Forever Anthology
Though she's filed as a folk artist, Judy Collins is much, much more. She is a connoisseur of song whose intelligence of selection and grace of execution have been a model for interpretive vocalists for decades. This two-disc retrospective is not arranged chronologically but it hits all the high points of her journey from trad-folk priestess to art-song master. Along the way, she has helped acquaint us with the works ofBob Dylan,Stephen Sondheim,Joni Mitchell,Leonard Cohen, andJacques Brel. And when, with the moving "My Father" in 1968, she began adding her own songs to the mix, there was no drop in quality whatsoever.--Ben Edmonds