Judy Collins - 3 & 4 [2CD] (2004)

As good as Judy Collins' first two albums were in the early '60s (A Maid of Constant Sorrow and Golden Apples of the Sun), neither suggested the depth or vision she'd later become noted for. By the release of Judy Collins #3 in 1963, however, it became apparent that a deeper intelligence lay behind the choice of material and arrangements. The song list itself is made up of lovely ballads like "Anathea" and "Hey Nelly Nelly," which clearly fall within the folk tradition but weren't typical of the era. Collins also shows a certain flair by choosing new socially aware songs like Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" and Pete Seeger and Idris Davies' "The Bells of Rhymney." Likewise, the arrangements, fleshed out by the presence of Jim McGuinn (later Roger McGuinn) on second guitar and banjo and Bill Takas on bass, offer more than the stripped-down revival folk of the time (even Dylan's early albums were much more economically arranged). Collins also resisted the usual on The Judy Collins Concert, her fourth album, by utilizing -- in various combinations -- a bass, cello, banjo, and guitar to fill out her sound. In retrospect, the song choices here are even more impressive, and include three by Tom Paxton, one by Dylan, and one by Fred Neil. Of course, the one thread that pulls all of these various elements is Collins' clear, lovely vocals, making Judy Collins 3 & 4 still enjoyable 40 years after the fact.