I've just returned from seeing two classic and all time favorite folk singers of mine, Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie. I've seen both of them several times separately in the past in both New York City and New Jersey, Arlo much more than Judy, but never together like this.
I first started seeing Arlo about 20 years ago when I was still dating my wife who is a big fan of his. Over the years I've seen him perform solo, then with his son Abe and Abe's band Shenendoah, then with Pete Seeger, then with Arlo's daughter Sarah Lee Guthrie (Who I've met and spoken to in person as well as Arlo) and more recently seen him perform with his entire family consisting of his other two daughters and his sisters and their kids, (Arlo's grandkids) who he currently tours with.
Just in case their are still some of you out there who are not familiar with this folk legend, Arlo is the son of famed folksinger Woody Guthrie and shot to fame in 1968 with his now infamouse 16 minute song, "Alice's Restaurant" which tells the story of his adventures being arrested on Thanksgiving Day for dumping half a ton of garbage in dump that was closed on Thanksgiving. It also tells the story of his adventures with the draft board at the time. When I saw Arlo in 2006 he said if someone told him in 1968 that he'd be singing Alice's Restaurant in 2006 he'd laugh in their faces. I'm including a great You Tube of him below singing it at Farm Aid in 2005. In fact, those of you familiar with the song will note he updates it with a few humorous and clever comments parodying the fact he's still singing it 40 years later. :D
In Sunday night's concert, Arlo led off and it was just him solo with two guitars, one acoustic and one electric. His voice was raspier than usual and he apologized saying he was fighting off a cold, but to me that just added to the folkiness of his songs and story telling.
Arlo amused us with stories of growing up with his father Woody Guthrie and traveling all over the country with him meeting other folk legends like Rambling Jack Elliot in Calif. and blues and folk guitarist Leadbelly in Louisiana. Arlo even told about looking for Leadbelly's grave many years later with his friends and finding it in a churchyard in La. in his usual rambling humor that is so typical of Arlo.
Although he didn't do Alice's Restaurant ( and he doesn't always do it in the many times I've seen him) at one point someone in the audience shouted out, "Where's Alice?"
Arlo replied," I'm wondering that myself" and proceeded to play a few notes from it and then stopped saying, "That's all I can remember." He added that doing Alice is like living a half hour of the movie Groundhog Day every day, "That's why we put it on record," he said. Those of you familiar with the 16 minute song will know what he means and can view it in it's entirety below. Besides it would have been foolish for him to do Alice with the condition his voice was in and I'm sure he's sick of doing it for 40 years.
Judy Collins is from the same era as Arlo and they are good friends. She used to be known as Judy Blue Eyes for she has the bluest of eyes and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young did a song about her titled "Suite:Judy Blue Eyes." Judy is best known for her song "Both Sides Now" which became a huge hit and is still played around the world today. I've seen her four times in person, twice where she did a most memorable Christmas Show. Besides singing her hits, she tells a beautiful tale half narrative and half sung accompanied by a pianist and her playing on guitar where she describes various Christmases she holds dear growing up.
In Sunday's show Judy followed Arlo looking ever so radiant in her black knee high stiletto heel boots, skin tight black pants and a sequined black top with a sequined cape. Her thick, flowing, full, long, silver hair was radiant too as she kept flirtatiously flickering it with the back of her hand. Judy opened with the Christmas Song, "Joy to the World" followed by "Silver Bells" her voice so clear as a bell and angelic and flowed melodiously throughout the theater. She too told stories of growing up and singing on the road with each story segueing into a song. She was accompanied by her pianist who also had a great voice joining her on harmonies.
During her signature song, "Both Sides Now" Judy forgot the lyrics to the second verse. Rather than stopping abruptly she continued playing on the guitar and looked to her pianist who told her the words.The audience also helped her along singing the entire verse for her while she played. She handled it with such class and grace that it was understandable. She apologized saying "Sorry about that.We were having a 'junior ' moment there." She said that was the first time that ever happened to her.
Judy ended her session with "Over the Rainbow" getting everyone singing along. For an encore Arlo came back out and they both did his song "City of New Orleans" while he played on piano and she on guitar. They then both did "Amazing Grace" which I think was a bad idea for Arlo at this point since his voice was almost gone now, but they both do that song in their individual concerts so it was fitting they both do it together.
Although both Arlo and Judy's politics lean to the liberal side, their comments are not hateful or vitrolic, but more humanistic where both sides can appreciate their humor since they are more for bringing people together. They also keep politcs to a minimum and concentrate more on their songs.
The concert was at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, N.J. They have a well lit new parking garage four blocks away that costs $4.00 and a free shuttle bus that takes you back and forth from the garage to the theater. It was cheap tickets, cheap parking and a great show!!!
I've also included a You Tube of Judy singing Both Sides Now below from 1987 and again from last year in England. You can see at 71 years old she still retains her beauty and angelic voice. Please enjoy both of these videos.
Arlo Guthrie - All 16 minutes of Alice's Restaurant - YouTube
Judy Collins - "Both Sides Now" 1987 - YouTube
Judy Collins-"Both Sides Now" (Glastonbury 2010) - YouTube
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