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Title: a classic that stands the test of time
Review: The second you hear the first chords of "Hello Hooray" you know you're in for something great. I don't know if I'd call it folk, more like modern American Standards (Dylan and Leonard Cohen, indeed). Judy Collins uses her seemingly flawless vocals to conjure up a patchwork of rich emotions -- taking you through optimism, sadness, regret, longing and innocent hope. That's typical for Judy Collins though. What seems unique about this album is that she sings in a lower register and with more definite phrasing, so she sounds more like a story teller than on other albums (a lot like in the 9/11 tribute song she wrote). The stories become rich under her command, so we are grabbed by the urgency of "Story of Isaac", the hope in "Someday Soon" and the mixed pensive sentiment in the beautiful "My Father". If you've ever liked Judy Collins but perhaps aren't familiar with the songs on this album, give it a try -- she sounds great.
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