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Words of the Heart

Lawrance M. Bernabo | 08/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Judy Small sings feminist, folk music in a lovely, alto voice with a rich, Australian accent. If you like Holy Near, Chris Williamson or Ann Reed, you're likely to enjoy Judy Small. This CD is a retrospective of several of her earlier works, which are now out of print. In "Mothers, Daughters, Wives", she looks at war from the perspective of the women left behind. "Walls and "Windows" looks for common ground between women in different parts of the world, whose governments are enemies. "Speaking Hands, Hearing Eyes", the Judy Small song I first heard on the radio and which got me hooked, is about friendships between deaf and hearing people. Several songs tell the stories of individual women, most of them ordinary women. Judy brings you in and makes you want to meet the women in her songs and inspires you to be a better person."

Judy Small is a Folk Singer of the First Rank

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 09/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you can find a CD or a tape with Judy Small's "Mothers, Daughters, Wives" on it, buy it, even if it is not "Word of Mouth," which is the proverbial one album of greatest hits to own if you only own one album. This may well be the case because getting your hands on Judy Small's work on this side of the planet can be quite difficult. I do most of my ordering over the Internet from down under.I discovered Judy Small when my wife and oldest daughter returned from the United Nations Conference on Women in China several years ago with one of her CDS, having seen her perform there. She is one of those talented singer/songwriters who amazes you and then you find yourself wondering why everybody you know does not own everything she has done and you go off to spread the word, which is exactly what I am trying to do here."Mothers, Daughters, Wives" is one of the great anti-war songs of the century but Small's work is exquisitely diverse, ranging from the haunting simplicity of "Song for Jacqueline," to the rollicking fun of "The Family Maiden Aunt," the caustic wit of "Golden Arches," the political fervor of "You Don't Speak for Me," and the narrative beauty of "Mary Parker's Lament." Like all great folk singers she can deal with matters both large ("The Futures Exchange") and small ("Speaking Hands, Hearing Eyes") and still display a great sense of fun ("The Manly Ferry Song"). I will leave you with one final comment: Most of the friends to whom I have introduced the work of Judy Small, have tracked down and purchased her work whatever the international shipping rates involved."

...brought tears and evoked desire for peace in the world

Lawrance M. Bernabo | 05/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard "Women, Daughters and Wives" on WETA and stopped my car to pay attention to the whole message. Tender music and strong words give time-honored thoughts a new voice. She has combined the qualities of a poet-laureate and flutist in her songs."