Judy Collins always relied on other songwriters for her best work, yet all these years on she has suddenly found her own muse via writing fiction. Out of her novel Shameless, she has constructed a set of songs based around the story of a ’60s rock photographer and a female singer with a talent for painting. You can make your own guesses about her role models. The tunes are rooted in the folk tradition, the voice is still pure, and Collins’ lyrical dexterity is a revelation. It’s a pleasant rather than a great record. But at the very least it makes you want to read the book.
Advertisement