Search - Judy Collins :: The Essential Judy Collins

The Essential or Another Best Of?

H. F. Corbin | ATLANTA, GA USA | 02/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is certainly nothing wrong with Ms. Collins' renditions of these songs. Her voice as always is heavenly; her piano technique, when she accompanies herself, if flawless. But with the possible exception of "Bridge Over Trouble Water"-- and I may be wrong about that song-- there is not one cut here that Ms. Collins hasn't recorded before and several of them, many times-- "Amazing Grace", "Both Side Now", "Send in the Clowns", "Song for Bernadette," for example. (There are practically no notes with this recording, usually a pretty good sign that the material is warmed over.) If she prefers never to sing new material again, she has that right. After all, she has been gracing us with beautiful music for over forty years now. But surely we already have enough "best of's" and live performances. Usually I blame the record company for wanting to cash in on a performer's popularity when these sorts of compilations are released over and over. In this instance, however, I notice that Ms. Collins is listed as the producer so she must bear some of the responsibility for this CD.



I purchased this CD because I do not have recordings of some of the songs Collins sings here-- "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Bright Morning Stars" and "One Day At A Time"-- what a great arrangement-- but I'm ready for some new material from this fine artist."

Huge Disappointment

Louise M. Elliott | Middletown, CT | 05/20/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"If you are looking for the essential Judy Collins, don't buy this CD. Yes, it is still her fabulous golden soprano voice, but the selections and the arrangements were almost unrecognizable from the Judy I was expecting."

Boring

J. Hack | San Jose, CA USA | 04/08/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Here voice is great but the songs are boring. Plus these are just another collection of songs she's done before. If you are a fan of slow songs then this is for you but I'll take the originals of all her remakes."