Judie Tzuke

With the Chrysalis record deal behind her and wanting to have more control over her output and direction, Jude decided to release her next album with a new independent company called Legacy.

The album 'The Cat is Out', released in 1985 was recorded mainly at her home studio, and for the first time Jude and her producers Paul and Mike were able to record and mix the album without record company interference.
As the making of the album progressed, designs were drawn up for a purpose built studio (to be called 'Big Ocean Studios') which was to become the place where most of her records would be recorded in the future.

Another very successful sell out tour of the UK followed, including the release of a live video (and later DVD) from the show at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon in September 1985.

Having enjoyed the freedom of working with an independent label but finding that they did not have the resources to promote her music, Jude decided to have a break from live work and to look for a major record company once again.
In June of 1987 Jude and her partner Paul Muggleton had their first daughter Bailey, and in that year the building of Big Ocean studios was completed and Jude, Mike, Paul and Bob Noble set about writing songs and customising the studio in preparation for the next album.

In 1987 Jude signed a deal with Polydor records and set about recording her seventh studio album 'Turning Stones', which featured guest appearances from violin supremo Nigel Kennedy and up-coming jazz sax star Andy Sheppard.

With the release of 'Turning Stones' Jude and her band began preparations for a full UK tour, rehearsals were started at Shepperton studios and tickets were put on sale, but a dispute between her management and Polydor records resulted in all tour finance and support being withdrawn and the tour had to be cancelled only days before it was due to begin. Polydor insisted that Judie did not give any reasons for the cancellation as it would put promotion of her album at risk. The management at Polydor that had originally signed Jude had all moved on and the working situation with the record company became impossible, "Turning Stones" was deleted after selling out of the initial pressing.

Disappointment at the collapse of the album and the cancellation of the planned tour was hard to take, but Jude went straight back into the studio and started work on new tracks.
The following year she signed a new deal with Sony who had recently acquired the famous CBS and Columbia labels. In 1991 the album 'Left Hand Talking' was released on Columbia, which included an atmospheric version of the Beach Boys song 'God Only Knows' and a re-recording of her classic hit 'Stay With Me Till Dawn'.
Jude put together a new band and played two nights at the Shaw Theatre and shows at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London.