Judy Collins Ozark Mountain Daredevils Bobby Whitlock.

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Be Spellbound by Judy Collins

Judy Collins turns 83 this May but she still has that same pure crystal mountain stream quality to her voice that she did when she recorded songs like Amazing Grace and Farewell to Tarwathie back in 1970. Making her debut in 1961, over the past 60 years, she’s released more than 40 albums. Her latest album, out this week is Spellbound and its title is given for very good reason. It’s the first album of hers to feature exclusively her own material. The album is dedicated to early influences Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.  

When I spoke to Judy from her home in New York City, she talked about her life, about ageing and about her favourite song on this album, ‘The Blizzard’ see below.

Make sure you take a listen to our chat first up in this week’s show. I really enjoyed meeting her.

Do you remember Judy Collins' biggest hit? It was 'Send in the Clowns'

Ozark Mountain Daredevils still rockin

Lo The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were among the more popular of mid-70’s country-rock outfits, slotting in chronologically and stylistically between the Eagles and Firefall. As exponents of ’70’s country- rock, the group rode a wave of success for five years and survived in some form into the 1990’s with a following just large enough to justify occasional record releases in their later years.  

Bass player and group founder, Michael ‘Supe’ Granda joins me from his home in the Ozark mountains to tell me all about life then and now. Check out our zoom here.

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Bobby Whitlock represents the true southern blues./soul singer. Born in Memphis, he was the first white artist to be signed to the Stax Hip label at the tender age of 16. Taken under the wing of Steve Cropper, he left Stax and went to California where he joined the duo, ‘Delaney and Bonnie.’  For a short time with Derek and the Dominoes, the guitar line up consisted of Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Dave Mason. Bobby became good friends with Eric Clapton when he left Bonnie and Delaney and his lifestyle changed completely. When I spoke to him, he walked me through what it was like in those heady days of the 70’s when being a ‘rock-god’ was akin to being a king.

Bobby married Delaney’s ex-wife, Coco Carmel and today the pair make their own sweet music.

Bobby Whitlock and The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds originally formed in London in 1963 and launched the careers of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. The latest incarnation features original drummer Jim McCarty, harpist/percussionist Myke Scavone and Bobby Whitlock. Here they are below doing one of their classic tunes.

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