Judee Sill – Judee Sill (1971)

It was the best of years….David Geffen had just started Assylum records, and this was the first release; a critical success but failed commercially.  Judee had a tough life, both parents died young and she had an unconventional upbringing.  A teenage rebel she was involved in drugs and even a robbery spree and time in jail.  After reform school she concentrated on her music, combining folk, pop and classical and religious themes.  She was ‘discovered’ by The Turtles, who recorded her song ‘Lady O’ which was a minor hit.  She was also befriended by David Crosby and Graham Nash, Graham producing her first single ‘Jesus Was A Crossmaker’.  Her reluctance to tour, especially as a support act and her continued heroin addiction didn’t help.  Her second and final album ‘Heart Food’ is steeped in religious iconography and has incredible stacked vocals and was produced by Henry Lewy, who was Joni’s producer.  Despite all this both albums flopped and she was dropped by Geffen.  She drifted along and died in 1979, aged just 28 of Heroin overdose.  A sad loss, as since her death she has become a songwriter’s inspiration and almost a cult – similar in ways to Nick Drake.  I adore her two albums – so innovative and standout brilliant.  Best on this debut are ‘Crayon Angels’, ‘Ridge Rider’ and ‘Loping Along The Cosmos’.