Customer Reviews

Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is a wonderful tribute to Judy Collins' underappreciated career as a song writer. All of Ms Collins hits have been written by others -- Both Sides Now, Someday Soon, Amazing Grace. But she has a wonderful catalog of her own songs. This album contains her own songs covered and interpreted by other artists.

Ms Collins's songs tend to be rather melancholy and poetic. In the original recordings, she frequently accompanies herself on the piano with highly romantic sweeping arpeggioes that keep the song in a constant fluid and floral motion. Rufus Wainwright's cover of the dreamlike "Albatross" maintains this arrangement. But many of the songs have been stripped of their original romanticism down to more austere roots: Shawn Colvin's version of "Secret Gardens," Dar Williams on "Weaver Song (Song for Holly Ann)" and Chrissie Hydne's version of "My Father." These new arrangements all work beautifully and let long time fans hear the songs freshly.

With the range of artists here, the songs get a range of treatments from classic folk to country (a fun take on "Fisherman's Song" by Dolly Parton) to Broadway (a warbling Bernadette Peters on "Trust Your Heart") to a surprising techno-dance take on "Che" that actually works.

With the range of styles, every listener will find things they love and things that just don't quite work for them.

Overall, however, this is a really strong collection of songs and arrangements. With live musicians, the songs all have a real freshness to them and haven't been overproduced (the techno infused "Che" being the one exception).

I've been a big fan of Judy Collins for a long time. I adore her stuff from the 70's and 80's. In my opinion, she's made some real missteps late in her career with low budget, throwaway collections of Broadway and "classic folk" songs among others. I was a little apprehensive this would be another low budget affair, but thankfully it's not.

For any long time fan or anyone who really isn't familiar with her work, this is an absolutely wonderful collection of songs written by Judy Collins. From reading the little blurb that Amazon put for this album, it sounds like Ms. Collins produced the album herself. This was obviously a labor of love and she has to be thrilled with the result. It's a fitting tribute to a career that's spanned five decades. I highly recommend it.

There are some wonderful interpretations of original Judy Collins songs by very well known artists, most notably Chrissie Hynde on "My Father," the unexpected and truly gorgeous "Trust Your Heart," warbled by Bernadette Peters, and a dream come true, Baez doing my all-time favorite Collins song, "Since You've Asked." None other than Jimmy Webb himself croons "The Fallow Way," to roughly elegant effect. The younger generations offer their takes on Judy, too. Rufus Wainwright does a knockout quasi-classical rendition of "Albatross," and while staying faithful to the Collins arrangement, he manages to make it his own. Dar Williams, once mentored by Baez, has grown into a unique, contemporary folk artist, as has Shawn Colvin. Colvin's "Secret Gardens" felt rushed to me, but then I was comparing it to Judy's own version, surely one of her own finest recorded moments, to be fair I listened a few times; after a while Shawn's subtle and quicker version is growing on me. The little-known songs "Easy Times" and "Weaver Song (Holly's Song)," done by Jim Lauderdale and Dar Williams, respectively, are also highlights of this recording. Dolly Parton throws her hat into the ring with a spirited version of "Fisherman's Song," and Leonard Cohen himself shows up to recite a reprise of "Since You've Asked.

But the Judy cover that impressed me the most was not by a super famous act: that's "Fortune Of Soldiers," by The Webb Sisters, whom I think topped the Collins original (the only song representing the FIRES OF EDEN album). The unusual version of "Che" by James Mudriczki also deserves special note. I wonder how popular it will be with some Judy Collins and/or folk fans, but I like this one a lot. It is the one entry that truly took a risk. Sort of Clannad meets Gypsy Kings, gets mixed up with a Techno Lounge Lizard (think Cerrone), and surrenders to a DJ. Psychedelic, man.

Few tribute albums in recent memory, mine anyway, have as many fine performances. This is what a tribute record should be. Each of these artists did it their own way, and this meant that some of the tracks were relatively unchallenging. Doesn't matter, because most of them give it their all, too. Letting in some younger musicians was a good move, and while this may or may not be a Judy Collins vanity project (she's founder and CEO of the Wildflower music label, which released this), a wide range of interpretations and musical styles, with some artists totally hitting theirs out of the ballpark, combine to provide an insightful overview of an influential, iconic songwriter and vocal stylist.

I was only disappointed by two things about this fairly generous album (it's over an hour long): no one writing about Judy Collins. I would have liked at least a few brief sentences from each performer, and a nice little bio would have been good, too. The second thing is entirely subjective, and that's the absence of "Home Before Dark" and the title song from one of Judy's best (and underappreciated) albums, FIRES OF EDEN. "Song For Judith (Open The Door)" was another one I'd hoped somebody would do, and although this was a tribute to Judy the writer more than the performer, Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" would have made a fitting finale. Maybe somebody like Annie Lennox or k. d. lang could do that one - maybe together! And why didn't Joni Mitchell show up? Her "Both Sides Now" helped get Mitchell noticed, but it was also a HUGE hit for Judy... Okay, so much for wishful thinking - this is still a very fine tribute, so I'm giving it five.

I must say upon purchasing this cd, i didn't know what to expect. However, each of the songs on here are a great tribute to Judy Collins long under rated career as an interpreter and songwriter. I believe each artist was paired well with each song. All songs stand well on their own and have been updated to the current folk style. Joan Baez, Ms. Colvin, Dolly Parton, Dar Williams, and Ms. Hyde and the haunting, Trust Your Heart sung by Bernadette Peters are perfect matches. However, i was quite surprised at the very innovative take on Che. My opinoin it is a cross between the techno style that one would hear in a club. Although, my die-hard traditional folkies might frown at the CHE song, i believe it is a A GREAT UNIQUE INTERPRETATION to a great song from her True Stories CD. I GIVE THIS CD A 5 STAR BASED ON THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS SONG.The closure of Leonard Cohen reciting Since You Asked as a Spoken song, was a great innovative closure to a wonderful set. The only drawback is that i would have liked to see maybe Ms Collins and Ms. Baez do a duet on this cd. A couple of songs ignored from the 1980's (Shoot First--from Home Again) and from the 1990's (The Blizzard or Home Before Dark) from the Fires of Eden cd were ignored. I wonder why?

Anyone alive in the 60's and 70's has heard Judy Collins' wonderful folk music. It's not so common to hear her today, but she's made a strong impression on many artists as you can tell when you read the lineup on this CD.

You've got a variety of takes on what was originally folk music. Dolly Parton gives an upbeat country flair to "Fisherman." The techno-vibe on "Che" by James Mudriczki is very different while Shawn Colvin's cover of "Secret Garden" reminds me a lot of Judy's own.

There isn't a bad song in the bunch. The production values are excellent and the artists chosen for the covers are all good. This CD is well worth the price for fans of Judy Collins' work and others who enjoy folk music.

Rebecca Kyle, October 2008

This is a splendid compilation of Collins' songs, sung by some of the most evocative singer/songwriters of any generation. It shines with all the love, joy, ache and vivid imagery of Judy's best storytelling. Somehow, hearing these song/stories sung by other voices reminds us of the universality that Collins brings to her finely crafted poetry.

With the likes of Shawn Colvin, Joan Baez, Dar Williams and Dolly Parton on hand to sing these songs, bringing them to life and illuminating the slices of life they contain, you might think of this as a 'woman's collection' of music---but then you hear the pure, aching depth of feeling that Jim Lauderdale and Rufus Wainwright bring to the songs they sing, and you're struck by how easily Judy's music crosses the lines of gender and experience.

And just when I thought that the songs here could be no more sublime, Kenny White brings a quiet elegance to 'Song for Martin' and Leonard Cohen does a simple lyric reading of 'Since You've Asked' that puts the fine point on just what a true poet Collins is.

And thankfully, unlike so many 'Tribute' CD's of some artists' music---like Joni Mitchell, et al---that gets reinterpreted, reworked and re-invented by other artists, this collection feels like a perfectly respectful balance of Judy's intent with her songs and the new perspective and talents of the artists who make them their own.

Enjoy this wonderful collection of Judy's songs sung by singers and friends that truly understand the meaning she weaves into her poetry and melodies!

I just saw Judy Collins perform in Annapolis. Her performance was extraordinary. I am old enough to have followed her career since the beginning and I think she gets better every year. I have all her albums so I bought this one the next day. There was not one song on this album that I thought came close to her originals. It was a big disappointment. THe artists are great - but nothing compares to Judy doing Judy.

This is my favorite album at the moment. Judy Collins' songs are very strong in their own right, and the choice of singers to interpret them is really interesting and very diverse. I first listened to this album driving on back roads past the ranches and orange groves of central Florida, when I could give it my full attention, and three of the songs simply blew me away. These included Rufus Wainwright singing "Albatross" (my favorite song on the album), Bernadette Peters singing "Trust Your Heart", and Ali Eskandarian singing "Song for Sarejevo"; they were amazing versions of the songs. Listening to these interpretations strikingly underscores how beautiful and enduring the songs of Judy Collins have remained. I love this CD!

I have plenty of Judy's music and I know that she has written some great songs, but many of her most successful and famous recordings have been with oldies that she revived or songs that other people wrote for her. For that reason, I would have preferred a tribute to Judy the singer, which would have allowed some of those songs to be included. Not that I needed yet another version of Amazing grace, Both sides now, Send in the clowns or Someday soon, but that quartet of songs define Judy's career with most people more than her own songs do. Nevertheless, this album was recorded on Judy's own label and it may have been a deliberate policy to focus on songs that Judy wrote or (in the case of Easy times and Fortune of soldiers) co-wrote. To that extent, the album succeeds because Judy clearly wrote some wonderful songs.

The singers featured include several contemporary folk singers, but also include Bernadette Peters (jazz/cabaret), Dolly Parton (country) and Chrissie Hynde (rock) to emphasise that Judy's music appeals far beyond her main base. Among the folk singers, it's great to find Joan Baez here but sad that Joni Mitchell is missing, especially as Judy gave Joni`s career - as well as her own - a massive boost when recording Both sides now.

Most of the songs here are ballads, so the one exception (Fisherman's song, performed by Dolly Parton) stands out. Actually, it stands out in other ways too, as Dolly's infectious personality shines; she clearly had a lot of fun with this song. Elsewhere, there is plenty of great music. Shawn Colvin opens proceedings with an excellent version of Secret gardens. Jim Lauderdale is in top form on Easy time, as is Rufus Wainwright on Albatross.

The Webb sisters sound great on Fortune of soldiers, a song about peace. When Judy wrote the song, she clearly believed that world peace is attainable, but subsequent events as well as previous history suggest that, like John Lennon, she's one of the dreamers. I wish for world peace too, but it won't ever happen. Song for Sarajevo, sung by Ali Eskandrian, tends to confirm this. Although written specifically about a conflict that is now resolved, it doesn't mention Sarajevo in the lyrics and could equally apply to Iraq, Afghanistan or any other conflict zone that you nominate.

I don't know why both Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen recorded the same song, Since you've asked. Were there no more of Judy's own songs worth singing? Or was there some misunderstanding? If the former, perhaps one of them could have recorded one of the four songs I mentioned at the top of the review. I considered dropping a star for this duplication but decided not to as there is plenty of great music. Leonard's version of the song is the final track, so if you don't want to hear the same song twice, you always stop the album after the penultimate track.

Yes, there's a lot of great music here, which makes a suitable tribute to Judy Collins the songwriter. If it helps people to identify Judy's own songs as well as the four classic songs mentioned earlier, it will have achieved its purpose. Then again, maybe some people will look at the track listing and not bother with the album because all four are missing, which would be a pity.

I purchased this ''wonderful'' CD for myself and as a gift for my sister..I listen to it everyday. It was beyond my best expectations. All of the artists who contributed their interpretations of Collins' music made the CD that much more enjoyable. I was disappointed that ''secret garden'' was not sung using the traditional melody as originally sung by Judy Collins years ago.....the original music was always very special to me. Otherwise, I was more than pleased with this CD and my sister absolutely LOVES hers. I will be purchasing more for gifts. Consuelo T. Gabriel

To the reviewer who said Dolly Parton's performance was too cutesy...it IS a cutesy song! It's not a sad ballad with a hidden political message! It's about a happy fisherman with a simple life.

Who else to sing this happy, simple song??? None other than the great, happy and cute, Dolly Parton!!! Even Judy performed this song on Sesame Street with THE MUPPETS! Look it up on YouTube.

Now go dock your bitter boat, and take your happy fisherman valiums.