Judy Collins
Album: Both Sides Now - The Very Best Of Judy Collins
Label: Wildflower
Tracks: 28
Website: http://www.judycollins.com

Released just in time for Christmas is a double CD from Judy Collins titled "Both Sides Now-The Very Best Of". This should not be confused with an earlier album also titled "The Very Best Of Judy Collins", which was a compilation made up from Judy's work for Elektra Records.

This "Very Best Of" is released on Judy's own Wildflower Records and comprises songs taken from her albums on that label as well as high-quality new recordings of some of her early hits, such as "Both Sides Now" and "Send In The Clowns". There are also three brand new recordings, Neil Young's "Helpless"[a duet with Rachel Sage]; Jean Ritchie's "One I Love" and Pete Seeger's "Oh, Had I A Golden Thread".

Many of the songs, such as "Morning Has Broken", "Yesterday", "Bridge Over Troubled Water"and "Mr.Tambourine Man", are "standards" but Judy's interpretation and arrangement of them is such that they sound fresh and not over-familiar, as they might do in lesser hands.

As well as Judy the interpreter of other songwriters' work, we also get a selection of Judy's own excellent songs, such as "Risk" and the tragic, desperately sad tale of domestic abuse "Lily Of The Valley".Judy pays tribute to her parents in "My Father" and the poignant, touching "In The Twilight" which recounts her mother's suffering with Alzheimer's Disease. It is clear from these songs that Judy is a songwriter of great sensitivity and insight.

The album also features several wonderful duets- with Joan Baez on the latter's "Diamonds and Rust";with Stephen Stills on Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing On My Mind" and, best of all, in my opinion, with Jonas Fjeld on the glorious Christmas song "Angels In The Snow".

Of course, no Best of Judy Collins would be complete without "Amazing Grace"and it's here in all of its glory, complete with choir. This much-loved hymn was written by sea captain John Newton, in gratitude for being saved from a shipwreck off the coast of Donegal.

Nobody sings "Amazing Grace" like Judy Collins and her version is simply unsurpassable.

As can be seen from the above, this is a diverse and eclectic selection of songs [28 in total over 2 CD's] but the constant factor running through it is Judy's magnificent voice.She is, without question, one of the greatest interpreters of popular song in this, or any other, era.

She can take songs from musical theatre, hymns, traditional folk music and contemporary singer-songwriters and make them her own, with her instantly-recognisable vocals. Her interpretations are, almost without exception, the definitive version.

This is a wonderful collection by an exceptional artist and comes highly recommended.

Peter Cowley