In My Life
Folky chanteuse Judy Collins is generally known for two things: Her great eyes (memorialized by Stephen Stills) and her ability to interpret other people's songs in that crystalline voice. 1966'sIn My Life, her sixth record overall, was considered a watershed when it was released--the album on which Collins moved beyond narrowcast protest-folk and into more expansive, romantic, contemplative material: everything from cabaret theatrics (Brecht and Weil's "Pirate Jenny," the wonderful medley "Marat/Sade") to pop (the Beatles' title tune) to undiscovered brooders ("Suzanne" by the then-unknown Leonard Cohen). Yeah, there's a Dylan song on here ("Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"), but the record is more often (gasp!) sexy than polemic. Along withWho Knows Where the Time GoesandWildflowers, one of Collins' three best albums.--Keven McAlester