Song:Both Sides Now
Album:Introducing...Judy Collins
Though Judy Collins does write songs, she is primarily known as a song interpreter. Her 1968 version of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now was her only top five pop hit. She was very big on the Adult Contemporary charts in the 70s. She was born May 1, 1939 in Seattle and was a classical piano child prodigy. As a teen, she got interested in traditional folk music and made her way to New York City and the developing Grenwich Village folk scene. She signed with Jac Holzman's Elektra label and her debut CD of traditional folk songs A Maid Of Constant Sorrow was released in 1961. As the 60s progressed, Judy got interested in contemporary songs and songs from musical theatre. Someone played Both Sides Now for Judy over the phone and she immediately decided to record it. She had worked with producer Mark Abramson and arranger Joshua Rifkin on her 1966 album In My Life and Rifkin wrote a great arrangement for the song. It was on her 1967 album Wildflowers and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also won a Grammy for Best Folk Recording. It would also help establish Joni Mitchell and of course Joni would become a bigger star than Judy. It was Judy's biggest pop hit but she would remain very popular on the Adult Contemporary charts with her 1973 composition Cook With Honey and the 1975 Stephen Sonheim Broadway tune Send In The Clowns. This 2006 Rhino comp is a perfect intro to her music. Judy remained on Elektra until 1984 and also recorded for Columbia & Geffen. Judy Collins still tours today and records on her own Wildflower label. Her latest CD Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney was released in 2007. Here's Judy Collins performing Both Sides Now in 1987.
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