Customer Reviews

Recollections

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I remember seeing Judy in concert in the quite informal setting of Avaloch, a wonderful sylvan natural amphitheater that all the folk stars from Collins to Joan Baez to Kris Kristoferson to Tom Rush to James Taylor performed at in Lenox Massachusetts in the summers of 1970. Sadly, it is now the site of a ritzy set of summer condominiums for the New York summertime Berkshires crowd. Yet I can still recall hearing Judy with that magical soaring voice of hers warming up on stage with "Amazing Grace" as we filed onto the grass, and the song so echoed and reverberated over the warm humid airwaves that the older folks at Tanglewood, some six or seven miles way, complained about the noisome interruption. It became an inside joke that Collins, Baez and others would playfully aggravate when performing for the very mellow crowd of counterculture fans. I recall a certain sweet aroma wafting through the air, too, and it wasn't the smell of cotton candy.

Of course, it probably goes without saying that I love most of the songs on this reprise of her favorite folk songs that weren't necessarily hits, yet were songs she often included when touring. From her terrific covers of Bob Dylan's "Pack Up Your Sorrows" and "Tomorrow's Is A Long Time" to a wonderful interpretation of Gordon Lightfoot's classic "In The Early Morning Rain", Judy showcases her amazing folk voice and acoustic guitar skills to advantage here. I also really love both her version of Pete Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!" as well as her superb treatment of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", her magical voice gliding along the verses of the song in its unique way. I love her amazing vocal work in two of the final songs on the CD, "Last Thing On My Mind", and "Farewell', and one can feel the rush of heart-felt emotion in the songs as she advances through them. This is an early retrospective look at a number of traditional folk songs sung by one of the titans of modern American folk music, taken just as she reached the peak of her awesome vocal and collaborative talents. It is one sure to please the most discriminating of well-trained folk ears, and one I am sure you will come to treasure as much as I do. Enjoy.

I own practicallly everything Judy Collins ever recorded, either on LP, tape or CD. I recently had a hankering to hear her beautiful pure voice singing these early songs released over 30 years ago on the first album I ever bought of hers and purchased this CD. It was more beautiful than I remember. Here her haunting voice soars above the simple guitar accompaniment in songs simple and beautiful. Lots of good early Dylan songs here. She was better then, but then we all were but maybe wiser as well as older now.

No one I can think of sings Dylan's "Mr.Tambourine Man" with the beauty and pathos Ms. Collins renders. It's the best Dylan song she has ever sung.

So much about this CD to love and so much to love about the singer. I think many of us measure out our lives in Judy Collins songs. We could do a lot worse.

This album goes back to my youth. I was living in Alaska at the time and this was one of the few tapes in the cabin. This album includes some very fresh interpretations of folk standards. A great treat.

Love the crisp clear singing of Judy Collins. Her rendition of Amazing grace is second to none. ...and all the other songs harken back to a simpler calming melody with a message of care and concern for the world around us. Wonderful.

This album saw me through he 60's & 70's.I'm happy to have a CD copy,as my record had several skips in it. I especially like "Pack up your Sorrows". It spoke to my condition back then, and still does today.

God Bless You Sister Collins.

There's not much more to say when you rate an ablum as "One of the Best". If you love Judy, this is a must have collection of her early songs that you will return to again and again for the quality of work and the simple joy of listening to it.