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At 82,Judy Collinsstill has a few musical tricks up her sleeve.
(Its also her sixth album in six years.)
A teenage piano prodigy before picking up the guitar, Collins has always considered herself an interpreter of music.
I have to turn the spotlight to the song and not treat it asmysong but treat it asasong.
Otherwise, she says, youd better drop it from your repertoire.
He also said to me, I dont know why youre not writing your own songs.
I was the only one in the Village who wasnt writing.
I got a lot of songs out there for talented people who didnt have record contracts yet.
He was one of them.
I think the songis really the height of my storytelling.
Im hoping somebody will make a movie out of it someday.
Most personal song onSpellbound
Arizona is about a watershed moment in my life.
It was 1962, I was 23, and my marriage had broken up.
I was really at a loss.
I was in the hospital in Tucson and then in Colorado for about five months with tuberculosis.
I was there for a month.
After that, my whole life shifted.
I lost custody of my son because of the behavior of my husband.
He was a good guy, I did him wrong.
I was having an affair with somebody, and I told him.
Id been working for a few years, always on the road, and I really needed a rest.
My quarantines in both Arizona and Colorado were symbolic personally but also showed me the power of medicine.
You could stay in Tucson and Denver and get the shots.
By the way, I am a vaccinating person.
I believe in vaccinations.
I think so much of the planet right now is selfish.
I was beside myself, I really was.
I didnt watch television in those years.
I was working too hard.
I mean, I went to the movies, but I didnt know what was on TV.
Ive always been so focused on work throughout my life.
I dont even remember the first time I heard myself on the radio.
It must have been Both Sides Now, but I was too busy to listen to the radio.
I was working my ass off at all times.
Im sure I had a good time a lot of the time in those early years.
I had some hot love affairs, for sure, but otherwise I was always working.
All of his songs are good, but that one is great.
We had a love affair back then, which always helps with the songwriting.
I found a singing teacher, and I stayed with him for 32 years.
Max Margulis is really the reason for my voice.
I thank and pray all the time for Max and also for my surgeon, Dr. Don Weissman.
In 1977, I had a hemangioma, a broken capillary, taken off my left vocal cord.
I already had to cancel 40 shows that year, so I was scared.
He then said, If I do this, you will have a chance.
Its because of them that I dont have some of the problems that come up for most singers.
Its all bullshit, really.
Its about something called bel canto, the clarity of the voice.
Its about finding a way to accomplish a bridge between the lower and upper registers.
My best vocal performances all came after I started studying with Max, and Ive never looked back.
Best memory from guest-starring onGirls
I knew aboutLena Dunhambefore she asked me to be on the show.
I really thought she was an amazing artist and still do.
They set it up as if it was a real concert.
The day we filmed was the first time I met Lena.
We laughed a lot.
That was a hot guest spot, so to speak.
As far as I know, I was always the first choice for the role.
Lena wanted me to sing Someday Soon.
I could be wrong about that, but I think thats what it was.
When you step on the stage, something happens to you.
I probably would havelet Lena leave in peace.
It was the middle of the night when she called.
I was probably drunk.
I was definitely passed out.
That happens with everything that I choose to sing.
Its instinctive, which is very lucky.
I remember hearing something aboutJoni not liking my versionof the song, but I couldnt care less.
Im sure shefeels that way about a lot of peoplewho sing her songs.
Im sorry she didnt have the hit, but Im sure glad I did!
She should just be saying, Thank you, thank you, God.
Thank you for my talent with writing all these other songs.
I so appreciate everybody who records my songs because look how rich theyve made me!
This countrydoesnt have a performance royaltyfor singers of songs.
We made all of these songs famous, but we never got a dime.
I think well have retribution if it does.
Listen, Im going to survive.
People want me to come and sing my songs.
I do 120 shows a year.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
