"The Kiss" by Judee Sill, Reaction/Analysis by Musician/Producer

[@markgaines6904]

One of the most unappreciated and unheard artist this century deserving of a wide audience and reevaluation of her works. Documentary release " Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill" in April

[@RogerSteiger-me9pc]

Check out the solo piano version and video from The Old Grey Whistle Test (easy to find on KZbin), and have a hanky ready.

[@davidjohnson00001]

Spot on. That version will be played at my funeral.

[@alanbates1471]

I much prefer her live performances as her voice, free from that double tracking, is just glorious. Sometime pure talent is just not enough though there were so many great artists around back then.

[@twatmunro]

@@alanbates1471 -- I find the album version unlistenable. The solo live version is so much better.

[@PILLOWHEX]

The most beautiful love song ever written in my op.

[@frankfeldman6657]

It's a love song to God.

[@williampower2619]

Exquisite. . Always loved it.

[@aaronm.1998]

You should listen to everything Judee ever did. Much of it is exquisite.

[@dickiebobradio1304]

Beautiful song. The entire "Heart Food" album is a miracle. So deep, so sad and life-affirming at the same time. This was no ordinary woman. I discovered Judee Sill through Barney Hoskyns' book "Hotel California" on the Laurel Canyon music scene in the 60s and 70s.

[@donparent9659]

Wonderfull and how did I miss this until now????? Judee Sill is now with me forever!!!

[@nannyssillysoapco]

I actually prefer this song when she sang it on BBC Old Grey Whistle test; just her and the piano. It's here on YT.

[@StrateleStudios]

I need to see this!

[@davidjohnson00001]

Beats the album version by a long way.

[@uniformrecording]

absolutely agree. i hate the double tracking or delay effect on her voice and the emphasis on the change which is lacking in the whistle test version. this is so on the nose.@@davidjohnson00001

[@TheoZoffrok]

Did you listen to the solo version??

[@pintpot]

@@uniformrecording You can hear the astonishing beauty of the chord changes far better on that version too.

[@daveroxit]

Judee arranged and conducted the strings and horns on this track. The photos on the album cover were taken at the orchestral overdub session. And yes, you should listen to everything in her unfairly slim discography.

[@The7logiebears]

This floated past my ears and straight into my soul.

[@doloreslott7135]

Your reaction was the same as mine...this song has such an ethereal quality with lyrics that seem eternal heavenly like

[@msmarlene2023]

The emotions pulled from this song are incredible. Her vocal pacing and lyrics ("And still i hear their whisper") are amazing. The music industry let Judee down and we all lost out. One must imagine how she felt when performing this song. Its impact is immense.

[@twatmunro]

Her records didn't sell. And it wasn't like they weren't promoted. That first album was all over everywhere and did nothing. And she got a second shot -- and that did nothing as well.

[@msmarlene2023]

Just recognizing that those first​ two albums were of such genius levels, think of how much we all lost when she was abruptly cut off by Geffen. And we should question why no other record company signed her? She stands alone as a brilliant artist left to die. @@twatmunro

[@johnchase3920]

Wow, blown away on this one… Good to see I’m not the only one with moist eyes! The subtle chorusing of her double tracked vocal, and near lack of vibrato was different, though really great. The arrangement and orchestration is fabulous, and love the dynamics. Thank you for this 🙂

[@StrateleStudios]

Nice to know your hearing all this too. 😊🫶

[@richalderson6069]

They did a documentary on Judee Sill recently but it's impossible to watch anywhere. I really wanna see it. The Kiss is a beautiful song.

[@AndrewSkinburn]

Really? I must see it.

[@d.lafollette]

It came out on Amazon & Apple today. Enjoy!

[@richalderson6069]

@@d.lafollette Oh great! Thanks for telling me. Cheers.

[@pintpot]

There's a 30-minute BBC radio documentary about her, "The Lost Genius of Judee Sill". It's very informative, but my favourite part is when which Andy Partridge of XTC, a big fan, plays this song on his stereo and...well, I won't spoil it. Probably the only sensitive singer / songwriter from the early 70s who was also a convicted armed robber.

[@mereobservation]

I keep coming back to this reaction...it almost needs no words, as your face and smile say it all. Would really love to hear your reaction to her song The Donor (album version) as it's just as, if not more, stunning and interesting...simple, yet intricate.

[@lisedonsgrnning6518]

Beautiful and touching🥹❤️😌 - thank you💜…

[@StrateleStudios]

Yes ☺️☺️☺️

[@liminal27]

5:24 There is a solo demo that she recorded that is imo the best version. There's a version of the Pearl on solo guitar which is fantastic as well.

[@richardtofts4977]

Found these on Spotify yesterday. By far the best versions.

[@GrossNational]

I just landed here amid searching for Judee Sill things. Love your reaction videos and I'm subscribing to your channel! The Judee Sill documentary was released last week, streaming I think via Apple and Amazon Prime. I bought my copy of it on DVD direct from Kino Lorber. Highly recommended. I had never heard of Sill until last year, her name came up on a comment thread in an XTC fan group. Supposedly Andy Partridge has mentioned her numerous times as a musical influence, so I sought her out. The 2-disc set of the two albums she released during her lifetime are still available. I've had them in constant rotation the past couple months and don't seem to tire of them. The influence on Andy Partridge isn't immediately clear, although I can see how she would have influenced his later more orchestral chamber pop stuff. Inventive and gorgeous stuff.

[@StrateleStudios]

Oh wow! I’m a HUGE XTC fan. I gotta see this documentary! Thanks for the info!

[@johnkalhoefer6988]

I have been a fan and listening to Judee's albums for right around 52 years, and I've never tired of them.

[@steveschermerhorn773]

I also learned of Sill via Andy Partridge. She was such a gifted artist.

[@robert.m.c63]

Love her music. Such a sad life she led. And such a lonely and tragic ending. This song is so beautiful.

[@ChrisGillespie-fe8fq]

Beautiful! What else can I say ❤

[@aligeeee]

in the uk judee was introduced via "the old grey whistle test" playing "jesus was a crossmaker". the compere and the viewers enjoyed that so much, he brought her back and she did indeed play this on solo piano. you will find both clips on on here. Voice of an angel.

[@hamto155]

Discovered Judee Sill just a couple days ago after reading in the obituary of J.D. Souther that she was an ex-wife. Her voice is mysterious, enchanting, and beautiful. A tragic life cut short.

[@pamelasmith4594]

@@hamto155 love the Kiss! Incredibly Beautiful!

[@WDRhine]

Just subscribed after seeing this reaction. I am probably about your age and have been involved with music all my life but this song, this artist in her entirety, had entirely eluded me, too. I first heard it last year after one of the hosts of a great KZbin music channel, Tastes Like Music, ranked as the second best song of 1973. It is everything you said - naive yet complex, stunningly beautiful yet easy to overlook. But if your heart is still open to unexpected bursts of joy this song can conjure up a very potent spell. It's clear that yours remains open.

[@StrateleStudios]

Great comment! Yes, these is something extra special about this song. It’s like a litmus test for the soul.

[@PaulSchuster-yj4zb]

74 now from the generation of music and can't figure out how I missed her till a few years ago. I am opposed to organized religions, especially so called Christianity, but totally believe in a spiritual God. This song goes directly to my soul and warms me from inside, like a Kiss from God.

[@kevinskiles2033]

I'd never heard of her till I saw a New York Times piece that talked about her not being recognized for the fine singer songwriter that she was.

[@StrateleStudios]

Check out her documentary it’s really good! She was something else!

[@canarsie56]

She was an incredible unique artist, pure magic and genius-she should have been heard by everyone

[@fschmiechen]

This is easily one of my Top Ten albums ever. Judee has the voice of an angel. And the music is heartbraking beautiful. She's combining Johann Sebastian Bach and Brian Wilson. Breathtaking.

[@acbenepe]

Brilliant singer, composer arranger. Tragic short life.

[@joemama2499]

I never met her, but I miss her

[@jbs256]

Jeff, my new friend Paul that I met at the 55th, said I have to check this out. Then he asked if I requested a reaction/analysis from you for Tori. Heheheh. Yes, I said, me and Bob! So I linked him to those. WOW on this Judee! New to me. The double tracking to any Carpenters (and Tori) fan is a yup! Good job. What a sound she has and with the orchestra. Oh my. So smooth and ethereal, is a word I used. I will look for more and see if you’ve done more since this. Be good and I saw The Medley is imminent. Buckle up. Joe

[@Ettoredipugnar]

She was a better composer and lyricist , and arranger than Joni Mitchell ever would have been. No vibrato like Emma Kirkby. What a loss . ❤

[@AndrewSkinburn]

I found this song about 15 years ago...so beautiful❤ Then I search everything about the artist. Tragic story...

[@soleywolfgangsdottir]

very beautiful. have you ever heard the name elsiane? vaporous live at the studio is a song i stumbled upon recently by the comment of another user, checked it out and was very happy that i did.

[@MrTails36]

My reaction every time I hear this😭

[@StrateleStudios]

Right! 😭

[@crosscatch]

I don't know if she did the orchestration on this, but, she did some. And, yes, the BBC version sounds quite the same as this despite it being a solo performance.

[@d.lafollette]

She did -composed and conducted.

[@SpiritAnimalVSOP]

David Geffen really did the world a disservice by letting her go! What a sad end! 😢

[@JUSTOAST]

I discovered Judee Sill a couple years ago - the live solo piano / voice performance of this song was my first taste. Shared w my brother, who subsequently turned me on to her semi-hit, Jesus Was A Cross Maker, which I took great pains to learn on guitar from her home demo of it. Since you were so taken with the string arrangement, I recommend Nick Drake's River Man. He's another relatively obscure artist deserving of wider recognition, and his friend's string arrangement on River Man is one of the marvels of the era. This might well be something not so rare anymore, but before his Pink Moon was used in a VW ad @ 2000, he was largely unknown. His recordings date to the early 70's, like Judee, and sadly, he also passed away tragically at 26 in 1974. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipWzpIV5mKahgrM

[@arlobill]

In 100 years time Judee Sill will be studied and worshipped like vincent van gogh is today.Judee,s was one of the true genius songwriters of all time. Easily on a par with Dylan and Lennon / McCartney etc

[@markhammer643]

I heard a new song from Kacey Musgraves the other day that seemed to have the same sort of vocal production and feel as a lot of this particular album. The inclusion of so much close-mic'd inhale also strikes me as a precursor to a lot of how Billie Eilish's voice is mic'd. None of that is to accuse either of those artists of copying Sill. And indeed, as far as "whispering singers" go, Blossom Dearie had Sill beat by at least a decade. Rather, it just serves to underscore just what a tremendous artist she was, clearly ahead of her time. She would have been 80 this year. And yes, the orchestration is superb. I love my hard rock, funk, new wave as much as anyone could, but I continue to include "Heart Food" on my list of 10 desert island discs. It's just that transcendant and moving.

[@rbmelk7083]

“Deeper Well” by Kacey Musgraves?

[@philwillett9102]

I wonder if Mathew Sweet was a big fan of Judee Sill

[@kennak8678]

if you like this song, you must get old Rhino CD, not (Remastered). this remix is too seperated and too light. old mix's double track vocal is feel like giant wall.