Judy Collins

Judy Collins - Judy Collins' Fifth Album - 1965 - Elektra

This was Judy Collins' last traditional-style acoustic "no drums" folk album. By 1965, folk music had taken a new direction. Dylan had already gone electric, and the Byrds were delivering a new brand of folk-rock. Judy, aware of this change in the folk music scene, recorded this remarkable album, and adapted some of the songs of some great and lesser-known folk rock singer-songwriters to suit this new emerging style. Her version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" is one of the best Dylan covers ever recorded, and she sings wonderful covers of Richard Farina's "Pack Up Your Sorrows," Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain," and Phil Ochs' "In the Heat of the Summer." Other great songs include an emotional version of Eric Andersen's civil rights allegory "Thirsty Boots, "Phil Ochs' "In the Heat of the Summer" about the 1965 Watts Riots, and the exquisite Billy Edd Wheeler's "Coming of the Roads." The arrangements are simple, but never sparse, and all the songs have a beautiful graceful subtlety, so typical of Judy Collins' unique voice. This is an absolutely outstanding sixties folk album from the lady with the voice of a nightingale, and is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Check out Judy's great "Maid of Constant Sorrow, " "Judy Sings Dylan... Just Like a Woman" and "Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney" albums. There is info on her beautiful "Wildflowers" album @ JCOLLINS/WFLOWERS

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

SIDE 1

"Pack Up Your Sorrows" (Richard Farina) – 3:10
"The Coming of the Roads" (Billy Edd Wheeler) – 3:31
"So Early, Early in the Spring" (Traditional) – 3:04
"Tomorrow is a Long Time" (Bob Dylan) – 4:04
"Daddy You've Been on my Mind" (Dylan) – 2:52
"Thirsty Boots" (Eric Andersen) – 4:57

SIDE 2

"Mr. Tambourine Man" (Dylan) – 5:20
"Lord Gregory" (Traditional) – 3:28
"In the Heat of the Summer" (Phil Ochs) – 3:21
"Early Morning Rain" (Gordon Lightfoot) – 3:10
"Carry It On" (Pete Seeger) – 2:44
"It Isn't Nice" (Live) (Malvina Reynolds) – 2:58

MUSICIANS

Judy Collins – vocals, guitar, piano
Richard Fariña – dulcimer
Chuck Israels – bass, cello
Danny Kalb – guitar
Bill Lee – bass
John Sebastian – harmonica
Bob Sylvester – cello
Bill Takas – bass
Eric Weissberg – guitar, background vocals

REVIEW

Judy Collins' last straight, folk-based album of the 1960s, 5th Album marks her transition from a "maid of constant sorrow" to a bona fide artist. With its covers ranging from Lennon and McCartney to adaptations from The Threepenny Opera, 1966's In My Life would readily attest to this. But 5th Album, cut in late 1964, may very well be her definitive folk statement. A trio of Bob Dylan songs act as the album's centerpiece, clearly showing Collins' growth into more progressive songs. In addition to these, Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" is given its classic reading, with Collins' voice echoing the song's melancholy and eerie but mellifluent precision and emotion. Aside from these recordings — which would have been the highlights on any other record — the album opens with perhaps its finest moment, Richard Farina's "Pack Up Your Sorrows." Led by Farina's sprightly dulcimer runs, Collins renders the song her own, with a unifying, karmic message and a vocal performance that is irresistible. The musical politics of the day, particularly concerning the entire West Coast/Byrds/folk-rock phenomenon, must have tempted Collins to approach this from a neo-folk-rock standpoint, and it fits the vibe and milieu perfectly. In the end, while not her farewell to folk music, this album is a graceful wave and a smile from Collins as she was about to conquer a new, more baroque direction in a matter of months. © Matthew Greenwald, allmusic.com

SHORT BIO

Judy Collins was one of the major interpretive folksingers of the '60s. A child prodigy at classical piano, she turned to folk music at the age of 15 and released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, in 1961 when she was 22. That album and its follow-up, The Golden Apples of the Sun, consisted of traditional folk material, with Collins's pure, sweet soprano accompanied by her acoustic guitar playing. By the time of Judy Collins #3, she had begun to turn to contemporary material and to add other musicians. (Jim, later Roger, McGuinn tried out his first arrangements of "The Bells of Rhymney" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" on this album, before using them with The Byrds.) Collins's musical horizons were expanded further by 1966 and the release of In My Life, which added theater music to her repertoire and introduced her audience to the writing of Leonard Cohen; it was one of her six albums to go gold. Her first gold-seller, however, was 1967's Wildflowers, which contained her hit version of "Both Sides Now" by the then-little-known songwriter Joni Mitchell. By the '70s, Collins had come to be identified as much as an art song singer as a folksinger and had also begun to make a mark with her original compositions. Her best-known performances cover a wide stylistic range: the traditional gospel song "Amazing Grace," the Stephen Sondheim Broadway ballad "Send in the Clowns," and such songs of her own as "My Father" and "Born to the Breed." Collins recorded less frequently after the end of her 23-year association with Elektra Records in 1984, though she made two albums for Gold Castle. In 1990, she signed to Columbia Records and released Fires of Eden, her 23rd album. A move to Geffen preceded the 1993 release of Judy Sings Dylan...Just Like a Woman; Shameless followed on Atlantic in 1994. Six years later, Collins released All on a Wintry Night. © William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos" but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics. She soon moved away from the classical piano and began her lifelong love with the guitar. In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22 and began a thirty-five year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records. Judy Collins is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. "Both Sides Now" has since been entered into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy's Awards show was Judy's version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music." Released on September 29th, Judy's new book, Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength, is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In the depths of her suffering, Judy found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now, she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy. In a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, Judy performed "Wings of Angels," the heartbreaking ballad that she wrote about the loss of her son. The song is currently available on the newly released Judy Collins Wildflower Festival CD and DVD, which also feature guest artists Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen. This extraordinary concert was filmed at the famed Humphrey's By the Bay in San Diego, CA. The concert was the culmination of a 25 city national tour. Judy Collins continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart. © HDtracks 2007 - 2008