Judy Collins Early, Non-Elektra Releases

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There are two known recordings of Judy Collins that were released prior to A Maid of Constant Sorrow they are local releases in the Denver area called: Folk Song Festival at Exodus and Mickey Sherman Presents: 1960 Folk Festival at the Exodus.

HCA003 Folk Song Festival at Exodus - October 1959 - A Sky Lark Recording SK-1002 (mono)

• Walt Conley
  • 900 Miles
  • Worried Man Blues
  • Passing Through
  • John Henry
• George Downing
  • Dolores
  • Dreary Black Hills
• Judy Collins (start of side 2)
  • House of the Rising Sun
  • Tell Old Bill
  • Two Sisters
• The Harlin Trio
  • Sinner Man
  • I Know Where I'm Going
• Dave Wood
  • Rosita

HCA005 1960 Folk Festival at the Exodus - 1960 - Sight and Sound SS-1002 (mono)

• Ed McCurdy
  • High Barbary
  • The Butcher Boy
• Judy Collins
  • The Prickili Bush
  • Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier
  • Tim Evans
  • Boots and Stetsons and Sixguns
• Don Crawford (start of side 2)
  • John Henry
  • Katya
• Osi Sladek
  • Dodi Li
  • Medley of Horos
    • Tsena Tsena
    • Mayim Mayim
    • Hava Nageela
• Judy Collins
  • This Land is Your Land (Guthrie, Woodie)

Front cover is a drawing of a guitar learning on a stool. Backcover has photos of the four performers and notes/titles.

One other recording of interest surfaced recently. It does not specifically credit Judy Collins on it as she was under contract with Elektra at the time it was made, but we are pretty sure that she participated in it.

HCA015 Railroad Bill by The Homesteaders - 1962 ca. - Riverside RM 7537 (mono LP), RS 97537 (stereo LP)

The members of The Homesteaders are not identified on the record or the jacket, but the voice of Judy Collins is unmistakable, and the source for this, John Ross, indicates that Judy has confirmed being on it. The other members of the vocal group were Ronnie Gilbert (of the Weavers) and Mike Settle (plus one other male singer John can't identify--possibly Walter Raim--the arranger). Lorin Sklamberg kindly provided the correction that the other female singer was Ronnie Gilbert of the Weavers and not Ethel Raim who John Ross had thought. Ethel Raim was apparently unfamiliar with this album when asked by Lorin.

Vocals by The Homesteaders, with instrumental accompaniment. Musical direction and arrangements: Walter Raim. The liner notes include a long quote from Bobby Darin.

• Railroad Bill - 3:30 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• Cape Cod Girls - 1:48 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• Abilene - 3:16 (Bob Gibson)
• Titanic - 2:05 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• The Silkie - 3:19 (Trad., arr Walter Raim)
• Whoa, Buck - 2:59 (Trad., arr Walter Raim)
• Roll On, Columbia - 2:15 (Woody Guthrie)
• Last Monday Morning - 2:43 (Trad., arr Walter Raim)
• Mary Ann - 2:33 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• Nine Pound Hammer - 2:20 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• Stranger Here - 3:16 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)
• She’s Like A Swallow - 2:54 (Trad., arr Walter Raim & Ed Michel)

Two more albums were brought to light thanks to Lisa Sanchez!

HCA025 HOOTENANNY at the Limelight in the Village - 1963 ?? - Somerset SF-19900

Judy is again, as in Railroad Billnot credited on this album. A group called "The Wanderin' Five" is credited, but a second album with that group on it did not include Judy.

• Old Greenback Dollar
• Midnight Special
• Rovin' Gambler
• Lonesome Valley
• Cindy
• The Riddle Song
• Who's Gonna Be Your Man
• I'll Not Marry At All
• Mary Don't You Weep
• Black Eyed Susie
• Turtle Dove

HCA045 This Land Is Your Land - Songs of Social Justice - 1964 October - UAW

This album is the one that is tied to the release of "The Inheritance" movie and contains the song for which Millard Lampell wrote the lyrics. Performers include Joan Baez (singing "We Shall Overcome"), The Baytown Singers, Leon Bibb, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman, Billy Holiday, Cisco Houston, Ian & Sylvia, Tommy Makem & the Clancy Brothers, Odetta, Peter Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, The Tarriers, The Weavers, Josh White.

Judy sings:

• Pass It On - (Music by George Kleinsinger, Lyrics by Millard Lampell)

Complete Track List - performer - writer:

• This Land is Your Land - The Tarriers & Ronnie Gilbert - Woody Guthrie
• The Ballad of Momma Rosa Parks - The Baytown Singers - Nick Vener & Buddy Mize
• Four Strong Winds - Ian and Sylvia - Ian tyson
• Another Man Done Gone - Leon Bibb - Southern field cry
• Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford - Merle Travis
• Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya - Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers - 18th century
  apparently predates "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
• Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill - The Weavers - Thomas F. Casey
• Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday - Lewis Allen
• Oh Freedom - Ronnie Gilbert - Traditional
• He Was A Friend Of Mine - The Baytown Singers - Buddy Mize
• Blown' In The Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary - Bob Dylan
• Follow The Drinking Gourd - The Weavers - Paul Campbell
• Hard Time Blues - Josh White - m: Josh White, l: William Waring Cuney
• Come Away Melinda - Fred Hellerman - Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff
• If I Had A Hammer - Odetta - Lee Hayes and Pete Seeger
• Pastures of Plenty - Cisco Houston - Woody Guthrie
• Little Boxes - Pete Seeger - Malvina Reynolds
• We Shall Overcome - Joan Baez - Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan and Pete Seeger
• Pass It On - Judy Collins - m: George Kleinsinger, l: Millard Lampell

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Last updated Suunday, March 23, 2003

©1997-2003 Richard L. Hess All Rights Reserved