized by Stephen Stills) and her ability to interpret other people's songs in that crystalline voice. 1966's In My Life, her sixth record overall, was considered a watershed when it was released--the album on which Collins moved beyond narrowcast protest-folk and into more expansive, romantic, contemplative material: everything from cabaret theatrics (Brecht and Weil's "Pirate Jenny," the wonderful medley "Marat/Sade") to pop (the Beatles' title tune) to undiscovered brooders ("Suzanne" by the then-unknown Leonard Cohen). Yeah, there's a Dylan song on here ("Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"), but the record is more often (gasp!) sexy than polemic. Along with Who Knows Where the Time Goes and Wildflowers, one of Collins' three best albums. --Keven McAlester

Customer Reviews:

A Disappointing CD.......2007-05-11

I love Judy Collins. She is a singer that you never outgrow. But this is one of the most disappointing compilations of her music that I've ever come across. If you want to hear the songs you remember, or experience the woman that you've heard about, you'll want to get some of her earlier recordings. This one doesn't do her justice.

"IN MY LIFE": JUDY COLLINS SETS THE ARTISTIC PACE.......2007-02-13

Judy Collins' "In My Life" has always been highly referred to as being innovative, artsy, and classy; and all of these accolades are quite true. For with "In My Life", Judy straddled the gap between pure folk music and popular music in many of its delineations, setting the pace for musical artistry.

The orchestral arrangements which would come to the forefront with her following release, "Wildflowers", show their origins in her work with this strong 1966 release as evidenced by the lovely, almost classical-sounding arrangement given to Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", the opening cut, and two other extremely strong tracks - "Marat/Sade" and "Pirate Jenny", both from the theatre and both important in the messages the artist wishes to convey: the inappropriateness of political and social oppression with the former and the need for equality with the latter.

Elsewhere on this album there are further strong musical commentaries including "La Colombe", a fierce anti-war diatribe, and the very first recordings of songs by the incredible songwriting master, Leonard Cohen: "Dress Rehearsal Rag" and most importantly "Suzanne", a beautiful folk-pop number about how one's love can be as strong and as equal whether the subject of one's love/desire be as lowly as Suzanne "wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters" or a lofty as Jesus Christ, Himself.

Another track which is potent in its meaning and, given the same sublime solo-acoustic guitar treatment as "Suzanne", reaches new pinnalces of meaning thereby, is the title track, a beautiful rendering of The Beatles' "In My Life".

I also really love the fun of Richard Farina's "Hard Lovin' Loser", with its great keyboard arrangements and jazzy drum highlights, and Donovan's hippy-dippy "Sunny Goodge Street". "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" is also a standout cut, stark in its performance, highlighting Randy Newman's bleak lyrics of portend.

Judy's vocals on this album are just amazing: she sings with a ferocious fervor on "Pirate Jenny", "Marat/Sade" and "La Colombe"; an almost accusatory exactness on "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag"; a rock-and-roll verve on "Hard Lovin' Loser"; a loving, touching sweetness on "Suzanne" and "In My Life". All the emotions that each of the eleven tracks on this album hold are fully realized in her gorgeous singing.

Judy Collins' "In My Life" is one of those albums from the mid-1960s which showed that the true artists populating the music scene at that time were quite serious about the intent to bring change into the world via their artistic sensibilities; and Judy Collins was certainly at the forefront of that endeavor. "In My Life" was cutting-edge in its time and still is.

In my ears.......2007-01-09

A variety of styles of songs and productions fronted by a vocal intelligence and ability that makes sound magic.

What's left to say?.......2005-01-26

To quote the reviewer before me, "Write a review for a masterpiece? Are you kidding?" This album has so many personal memories for me as well... my sister and I used to love to act out "Pirate Jenny" and "Marat/Sade." The other reviewers have taken the rave words right out of my keyboard. I just wanted to add one more 5 star review to one of the best albums ever -- far and away my favorite Judy Collins album, no question about it.

Thank You Once More Judy.......2005-01-21

Write a review for a masterpiece? Are you kidding? All I know is when this album came out I was a senior in high school, and essential listening then was Up Up And Away, Do You Know The Way To San Jose?, I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night and Incense and Peppermints. Needless to say Judy made a whole lot bigger impression on me. In My Life was my initial introduction to the world of Judy Collins. What followed was a fantasmogloria of songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan and more. Was there ever a better interpreter of the aforementioned composors? I sure don't think so.

But lucky me...A few short years ago I was seated at Elines in NYC, having a late night supper and who do you suppose was seated right next to me?...Yeah, Judy!!!! Well at least I had my golden opportunity to thank her for all the wonderful hours of listening pleasure she brought me.

Take it from me. In My Life and Wildflowers are ESSENTIAL listening. Forget all that Incense and San Jose Up Up and Too Much To Dream nonsense. This one is timeless and forevever. Thank you once more Sweet Judy Blue Eyes.

Average customer rating:

A Perfect Judy Collins Collection
A fine collection of some great songs
Graceful and elegant
We dream of better days.....
. . . exquisitely naked . . .

Forever: An Anthology
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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The Complete A&M Recordings
Whales & Nightingales
Wildflowers
The Very Best of Judy Collins

ASIN: B000002HQX
Release Date: 1997-10-28

Tracks:

Someday Soon
Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Chelsea Morning
Suzanne
Born to The Breed
Maid Of Constant Sorrow
Since You've Asked
Bread And Roses
In The Hills Of Shiloh
City Of New Orleans
The Fallow Way
Grandaddy
My Father
La Chanson Des Vieux Amants
In My Life
Marat Sade
Send In The Clowns

Tracks:

Both Sides Now
Desperado
Masters Of War
Fisherman Song
So Early, Early In The Spring
First Boy I Loved
Albatross
Hard Lovin' Loser
In The Heat Of The Summer
Pirate Jenny
Turn, Turn, Turn
Salt Of The Earth
Farewell To Tarwathie
Spanish Is The Loving Tongue
Nothing Lasts Forever
Walls (We Are Not Forgotten)
Bird On A Wire
Amazing Grace

Amazon.com essential recording

Though she's filed as a folk artist, Judy Collins is much, much more. She is a connoisseur of song whose intelligence of selection and grace of execution have been a model for interpretive vocalists for decades. This two-disc retrospective is not arranged chronologically but it hits all the high points of her journey from trad-folk priestess to art-song master. Along the way, she has helped acquaint us with the works of Bob Dylan, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Jacques Brel. And when, with the moving "My Father" in 1968, she began adding her own songs to the mix, there was no drop in quality whatsoever. --Ben Edmonds

Customer Reviews:

A Perfect Judy Collins Collection.......2007-01-21

JUDY COLLINS is one of the very few female folk soloists to not only retain a strong popular following, but who rose to the level of "superstardom". She realized her wish to sing "art songs" with an accompanying achievement of seemingly going from an alto to soprano. Compare her early work (Judy Collins, In My Life, etc.) to the music that followed. Her original material comprises much of her repertoire ever since the transition in the 70's. Calling Leonard Cohen a "mentor," Judy Collins often includes his songs on her CD's. Her latest, Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen is testament to that.

Wildflowers
Whales & Nightingales
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy
Judith
Who Knows Where the Time Goes

A fine collection of some great songs.......2005-10-30

These are some of Judy Collins' best songs. Collins actually began her professional singing career in 1959 and made her first album in 1961. Over the next few years, she became (in my opinion) the finest interpreter of folk music in the nation.

Many of the songs on this two-disc set are by Collins herself. But as I said, it is her ability to interpret the music of others (and her superb voice) that sets her apart.

Some examples of her interpretations on these discs that I particularly enjoy are:

Someday Soon (by Ian Tyson)
Suzanne (by Leonard Cohen)
City of New Orleans (by Steven Goodman)
In My Life (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney)
Send in the Clowns (by Stephen Sondheim)
Both Sides Now (by Joni Mitchell)
Masters of War (by Bob Dylan)
Hard Lovin' Loser (by Richard Farina)
In the Heat of the Summer (by Phil Ochs)
Pirate Jenny (Brecht-Weill-Blitzstein)
Turn, Turn, Turn (from Ecclesiastes but interpreted more recently by Pete Seeger)
Salt of the Earth (by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards)
Amazing Grace (traditional, but interpreted by Judy Collins)

I highly recommend this lovely two-disc set.

Graceful and elegant.......2004-12-17

This superb compilation is a showcase of Collins as folk singer and interpreter of the art song. My personal favorites on disc one include the yearning Someday Soon, her version of Sandy Denny's poignant Who Knows Where The Time Goes and Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, plus the lilting City Of New Orleans (Steve Goodman) and the elegant Send In The Clowns (Sondheim).

Highlights on disc two are her versions of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now, Cohen's Bird On A Wire and The Byrd's Turn! Turn! Turn! plus the beautiful and sad Spanish Is The Loving Tongue. Oh yes, and the gripping Amazing Grace, one of the biggest hits of her career, a tour de force of a cappella vocals.

Her pristine voice and the beautiful arrangements ensure listening pleasure on every track, including the nostalgic, autobiographical My Father and the gaelic folk song Farewell To Tarwathie. Her graceful and intelligent delivery is a joy to the ears as she makes all these memorable songs her own. Collins emerged as a folk singer in the 1960s but has transcended the genre and created a timeless and austerely beautiful body of work.

We dream of better days............2004-08-23

After years of playing the recordings, I finally bought a CD with many of my favorite Judy Collins' tunes. Judy was a favorite performer for "wacko" feminists like me, as well as plenty of other brave souls who thought they could change the world way back in the enlightened ages. Collins was first and foremost on the front lines with the PEOPLE participating in the movements of the 60s and 70s. Large and small causes caught her attention. Disenfranchised groups including Women, People of Color, Small fishermen fighting the big interests, porters and engineers fighting railroad moguls, and many others could count on Judy. If you want to relive the joyful and hopeful tunes that inspired PROGRESS, this is the CD to buy. I listened to Carly, to Joan, and to Janice, but I wore out my Judy records. Judy's inspirational tunes have a new role during these bleak times, when all we gained seems threatened by the ignorant and greedy who dominate our country. `Bread and Roses' on this CD is as inspiring march tune as anything from `Les Miz'and `The City of New Orleans' is a treasure.

. . . exquisitely naked . . ........2004-07-13

I just finished listening to the entire compilation, and when I checked the listener reviews I was nudged to express a few ideas. Many of the reviewers make excellent points. Agreed, this is not the "perfect" collection from a reviewer's perspective, but I'm not sure that that kind of perfection was what Judy was aiming for. She is baring herself in this album, making herself strategically, exquisitely naked. How so? By letting us hear not just her most highly acclaimed songs (though most of them are indeed here) but also ones with other elements of her oeuvre, songs perhaps not as pleasing to our hyper-scrutiny, yet she reveals all, whether we get the aesthetic logic of her choices or not. Therein she is being both mature and honest -- "in the altogether." Maybe I'm wrong but I think that the song "Fallow Way" has some special significance that "unfleshes out" (to coin a phrase) this theme, leaving room for more crops to be planted in the musical territory she has already so beautifully plowed.

Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins

Average customer rating:

(It's) this one (if going via 'greatest hits')
Lovely, enduring classic
Great album, worthless audio
Just Add Headphones !
Sons of

Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Judith
Wildflowers
The Very Best of Judy Collins
Recollections: The Best of Judy Collins
Who Knows Where the Time Goes

ASIN: B000002I2T
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Someday Soon
Since You Asked
Both Sides Now
Sons Of
Suzanne
Farewell To Tarwathie
Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Sunny Goodge Street
My Father
Albatross
An My Life
Amazing Grace

Amazon.com

Fans of this most unsullied of folksingers have strong options when it comes to retrospectives. Colors of the Day first arrived in record stores in 1972 and serves as a primer to her earliest, most time-honored recordings, including the hits "Someday Soon," "Both Sides Now," "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" and "Suzanne." Those four tracks, as well as four others, turn up on Elektra's 1997 two-disc Forever...The Judy Collins Anthology, which is by far the superior career overview. Still, those who treasure Collins's earlier folk-based recordings over her later art-song experiments will find Colors to their liking. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

(It's) this one (if going via 'greatest hits').......2007-04-18

I'd suggest just going all the way and getting In My Life and Whales & Nightingales, but if you're uncertain or cheap or whatever, this is the best of the comps.

No "Send In The Clowns"!

Ok, it's true - Collins managed to bring fame to Joni Mitchell by mangling "Both Sides Now" (it's just drenched). Dialectically enough, her take on "In My Life" strips the the studio artifice of the original and gets vividly deep into the tune's soul.

The best thing about this collection, however, is the generous amount of Collins' own compositions. "Since You Asked," "Sons Of" and "Albatross" are three serious 1960's art song contenders.

Also: the version here of "Who Knows Where The Times Goes" removes the Stephen Stills' electric guitar, shines up his acoustic and lets Collins free to do her storytelling best.

Nice.

Lovely, enduring classic.......2007-03-15

One of my most loved albums in university in the early 70s, and now my 17 year old daughter feels the same way. Her extraordinary clear voice and range of emotion, and flawless delivery compliment an amazing variety of styles, pure folk, country. Broadway, classic ballads (Suzanne), or spirituals (Amazing Grace) and not a bad song on the album. Jacque Brel's "Sons of..." still brings tears to my eyes after all these years.

She was, simply, a treasure, and this album is a must to own.

Great album, worthless audio.......2004-03-15

Buyer beware: this Elektra version of the wonderful Judy Collins "Colors of the day" has bad mastering. The tape Elektra used was obviously played back with Dolby-C, while not encoded as such. This disc should have been taken off the market. Try and find the gold disc instead.

Just Add Headphones !.......2003-12-07

"Farewell To Tarwathie" and "Suzanne" from "Colors Of The Day-The Best Of Judy Collins" are regualarly featured on my online radio station "Acoustic Paradise" that broadcasts via live365.com. "She feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China...(Suzanne)...what's not to love !!!Radiant...Brilliant...Sparkling !

Sons of.......2003-10-21

This is the only CD I can find that as what I think is perhaps one of Judy Collins' most haunting and beautiful and sad songs. "Sons Of"... probably one of her least known as well. I remember hearing it for the first time when I came across the tape a few days after the shootings at Collumbine. And, the lyrics seemed so perfect. I listened to the song again shortly after September 11th. This song fits both tragedies so well. And, this CD is worth getting just for that song alone. But, there are many other good songs here as well.

Average customer rating:

Maybe Judy's best singing effort
"JUDITH": JUDY COLLINS' MELTING POT MASTERPIECE
Oh, and those eyes...
I went and did it again...
One Album You Will Keep and Enjoy Forever

Judith
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wildflowers
Whales & Nightingales
Colors of the Day: The Best of Judy Collins
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
In My Life

ASIN: B000002GW3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Angel Spread Your Wings
Houses
The Lovin' Of The Game
Song For Duke
Send In The Clowns
Salt Of The Earth
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime
City Of New Orleans
I'll Be Seeing You
Pirate Ships
Born To The Breed

Customer Reviews:

Maybe Judy's best singing effort.......2007-01-03

Judy Collins' voice is in wonderful form on this album. The song picks were excellent & the arrangements wonderful.

"JUDITH": JUDY COLLINS' MELTING POT MASTERPIECE.......2006-12-13

On Judy Collins' twelfth album, she brings all of her diversity to the plate, creating a pastiche that really defines the title, "Judith"; for as her professional beginnings in pure folk are evidenced, they are joined by her classical, pop, rock, country and theatre leanings as well in a perfectly seamless blend.

See, Judy Collins is such a strong musical presence that she is able to take this wide gamut of musical styles and make each song her own.

"Judith" opens with Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" on which her vocals soar above her beautiful piano accompaniment. "Angel, Spread Your Wings" is an airy, breezy folk-rock number on which she really does sound angelic, pardon the pun. She has also included here two countrified gems, Steve Goodman's "City Of New Orleans" and "The Loving Of The Game" as well as a rollicking version of The Rolling Stones' "Salt Of The Earth". These modern classics are balanced with the classic standards "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime" and her breathtakingly gorgeous version of "I'll Be Seeing You".

Judy had started her own songwriting upon Leonard Cohen's advice in the second half of the 60's and three of the songs here are her own magnificnet compositions: "Houses" is a lush, orchestral quasi-classical piece; "Song For Duke" is a beautiful epitaph for Duke Ellington; "Born To The Breed" is about her now-deceased son, Clark, and his coming of age at the time.

Of course, the really big show-stopper here is her immensely popular and perennially favored take on Stephen Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns". Her voice fits this song so perfectly and her phrasing is so immaculate that it's no wonder Judy's has become the quintessential version of this song.

Judy Collins' "Judith" is at the apex of artistic expression. It is a most wonderfully structured and performed set of songs which, ultimately, define who and what Judy Collins is about.

Oh, and those eyes..........2006-12-04

I agree with what other reviewers have said here about the songs, arrangeements, and Judy Collins' crystalline voice. But even after all these years, I love something about this album that has gone unremarked: The fabulous cover portrait highlighting her astonishingly beautiful eyes!

I went and did it again..........2006-05-27

Made myself cry. For many years I could not listen to Judy Collins for each time I did, I thought of my dearest aunt Maryann who died just a few years ago. We would sit and listen with our heads together silently and listen to "Judith" when she was ill and cry. But, I missed Judy and this CD in particular. So, I ordered a new copy and allowed myself to listen to her beautiful and restorative voice. Wonderful memories Judy. "Send in the Clowns" as done by Judy is one of the most beautiful and hopeful songs ever written. Thank you for your gift.

One Album You Will Keep and Enjoy Forever.......2004-04-25

I've had a slightly scratchy version of this album for over 20 years and thoroughly enjoy it,especially when I am in a pensive mood, or just want to hear some inspirational music, often with a social message that transcends the decades ---including "Salt of the Earth." Now I'm finally upgrading to a CD.
The tribute to Duke Ellington brings me close to tears each time I hear it. And now that baseball season is upon us, the late, great Steve Goodman(a devout Chicago Cub fan) is remembered with a solid version of his "City of New Orleans." The listener can feel part of that venerable train as it heads downstate in Illinois.
Judy Collins has done so much for the world, and the world of music, so it is impossible to single out just one album ---but make sure you have this one (in a new CD if possible) in your collection. And take a ride with her on the City of New Orleans as it rolls down the track with "the disappearing railroad blues."

Average customer rating:

a classic that stands the test of time
Collins' rock record
"WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES": JUDY COLLINS' FOLK-ROCK MASTERPIECE
A Landmark
FolkRockin

Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wildflowers
In My Life
Whales & Nightingales
Fifth Album
Judith

ASIN: B000002I2E
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Hello, Hooray
Story Of Isaac
My Father
Someday Soon
Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Poor Immigrant
First Boy I Loved
Bird On The Wire
Pretty Polly

Amazon.com essential recording

By the time this 1967 title hit the racks, Judy Collins was earning a deserved reputation for having an ear for promising songwriters. The album's predecessor, In My Life, provided early exposure to a couple of young songsmiths named Leonard Cohen and Randy Newman. With Who Knows, the folkie princess turned her luminous gaze toward up-and-coming British folk-rockers Sandy Denny (who penned the title track) and the Incredible String Band's Robin Williamson ("First Boy I Loved"). Toss in the hit version of Ian Tyson's "Someday Soon," a couple more Cohen numbers ("Story of Isaac" and "Bird on a Wire"), and Collins's own "My Father," along with a crack crew of players (including Van Dyke Parks and Stephen Stills), and you have an estimable early singer-songwriter record. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

a classic that stands the test of time.......2007-07-15

The second you hear the first chords of "Hello Hooray" you know you're in for something great. I don't know if I'd call it folk, more like modern American Standards (Dylan and Leonard Cohen, indeed). Judy Collins uses her seemingly flawless vocals to conjure up a patchwork of rich emotions -- taking you through optimism, sadness, regret, longing and innocent hope. That's typical for Judy Collins though. What seems unique about this album is that she sings in a lower register and with more definite phrasing, so she sounds more like a story teller than on other albums (a lot like in the 9/11 tribute song she wrote). The stories become rich under her command, so we are grabbed by the urgency of "Story of Isaac", the hope in "Someday Soon" and the mixed pensive sentiment in the beautiful "My Father". If you've ever liked Judy Collins but perhaps aren't familiar with the songs on this album, give it a try -- she sounds great.

Collins' rock record.......2007-05-09

Recorded live in the studio, and what a dream team for the sessions! The heaviest cat, of course, is Stills - right between Buffalo Springfield and CSN - and his guitar work rates with the best of his career. (His coda solo on "First Boy I Loved" must have been on Mark Knopfler's turntable for weeks.) "Hello Hooray," later covered (perhaps nuked) by Alice Cooper, is splendid fun - and shows off just what a great singer Collins was. Her own compositions are, justifiably, a bit simpler with the rock context than other, arty and orchestrated sessions. Not as wonderous as In My Life or Whales and Nightingales but this record is another quintessential piece of the Sixties jigsaw - of which Collins played a major part.

"WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES": JUDY COLLINS' FOLK-ROCK MASTERPIECE.......2007-01-17

Judy Collins' 1968 release "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" is a true folk-rock masterpiece which may very well have set the standard and was the template for the modern folk-rock wave that took hold of the music scene by by dawning of the 1970s. Filled with masterly covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Fairport Convention, The Incredible String Band and Ian Tyson, "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" has a country-rock edge to it and a smattering of her classical inclinations mixed into its folkiness.

The album starts out with "Hello, Hooray", a rousing number about performing, something the hard-working Collins knows quite a bit about.

Next up is Cohen's bizarre tale, "Story Of Isaac", with its religious overtones and its haunting harpsichord accompaniment. On this album, she's also covered (what I feel) is the premier cover of his "Bird On A Wire", done in a countrified style, as is Ian and Sylvia's "Someday Soon", a hit for Judy.

Collins' beautiful soprano floats on Dyaln's "Pity The Poor Immigrant" and The Incredible String Band's "First Boy I Loved".

The title track is by the late Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention and is a shining example of how Judy Collins' artistry can make a song her very own.

The eerie "Pretty Polly" (a "traditional" song and, again, I don't know where Collins digs up some of these interesting things she's recorded over the years) is a staggering account of physical abuse and murder with a moral to it.

Her own composition, "My Father", is truly magnificent and shows what a polished songwriter and keyboardist she is.

"Who Knows Where The Time Goes" really moves and is another album from Judy Collins' pinnacle of fame that has stood the test of time, sounding as modern as ever amidst the new trend of Americana-flavored music which has made headway in recent years and is a great example of the influence she has had on the music world.

A Landmark.......2005-06-11

On this album, Judy Collins interprets a varied collection of the most memorable songs of the time. This masterful album still rates amongst her very best, although in style it veers towards pop and rock, a step away from her folkie repertoire. The opener, Hello Hooray, even sounds like music hall. The playing and the arrangements here are of the highest order.

She exquisitely renders Leonard Cohen's Story Of Isaac and Bird On A Wire (also check out her album of Cohen covers). Her own composition, the autobiographical My Father, is stately and poignant. Other highlights include the masterpiece Who Knows Where The Time Goes (first recorded by Fairport Convention) and First Boy I Loved, written by Robin Williamson of The Incredible String Band. Someday Soon also stands out, a wistful and yearning song of lost love and hope.

She had few hits (I remember only Amazing Grace and Send In The Clowns), but Collins made an enormous contribution in the pure folk, pop and the art singer genres. She stands out, along with luminaries like Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris, as one of truly great female singers of the last 5 decades. I also highly recommend the compilation Forever, a 2-disc set of the very best of her magic.

FolkRockin.......2005-03-25

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this is the only album of it's kind in Judy's entire catalog. At the time of this album's making, Judy was living with Steven Stills, pre CSN. The music shows, as Mr. Stills stripped down the production, and gave Judy a broader canvas to paint not only her folk hooks on, but importantly her Rock hooks as well. This direction wasn't fully used after this one lp, but showed that Judy was in very strong form vocally, straying from her trademark falsetto singing, to really push her deep rich alto voice. Some songs suggest she listened to Grace Slick and Mama Cass in this time period to great effect. Check out Hello-Horray,latered covered by Alice Cooper! and the great climax of Pretty Polly. Should Ms. Collins chose this path, she could have become one of the defenative Female rockers of the sixties. Check this out to see what could have been. Collins alto voice was as powerful as any in the period and boy could she rock!

Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy

Average customer rating:

Judy Collins gets better with age
an excellent overview
A great "Suzanne" but others fall short
Painful
His first interpreter

Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Famous Blue Raincoat
Dear Heather
Essential Leonard Cohen
Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Bowery Songs

ASIN: B0002M5TE8
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Tracks:

Democracy
Suzanne
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Hey, Thatâs No Way To Say Goodbye
Dress Rehearsal Rag
Priests
Night Comes On
Sisters Of Mercy
Story Of Isaac
Bird On The Wire
Famous Blue Raincoat
Joan Of Arc
Take This Longing

Amazon.com

Judy Collins met Leonard Cohen in 1966, at a time when the young Canadian was uncertain about his skills both as a songwriter and a singer. Collins responded powerfully to his music, assuring him that his performance and compositions were alluring and potent. She subsequently covered a number of his songs, and she even coaxed him onto the stage. This disc adds three new recordings to 11 of Collins's previous interpretations. Her crystal-clear vibrato is ideally suited to the slow melodic bearing that Cohen favors. From the country lilt of "Bird on a Wire" to the breathtaking and spare live rendition of "Song of Bernadette," Collins demonstrates why Cohen, more than any other songwriter she has covered, has been a constant presence in her repertoire for nearly 40 years. --David Greenberger

Album Description

Pop interpreter Judy Collins' sublime soprano has long made her a favorite worldwide. Leonard Cohen was an acclaimed poet and novelist when Collins had a 1967 hit with his beautiful and timeless song "Suzanne." She put him on the musical map, he became of the most literate and revered songwriters of our time, and their creative synergy has become one for the ages. This new collection brings together 14 of Judy's indelible versions of Cohen's classic works, including three brand new recordings of Collins-Cohen collaborations.

Customer Reviews:

Judy Collins gets better with age.......2007-02-19

Like a fine wine, Judy Collins has only gotten better with age. Her golden voice echos beauty with every note. If you are a Leonard Cohen fan or not you will turn up your player and listen how Judy has made these songs her own. My wife and I have listened to this collection over and over again as she waves her magic with Cohens best songs.As Great as Judy has been through the years, this collection reaches new levels. I can only hope she makes another one.

an excellent overview.......2007-01-10

This CD is an outstanding compilation of Leonard Cohen songs sung by the premier interpreter of his works. It showcases the uniqueness of Cohen's
composing as well as the versatility and beauty of Judy Collins' voice.

A great "Suzanne" but others fall short.......2006-12-02

Judy Collins has a voice and style that shines on the lilting ballads. She owns "Suzanne" and "Sisters of Mercy", but doesn't have the depth, range or emotion to carry "Joan of Arc" or "Famous Blue Raincoat". If you want to hear, according to Cohen himself, the best interpretations of his songs, get the "Famous Blue Raincoat" CD by Jennifer Warnes...also a master disc recording you can use to demo the best stereo systems available.

Painful.......2006-10-26

I like Judy Collins and I like Leonard Cohen, so I thought this album was a no-brainer for me. Boy was I wrong. Judy's gimmick of recording everything as though she's in an echo-chamber is getting tired. And all her interpretations of the songs are *painfully* slow. I enjoyed "Democracy" (the first song on the album), but the rest was a total wash. I almost didn't listen to the entire thing, but I thought it would be unfair to write a review without giving the whole album one full hearing. But I'm listening to "Song of Bernadette" as I write this review, so I can now say that the entire album, with the exception of "Democracy," as stated above, is just slow, tired, echo-y, and painful. Barely a step above elevator music--not at all what I expected from Judy Collins with such great material! If you like Leonard Cohen, I highly recommend the "Tower of Song" tribute album from a number of different artists, rather than this one.

His first interpreter.......2006-10-05

This tribute album contains previously released tracks from 1966 to 1999 plus new recordings: Democracy, A Thousand Kisses Deep and Night Comes On. The old material is drawn from her albums In My Life (1966), Wildflowers (1967), Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1968), Living (1971), Bread & Roses (1976) and Live At Wolf Trap 1999.

The blend of the old and the new is a definite plus, as it ensures variety in the arrangements and instrumental mix. For example, the title track with its marching beat, piano and keyboards is followed by the lovely acoustic guitar textures of Suzanne, whilst Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye is quite atmospheric with its enchanting flute.

In my opinion, the songs Dress Rehearsal Rag and Priests do not work so well, but they've never been amongst my favourite Cohen compositions. Her version of Night Comes On is a real masterpiece, as is this elegant rendition of Sisters Of Mercy with its intricate instrumentation.

Just like Emmylou Harris slightly altered the lyrics of Dylan's Every Grain Of Sand on her Wrecking Ball album, Collins tweaks a word or two in her version of Story Of Isaac, a song with a very pertinent message for our time. Probably to reflect their personal beliefs in both cases. The song is embellished with beautiful organ and harpsichord.

Bird On A Wire has a distinct country flavour with full instrumentation including pedal steel guitar. In contrast, Famous Blue Raincoat gets an intimate treatment with sparse acoustic guitar. Produced by Arif Mardin, Take This Longing has a delicate recorder flute in the mix, whilst three backing vocalists assist on Joan Of Arc. The album concludes with a live version of the evocative Song Of Bernadette, co-written by Jennifer Warnes.

The CD booklet contains Judy's account of her meeting with Leonard and his enduring influence on her career. Amongst the black and white pictures there is one of them performing together onstage. There is also a dedication from LC and the complete lyrics of Democracy.

As far as LC tribute albums go, Democracy is a huge success. I also recommend Famous Blue Raincoat by Jennifer Warnes and I'm Your Fan with its great variety of contributors. The one titled Tower Of Song is not quite as memorable as the aforementioned although it does contain a gem or two.

Average customer rating:

"WHALES AND NIGHTINGALES": JUDY COLLINS' MUSICAL PANORAMA
Collins' highest achievement
How Could This Ever Have Happened?
This is my favorite album
Judy Collins sing "Amazing Grace" (and with whales)

Whales & Nightingales
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Wildflowers
In My Life
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Judith
Living

ASIN: B000002I2K
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Song For David
Sons Of
The Patriot Game
Prothalamium
Oh, Had I A Golden Thread
Gene's Song
Farewell To Tarwathie
Time Passes Slowly
Marieke
Nightingale I
Nightingale II
Simple Gifts
Amazing Grace

Customer Reviews:

"WHALES AND NIGHTINGALES": JUDY COLLINS' MUSICAL PANORAMA.......2007-01-25

Although somewhat musically related to "Wildflowers" in it's orchestral stylings, Judy Collins' "Whales And Nightingales" has a slighter folk-rock tinge to it and is a more scenic, if you will, view of the world - encapsulating political, social, spiritual, ecological, and romantic concerns into its captivating musical panorama.

"Whales And Nightingales" opens with her compeer Joan Baez's "Song For David", her then-husband who was arrested and jailed for resisting the draft into Vietnam while she waited with their new-born son for his release. It is a powerful song; its power belied by its beauty, as it actually sounds apolitical. It is followed by Jacque Brel's "Sons Of", a solo-piano accompanied lullaby, of sorts, reminding us of the diversity of human life and how all, created equal, can come to so many different paths in life. On this album, Judy has also included Brel's wonderful "Marieke", sung in French and Flemish.

Dylan's "Time Passes Slowly" is one of my favorite tracks here and is a lush, folk-rocking love song; Judy's voice soars on this number, once again showing how well she interprets Dylan. She also does a spectacular job of Pete Seeger's "Oh, Had I A Golden Thread".

Collins, herself, composed for this album: her contributions being "Nightingale I", a romantic song in which she is the nightingale hunted but not struck by the arrow aimed at her by her potential suitor. She accompanies herself on piano, once again showing her classically trained musicianship, which fully blossums on the following "Nightingale II", an ambitious, completely orchestrated classical sounding instrumental piece.

"Whales And Nightingales" also includes traditional songs, supremely arranged and adapted by Collins: "Prothalamium", a song of rejuvination; "Farewell To Tarwathie", a centuries-old Scottish whaling song performed over a backdrop of the songs humpback whales sing to each other, reminding us of the beauty of the natural world and, conversely, how it is NOT to be squandered and depleted; and the closing spiritual cuts "Simple Gifts", about the simple recognition of the essence of being and the gratitude for life; and her colossal hit, "Amazing Grace".

Judy Collins' "Whales And Nightingales" covers a broad spectrum of the issues of life and living. When time is spent with it, lights shine, revealing its messages of hope and faith and peace and love.

Collins' highest achievement.......2006-12-20

Decades of indifferent pop craft and a pandering sentimentality have led many to forget that, during the Sixties, Judy Collins was a major player. This 1970 album was eagerly anticipated across American campuses and easily met everyone's high expectations. If Collins could be compared to Paul Simon (another intelligent and tasteful perfectionist), Whales & Nightingales straddles a halfway mark between the eccentrities of Bookends and the sensuality of Bridge Over Troubled Water. Big statements ("Amazing Grace" and "Golden Thread" ) are tempered by quick-witted vignettes ("Sons Of" and "Prothalamium") and, displaying her keen ear for musicianship, delivers the quintessential version of Joan Baez's intensely personal "Song For David." "Farewell To Tarwathie," the 'whale duet,' is the centerpiece and stands as the 'first New Age' recording. Better yet are the two versions of the brooding "Nightingale" - a convincing argument for Collins' ability as a composer. A song cycle in the grand manner of 1970, the album is probably Collins' final masterpiece.

How Could This Ever Have Happened?.......2006-12-11

It's amazing to think that this varied, sublime work could have been produced, even in a time of music as consciously experimental as back then. Just consider the range of material:

- Amazing Grace: delightful, uninstrumented performance which foregrounds Collins' vocal range and depth. Deservedly classic.
- Farewell to Tarwathie: a whaler tune (!), with no instruments at all, framed by whale songs, performed in a stately, reflective manner. And the whales get the last word, too!
- Song for David: more what you might expect from Collins, from the rest of her work of this period. Very hummable, and upbeat.
- The Patriot Game: Mournful song of Irish political despair.
- Time Passes Slowly: Dylan, but with a delicacy of rustic emotion. One of favorite Dylan tunes, in fact, not least because someone else is singing it.
- Two-Part Nightingale: the first is lyrics-driven; the longer and pure instrumental bliss. Who had this idea?

And others; you get the idea. For sure, in other albums of her from this period you see similar variety, but this is, to my mind, the apex of this gloriously eclectic approach. Some genius of a producer (and perhaps Collins herself) must have combed through an unimaginable amount of material/suggestions to arrive at this stunningly varied, yet supremely evocative collection of songs. Who would ever have thought of a whaling song? How many pop divas would have selected an instrumental? It's a lasting index of Judy Collins' confidence and creativity.

I like many of her other releases, but find myself coming back to this again and again.

This is my favorite album.......2004-09-14

When Whales and Nightingales first came out I was thirteen years old. I fell in love with it then, and continue to love it now. This says a lot for its staying power, since I am a very different person now than I was then, and my musical tastes have changed drastically! Judy Collins' voice is haunting and lovely, and each song is perfect in its own way. Farewell To Tarwaithe, Simple Gifts, and Amazing Grace are my favorites, but there's not a bad song in the bunch. This is a great sing-along album for wanna-be sopranos, or you can listen and marvel at the crystal clarity of her voice. I wish she was doing albums like this now!

Judy Collins sing "Amazing Grace" (and with whales).......2003-04-03

When you listen to "Whales & Nightingales" the big question is which song do you find more haunting, her crystal clear version of "Amazing Grace" or "Farewell to Tarwathie," which is sung over the accompaniment of Humpback Whales. This 1971 album made it all the way to #17 on the pop charts, which makes it her second most successful album after her 1968 "Wildflowers" album. The glorious soprano voice is always there and the quality of a Judy Collins album always comes down to the songs. This time around we have Bob Dylan's "Time Passes Slowly" and songs by Jacques Brel ("Marieke") and Pete Seeger ("Oh Had I a Golden Thread"), as well a nice little original composition ("Sons of"). Consequently, while you can get the two "hits" from this album on her hits collection, there are several other songs well worth having in your music library, making "Whales & Nightingales" a Judy Collins album well worth having.

Music Review:

Music Review

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