Search - Judy Collins :: Portrait of an American Girl

Portrait of an American Legend

H. F. Corbin | ATLANTA, GA USA | 04/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is so difficult to discuss Judy Collins without getting mired down in superlatives. Since the 1960's she has graced us with her beautiful voice clear as a Colorado mountain spring and has always spoken out for the rights of all people. Once again she has given us such a fine collection of 12 songs, five of which are her own compositions, and Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." Some of the songs are humorous--"Sally Go 'Round The Roses"-- there's a love song or two, Judy's "You Can't Buy Love," for example. For the most part, however, many of these selections are spiritual introspections with references to God and the end of life not often seen before in Ms. Collins' music. Not to worry. She apparently hasn't jumped off a cliff and joined a cult. She is I believe a good Episcopalian and actually invokes both gods and goddesses in one selection, a beautiful tribute to her husband, "Wedding Song (Song for Louis)."



"Singing Lessons," the first cut on the CD, written by Ms. Collins (one of my favorites) is a prayer for God to "Teach me how to sing." That prayer obviously was answered long ago. In "I Can't Cry Hard Enough," written by David Williams and Marvin Etzoni, the singer is going to live her life/"Like everyday is the last." In clearly the most poignant selection Ms. Collins sees her "darling boy" in a crowd of strangers "So familiar and dear to me/I run towards you." She strikes a universal chord here as all of us have seen a stranger in a crowd who looks so much like a departed loved one that we almost cry out in anguish. And we are reminded once more that no mother should have to attend the funeral of her child. The Copland "Lincoln Portrait" at first seems strangely ill-selected. On the other hand-- and I certainly don't know Ms. Collins' motive in including this work-- why not include a tribute to our greatest president, someone else so good with words and who also believed in freedom? Certainly we as citizens have a right to hold our 43rd and war president up against the 16th, another war president, and ask how he ranks. This beautiful CD ends with a hymn by the 19th Century gospel and hymn writer/Baptist minister Robert Lowry who wrote "Christ Arose","Nothing But The Blood", "I Need Thee Every Hour" and "Shall We Gather at the River." Ms. Collins sings a stunning a capella arrangement with a backup choir of Lowry's "How Can I Keep From Singing." When you listen to this CD, you have the answer.



Ms. Collins accompanies herself on piano on many of these cuts, reminding us that she was trained as a classical pianist. Apropos of the title "Portrait of an American Girl" there are many photographs included with the notes of Judy as both a very young child and teenager, along with snapshots of her family. Finally, Annie Liebovitz has done stunning portraits of the artist for the front and back of this CD.



This is a required recording for those of us who love Ms. Collins, who have often measured out our lives in listening to her recordings. One could do much worse."

A little different

tompan | CARLSBAD, CA United States | 05/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I admit I haven't been listening to Judy much in recent years. My tastes changed & the compilations seemed to signal the end of her recording career, though she still performs constantly. This is a pleasant surprise and a delight for the most part.



Standouts are That Song About The Midway and I Can't Cry Hard Enough. Those and Pacing The Cage are pure classics. Judy is better using her chest voice and the mix on these songs with her head voice is perfect.



I was afraid of Sally Go 'Round The Roses but what a great vocal arrangement!! Is this an old folk song or a 50's oldie? Can't Buy Love is an overdone theme. She might have saved it with a full band though.



I wish she had followed Lincoln Portrait with her rendition of America The Beautiful. (At least the synthesized orchestra here is well done) There is some puzzlement from other reviewers about the Lincoln Portrait. Listen to Abraham Lincoln's words...they are a totally current message about the state of our country, war, and a message for our current government. I think Judy is making a great statement with it!



Beginning the album with Singing Lessons and ending it with How Can I Keep From Singing is another statement. Judy is humble but not about to stop--a testament to a very long career that is not over."

A great portrait

Book Lover | 04/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection won't disappoint Judy Collins fans who've been waiting a decade for an album of new material. Five of the songs were written by Ms. Collins, and all thirteen are decidedly "Judy Collins songs," forming an up-to-date self-portrait of this American girl. Though there is heartbreak in the lyric and yearning in the voice on many of the songs, as always, the lasting message is one of hope and optimism, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of song. In her long career, Judy Collins has created a large musical legacy, but never has her voice and music been more moving than on Portrait of An American Girl."