Judy Collins

Portrait Of An American Girl

first studio album in eight years from legendary East Coast folk revivalist, available from High Coin

Legendary folksinger Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes for 45 years.  She has released more than 40 albums, has had numerous top ten hits, gold and platinum selling records and received 2 Grammy Awards, first for her 1967 recording of 'Both Sides Now' by the then-little-known Joni Mitchell and then again in 1975 for her version of Stephen Sondheim's ballad 'Send in the Clowns' from the Broadway musical 'A Little Night Music'.  Judy was the first to record the songs of Leonard Cohen and brought performers such as Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell to widespread public attention.  She is also the favourite artist of former US President, Bill Clinton, who famously named his daughter Chelsea after hearing Judy's version of 'Chelsea Morning' (Joni Mitchell).  February 13th 2006 sees the release of her long-awaited studio album 'Portrait Of An American Girl'.

Born May 1, 1939 in Seattle, WA, Judy's early musical influences came from her father, Chuck Collins, who was a singer, composer and broadcaster during the golden age of radio.  By age 10, Judy was studying classical piano with famed orchestral conductor Antonia Brico.  She would later make a prize-winning documentary about her mentor, Antonia Brico: Portrait of the Woman. By 16 her love of lyrics was being sparked by the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and the traditional songs of the folk revival so Judy swapped her Steinway for a guitar and was soon singing in the East Coast folk clubs, most notably in The Village Gate at Greenwich Village, New York, the epicentre of the current folk revival, where she was spotted and signed at the age of 22 by Jac Holzman.  And so began a 35-year association with Jac and Elektra Records. 

As the '60s grew more rebellious, Judy was drawn to songs by the social poets of the time: Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.  For 1966's 'In My Life', she introduced a broad mixture of songs, a characteristic that has stamped her albums ever since.  She also began playing the piano again and bringing her musical roots back into her performance.  The real turning point in Collins' career was with the 1967 album, 'Wildflowers', which gave her her first major single in 'Both Sides Now', and earned her the first of many Grammy nominations as well as a place in the Grammys' Hall of Fame.  Judy has continued to record throughout her 45-year career, releasing such critically acclaimed albums as 'Colours Of The Day', 'Fires Of Eden' and the Bob Dylan tribute, 'Judy Collins Sings Dylan: Just Like A Woman'.  Other song highlights include: 'Blowin' in the Wind' (Bob Dylan), 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' (Andrew Lloyd Webber), 'In My Life' (John Lennon), 'Suzanne' (Leonard Cohen), 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' (Pete Seeger) and 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' (Sandy Denny) as well as her own 'All on a Wintry Night', 'Born to the Breed' and 'My Father'.

Recorded on her own label Wildflower Records and released in the UK through the High Coin imprint, 'Portrait Of An American Girl' Judy Collins' first studio album in 8 years and features an eclectic mix of 13 songs including personal self-penned tracks such as 'Singing Lessons', 'You Can’t Buy Love' and 'Voyager' as well as resounding covers of such songs as the Motown hit 'Sally Go 'Round the Roses', 'Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)' and Bruce Cockburn's 'Pacing the Cage'.  Also look out for another fabulous Collins version of a Joni Mitchell song, 'That Song About The Midway' and the beautifully orchestrated, spoken-word recitation of Aaron Copland's 'Lincoln Portrait'.

"Arguably the best female folk voice of the age" Barney Hoskyns, Uncut

"If amethysts could sing… they would sound like Judy Collins" Dick Farina, poet/songwriter

Tracklisting:

Singing Lessons
That Song About The Midway
I Can't Cry Hard Enough
You Can't Buy Love
Pacing The Cage
Sally Go Round The Roses
Voyager
Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)
Wedding Song (Song for Louis)
Checkmate
Liberte
Lincoln Portrait
How Can I Keep From Singing

catalogue number: SABRECD2019; barcode: 823566410522

release date: 13 February 2006

available to buy from play.com, hmv.co.uk and all good record stores.

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