Judy Collins - Both Sides Now: The Very Best Of (2014) Lossless

Judy Collins offers up a beautiful compilation of songs she's released on her own Wildflower label over the past decade, sampling from the wonderful Wildflower CDs The Essential Judy Collins, Judy Collins Wildflower Festival, Voices, Shameless, Judy Collins Sings Lennon and McCartney, Paradise, Bohemian, Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Christmas With Judy Collins, and Live in Ireland. The set includes her lilting defining version of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now", only this version more closely resembles the 1968 version. It is a newly recorded mid tempo version, complete with harpsichord. Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns" is here as well, plus haunting versions of Joan Baez's "Diamonds and Rust" recorded as a duet with Joan, and a heartfelt lovely recording of Lennon and McCartney's "Yesterday". "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" sung by Collins is a welcome treat, taken from the CD Paradise. Check out also a breathtaking treatment of the Cat Stevens song "Morning Has Broken" from the Essential Judy Collins CD.

There are also stellar piano and vocal only recordings of Judy's own classic songs such as "My Father", "Born To the Breed", "The Blizzard", "Albatross" and Judy's very first song "Since You Asked", written after Leonard Cohen asked her why she was not writing her own songs. She sings Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" from the Live at the Met CD, and harmonizes with Ari Hest on "The Fire Plays" from the Live in Ireland CD. There is also a fine reading of Harry Chapin's "Cat's In The Cradle" and an ensemble performance with Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Anderson on "Will The Circle Be Unbroken".

Three cuts that are brand new and recorded for this project include a spectacular version of Neil Young's song "Helpless" sung with Indie artist Rachel Sage, an updated nod to the late Pete Seeger in "Oh Had I A Golden Thread" and a splendid version of Jean Ritchie's "One I Love". Other standouts include "Pure Imagination", "Morocco" and Judy's touching song "In The Twilight", written about her mother's death from Alzheimer's disease, all three songs taken from her stunning CD Bohemian. A special treat is another chance for the single "Angels In The Snow" to be heard. It first appeared on last year's Christmas with Judy Collins and is in my opinion one of the most beautiful things she has ever recorded.

Also noteworthy is Collins' own composition "Risk" with its beautiful lyrics of roses and snow. "Time slips by in the hourglass, you can hear your name. Sand slides through the stranger's hand as he deals the game." "Lily of the Valley", Judy's own song about domestic violence is also here, like "Risk" first appearing on the CD Shameless. Collins also duets with Stephen Stills on the lovely Tom Paxton song "Last Thing On My Mind". And then of course there is the a capella, choir accompanied "Amazing Grace", which no one does quite like Judy Collins. A stellar collection by one of America's true living legends.