Vince asked about our most recent musical acquisitions...in regards >>to purchases, Funny you should bring this up, Bob, because I wanted >>to ask about one of my recent cd purchases. I picked up a Judy >>Collins cd at Best Buy for the ridiculously low price of $5.99 >>called 'Classic Folk'. Does anybody know anything about this cd? >>The vocals are beautiful but the production sounds a bit like a >>Hallmark Christmas compilation. But for that price and that voice, I >>certainly don't have any regrets about buying it.
It is the Canadian repackaging of Both Sides Now in which she re->recorded some of her favorite songs. A steal at 5.99. As a big, long >time fan I would have to agree that her recent albums and live >concerts do have that Hallmark look and feel to them. A long way from >hearing her anger of the 60's and 70's.
The most notable cut on this is the classic folk song "Barbara Allen".
She has always wanted to record this but could never fit it in to any of her early (CLASSIC if I may add) folk albums. She will frequently sing this one during interviews or at her book signing lectures. This is one thing about Judy that really pisses me off. The flood of compilation albums with no rhyme or reason. The anthology "Forever" was necessary because this was a good compilation of her Elektra years(over 20 years on that label until she got dropped like a hot potato). A more formal box set would have probably been more appropriate but I understand that this would be an expensive venture for someone with fading popularity.
So whats up with the bizillion other compilations she has put out? If she puts out another version of "Amazing Grace"... I just don't know that I'll be able to sustain my high level of respect for her and her music. I think Judy is a very good songwriter but if she is having a dry-spell then why not do what you do best. Interpreting the music of others. There are jazz interpreters, pop interpreters, etc... but lets face it, when it comes to finding an interpreter for the singersongwriter/folk rock music you are hard pressed to find someone better than Judy. Even she once stated despite her songwriting that she was an interpretive singer first. Despite what Joni Mitchell may have said in a recent interview about current musical standards, there is TONS of great NEW and old material out there suitable for Judy. Give us a real album again and stop the compilation, baby stories and X-mas CDs. I just saw this woman a year ago with Richie Havens, Janis Ian and Roger McGuin. She sounds better than ever, so Judy,"Stop the crap!"
Workingwilly
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