Judy Collins - Judith

judy colllins

I had this album in the 1970's. It was good then and still is. January 26, 2008

Wonderful recording

This recording of Judy Collins is exactly what I had hoped it would be - wonderful! January 15, 2008

Maybe Judy's best singing effort

Judy Collins' voice is in wonderful form on this album. The song picks were excellent & the arrangements wonderful. January 3, 2007

"JUDITH": JUDY COLLINS' MELTING POT MASTERPIECE

On Judy Collins' twelfth album, she brings all of her diversity to the plate, creating a pastiche that really defines the title, "Judith"; for as her professional beginnings in pure folk are evidenced, they are joined by her classical, pop, rock, country and theatre leanings as well in a perfectly seamless blend.

See, Judy Collins is such a strong musical presence that she is able to take this wide gamut of musical styles and make each song her own.

"Judith" opens with Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" on which her vocals soar above her beautiful piano accompaniment. "Angel, Spread Your Wings" is an airy, breezy folk-rock number on which she really does sound angelic, pardon the pun. She has also included here two countrified gems, Steve Goodman's "City Of New Orleans" and "The Loving Of The Game" as well as a rollicking version of The Rolling Stones' "Salt Of The Earth". These modern classics are balanced with the classic standards "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime" and her breathtakingly gorgeous version of "I'll Be Seeing You".

Judy had started her own songwriting upon Leonard Cohen's advice in the second half of the 60's and three of the songs here are her own magnificnet compositions: "Houses" is a lush, orchestral quasi-classical piece; "Song For Duke" is a beautiful epitaph for Duke Ellington; "Born To The Breed" is about her now-deceased son, Clark, and his coming of age at the time.

Of course, the really big show-stopper here is her immensely popular and perennially favored take on Stephen Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns". Her voice fits this song so perfectly and her phrasing is so immaculate that it's no wonder Judy's has become the quintessential version of this song.

Judy Collins' "Judith" is at the apex of artistic expression. It is a most wonderfully structured and performed set of songs which, ultimately, define who and what Judy Collins is about. December 13, 2006

Oh, and those eyes...

I agree with what other reviewers have said here about the songs, arrangeements, and Judy Collins' crystalline voice. But even after all these years, I love something about this album that has gone unremarked: The fabulous cover portrait highlighting her astonishingly beautiful eyes! December 4, 2006

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