I've never heard his music. But back in the late '60s, he used to play occasionally at my high school (I grew up in Montreal, which is a two-hour drive from Ottawa). Cockburn was known as one of the local up and comers. Who knew he'd make it big outside Canada?
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "geezerfreak" <geezerfr...@...> wrote: > > Barry's recent posts about his long time musical love for the music of Bruce Cockburn > really got me rollin'. First I pulled out all of my treasured Cockburn LPs that I (sadly) had > neglected for many years. Getting reacquainted with the absolute genius that is Cockburn > provided me with several weeks of pure pleasure. (Thanks Barry.....both for reminding me > and for turning me on to Bruce all those years ago.) Cockburn is again a regular part of > my playlist. > > For those of you who have still not come under the spell of his music, take your earliest > opportunity and make your move. I'll let Barry report his picks on "Bruce Cockburn for > beginners" but I can tell you that you are about to embark on a musical journey you will > not regret. Personally, I've always been partial to his late 70's albums like Dancin' In The > Dragon's Jaws, not only because they are unmitigated brilliance but also because they were > my first exposure to the man. > > The second thing that happened was that I began to pull out my two Judee Sill records. > Those who know me, know that I am a jazz fan through and through.....jazz meaning the > likes of Miles, 'Trane, Bill Evans, Mingus, Grant Green, Wes...on and on. I'm hopelessly > addicted to the music, going back to the late 60s when the Greenwich Village jazz mecca > called Slugs (seating capacity maybe 60) finally broke Fillmore East's hold on me. I recall > watching the latest British wannabe act play for 50 minutes at the Fillmore, prancing and > preening with all the moves of the day...and making very little memorable music in the > process. I left, grabbed a cab down to the Village and watched McCoy Tyner's group blow > the roof off of that little joint until 4 in the morning. I was hooked for good. > > Getting back to Judee Sill...Judee made two albums for the then fledgling Asylum label (in > fact she was Asylum's first signing) in the early 70s. Today she is little known. Judee led > what can charitably called a VERY troubled life. She had serious drug problems, primarily > heroin. > > But folks, this woman was one of the most inspired and brilliant artists I have ever heard > in any genre. She was gifted in so many areas....singer, songwriter and arranger. I believe > that David Crosby and Graham Nash were the first to bring Judee to the attention of music > biz honchos. > > Judee wrote (and sang) amazingly complex and beautiful harmonies that will take your > breath away. Judee was also able to do her own arranging for her music. Amazing when > you consider that her albums (especially the second) feature lush and complex orchestral > backing. For those unfamiliar with arranging and orchestration, it means that you write > out the entire score for each instrument. On her second album she is shown in the liners > conducting the orchestra. No big deal I suppose to some, but her orchestrations are > freakin' brilliant by any measure. > > It has been noted that she learned her gospel inspired piano style while in reform school > for writing bad checks. > > Judee's first album was simply called Judee Sill. She had a minor hit with a song from the > album called "Jesus Was Crossmaker". (Religion and spirituality are recurring themes in > Sill's music.) She did some touring to support the album but her personal life always got in > the way of any real success. > > Judee's second album is called Heart Food. It is simply non-stop brilliance from start to > finish. Listen to the second song (The Kiss) and tell that it isn't one of the most perfectly > crafted tunes ever created. If I had to pick one LP over the other (which I would not want to > do) I would pick Heart Food. Over the many years I've been working with musicians > (mostly jazz and blues) I've been surprised by the number of times Judee Sill's name has > come up as an example of now forgotten artists whose brilliance continues to amaze those > who come into contact with the music. (Most recently, jazz guitar great Anthony Wilson, > whose regular gig is with Diana Krall, told me of being completely blown away by Sill's > music.) > > When Heart Food failed to sell, Judee disappeared from the scene. There were many death > rumors. Her life spiraled back into various addictions and she finally died in 1979 of > (predictably) a drug overdose. > > I believe both albums are still available on CD through Rhino music. If not, they surely are > available via MP3. > > If you love musical surprises as much as I do check out Judee Sills. You will not be > disappointed and you may well find that you are utterly enchanted and amazed. >
