Pop interpreter Judy Collins' sublime soprano has long made her a favorite worldwide. Leonard Cohen was an acclaimed poet and novelist when Collins had a 1967 hit with his beautiful and timeless song "Suzanne." She put him... more » on the musical map, he became of the most literate and revered songwriters of our time, and their creative synergy has become one for the ages. This new collection brings together 14 of Judy's indelible versions of Cohen's classic works, including three brand new recordings of Collins-Cohen collaborations.« less
Pop interpreter Judy Collins' sublime soprano has long made her a favorite worldwide. Leonard Cohen was an acclaimed poet and novelist when Collins had a 1967 hit with his beautiful and timeless song "Suzanne." She put him on the musical map, he became of the most literate and revered songwriters of our time, and their creative synergy has become one for the ages. This new collection brings together 14 of Judy's indelible versions of Cohen's classic works, including three brand new recordings of Collins-Cohen collaborations.
S.J. T. (cactuspatch) from FREDERICKSBRG, TX Reviewed on 9/2/2013...
Judy's renditions of Leonard Cohen's songs are so beautiful and powerful, and I love this album because the two of them and these songs are an important part of the history of the folk and singer/songwriter era of the sixties and early seventies.
It was a time when singers like Judy Collins played in college town pubs and made a name for themselves on their raw talents, before Nashville and the big record companies "made" singers.
And it was a time when folks who loved music sat around campfires and on apartment floors late into the night, sharing songs they had written, and learning new songs from new friends.
This album is the spark of one of those new friendships, one of those late night sharings, and I was so happy to find DEMOCRACY on SwapaCD, because its energy is bright and uplifting to this day.
CD Reviews
Cohen's Best Interpreter
H. F. Corbin | ATLANTA, GA USA | 12/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No singer is more qualified to sing Leonard Cohen's songs than Judy Collins. She introduced his music to a U. S. audience in 1966 ("Suzanne" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag"); she has continued to record his beautiful lyrics since then; and no one, including the composer himself, interprets his music better. For Collins and Cohen fans, most of the cuts here we've heard Ms. Collins sing before. Of the 14 selections, only three, "Democracy", "A Thousand Kisses Deep" and "Night Comes On" are the only new material here. I would love to hear her sing "First We Take Manhattan" or "Ain't No Cure For Love," to name two of Mr. Cohen's later offerings. Of course most of the Cohen classics are here: In addition to "Suzanne"-- that one for my money belongs to Ms. Collins alone-- there's "Sisters of Mercy", "Story of Isaac", "Bird On The Wire"-- the one that Cohen always opens his own concerts with-- and one of my all-time favorites, "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye."
What is so amazing is that Ms. Collins' voice has changed little in the 40 or so years she's been singing. Someone not familiar with her recordings would be hard put to tell which cuts are old and which ones are new here. Her voice is as clear and beautiful as her blue eyes. And it doesn't hurt any that she always speaks out for the causes I care about too.
This CD would make a great gift to a Cohen/Collins fan or a great introduction to the few last beautiful people on earth who aren't already crazy about this duo."
Helps me get over the bush win
Gary Delsohn | Corona del Mar CA | 11/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ignore the other reviewers who say this is old, recycled stuff. Sure, some of it is available on earlier discs but how can you possibly knock someone with as gorgeous a voice as July Collins singing songs as gorgeous and piercing as Leonard Cohen's? Too few people are conversant in his music and it is simply an astounding body of work that is made even more sublime by coming from Judy Collin's lips. This is a must-purchase for anyone with a soul. Buy it and get lost in the beauty. A perfect antidote to post-election depression."
Tremendous!
Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 11/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What better singer to interpret the dark, enigmatic songs of Canadian bard Leonard Cohen than the equally enigmatic Judy Collins? It is particularly apt given that the musical lives of these two have intertwined since early on.
I have been a sometimey fan of Judy Collins for many years. Among today's American female singers, perhaps only Tish Hinojosa comes even close to matching the pure, angelic, and heavenly voice that is Collins' gift to the world. If you listen to Collins' songs recorded over the span of forty-some years, you might note with wonder that she sounds essentially the same today as she did when she first began her recording career.
As for Cohen, he came on the scene nearly as long ago, his songs tinged with Keith Reid-like melancholy and inscrutability. I had always heard his songs as interpreted by others and only recently came to appreciate his own deep and rich vocal style.
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen brings Collins' gorgeous soprano to interpret the songwriting genius of Cohen. And what a tremendous job she does! Sometime she even bests the original as she does with A Thousand Kisses Deep.
My favorites are the aforementioned, the ever-timely and ironic Democracy, Suzanne (of course), Dress Rehearsal Rag, Bird On the Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, and Song of Bernadette.
If you are just a casual Judy Collins or Leonard Cohen fan, this could be the album that makes you a permanent part of their fan bases. Do I recommend it? Heck yeah, get it today. You won't be sorry.
"
What a treat!
Greg Dexter | Vancouver | 09/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first heard "In My Life" and "Wildflowers" two classic albums of Judy Collins recorded in the late 60's I was introduced to the songs of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Her interpretation of their songs and so many other great songwriters is always very beautiful and I hear something more everytime I listen to them but she must also be credited with helping in great part to bringing their music to a much wider audience as well. Very few other vocalists could make such a great tribute album collecting together as it does all of her recordings of Leonard Cohen's song from her Elektra years with three new recordings and one live recording from her own label Wildflower Records on a cd called "Live at Wolftrap" (Song of Bernadette) all sequenced with not a whisper of the plus 30 years of time and change from her first recording "Suzanne". Her voice in the new recordings is as satisfying as it ever was and her personal interpretations as intriguing and evocative as Leonard Cohen's poetry suggests. All of the early recordings are brilliantly remastered here and I especially enjoyed the sound of recordings she did with the music of arranger/conductor Joshua Rifkin. I could only wish that Elektra would invest in remastering those early albums to the same clarity as these present on this Leonard Cohen songbook. Thanks to Alan Silverman for the mixing, remastering and engineering of this CD. He has worked with Judy Collins on a number of recording projects among them the retrospective "Forever" and Judy's "unplugged" version of her own wonderful songs on a CD called "Voices". This CD will remain, along with Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat", in my collection of very favourite interpreters of the songs of Leonard Cohen and as one of many Judy Collins CDs that always please."
A great "Suzanne" but others fall short
Father Goose | Toronto, ON Canada | 12/01/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Judy Collins has a voice and style that shines on the lilting ballads. She owns "Suzanne" and "Sisters of Mercy", but doesn't have the depth, range or emotion to carry "Joan of Arc" or "Famous Blue Raincoat". If you want to hear, according to Cohen himself, the best interpretations of his songs, get the "Famous Blue Raincoat" CD by Jennifer Warnes...also a master disc recording you can use to demo the best stereo systems available."