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Judie's new album, “The Beauty Of Hindsight – Vol. 1”, is available now. The songs on all her previous albums have been predominantly her own. This album marks a departure, in that she has achieved a long-standing ambition – to record a “covers” album, featuring songs that she has grown up with, by artistes who have had an influence on her musically.
Judie began by telling me about the covers album, and how it came about...
We’ve always talked about doing one – we’ve really been working on it, on and off for years. I’ve recorded a few other covers in the past… “Jesus Was A Cross Maker” (Judee Sill) and “God Only Knows” (Beach Boys) were the forerunners. I just wanted a chance to sing some of the songs that I grew up with over the years. I didn’t want to make a major deal out of it, you know. I wanted them to be fun to sing – it’s always difficult when you record someone else’s songs anyway . I’ve given it the best shot I could, and I hope that I haven’t ruined them for anybody.
Sometimes I was scared of damaging other people’s memories of them, but once I got to the point where I realised that I wasn’t trying to do better versions of them, but was just doing it for my own pleasure, then it was easier. It was still hard though, as some of the songs I wanted to do I couldn’t make my own, so the songs that are on the album are sometimes representing a whole bunch of songs. There are loads of other songs that I would like to do, so you never know, there may be a “Volume 2” one day, but not immediately.
We’ve also kept it very simple this time…the vocals are very dry, without any reverb or effects. It’s what my voice really sounds like! Whilst we were making the album, I learned that it’s easier to record your own music than other people’s, as I found it difficult to be too creative without ruining it. Some people have recorded covers and made them completely unrecognisable – which I don’t like. I choose to do things more true to the original – how I remember them, and how I used to sing them in the car, or in the shower. They were all songs that I loved to sing along to, or work out harmonies for.
Judie has covered songs by a diverse range of artists on this album – from America to Neil Young, via Crowded House and John Martyn. I asked her whether she still listens to a broad range of music?
Absolutely…at the moment I’m listening to Maxwell, Outlandish, India Irie, Gerard de Palmas – he’s really great, sings in French, and I don’t really know what he’s singing about, but he sings it with such emotion. Celine Dion has covered one of his songs (“10 Days”) on a recent album. He was a lot like me before Celine discovered him – had a small, very loyal following and kept going. Since her involvement he’s sold over 100,000 albums in France! I wish she’d do “Joan Of Arc”! (laughs). It would be amazing if she sang it the way she did the theme from Titanic - she has an amazing voice.
We moved on to discuss some of the tracks on the new album, “The Beauty of Hindsight”….
Smokey Robinson, “Tracks Of My Tears”. This was one of many from the Tamla Motown era that I loved. What a great song. I think anyone who has been hurt and has had to pretend that they’re OK can relate to it. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been in that situation at some time.
“May You Never”, John Martyn. He was a very early influence for me. When I was about 15 I met a man who claimed to manage both John and Beverly Martyn, AND Sandy Denny!!! I never knew for sure if he did, but I was really impressed and went and bought all I could find to listen to. John Martyn played the best guitar I’d ever heard – I eventually gave up playing guitar myself as I realised I would never be as good as him!
“Hey Jude”, The Beatles. I actually met them once when I was about 7, and had my picture taken with all 4 of them. I had them all in one of those white plastic wedding photo albums, and I swapped it for something… can’t remember what it was… obviously unimportant. It’d be amazing if they were still out there, and I’d love to have them back – somebody must have them, of course they’d recognise the Beatles, but not the little girl with them….that was me!
“Goodbye”, Elton John. Taken from “Madman Across The Water”, my fave Elton album. Given my history, I wanted to sing one of his songs as in so many ways his company and music has had a huge influence on my career. I hope he likes it!
“Fall At Your Feet”, Crowded House. A friend from EMI gave me a cassette of “Woodface” long before it was released. Even back then we were planning a covers album, and I remember ringing Paul (Muggleton) and saying that I wanted to sing this one – it makes me cry. I wish it had been written for me, and it feels like it was!
“You Shouldn’t Know These Things”, Maxwell. Very similar lyrically to “Fall At Your Feet”, and just one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard. I cried the first time I heard it, and still do.
"You Send Me”, Steve Miller. Complete with vocals recorded backwards! ( laughs). I used to use it to practice my vocal harmonies and control. It helped me in the art of “twiddly bits” and was a great song to sing in the shower.
So that’s just a taster of some of the tracks on the album - Judie has also done version of songs by America, Poco, Stephen Stills, Kayah, Robert Palmer, Jackson Browne and Neil Young.
The musicians who played on the album were mostly past and present members of her band...
Paul Beavis (drums), Dave Goodes and Graham Kearn (guitar), and on keyboards we had Richard Cardwell, and, wait for it... Bob (Noble) as well! I did most if not all of the backing vocals.
Finally I asked Judie about the title “Beauty of Hindsight”. Did the title have any special significance for her – with hindsight was there anything in her career that she would do differently, given the chance?
Only that I would enjoy each day for what it brings, and not read my own press, good or bad! It used to affect me a lot – everyone has an opinion, and you can’t please everybody. I WANTED to, and used to get very upset when I couldn’t. But I think I’ve learnt from that, and now I make sure that what I do is right for me. I love being in control of things musically, it’s what I think I’m good at and what I do best.
And so say all of us! So there you have it – the thoughts of Judie Tzuke on the origins of her new album, “The Beauty Of Hindsight”.
Huw Knight
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