Ruthann Friedman - Hurried Life: Lost Recordings 1965-1971 (2021)

A brilliant collection of demos, home recordings and lost songs from astral folk cult hero Ruthann Friedman. One for fans of Linda Perhacs, Devandra Banhart or Vashti Bunyan.

Best known for writing 1960s smash hit 'Windy', famously covered by the Association, Friedman's other material was far more low-key and inward looking. In fact, her music had more in common with Joni Mitchell or even Sandy Denny than it did anything with wider pop potential. These songs build out Friedman's legend in a further dimension, showing further depth than we heard on her 1969 solo debut "Constant Companion".

'Hurried Life' was compiled by producer Pat Thomas, who bundled tracks from Friedman's personal archive with the original version of 'Windy'. With a co-sign from Friedman herself (she recently commented "I think those were representative of me"), it's the best portrait you'll get of the under-heard cult favorite and Tompkins Square have done a good job with this special issue.

In 1967, the folk-pop group The Association had a massive hit with a song called “Windy” penned by an unknown young woman named Ruthann Friedman. Two years later, she released her own album Constant Companion on Warner/Reprise Records that sounded nothing like “Windy”—it had more in common with her labelmate Joni Mitchell or cult-hero Linda Perhacs. Decades later, Ruthann would be declared an “astral folk goddess” and championed by the likes of Devendra Banhart. Around that time, reissue producer Pat Thomas compiled a collection of previously unreleased demos, home recordings, and lost songs circa 1965-1970 from Ruthann's personal archive including the original version of "Windy." Titled Hurried Life, Ruthann recently declared, “That’s the one that I really like—that was the first time going back into the archives to find songs that might be reissued. I think those were representative of me.” First released on CD in 2006 (and long out of print), it’s now available for the first time ever on vinyl LP! With delicious artwork by Nat Russell.