The Very Best of Judy Collins

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2005-10-31 rating:
Superb
Judy, Joni or Joan? Who do you prefer? They were the essential North American songstesses of the sixties folk/protest movement. Joni Mitchell was clearly the best songwriter of the three (indeed, one of the best of her generation) and the most accomplished musician. Joan Baez had the best voice; the greatest range and clarity, and the most lyrical tonality. She also exhibited the warmest personality and, yes, she was the best-looking, a real beauty.

Judy Collins is somewhere in between. Her voice is clearer and surer than Joni's, but with not quite the range and tone qualities of Joan's. And her songwriting abilities (as evidenced by four tracks on this CD) are passable but unremarkable. But when she sings other writers' songs, especially traditional songs, and stays within her range, she is superb.

Joshua Rifkin's arrangement for Just Like Tom Thumb Blues, incorporating harp and flutes, is truly beautiful. Also outstanding is Farewell to Tarwathie, a traditional whaling song. These two by themselves are worth the price of admission. There are two Joni Mitchell songs here. Both Sides Now is great, probably the best recording of it. Chelsea Morning is good (this is the version the Clintons heard, and which inspired their daughter's name) but it lacks the quirky charm that Joni brings to it. On Song for Judith, she pushes her voice too high and this is the weakest vocal performance on the CD. This is odd, because it is her own composition, so you would think that she would have written it to suit her range. Her rendition of the Sandy Denny song Who Knows Where the Time Goes, is probably the best there is, even better than Sandy's own recording, which is saying something, as Sandy's voice was very beautiful.

You need to hear Joan, Joni and Judy. As an introduction to, or sampling of, the latter, this CD, a true 'best of' with good sleeve notes, is the one to go for.

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review by: Pete the music fan date: 2005-04-12 rating:
A great single CD of Judy's music
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.

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review by: Toypom date: 2003-05-16 rating:
Folk at its most pristine
These sixteen tracks encompass all of Judy Collins’ most popular and familiar songs and make for delightful listening. There are covers of songs by The Byrds (Turn! Turn! Turn!), Leonard Cohen (Suzanne), Dylan (Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues) and Joni Mitchell (Both Sides Now) and Judy transforms them all with her beautiful voice. It’s hard to pick favourites, but I love her version of Who Knows Where The Time Goes and Send In The Clowns more than any other versions. This graceful album concludes with her stunning a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace, a song hat amazingly made the UK Top 20 in 1971. Once you’ve heard these songs, you’ll want to investigate further and you won’t be disappointed since Collins had a prolific output, all of which is good, most of which is great.


review by: date: 2002-05-26 rating:
A CLASSIC UK FOLK/POP ALBUM
This album covers the spectrum of the late 60's early 70's,with one of the best covers of Pete Seegers Turn Turn Turn and Judy's version of the much recorded Leonard Cohen song Suzanne makes the hairs of the neck stand up.Two UK top ten entries are included in the package Send In The Clowns and Amazing Grace,but any fan will remember the haunting Farewell Tarwathe sung to a backing of whale song.An Album not to be missed as an introduction to or addition to a folk music collection.

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