Judy Collins - In My Life

Folky chanteuse Judy Collins is generally known for two things: Her great eyes (memorialized by Stephen Stills) and her ability to interpret other people's songs in that crystalline voice. 1966's In My Life, her sixth record overall, was considered a watershed when it was released--the album on which Collins moved beyond narrowcast protest-folk and into more expansive, romantic, contemplative material: everything from cabaret theatrics (Brecht and Weil's "Pirate Jenny," the wonderful medley "Marat/Sade") to pop (the Beatles' title tune) to undiscovered brooders ("Suzanne" by the then-unknown Leonard Cohen). Yeah, there's a Dylan song on here ("Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"), but the record is more often (gasp!) sexy than polemic. Along with Who Knows Where the Time Goes and Wildflowers, one of Collins' three best albums. --Keven McAlester Amazon.com essential recording

One of the seminal and best LPs from the 60s

One of Judy's very best. A brilliant selection of great songs by great songwriters with some of her finest vocal performances. Almost plays like a concept album. The rendition of Cohen's "Suzanne" is unforgettable. Also Weill's "Pirate Jenny," a tour de force, and the "Marat/Sade" are colorful pictures painted with words and music. This is a superbly crafted and magnificently arranged album. February 25, 2008

A Disappointing CD

I love Judy Collins. She is a singer that you never outgrow. But this is one of the most disappointing compilations of her music that I've ever come across. If you want to hear the songs you remember, or experience the woman that you've heard about, you'll want to get some of her earlier recordings. This one doesn't do her justice. May 10, 2007

"IN MY LIFE": JUDY COLLINS SETS THE ARTISTIC PACE

Judy Collins' "In My Life" has always been highly referred to as being innovative, artsy, and classy; and all of these accolades are quite true. For with "In My Life", Judy straddled the gap between pure folk music and popular music in many of its delineations, setting the pace for musical artistry.

The orchestral arrangements which would come to the forefront with her following release, "Wildflowers", show their origins in her work with this strong 1966 release as evidenced by the lovely, almost classical-sounding arrangement given to Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", the opening cut, and two other extremely strong tracks - "Marat/Sade" and "Pirate Jenny", both from the theatre and both important in the messages the artist wishes to convey: the inappropriateness of political and social oppression with the former and the need for equality with the latter.

Elsewhere on this album there are further strong musical commentaries including "La Colombe", a fierce anti-war diatribe, and the very first recordings of songs by the incredible songwriting master, Leonard Cohen: "Dress Rehearsal Rag" and most importantly "Suzanne", a beautiful folk-pop number about how one's love can be as strong and as equal whether the subject of one's love/desire be as lowly as Suzanne "wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters" or a lofty as Jesus Christ, Himself.

Another track which is potent in its meaning and, given the same sublime solo-acoustic guitar treatment as "Suzanne", reaches new pinnalces of meaning thereby, is the title track, a beautiful rendering of The Beatles' "In My Life".

I also really love the fun of Richard Farina's "Hard Lovin' Loser", with its great keyboard arrangements and jazzy drum highlights, and Donovan's hippy-dippy "Sunny Goodge Street". "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" is also a standout cut, stark in its performance, highlighting Randy Newman's bleak lyrics of portend.

Judy's vocals on this album are just amazing: she sings with a ferocious fervor on "Pirate Jenny", "Marat/Sade" and "La Colombe"; an almost accusatory exactness on "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag"; a rock-and-roll verve on "Hard Lovin' Loser"; a loving, touching sweetness on "Suzanne" and "In My Life". All the emotions that each of the eleven tracks on this album hold are fully realized in her gorgeous singing.

Judy Collins' "In My Life" is one of those albums from the mid-1960s which showed that the true artists populating the music scene at that time were quite serious about the intent to bring change into the world via their artistic sensibilities; and Judy Collins was certainly at the forefront of that endeavor. "In My Life" was cutting-edge in its time and still is.

February 13, 2007

In my ears

A variety of styles of songs and productions fronted by a vocal intelligence and ability that makes sound magic. January 9, 2007

What's left to say?

To quote the reviewer before me, "Write a review for a masterpiece? Are you kidding?" This album has so many personal memories for me as well... my sister and I used to love to act out "Pirate Jenny" and "Marat/Sade." The other reviewers have taken the rave words right out of my keyboard. I just wanted to add one more 5 star review to one of the best albums ever -- far and away my favorite Judy Collins album, no question about it. January 26, 2005

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