Judee Sill | Listography Jr

[@awrogers3013]

Hey guys thanks again for this reminder . That video on prime about her is good. My only thought about it is I don’t think she would be thrilled that rondstat is a main narrator.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We all know now JD Souther was the real villain. - Joe

[@foreignparticle1320]

Thank you for highlighting Judee Sill. She's a hidden gem... a unique artist in every way.

[@arlobill]

Agree..She was a genius ,easily on a par wirh brian wilson and bob dylan . Both albums make my top 10 favorite ever lps. A mindblowing artist.

[@suartgilmour4540]

Only really heard covers of her work, like by Zevon or Bill Callahan, so I will check out those albums. Thanks! It made me think, too. I've never heard you guys mention Smog/Bill Callahan. Brilliant, brilliant artist, would definitely recommend.

[@PartTimeBuddhist]

She really draws out her R's when she sings. She had a thing for the letter R and apparently hated the letter Y ("Judee," not "Judy"?). It's always fun to watch Joe geek out over obscure early '70s Laurel Canyon artists like her or Gene Clark, even if I don't share that level of admiration. But "Crayon Angels" and "The Phantom Cowboy" did find their way onto a '70s singer-songwriter mix I made a while back. Haven't heard Heart Food other than "The Kiss," so I will now have to give that a listen.

[@Fatherjohn76]

Wow thank you for bringing this extraordinary artist to my attention! I’m a lifelong music fan now in my 40s and there are times it feels like all the masterpieces of yore have been uncovered and explored, until something like this comes out the woodwork and knocks you sideways. Great stuff

[@TastesLikeMusic]

🙌🏼

[@TheArchangel68]

My cousin has a label called Intervention Records. He re-released her material on vinyl not long ago and it sounds great.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I agree. I have both. Both from intervention I do believe! If you see your cousin, tell them thanks. - Joe

[@Ianmackable]

I've sometimes thought that if Sill had come along in a later era, when there was more of a support network for artists outside the commercial mainstream, she might have eventually broken through. As it was, she kind of put all her eggs in the Asylum basket, and when that didn't work out, had nowhere else to go.

[@frangarcia7774]

I really like Judie. Not as much as Joe does, but she definetely deserved much more attention. I am glad to see that she's been receiving some love in the last few years

[@TastesLikeMusic]

No one does. - Joe

[@JacksonPavlik]

One of my all time favorites! Albums: 1. Judee Sill (5/5) 2. Heart Food (4/5) Songs 1. Enchanted Sky Machines 2. Ridge Rider 3. Lopin’ Along Through The Cosmos 4. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown 5. The Phantom Cowboy

[@ErnestIII83]

Happy to hear someone else point out flaws in the recording of Heart Food. Thought the static was my CD or the CD player. Ha. Had that issue with 'Ol Man River on Jeff Beck's Truth as well. Am also happy to see a video in the so-called "V.C." focusing on Judee Sill. They're quite difficult to come by for one reason or another. Heart Food would be my no. 1. The Kiss was my intro to Judee and has become my favorite song of all time. I agree with Joe that the Donor is also incredibly epic. I actually LOVE her voice. One of the most distinctive and incredible voices I've ever heard. Maybe because it isn't a voice like Kate Bush or Joni Mitchell that I'm drawn to it that way. Nothing against Kate nor Joni, but I do find their voices a bit grating at times. Of course, I'm referring to their falsettos. Oh, and the Hollies recorded a version of Jesus Was A Crossmaker as well.

[@ChazeGeyer]

Merry Christmas ❤ Oh my what a delight, it’s curious my critique of these (2) records word for word was the one Joe invoked. There’s an almost “reverence” to her voice, a sincerity which is undeniable. It was the sophomore record which moved me, particularly “Kiss” and “Donor” both so lovely the lyrics beautiful. So many of these songs are reminiscent of Church music hymns that I sang in my childhood at Worship. Tragic she couldn’t offer more…

[@lewistyler462]

I really want to see the new documentary about her, but I can't get it yet in the UK.

[@johnlefsky8731]

The documentary came out earlier this year and is now available for streaming and dvd; totally worth seeing. I have the double disc, Abracadabra, that has her first two lps and a slew of live tracks and demos; out of print, sadly.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I gotta watch it. - Joe

[@johnlefsky8731]

@@TastesLikeMusic It occured to me that all of your Listography Jr. choices all died young. Here are three women, all still alive, who only recorded a few lps: Sibylle Baier, Vashti Bunyan and Linda Perhacs. Bunyan and Perhacs both released albums in 1970, then didn't record again until the oughts. Baier recorded in the early 70's, but her music didn't get an official release until 2006.

[@samoppedisano3994]

Cross maker has to be one of my favorites ever. The syncopated chorus broke my brain the first time I heard it

[@famousashtray]

5. The Kiss 4. The Pearl 3. The Doner 2. Loping Along in the Cosmos 1. The Lamb Ran Away with the Crown

[@lfbl7166]

I’m with Joe here, both albums are five stars for me

[@marcofalzone6469]

Here here. She was a total revelation to me. I'd never heard of her before 2020. 😂

[@jedikiah1541]

A good pick! Laura Nyro was another female singer who deserves a much higher profile.

[@HeyMrRain]

Yeah, Laura Nyro would definitely be a cool listography to see on this channel. I'm particularly interested to see what Joe's thoughts on her music would be since he's a big Kate Bush fan and Laura was clearly a pretty big influence on Kate. Don't imagine Jason will be too much of a fan though in spite of her also being a big influence on 1 of his favorite artists (Todd Rundgren)

[@jedikiah1541]

@@HeyMrRain Yes, Laura was definitely a huge influence on Kate. It slightly puts Kate in a different complexion, although i'm not saying she still wasn't original.

[@ttmilbr]

Just listening now and her voice sounds like Karen Carpenter. Going to be listening to more of this, thanks!

[@detectivecox]

Enjoyable liked the first one best...while doing this I discovered a similar artist and I recommend the album: Linda Perhacs - Parallelograms trippy stuff

[@kevinnicholas1228]

judee sill is on her own! Do you guys know Karen Dalton, sort of same bracket with a voice you love or hate!

[@funkyandy72]

Great shout Kevin. Karen D has a uniquely brilliant voice

[@redbirdct]

I was aware of "Jesus Was a Cross Maker" from the Warren Zevon cover and thus who Judee Sill was but never really listened to the source work. You guys inspired me to give her two albums a listen. I definitely enjoyed them, though it's always hard to make definitive statements based on one listen. I'm not sure whether I like the more sparse arrangements of the first record or the lusher sound on the second one better. I couldn't picture any of these songs being hits, expect maybe "Soldier of the Heart", which was one of my least favorite songs in the bunch. I'd have to give these more intensive listenings, maybe with a lyric sheet as I had a hard time understanding what she was singing in places. That always irks me about music I don't know well. My general impressions of the music is favorable, though. She had a really rough life and it's a tragedy that she was so messed up. I think she could have been a true great instead of a largely forgotten footnote if things had gone better for her. I wasn't expecting to consider "Cross Maker" not one of her best songs but I'd probably rank it somewhere in the middle of the 20 or so tracks I heard.

[@mrtb7676]

5. Soldier of the Heart 4. When the Bridegroom Comes 3. Lady-O 2. The Donor 1. The Kiss

[@drdavid1963]

I'm with Joe here. I agree with Jason that the debut is a 3½ star record and Jesus is A Crossmaker is agreat song. But, Heart Food, for me, is a masterpiece, one of the best albums of 1973 and The Kiss and The Donor, like Joe said, is Brian Wilson/Surf's Up level songwriting. She may not have the sophistication and range of Joni Mitchell but I like her accessible voice, her 'ordinariness' as Joe said and the cosmic lyrics add a poignant dimension to her songs. A unique artist, for sure. Songs 5. The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown (love The Beach Boys vocal stylings at the end) 4. Soldier of The Heart 3. The Donor 2. Jesus Was A Crossmaker 1. The Kiss

[@claytonkelley4921]

1. Judee Sill (1971) 4 stars (8) 2. Heart Food (1973) 3 stars (6.5)

[@NormHiscock-j3z]

I love the interplay between the guitar and Judee's voice on Soldier Of The Heart. I do like both albums but for some reason I don't return to them as much as a Joni Mitchell or Kate Bush album. It could be the production? Heart Food has a warmer sound and I tend to listen to that one more. These artists that didn't have the career and breadth of work -- we miss out on the possible growth. Because she had a lot of musical influences -- it would have been interesting to see where it went creatively.

[@weirddebbiem1619]

Albums: 2) Judee Sill 3.5 1) Heart Food 4.0 Songs: 5) Crayon Angels 4) The Archetypal Man 3) My Man On Love 2) The Kiss 1) There's a Rugged Road

[@willemdegraaf5495]

What a nice surprise. Well said Joe. Next one Nick Drake?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Yes it is

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Yep

[@painless465]

I always liked “ The Vigilante “, I think from Heartfood. And yes, “ Jesus was a cross maker” is a tremendous song, I need to check out her catalog. Is the band Television gonna be part of your “ junior” album rankings? That would be a good one. Just 3 albums.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We got Nick Drake next but Television would be good for the future. - Joe

[@Vanessa.P]

I'm in the not as into Judee camp sadly. I am not sure what it is but I just don't feel that connection with her like so many people do. Believe me, I have tried. I've listened to both these albums several times trying to "crack the code" but if you don't feel it, you don't feel it. Similar to what Jason said, I generally love finding these artists that were unsung in their day who get re-discovered by a new generation. I love so many of them but yet, I'm not there with Judee and it does make me a little sad. It seems there is plenty of love for her from others to go around though so that is great. 2) Heart Food - 3.5 1) Judee Sill - 3.5 Songs: - Crayon Angels - Lady-O - Lopin’ Along Thru the Cosmos - The Kiss - There’s a Rugged Road

[@gummyb426]

Nice stuff. might be 3.5s if I listen more. They're basically the same in quality 1 Heart Food 3/5 2 Judee Sill 3/5 1 Jesus Was a Crossmaker 2 The Donor 3 The Lamb Ran Away With the Crown 4 Soldier of the Heart 5 Crayon Angels

[@curly_wyn]

1. Judee Sill (1971) = 4.5/5 stars 2. Heart Food (1973) = 4/5 stars

[@brianmiller1077]

I heard tThe Kiss via Fleet Foxes then checked out her studio version too. I prefer the Live on the BBC Version a lot more. Less ethereal more direct.

[@Maanebaronen]

5 Down Where The Valleys Are Low 4 Jesus Was A Crossmaker 3 The Kiss 2 Lady-O 1 The Donor 2 Judee Sill 1 Heartfood

[@awrogers3013]

Something about her I’ve always been leery about. The vibe just disturbs me. I think she’s great but something about her whole thing unsettles me. I kind of put her with Scott walker’s later albums..kind of afraid of their power.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

You should be afraid

[@RostyslavLogachov]

2. Judee Sill (1971) 2/5 1. Heart Food (1973) 2.5/5 5. The Vigilante (Heart Food) 4. The Kiss (Heart Food) 3. There's A Rugged Road (Heart Food) 2. Jesus Was A Cross Maker (Judee Sill) 1. Soldier Of The Heart (Heart Food)

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Cmon Rostyslav!!!’ - Joe

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

ALBUMS: 1. Heart Food (1973) 4 2. Judee Sill (1971) 4 TOP 5 SONGS: 1. Jesus Was a Cross Maker 2. The Kiss 3. The Donor 4. Crayon Angels 5. Soldier of the Heart I didn't know about Judee until I played along with this channel's Album of the Year series a while ago. There are a lot of Christian references in the lyrics, which I don't mind even though I'm decidedly not a religious person. I do love a good hymn, and a track like “The Donor" (from Heart Food) reminds me of church music in the best way possible. While I think her two albums are great, I don't consider her an all-time great. (Perhaps she could've gotten there had she made more albums, as she was off to a good start.) But she had a distinctive voice and an ear for a catchy melody. I could've easily filled a top 10 songs list.

[@bengalgangster]

ok her albums were ok , but didnt really hit me 2 judee sill 3.5 1 heart food 3.5+ songs 4 the archetypal 3 ridge rider 2 the pearl 1 soldier of the heart

[@weirddebbiem1619]

Great list, bengal. This was the first time I heard any of Judee's music. 🎶💜💜

[@paulok2153]

never heard of her !

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Now you have and you have no excuse.