Wildflowers/Who Knows Where The Time Goes

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Customer reviews

review by: Pete the music fan date: 2009-06-09 rating:
Classic albums from 1967 and 1968
Judy Collins was trained in classical music, but became interested in folk music before beginning her recording career as a traditional folk singer in the early sixties. As the sixties progressed, she absorbed other influences. br / br /Wildflowers, from 1967, utilized orchestral backing that replaced the simple guitar that dominated the instrumentation on her earliest recordings. However, Judy's outstanding voice still retained its place as the primary instrument over all others. The album features three of Judy's own compositions (Since you asked, Sky fell, Albatross), three of Leonard Cohen's (Priests, Sisters of mercy, Hey that's no way to say goodbye) and two of Joni Mitchell's (Both sides now, Michael from mountains) among its ten tracks. One of the other two tracks (Song of old lovers) is a translation of a Jacques Brel song, while the other (A ballata of Francesco Landini) is a very old Italian song. Both sides now (which Joni begged Judy to record) provided Judy with an American top ten pop hit, thereby catapulting both Judy and Joni into the big time. Joni later recorded her own version (first released on Clouds) as did countless other singers including Glen Campbell, Andy Williams and Neil Diamond among others. br / br /Who knows where the time goes?, from 1968, represented another stylistic change, this time to a country-folk-rock sound, the instruments even including a steel guitar played by Buddy Emmons. This album features a broader range of songwriters, though still mostly steeped in the folk music tradition. This was a nine-track album, but the length of some of the tracks makes the playing time about the same as for a normal ten-track album of the era. Judy only wrote one song here (My father) but included two of Leonard Cohen's (Story of Isaac, Bird on the wire). There's also a Bob Dylan song (Poor immigrant) while the title track was written by Sandy Denny, the British singer-songwriter who first came to public attention via the Strawbs and, later and more famously, Fairport Convention. For all the brilliance of these tracks, the standout on this album is Someday soon, an Ian Tyson song that provided Judy with another American hit single. The song has become a country standard, being covered by Crystal Gayle and Suzy Bogguss among others. br / br /These two albums represent, for some, the very best period of Judy's career. It's easy to understand why people think that way, but Judy recorded many other excellent albums that are worth hearing. If these two are Judy's best (and I'm not sure if they are), there are several others that are not far behind them.

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review by: date: 2009-03-19 rating:
Who does know where the time goes?
br /Wildflowers sounds dated and thin but Who Knows where the time goes is a classic. Shame the title track lacks the guitar of Richard Thompson that makes Fairport Convention's version the absolute standard...well Sandy Denny did write it. But 'First boy I loved' and 'Pretty Polly' showcase Judy Collins' fantastic vocal ability and great session musicians make thisa great evening unwind album.

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review by: date: 2009-02-22 rating:
A classic collection
Wildflowers was the first vinyl album I ever bought as a student in the late 60s. Catching up with it again on this double CD (I have Who Knows where the Time Goes on vinyl also) made me remember just what a great singer Judie Collins is and how timeless these albums are. The songs sound just as good now as they were when first released.

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review by: date: 2007-12-26 rating:
exquisite, beautiful deeply moving
I also love these albums and like one of your other reviewers think Judy possesses one of the most beautiful and crystal clear voices of the 1960's - way better than her colleagues from the same era. Wildflowers is the purest album but I do differ with your second reviewer however. I find myself brought to tears each and every time I hear two of her own songs - SkyFell and especially Albatross. Each a deeply touching song - full of yearning, quiet sadness and wistfulness. Please listen....


review by: date: 2007-08-28 rating:
Great recordings; irresistable value.
I remember listening to Judy Collins on vinyl all those years ago, and was happy to see these recordings released on CD at such irresistable prices. br / br /Of the two albums paired here, I much prefer 'Wildflowers'. There are no dud tracks on this album, in which Judy Collins' pure, clear voice is enhanced by the semi-classical arrangements by Joshua Rifkin. I just love those small ensembles of woodwind and brass, unspoilt by intrusive drums or rhythm sections. Judy's own compositions are the weakest ones, but the Collins voice and the Rifkin arrangements make them worth listening to. Her interpretations of other writers, notably Leonard Cohen and Jacques Brel, are better. I first became aware of Jacques Brel through Judy Collins' recordings of his songs. One of them, the achingly beautiful 'La Chanson de Vieux Amants', is here, and singlehandedly makes this a worthwhile purchase. br / br /'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' is more of a mixed bag. Songs vary from the beautiful title track and 'My Father' (possibly my favourite of Judy's self-penned compositions) to the truly atrocious ramblings of 'First Boy I Loved', with some good but unremarkable country influenced songs such as 'Some Day Soon' thrown in. The songs on this album have, on average, more twanging guitars and a stronger beat. br / br /Several early Judy Collins albums now appear to have been re-relaeased in pairs, two on one CD. This is a great idea and equally great value for money. Perhaps it could have been even better if stylistically similar albums had been paired. There are some great tracks on 'Who Knows.....', but for 'Wildflowers' to have been paired with 'Whales and Nightingales' (more wonderful Joshua Rifkin arrangements) or 'In My Life' would have been heaven.

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