The Judy Collins Concert (Live)

iTunes Review

Recorded on March 21, 1964 at Town Hall in New York City when Collins was just 24 years old, The Judy Collins Concert was her first appearance in a proper theater, after years of toiling in folk clubs. The material ranges from traditional works like “Bonnie Boy Is Young” and “Wild Rippling Water” to contemporary songs by the best writers of the day. Only Shel Silverstein’s “Hey, Nelly Nelly” had previously appeared on one of her albums. Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing On My Mind” was already on its way to becoming a classic. Bob Dylan’s “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” dealt directly with racial inequality and class privilege. Billy Edd Wheeler contributes three notable compositions, including the spellbinding opener, “Winter Sky.” John Phillips, later of the Mamas & The Papas, gave her “Me & My Uncle.” Fred Neil’s “Tear Down the Walls” was a great cry for liberation. Ewan MacColl’s traditional “Cruel Mother” has a gentle gait that displays Collins’ incredible composure during one of the most important nights in her young career.