Judy Collins

“If Amethysts could sing…”

“My recording career began on an overcast, chilly Sunday afternoon in Greenwich Village in the winter of 1961…”

So begins, in Judy Collins’ own words, the fascinating liner notes for Forever, The Judy Collins Anthology, which brilliantly chronicles the singer/songwriter/ human rights activist’s legendary thirty five year career. The collection, a winding musical map of Ms. Collins’ most treasured hits as well as rarer nuggets, also sheds light on America’s most socially active musical era, of which Ms. Collins became an integral force in the 1960’s and ’70’s – “a national treasure.” Her voice has carried us through many times, yet remains timeless – “a voice of liquid silver.” Ms. Collins’ old friend, poet/songwriter Richard Farina, once described Judy’s voice this way: “If amethysts could sing…they would sound like Judy Collins.”

Forever, the Judy Collins Anthology is the culmination of a musical legacy that has seen her release 19 albums with Elektra, several of which have achieved gold or platinum status. Included among the 35 songs are folk standards and hits such as, “Someday Soon,” “Both Sides Now,” “Masters Of War,” and a new recording of her early folk classic, “Chelsea Morning,” as well as the ’70’s classics “Amazing Grace,” and “Send In The Clowns,” and four new songs, including a memorable collaboration with The Gin Blossoms’ Jesse Valenzuela, “Nothing Lasts Forever.”

Ms. Collins is also releasing a collection of Christmas songs this winter, Judy Collins, Christmas At The Biltmore Estate. The album will be accompanied by a TV special on A&E in December, with a home video release to follow. Ms. Collins annual Christmas shows have now become legendary during the holiday season. The Biltmore album features the Charlotte Children’s Choir and includes classics such as “Joy to The World,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and “The Twelve Days Of

Christmas,” as well as an original song written by Ms. Collins, the lovely “Come Rejoice.” Ms. Collins also performs her own adaptation of the Clement Moore Christmas favorite, “The Night Before Christmas.”

These two collections celebrate one of the most important musical voices of the pop era. Ms. Collins has become part of the fabric of our nation’s social conscience by not only performing socially relevant material, but by remaining a pro-active, passionate player in the politics and social forces that shape our country.

Judy’s music always seemed to mirror the cause. From her participation in the 1964 Freedom marches in Mississippi (“Hey Nellie Nellie”) to her political activism during the Vietnam War (Dylan’s Masters Of War”),to the leadership role she has played on the forefront of women’s issues (“Bread And Roses”), to her role as UNICEF Special Representative for the Arts, Ms. Collins has always fought the good fight.

In choosing material for this comprehensive Anthology, Ms. Collins strove to find a balance between her politically aware material and, of course, all the hits that fans have adored for years. “I chose themes that I love,” says Ms. Collins. “I also looked for the unusual.” A legendary performer, Ms. Collins’ career has taken her around the world many times, so it was obviously no easy task to gather songs that have influenced so many lives. President and Mrs. Clinton named their daughter Chelsea after the classic “Chelsea Morning.” “I decided to record a new version of “Chelsea Morning,” says Ms. Collins. “I wanted to marry old and new, to build a bridge between past and present.” It is a testimony to Ms. Collins’ understated sense of artistry that one of her favorite tracks on the record is the lesser known gem, “The Fallow Way,” which melds her song-writing and storytelling ability to her wonderful voice. Says Ms. Collins: “During the snows of last winter that song was a welcome reminder of spring and summers to come.”

It is precisely because of her ability to remain compelling that Ms. Collins can go from the gentle song to stirring anthem, always keeping us mesmerized, as she does on the moving ode to Korean war Veterans, “Walls.” “Walls” was inspired by my husband, Louis Nelson’s poetry about the Korean Veterans War Memorial Wall,” says Ms. Collins. “He was the designer for the wall and my co-lyricist, giving long overdue tribute to the Nation’s Korean War Veterans. I think it reflects my feelings

about all wars – blooded battles metamorphosed into paths of inner and outer peace. Another new song I’m proud of on the album is “Nothing Lasts Forever,” which features Jesse Valenzuela of the Gin Blossoms. We wrote it together. He brought his remarkable lyric and musical gifts to our collaboration,” says Ms. Collins.

Recognizing a good lyric has always been one of the essential ingredients of Ms. Collins’ ability for storytelling and in interpreting other artists work. From her first interpretations of traditional folk songs, like “Maid Of Constant Sorrow,” (which appears on the Anthology) to the songs of Pete Seeger, of Dylan, of Tom Paxton and others, she has grown to be one of pop’s premier interpreters of the great lyric. Also included in the Anthology are two songs of poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen, “Suzanne,” and “Bird On A Wire.” It was Ms. Collins who was primarily responsible for ushering Cohen into the musical limelight, recording ten of his songs throughout her career. Her work with Roger McGuinn, who would play guitar on her versions of Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn,” and Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” among others, would influence the young singer to later record the songs with The Byrds.

Ms. Collins early musical background was classical piano. Her father, Chuck Collins was a singer, composer, philosopher and broadcaster during the golden age of radio. By the age of 10 Ms. Collins was studying with mentor Antonia Brico, the famed orchestral conductor who had made a name for herself conducting major symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. In 1974 Ms. Collins produced and co-directed (with Jill Godmilow) a prize winning documentary about the conductor, Antonia: A portrait Of The Woman. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary, as well as being named one of the top ten films of the year by Time Magazine.

Ms. Collins has always brought the talented to light. She was one of the first performers to bring the songs of Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell to widespread public exposure. Always the song enthusiast, Judy’s receiving a 3:00 AM phone call from an ardent Joni Mitchell fan playing “Both Sides Now” would lead to her legendary recording of the classic. The song was included on her 1967 album Wildflowers, with both the single and album becoming a turning point in Ms. Collins career and garnering her the first of five Grammy nominations.

Soon to come would be Top Ten hits like “Amazing Grace,” “Send In The Clowns,” “Someday Soon,” and “Chelsea Morning.” Ms. Collins has recorded an incredible 29 albums in her career, including classics such as her 1965 solo concert New York At The Town Hall, 1966’s In My Life, the above-mentioned Wildflowers, (the first album to include her own material) featuring the first song she ever wrote, “Since You Asked.” Other memorable albums followed, including Who Knows Where The Time Goes, featuring Stephen Stills playing on “My Father,” “Who Knows Where The Time Goes,” and “Some Day Soon.” Stills’ and Collins’ relationship would eventually lead to Stills penning the classic “Suite Judy Blue Eyes,” which he wrote about Ms. Collins.

In 1972 Ms. Collins released the classic Colors Of The Day. To this day the album remains one of WEA’s Top 50 catalogue albums, year in, year out, for the past 26 years. It is also the album most noted by number 1 Collins fan President Clinton, who cites it as his favorite record.

Eventually Ms. Collins’ long time mentor and adviser, Elektra President Jac Holzman would leave Elektra. A saddened Collins would strike up a unique creative relationship with new Elektra head David Geffen, and her career would continue to soar. Her 1975 Platinum album Judith, which included a tribute to Duke Ellington as well as “Send In The Clowns,” further insured her place as one of pop’s leading voices. Another classic album, Bread And Roses would follow, with Collins referring to it as a “healing” record, made after the calamities of Vietnam and Watergate.

In 1977 Elektra put out a fifteen year collection of songs celebrating Ms. Collins’ amazing career as a vocalist, So Early In The Spring. More albums followed. Her last Elektra album (before the Anthology) would be the David Gruzin produced Home Again.

Ms. Collins kicked off the ’90’s with the inspired Fires Of Eden, a collection mostly of her own song-writing. Soon after Ms. Collins recorded an all-Dylan album, Judy Collins Sings Dylan Just Like A Woman, which garnered rave reviews. In 1994 she became a UNICEF spokesperson. Once again driven to action by an unjust war, she wrote “Song For Sarajevo,” prior to her goodwill trips to Bosnia and Vietnam. Her first novel, Shameless, was released in 1995, accompanied by a an album of original songs. Both the book and the LP were critically acclaimed, with writers across the country citing the continuing relevance of Ms. Collins remarkable career. The decade also saw her continue to perform a rigorous touring schedule of more than 70 concerts a year worldwide.

Ms. Collins has also done her share of acting throughout the years. Her acting career began in 1969 in New York’s Shakespeare Festival when she played Solveig in Peer Gynt opposite Stacy Keach. Her subsequent roles include appearances in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film Junior, the CBS series Christy, and a cameo in the soon to be released remake of a Rod Serling story, A Town Has Turned To Dust, directed by renowned director Ron Nilsson.

To sum up her entire list of accomplishments, both musical, theatrical and humanitarian, would take an endless amount of pages: A singer – a songwriter – an actress – a writer – a social activist – an interpreter of some of the greatest songs written in our century – a friend and inspiration to legendary poets such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and countless others – a tireless crusader for peace and justice – This is Judy Collins. Through it all, she has always remained the optimist, spreading the same joy she finds in her music to the rest of the world.

Included in the Forever, The Judy Collins Anthology is a dedication written by Gloria Steinem. Her words may best capture the tremendous impact of Collins’ contribution. “By witnessing our truth,” writes Ms. Steinem, “And telling her own story, Judy has given us back our song.” On Forever, The Judy Collins Anthology, and Judy Collins, Christmas At The Biltmore Estate, the cup of goodwill that she has shared with us for more than 35 years is still overflowing. In looking back, Judy is also looking forward, with records, concerts, an A&E television Christmas special and challenging new projects in the works, knowing that her most important creative years are still ahead. Hers is forever an impressive future. Forever, The Judy Collins Anthology is the summation to date, of a musical legacy that is truly unmatched in our lifetime.