Turning the big 8-0: Judy Collins

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Judy Collins

Judith Marjorie Collins (born May 1, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records (which has included folk music, show tunes, pop music, rock and roll and standards) and for her social activism.

Collins' debut album A Maid of Constant Sorrow was released in 1961, but it was the lead single from her 1967 album Wildflowers, "Both Sides, Now" — written by Joni Mitchell — that gave Collins international prominence. The single hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart[2] and won Collins her first Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. She enjoyed further success with her recordings of "Someday Soon", "Chelsea Morning", "Amazing Grace", and "Cook with Honey".

Collins experienced the biggest success of her career with her recording of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" from her best-selling 1975 album Judith. The single charted on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1975 and then again in 1977, spending 27 non-consecutive weeks on the chart and earning Collins a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, as well as a Grammy Award for Sondheim for Song of the Year.

So many choices. We can't do better than this:

Someday Soon - Judy Collins, 1969

Gene Tourangeau
Published on Dec 12, 2011

Classic song from 1969 written by Canadian Ian Tyson (Ian & Sylvia) and performed by Judy Collins. She is backed by Buddy Emmons/pedal steel guitar; James Burton/electric guitar; Jim Gordon/Drums; Chris Ethridge/bass; Stephen Stills/guitar and Van Dyke Parks or one of two others on piano. (Credits at end of video)

Let's try that from the teevee:

Beta Hi-Fi Archive
Published on Feb 13, 2010

Judy Collins visits the Smothers Brothers to sing her hit version of Ian Tyson's beloved rodeo song. Providing back-up in Judy's band are Michael Sahl on piano, Susan Evans on drums and Gene Taylor on stand-up bass. Judy says she learned the song from Stephen Stills during the summer of 1968 when he was playing electric guitar for her Who Knows Where The Time Goes LP recording sessions out in L.A. This new, HD quality clip may take a few moments to download, but it is well worth the wait. Then you can watch it right through with no stops. And then watch it again!

One more:

Beta Hi-Fi Archive
Published on Aug 12, 2013

Judy Collins is the guest vocalist with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra at this concert taped in May 1976.

[Kind of Blue]

1. Thank you! Her voice just always broke me down.

[Loge23]

2. Well done!

Thank you for this wonderful tribute to an incredibly beautiful person!
So fortunate to have had the pleasure of seeing her both back then and lately. He voice was as clear and pitch perfect as ever some 40 years, in Florida, after the first time I saw her, back in NYC.
A tremendous talent!